dontwaitup

Hi Everyone, I am a 50 year old female from New Zealand. As a teenager I was the proud owner of a new Healing Mixte. I loved that bike and stomped it around the place endlessly. Next was an upgrade to a Clamont - way too big, but I still stomped it around happily. Kids & life took over until 12 years ago I purchased a Vivente Rosa, discovered the benefit of spinning over stomping and gradually built up to decent mileage, whilst also wearing out the bike. Next purchase was a second hand, but only 2x used Trek Madone 5.2 - My first 'proper' road bike,which I again rode anywhere it took me.A foray into mntn biking on a Giant Sedona LX did not produce quite such a buzz - I got tired of crashing. Having cycled around Lake Taupo (organised ride of 160km,with 10,000 participants - you should come to NZ and do it!) on a few occasions, I became interested in Touring, & have devoured every book I can get hold of on the subject. Today I finished (with some last minute help!) a year long project of building a tourer from an old steel Koga Miyata mixte I bought for $100. It looks a shocker but rides beaut - I can't wait to head off into the unknown even if it is only down the road overnight to start with!

10 Wheels

Welcome to Bike Forums from Texas.

Touring is a great adventure. Take a small camera for many photos.

Cyclaholic

Hiya dontwaitup (very cool username, btw), welcome to bikeforums.

You must some pics of your Miyata in the touring forum, sounds like a classic bike.

Siu Blue Wind

Wow looks like you touched upon most realms of cycling! Since you are interested in touring, have you had a chance to go through our touring section yet? Lots of info in there! Welcome to Bike Forums!

Zephyr11

You went mountain biking on a comfort bike! No wonder you didn't like it! Go give it another try with a mountain bike!

Just kidding! Welcome to the forums! And congrats on building the bike!

dontwaitup

Thanks for the welcome. "Bike Forums' seems to be a very supportive community.

dontwaitup

Thanks for welcome. My username evolved from my rather slow cycling ability. Yep, I will post some pics when I can work out how to do it! (I'm technologically challenged). Also not feeling too brave about it b'cos I've probably put some weird components on it, but I'll pluck up the courage eventually......

dontwaitup

Thanks. I think the mountain bike world is far better off without me cluttering up its tracks and wrapping myself around its trees!

dontwaitup

Thanks for welcome. I have only recently discovered this forum,so am only just delving into it - certainly seems a lot more friendly than another one I looked at.

Siu Blue Wind

There's so much to learn here. It's going to take a while to actually go through all of it! And for fun, there's always the place called Foo. Lots of goof balls in there. Haha

LowCel 

Welcome to bikeforums.net!

dontwaitup

Thanks LowCel. I love your 'Fat' quote!- I can relate to that!

Johnny_Monkey

Where in NZ are you?

dontwaitup

Hawkes Bay (East Coast of North Island)

Johnny_Monkey

At least you have nice weather there. My bikes are in Ashburton and I am going to freeze when I am there in a few days.

Around 35C here at the moment.

making

I dontwaitup sorry I missed your arrival 10 days ago or so. Anyway Welcome. Sometimes I just wander off I guess.

BlueBikeSchwinn

Hi! I'm from NZ, now in Colorado. Have you hit the Rails-to-Trails in the South Island? Something I want to do with my Mum on a trip back home!

dontwaitup

Ha Ha. Not such great weather at the moment. 8C this morning INSIDE! Floods all around the country and a few major highways closed. Of course, you are probably in NZ by now and have discovered that. Have a great stay, regardless of the weather!

dontwaitup

Thanks. So long as its wandering off on 2 wheels then all is good!

dontwaitup

Hi. No. The only ride I have done in the Sth. Island was the one-dayer Source to Sea. Hoping to make my first BIG adventure the West Coast of the Sth Is. from top to bottom - its a matter of time - and getting fit first! The Otago Rail Trail is really popular and apparently well worth doing. Where in NZ are u from?

Johnny_Monkey

Am here now. Rode today and it was nice - about 11C and sunny. Will try to ride at least every 2nd day and will see how it goes. Not as much snow on the alps as I was expecting though.