Okay so first up I’d like to apologise for not updating the site while I was away; I had these grand plans but they didn’t eventuate to nowt. Seb’s been doing a stand up job of single handedly looking after the site anyway, so it’s like I wasn’t even gone. Which brings me to Ground Effect’s Tardis bag. Now I had used one of these in the past. Well, kind of. Ground Effect sent one up to Wellington and I was going to fly down to Christchurch for a story in issue 14 of Spoke. But when I got to the airport my camera gear combined with my luggage combined with my bike, well, it wasn’t going to be cheap so the bike and Tardis stayed behind. But that was a 26″ wheeled Santa Cruz Chameleon. When I asked Ground Effect if my new XL 29″ wheeled Santa Cruz Tallboy would fit in the bag Ground Effect were supremely confident. I doubted a little, as did the people at Easton and Santa Cruz bikes, but lo and behold, the XL Tallboy fit snugly in the Tardis, and in fact it would easily fit the XXL! I was a little dubious how flying home from the States would go on the bike, but after my four plane changes and being inspected by US and New Zealand authorities three times, all the wear it has to show for it is a scratched bottle cage. Golden.

It fits like a glove but you will need a few zip ties and a bit of foam packing, so a visit to a local bike shop is a must, even if you are short on time.

One of Ground Effect’s customers kindly made them this awesome mix tape. As you can see there is a bit of a theme to the collection of songs. And if you don’t get it maybe I should remind you that Ground Effect are based in quake-ravaged Christchurch.

Joe Arts gets one run in before the lifts shut, 1996. Photo: Dave Mitchell

We just got word via Ground Effect that the Heaphy Track is open for riding in May 2011. The New Zealand Conservation Authority has just approved the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan. That means mountain biking is to be trialled on the Heaphy, Flora Saddle to Barron Flat and the (full) Kill Devil tracks. The season for the Heaphy is May through September; Flora Saddle and Kill Devil are year round. Yippee!! Full details below.
It’s fifteen long years since Kahurangi became a National Park and the Heaphy was off limits to mountain bikes. Many have patiently battled to regain access to New Zealand’s premier multi-day singletrack mountain bike ride:

> Bryce Buckland and Tony Lilleby from Nelson kicked off the crusade back in 1995. In recent years Bryce often mused that progress was so slow that his body might not last the distance.

> Kevin Hague researched, authored and presented Mountain Bike New Zealand’s weighty submission to the pivotal Draft General Policy National Parks. It was a persuasive document as the Policy was subsequently changed in 2006 to allow for mountain bikes on selected tracks. Kevin is now a Green MP, campaigning for all things cycling.

> At Ground Effect we have lived and breathed the Heaphy for longer than we dare admit.

> Sean Barnett, along with Federated Mountain Clubs’ Executive, was instrumental in determining the opinion of their membership, and subsequently supporting seasonal access for bikes on the Heaphy.

> Nelson MP and former Minister of Conservation Nick Smith has publicly lobbied for bikes on the Heaphy since the late 90s.

> Brian Nathan from White Fox and Jones provided legal advice that helped establish the validity of MTBNZ’s position.

> The staff at Nelson/Marlborough DOC who were always open to the notion, and thus allowed for science and pragmatism to prevail.

> And of course 1100 of you made submissions to the General Policy and the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan.

There are plenty out there keen to see the three-year trial fail. Let’s follow the rules and prove them wrong:
> Stick to the winter season – so cool your heels until May next year. Don’t forget Flora Saddle is also an excellent ride that is open right now.
> It’s amazing country and sublime riding so take your time. Fit parties need a couple of days at 6-9 hours riding each day. Overnight at Mackay or Saxon Huts. Hut bookings are essential at bookings.doc.govt.nz
> Don’t hunt in packs – maximum group size is six.
> Avoid heavy rain – DOC may close the track from time to time.
> Keep to the track – no exploring (on bikes).
> No night riding.
> Keep the huts and verandahs bike-free.

And here’s the official MTBNZ Press release:

Mountain Bike New Zealand (MTBNZ) has welcomed today’s decision by the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) to allow winter access for mountain bikes on the Heaphy Track.

Chair of MTBNZ’s Land Access Committee, Guy Wynn-Williams, said:
“We’re delighted. In their comprehensive reviews of the General Policy National Parks and the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan, the NZCA considered the issues thoroughly and objectively, leading to a robust final decision.”

Mr Wynn-Williams went on to say:
“This decision provides a special opportunity to attract a new group of mainly younger Kiwis into our national parks – enabling them to experience our backcountry in a wholesome and self-reliant manner. We anticipate more than 3000 will ride the track next winter.”

The Heaphy is a unique multi-day backcountry ride that has no equal in New Zealand; 82km of singletrack traversing from coast to coast through a diverse landscape and vegetation.

85% of submissions to the Draft Kahurangi National Park Management Plan supported winter mountain biking on the Heaphy. Mr. Wynn-Williams paid particular tribute to New Zealand trampers, who have supported the case for shared-use tracks:
“We are grateful to the Federated Mountain Clubs and numerous local tramping clubs who have supported winter access for bicycles on the Heaphy. Together we have shown that trampers and cross-country mountain bikers share many backcountry values, particularly self-reliance and respect for the wilderness.”

First they got a Facebook page, now they are publishing their catalogue online via ISSUU, all Ground Effect need to really be a part of the web in 2010 is a Twitter account! Ground Effect’s Summer 2011 range has some solid gems and a bunch of new and revised stuff that’s well worth checking out. The old Ankle Biters and Toe Rags were awesome merino socks and I wouldn’t have thought they could be improved upon, but the new versions of both feature a new X Rated elastic arch which keeps your foot totally snug. The Juggernauts have been given another makeover and now feature open front pockets and come in a subtle new understated colour, Bitter Brown. And then there is my favourite, the new Zip Tie (but only in the blue). Since it turned up two weeks ago I’ve been wearing it on every ride, it’s a cool top that mixes road functionality with off-road styling. It’s got three back pockets for stashing stuff and a full length zip for summer (when it arrives). There’s plenty more updates but those are my picks and they have already had some serious time on Wellington singletrack.

Last winter I ponied up and bought a set of NiteFlux Photon Max lights, they were bright, but the beam was a bit narrow and I was sketching out if things got fast. After a summer sitting in my garage I pulled them out only to find that things weren’t as I’d left them. The manufacturer assured me it was a fault now remedied and sent, as a replacement, the next model up in the current range. Which is this 1350 lumen, ultra wide bad boy. The PMax Extreme has six settings, 1350 lumens (20 watt) = 1.5hrs, 800 lumens (12 watt)= 2.5hrs, 530 lumens (6 watt) = 5 hours, 266 lumens (3 watt)= 10 hours and 90 lumens (1 watt)= 30 hours. It’s only been on a handful of rides so far; we well be doing a long term review that you can look for next winter.

And considering how crap the Wellington weather has been recently this new Flash Gordon jacket from Ground Effect couldn’t have been better timed. It’s got the “flash” new removable yoke for when the weather changes mid-ride (which it always does here in W-Town) and cos’ I normally wear safety black, I’m even a little bit visible now…