Cycle Tour New Zealand 2009
Preparations
It took us about 8 months to prepare for our New Zealand cycle tour. Travelling by bicycle with a one year old child gave the preparations for this trip a whole new dimension.
We had to make sure we had the right gear to travel for six months and 4000 kms in a country at the other end of the globe.
We decided to use the mountain bikes we normally use for off road cycling and adapt them to long distance travelling. We connected Ella's buggy to Vanessa's bike, while I got to pull the buggy with materials such as the tent, kitchen gear, sleeping bags, etc.
Vanessa and I are experienced riders but cycling with a buggy is a completely different story so we spent the whole summer on our bikes with the buggies. Little by little, we and Ella got used to the buggy. Most of our training was done in the Nature Reserve of Montnegre and the Pyrenees.
Vanessa and I use a Trek MTB with front suspension and we adjusted the rear axle to fit the buggies. For Ella, we chose a single seat Croozer buggy, which has plenty of space for her and some extra luggage.
Why New Zealand?
There are various reasons as to why we decided to tour New Zealand. Travelling by bicycle is not just a different way of going on holiday, it's a whole different way of living. Once the cycle bug has bit you, you will only want more.
All our previous cycle adventures had been in Europe. We decided we had sufficient experience to go for something a bit more exciting and New Zealand seemed the perfect destination. The natural world in New Zealand is so diverse that it is easy to see how this country is ideal for cycling. When cycling you move slowly, giving the rider every opportunity to take in the surroundings in full detail. It's as if every single color, aroma, and sound is intensified. You almost absorb the landscape and not the smallest of animals escapes your attention. Such an experience, to feel part of and live in harmony with the natural world, must be felt in New Zealand.
With the birth of Ella, New Zealand became an easy choice as we do not want to take her to a potentially risky destination. The short distances between places, the modern health care system, and the absence of baby-eating fauna and hostile tribes that might want to cook us for dinner, definitely made NZ the place to travel with a child.