Ever fancied riding Coast to Coast in a single day?  We're reviving the tradition of the Club's "Big Days Out" with a classic Coast to Coast ride. 

Dip your back tyre in the Tasman Sea in the morning and dip your front wheel in the Pacific later that same day!  Yes, the Coast to Coast ride is back - from Tangimoana (just south of Bulls) to Ākitio (a tiny settlement on the northern Wairarapa coast). 163km and 2107m climbing - see the route link below.

This challenge is designed to be 'something worth training for' (if you're doing the Taupo Cycle Challenge you'll have the perfect training as it's about the same distance and elevation), to give purpose to rides in the colder months to come, and will help form the shared goal for our revived Club Sunday morning rides, organised by Adrian.  

So, the route!  This coast-to-coast route is a traverse of the lower North Island from West Coast (Tangimoana) to East Coast (Ākitio).  We did something similar (starting in Himitangi instead of Tangimoa) as a Big Weekend Out a few years ago and it was a fantastic ride (incredibly, we had a tailwind the whole day!)  We will again stay overnight in Akitio at fantastic shearer's quarters (which sleeps 19) and they also have a cottage which sleeps 6.  It is simple, country accommodation, with lots of bedrooms and a big shared kitchen. https://marainanga.nz/accommodation/

There is also a campground for tents if there is even more demand!  This route is predominantly on quiet country roads.   Plans are still developing for day 2, but likely there will be the option of a "shorter" ride on the Sunday - back to Palmerston North or Masterton.

Logistics - we will hire a few vans (plus Adrian and Glynis have kindly offered theirs too) and empty out the Club trailer to carry all our gear and bikes in.  Unless we have one or two people volunteer as a driver, everyone will need to drive one section of the journey, as the vans will act as tail-end Charlie and will transport all our gear while we ride.  Should someone volunteer to be a driver, all riders will chip in for their share of the hire/fuel/accommodation costs.  Everyone is asked to bring a dish for a pot-luck dinner at Ākitio.  Estimated costs for the whole weekend away (fuel, accommodation, van hire) are approximately $120pp. 

It's not a race and we'll split up into groups of several speeds.  The ride is open to anyone willing to put in the training to comfortably ride the distance. (Having said that, anyone can get in the van at any time - you don't have to ride the whole way.) 

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5582168233

We think this will book up quickly, and we'd like to book the vans and accommodation ASAP.  So don't delay and express your interest to kapiticc.adrian@gmail.com today!  This will be followed soon after with the need to confirm your space by paying a deposit.  We'll aim to accommodate as many as we can, but realistically, spaces are limited. 

Article added: Saturday 01 July 2023