The Pedal On Podcast Pedal On Podcast

In this episode Sarah speaks with Simon Noble, a keen cyclist and recreation consultant based in Dunedin. They mostly talk about trail grading – Simon’s specialist subject and a hot topic of conversation (amongst nerds like us, at least). Turns out there’s much more to trail grading than just whipping out the tape measure in order to ‘manage expectations’. Dig down a bit and you might just discover a can of worms!

Scott Emmens is a guy who bikes for the simple love of it. He's a keen bike tourer and bikepacker, who also does a lot of trail running. In this episode we chat about how, when and why he bikes. We also talk about his days of organising a couple of bikepacking events, and his work for Ground Effect, the Kiwi bike clothing manufacturer.
Scott's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/multisportscott/
Ground Effect: www.groundeffect.co.nz

This episode of the Pedal On Podcast follows our two earlier episodes in which we looked at the then planned Tour Te Waiponamu, and talked to some of the prospective riders. In this episode we check in after the event, with Brian Alder the race organiser, and participant, and 4 other racers. We talk to overall winner Ollie Whalley, fastest woman Georgia Whitla, Steve Halligan and Hanna Black. We hear how the race panned out for each of them, what they went through physically and mentally, what worked and what didn't, and what they'd do differently next time. And we ask each 'Will there be a next time?'.
The Tour Te Waiponamu is a bikepacking race from the northern most to the southern most points of New Zealand's South Island. It is through some of the most rugged and spectacular country that Aotearoa has to offer, much of it privately owned and normally inaccessible.

Check out:
www.facebook.com/tourtewaipounamu/
www.dotwatcher.cc - for event reports and photos
www.hikebikecake.com - for rider and rig profiles
Instagram: #tourtewaipounamu

This episode is a special one. Our guest is Dr Ihirangi Heke. Ihi is a keen cyclist as you’ll hear. He’s also a really smart guy, with several degrees to his name.

His main area of interest is in using the outdoors, including cycling and other activities, and traditional maori knowledge, as a medium to improve health and wellbeing, particularly of Maori, and other indigenous peoples.

Ihi has an approach that is different to conventional health practices, and one that he believes has relevance for everyone.

Ihi loves bikepacking, and is about to start on the Kopiko Aotearoa. His approach to bikepacking is also refreshingly different to how most people do it.

https://sportnz.org.nz/resources/tapuwaekura/
https://100maorileaders.com/dr-ihirangi-heke

In this episode we continue coverage of Tour Te Waipounamu, which we began in Episode 14.

If you’ve listened to Ep 14 you’ll know that the TTW is a bikepacking race between the northern most and southern most points of New Zealand’s South Island. Most of it is thru the mountains and back country, and much is through private land, which is normally inaccessible to the public.

The race starts on February 14, 2021. This episode was recorded 10 days out from the start.

Firstly we catch up with Brian Alder, the race organizer, for some insights into what he been up to through the summer, and what goes into organizing an event.

We also have a brief chat with 4 entrants, Steve Halligan, Georgia Whitla, Hana Black and Ollie Whalley, who we talked to in the earlier episode. We hear how they are feeling less than two weeks from the start, and how their preparation has been going.

You can follow the event in real time at https://ttw21.maprogress.com/.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tourtewaipounamu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tourtewaipounamu/
Dotwatcher.cc, a UK based site that follows bikepacking races around the world will be providing regular updates and commentary.

It was the vandalism of Taupõ's big bike sculpture that gave Brett Cotter the idea for the fundraiser film festival, The Big Bike Film Night. It now tours nearly 50 towns and cities each year and is the must-see for lovers of biking, adventure, films – and the thrill of big screen cinema. Sarah chats to Brett about reels on wheels, and what motivates him to put in the mahi.