A BIG Thank You!

Well the week was certainly eventful. Hopefully those riding enjoyed some great rides and some great hospitality and company. And hopefully for those watching at home (or work!), it was entertaining and maybe inspiring (get out and ride ;-)

As ride organiser I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to those brave people that showed up in Tekapo on the 21st. Most knew nothing of the eccentric behind the scheme. It was a serious leap of faith to front up to a unknown ride with an unknown organiser. But they brought along the important things needed, a sense of adventure and a willingness to tackle each day as it comes (and of course a bike :-)


And THANK YOU  to anyone that encouraged, or possibly cajoled, a rider to come along. You now have to listen to their stories for the next month! 


And to those closet Brevet riders.... you can do it! You may not want to scale mountains in a blizzard (Ian?) but there is still plenty of great riding to be had right here at home.

Tekapo returns to normal (yes, including the tour buses)

Will tidy up the website over the next day or so that reading the day by day account it a little easier with direct links.

Final Day Photos

Whew, what a week!

A big congratulations to all GSB 2012 riders for enduring all that was thrown at them this week. Not just a slightly eccentric course designer but a rather cross Mother Nature as well. You have certainly succeeded in the face of adversity.

Rolling into the finish with smiles intact!

Unofficial GSB2012 sweeper, Chris is happy to have it done

Final Day Morning Txts

Morning high cloud and light winds in Tekapo today. The final push for the Gourmet Pedalers in perfect conditions.

SMS with jenny cossey
Date:  Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:28:38
A big thank you to david for the wild and amazing adventure in the hills from matilda

SMS with Sandra Appleby
Date:  Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:01:38
Leavin Kurow. Had to spend the nite in the pub while waitin 4 the southerly. Last leg, all tail winds we hope ...

Penultimate Day Evening Photos

Even the locals talk about the weather here :-)

Unseasonal? Otago Daily Times authoritative reporting

Before.....

After......     ...We Believe!

Dirk heads out for another lap

The hottest day on this years Great Southern Brevet

Penultimate Day Evening Txts

Finally starting to quiet down on the Great Southern Brevet with 5 Demi-Brevet riders due in town tomorrow, the last day.


SMS with James Hardisty
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:53:04
I finished. time for beer and hot pool

SMS with Hugh Calder
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:05:53
Good coffee at Flying Pig Cafe. Strong NW wind today up valley to Kurow. Off for a swim now.

SMS with Chris Manson
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:15:26
5 of us in the Kurow pub having a great local dinner after coming over from Naseby. Looks like a Southerly wind tomorrow, for the run home!

SMS with Phillip Pickering
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:46:31
High Dave, now in Kurow .....strong head winds for last 20 km into town.

SMS with Mary McBride
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:06:37
three pubs side by side in Kurow.  Very little else except a big headwind.  The tui pub won our custom for tea.  Last day tomorrow :)

SMS with jenny cossey
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:54:07
Matilda feels she is back in welly after a day of nw gale winds. After a rest in the shed frocks on bikes around oriental parade sounds appealing.

Penultimate Day Photos Winter and Summer!

Summer has returned and is rewarding the thin end of the group with conditions and views more typical of the season. So it is appropriate to show some winter photos!

Paul (Conner) had some fantastic shots showing conditions riders enjoyed (?) over the last couple of days ;-)

Nic enjoying a hike-a-bike of a different kind on the Old Man Range

NOT a photo they use in a Central Otago Rail Trail brochure

The best winter riding in the country (in January!)

Paul and Nic in Tekapo, it's not the same without the snow ;-)

Penultimate Day Morning Txts

Another beautiful Mackenzie District morning with riders enjoying the "real" South Island summer.


SMS with Barryn Westfield
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:26:11
Almost a day after finishing,,,,, rolled in with Trev last night at quarter past midnight (had to be rude and gap other boys by a couple of minutes as pace equaled warmth) - DAVE fantastic week, thanks! enjoyed catching up with you around the course - see you next time

SMS with Graeme Noble
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:01:29
Tekapo, 2am. A big day but no biking tomorrow. Cafe coffee etc etc :-) paul and nic are looking to arrive around 9am. 

SMS with Ken Scott
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:56:59
Thanks Dave for organizing an awesome week.We got to see some of the best Central has to offer. Weather not seasonal but added to the adventure. Thanks & look forward to GSB 2013

SMS with jenny cossey
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:46:42
Kurow at last . Matilda has requested a new black bar bag to match her tyres for her birthday.

SMS with Nathan Mawkes
Date:  Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:09:36
Arived into Tekapo at 10:55 am,  what a great journey, Thanks.   Nathan

Day 7 Evening Photos

After the ferocious southly passed along came another picture perfect Mackenzie Country day. Blue skies, big mountains, open plains and a gentle push along from the south. The finishers enjoyed the expansive views.

