Today is Saturday and I decided that between the flat, sandy coastal paths, and the solid climbs to the south of Christchurch, I prefer the climbs and the views! Go figure 🙂
To mix it up a bit I planned a route that went directly to Dyers Pass Rd, up the climb to Summit Rd then head eastward toward the ocean, descending down Evans Pass Rd into Sumner, following the coastal path until it was time to go direct back to Christchurch. The day was a bit challenging due to the strong wind out of the North East, so along the peaks it was a pretty good headwind much of the way.
While on the long climb of Dyers Pass Rd on a 11% gradient doing 5 mph, a cyclist flew by me doing double my speed or more. Clearly pro-level from the way he was riding – amazing to experience the difference in power output between my legs and his. Of course he’s probably 40 years younger than me and I’m on vacation anyway 🙂
On one of the summit climbs I caught up with a local riding his MTB and we had a chat and shared some life philosophy 🙂 All about bikes of course. We agreed that one of the best ways to spend retirement is riding bikes in great destinations around the world, while making new friends along the way.
The air was clear and so the hill top photos came out great! The bay to the south of my route along the summit is only sparsely developed, so looks beautifully natural. There are a few small towns along the edge of the bay and I plan to ride through them tomorrow.
The summit ride is a good way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, as its relatively remote and not many people make the trek up here. That said, there were more bikers, walkers, and runners here today being the weekend, but not to the extent that you would call it crowded.
The big descent down Evans Pass Rd was a lot of fun, but you do have to hang on tight and watch the speed due to some bumps in the corners that can throw you off your line at 40 mph. A couple of other cyclists have mentioned this to me and their warnings were well heeded! In no time at all, the ascent that took over 30 minutes was finished in 5 minutes and you find yourself in the picturesque seaside town of Sumner.
The short ride back to the hotel was uneventful, taking full advantage of the cycle paths and backroads, finishing up with the ride through the expansive park, the beautiful next door neighbor to the hotel. Another rewarding day riding through the hills!
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