Downhill both ways

When I mentioned that I was thinking of doing the Coast to Coast my husband was seriously impressed. “Wow,” he said. I couldn’t understand it. “It’s only two days.”

“You’ll have to get a kayak. Where will you train?” He was looking at me with such admiration

“Stephen, I’m talking about a cycle ride through Kaikohe.”

“Oh,” he said, “that’s not the Coast to Coast.” And that’s how I discovered that my husband thinks I’m capable of signing up for a race across the Alps.

But no, for now at least, I was planning on cycling across the Far North from Ōpua to Horeke. It’s not called the Coast to Coast; it’s called the Twin Coast Cycle Trail – easy mistake to make.

The website said it includes levels 1–3 which translates as Easy–Intermediate. Apparently the intermediate bit was a hill in the middle – just how much of a hill I was yet to find out.

I looked at both ends and wondered aloud whether to go east or west.

“Start in the middle,” said Stephen. “That’s the high point so you can go downhill both days.

Brilliant.

There are various companies who work on the trail and Twin Coast Adventures in Kaikohe offered the full deal – accommodation, bike hire and pickups.

I booked.

We turned up as directed at 8.30 one morning and Carl, the manager, was ready and waiting for us. He wheeled out a smart blue e-bike and gave it to me. “That’s new,” he said. “It hasn’t been out yet.

We have the best bikes on the trail.” It certainly looked new.

“Right,” I said. “I’ll be careful.”

“Jump on and have a spin round the carpark, see how it feels.”

I promptly cycled off with the stand down.

Carl winced. Oops.

He gave us a quick rundown on all