Jurassic Park

The Coromandel Peninsula. The bike was built for this kind of thing. I have been on the road for only 2 days and have already seen some of the most breath-taking scenes and the most exhilirating biking roads.

The mountain gravel tracks were awesome. Crossing the Coromandel hills, the bike was in its element, crossing fjiords, swishing through shale. It is always disconcerting when the front wheel gives in the gravel and your instinct is to brake. The technique of course is to keep the power on and ride through it.


I found muself in a forest area where I could take a gravel off-road route to some falls. It was unreal, the volcanic, Jurassic Park surroundings, with forests of tropical looking trees looming around me. I was the only person for miles around. It was mind blowing. The track descended to an open gate which should have kept me out, but I carried on, riding to the falls. A jungle-like walk down through the trees brought me into the rocky base of the cascade.


After this followed the coast roads leading down the east of the peninsula. Superbly smooth tarmac which curved left and right constantly for miles. It took immense concentration but it was here that I mastered the handling of the bike. Like a dancing partner with whom everything suddenly clicks, I began to rythmically incline into the bends, letting the bike lean, counter-steering, shifting weight into the bend. It felt like a sports bike. I am sure the panniers were near to touching down. Speeds were 45-50mph throughout, third and fouth gear, little braking. Like long, smooth linked turns on a snowboard, the bike just sailed round like a banshee on a skatebaord.

I have just arrived in Rotorua. It got dark by 6.30pm on the way in, the constant curved roads were unrelenting. This makes fast smooth riding difficult, the concentration needed was acute. Your eyes can get confused between the centre line cats' eyes, and the outside markers. The head light beam never shows you wide enough section of road. You are always up against it, focused on the narrow tunnel of light, unconscious of the now veiled scenery. Nothing else matters apart from those white dots in the centre line. It is fun, but it gets tiring quickly. I am glad I am here. Exhausted, ready for bed and it is only 8.45pm.