ninjas/cyclists celebrating survival with juice from the garden, looking like squinty muppets

Single speed bikes are the new skinny jeans, only super cool as opposed to super uncomfortable. They’re making an urban come back, developed from velodrome cycling to urban posties, and now to the rest of us.
Group rides in the weekends! Cycling can be a great way to meet people, and i’ve found other cyclists to be really friendly i.e. waving or nodding as they usually pass me pretty fast (im not about speed, im enjoying the journey!). There are also great adventures to be had, rail-trail cycle rack, le race (Chch to Akaroa), grape ride (round Blenheim), Lake Taupo cycle challenge, Rainbow rage (Hanmer) etc
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.
~Ernest Hemingway
Cons:
The reality of biking amongst traffic can be pretty scary. This is something i am working on. Its really important to bike predictably for traffic, its safer to assume that cars havnt seen you.
The mountain bike
The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you’ll crash.
I’ve not got into mountain biking yet, although my partner Dave got his old one all tuned up yesterday so it may well be on the cards! It looks super fun, not great for commuting unless you live in the mountains!
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The road/ racing bike

~Mark Twain, ‘Taming the Bicycle’
Still on the transport theme, but realising life has so many facets that I’m going to have to move slightly quicker if I expect to cover even the smallest faction of these before Copenhagen, so I’m working through bicycles today. All of them.
Bicycles are such a great option, perhaps the greatest invention of all time, and with so many and varied alternatives, a person has the luxury of picking the bicycle that best reflects them…
The extremely civilized lady’s bicycle:
My beautiful bike is a 1960s Triumph, done up with a flashy new bell, basket, handle-grips, paint job, white-rim tyres, and most importantly a new seat! Granted my own rear-end natural cushioning makes for a pretty good ride, even the most padded of bums will appreciate the pure luxury of a new bike seat.

Cycling up and down the driveway, otherwise always wear a helmet! brains are too important not to protect.
Tips:
search trade-me for second hand bicycles, or ask neighbours particularly those with well-stocked garages. Most people hold onto old bikes for sentimental reasons, and would be happy to hand it over knowing it is going to be done up lovingly.
safety first! check that brakes, wheel rims, chains and any gears are complete, free from rust and lubricated.
replace any essentials as necessary i.e. tyres
check out trade-me, garage sales or perhaps just around the house for boxes or baskets that can be attached for handy storage
I use my Triumph for…
Trips to the butchers at Redcliffs (to be discussed later in relation to what we eat, and where its from)
Taking the Charlie dog for run. It would be totally ridiculous for me to try and run alongside my big black lab.
Small trips around Sumner village i.e. to friends places, videoshop, the weekend market
Occasionally venturing out further in the Port Hills, but any trips much further then I borrow the road bike
The extremely uncivilized group bike-powered bar
Saw this in Amsterdam, not sure New Zealand law would allow this…
The road/ racing bike

sweet single speed bike
Pros:
The more you use it, the fitter you become. How incredible! It’s a gym membership and method of transportation all-in-one! So really, when you’re measuring time efficiency, you have to calculate the trip in comparison to a car in traffic (perhaps 10 min longer by bike in my case), but then overall that’s 50 min I can take off being at the gym. Winner! Gym sessions that would take 55min (3 times a week), now take a total of 5 min, brilliant. Count me in for anything that means less gym techno in my life.

The extremely uncivilized group bike-powered bar

Saw this in Amsterdam, not sure New Zealand law would allow this…

Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.

Tips:
search trade-me for second hand bicycles, or ask neighbours particularly those with well-stocked garages. Most people hold onto old bikes for sentimental reasons, and would be happy to hand it over knowing it is going to be done up lovingly.
safety first! check that brakes, wheel rims, chains and any gears are complete, free from rust and lubricated.
replace any essentials as necessary i.e. tyres
check out trade-me, garage sales or perhaps just around the house for boxes or baskets that can be attached for handy storage
I use my Triumph for…
Trips to the butchers at Redcliffs (to be discussed later in relation to what we eat, and where its from)
Taking the Charlie dog for run. It would be totally ridiculous for me to try and run alongside my big black lab.
Small trips around Sumner village i.e. to friends places, videoshop, the weekend market
Occasionally venturing out further in the Port Hills, but any trips much further then I borrow the road bike

Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic

Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Take the really, really long way home on a motorcycle built for the ages. Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat. Wraparound backrest with a passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak. All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96™ engine and six gears. New this year are a full chrome tank console with inset and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options. It’s hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road.
Official Site: Harley Davidson Motorcycles

2007 Norge 1200 Moto Guzzi, That's Amore

One of my favorite writers, Susan Carpenter, the "throttle jockey" who writes for the LA Times, has delivered a review of the 2007 Norge 1200 Moto Guzzi sport-tourer motorcycle that might have you running to your dealer with dollars in your pocket. The Italian luxury bike is named as a tribute to the 3,700-mile trip Giuseppi Guzzi took to the Arctic Circle almost 80 years ago. It has a powerful air-cooled, four-stroke, 90-degree V twin engine and at 542 pounds is a substantial and sturdy bike. Carpenter took the bike for a spin in Malibu's Decker Canyon and found it a breeze on the twisting roads. The base price is $14,990.

Ellsworth Bikes

It's been a while since we covered a really expensive bike but with spring finally here it's time to venture out into the world and get some exercise. Ellsworth bikes is considered to be some of the best bikes available. It has Instant Center Tracking and a four-bar suspension system which allows you get the most benefit from your pedaling without having to worry about the stability of the bike and it works whether you are sitting or not. It is available in a variety of configurations and colors. If you order the pink frame, Ellsworth will donate $50 to cancer research. Configured with all the bells and whistles, the Ellsworth Truth will run you between $6,000 to nearly $10,000.The company also offers the Ellsworth Ride a truly extraordinarily looking bike that uses the gearless NuVinci™ Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) drive. It's been a while since we covered a really expensive bike but with spring finally here it's time to venture out into the world and get some exercise. Ellsworth bikes is considered to be some of the best bikes available. It has Instant Center Tracking and a four-bar suspension system which allows you get the most benefit from your pedaling without having to worry about the stability of the bike and it works whether you are sitting or not. It is available in a variety of configurations and colors. If you order the pink frame, Ellsworth will donate $50 to cancer research. Configured with all the bells and whistles, the Ellsworth Truth will run you between $6,000 to nearly $10,000.The company also offers the Ellsworth Ride a truly extraordinarily looking bike that uses the gearless NuVinci™ Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) drive.