Ken you're not quite dressed for church

That wasn't hard, Shelley showing the relaxed form that made it through

The Hakataramea Pass, sans snow

Big country, big smiles, Greg and Geof enjoying the southly breeze

Dan grinning as he knows it time to put his feet up for a few days

Lake Tekapo at it's best

Day 7 Evening Txt Update

Snow still makes it's presence felt. Most managed to enjoy it and made good progress through the pervasive white blanket.


SMS with jenny cossey
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:31:28
Matilda did not want mud and snow on her nice new bearings and heading so headed up the trail trail which also has snow on it.

SMS with Ken Scott
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:51:48
In Tekapo..Fizik Gnbi seat for sale

SMS with Shelley Friedrich
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:24:37
Dam great southern brevet Dave. I've neva  seen so many dams! Tekapo-warm   afta the snow this morning. Thanx for all of your organisation and help.

SMS with Graeme Noble
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:15:34
Kurow just one hill to go :-)

SMS with Dirk Naish
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:37:19
In kurow tonight. Last leg tomorrow

SMS with Phil Chapman
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:14:15
Round and round, round and round, round and round... Awesome day in th snow, it's lovely here in winter.

SMS with James Hardisty
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:14:38
In kurow after some snow riding

SMS with Geoff Tilbrook
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:15:01
Arrived tekapo. Ta Dave. Fantastic.

SMS with Daniel Roberts
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:37:56
Phew - that's my mid life crisis over - now where's the 29er shop?

Brevet Blogs

Need a bigger fix of Brevet lore then try out these Great Southern Brevet Riders Blogs. Might take a day or two to recover but you should see some interesting perspectives on this years week long wanderings.

Oliver Whalley - Mountain Pedaler NZ

Arran Pearson  - Wannabe Racer Blog

Greg Thurlow - Gingaonasouthernbrevet

Jasper, the Black Sheep

Day 7 Morning Photos

Lots of white stuff for background today!

Just before sunrise north of Kurow

Cruising past the white stuff

OK, hadn't noticed till you pointed it out

Ah, a Central Otago summer, stone fruit and hot days?

Arran pauses atop the Hakataramea Pass in better conditions than 12 hours ago

Arran pays homage to the cycling diety for delivering a great weeks cycling 

Weather again the talking point at the Great Southern Brevet 2012

For the second time in a week, snow is the big topic. This time it is not just up at 1800m but almost everywhere (including Alexandra).

The southerly came through around 9:30pm last night and in the Hakataramea is was strong enough to break branches off trees and dump 6 inches of snow down to 400m!

Some squeaked through as it arrived and others not so lucky.

The remnants remain today and highlights include riding the Mt Ida Water Race in snow and pushing through snow drifts on Danseys Pass. Very cold but very pretty :-)


SMS with Paul and Diana Conner
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:37:51
Made it though to Hyde before it was time to take cover. There is an inch of show on my bike seat  this morning. Oh well!

SMS with jenny cossey
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:58:20
Alex is a great place. The bike shop gave me tea as they fixed matilda. Them a gsb blog site watcher saw her outside the supermarket and invited us to stay.

SMS with Nic Kelly
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:40:29
New batteries in spot alex wed avo. Flashing green but not getting through apparently. Turned off and given batt 2 paul connor no 38 as his died and travel 2gether.

SMS with jasper van der lingen
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:51:42
Finished 11.30pm in pouring rain, sleet, hail into a hellish head wind. Other than that a brilliant event! Thanks to Dave for Organising, BPR, and my trusty black sheep single speed for getting me there.

SMS with Sandra Appleby
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:51:53
Huge amount of snow on the hills at Middlemarch. Glad we're on the rail trail today. Phew! And a tail wind too. Yay!

SMS with Tristan Rawlence
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:20:19
Good luck to those rolling in today. Hated the head wind at the time but SERIOUSLY pleased to beat the rain in. Massive effort by the guys last night. Thanks for the adventure! Anja & Tristan

SMS with Geof Blance
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:08:01
Home now.. To David, thanks for putting on such an epic.. Great course, just as you said it would be. The amount of work you put in has been huge. BIG thumbs up to you. To all the riders who towed the start line, full credit too. A huge effort by all..And to all those that watched us and gave such huge support when we had the easy job of just riding. .A huge Thanks!!..This was true Central riding at it's best... Can't wait to the next one..

SMS with Geoff Tilbrook
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:28:22
Kurow. Freewheel froze over danseys. Snow from naseby.

SMS with Greg Thurlow
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:29:52
Kurow.just been warned by the cafe owner about snow...

SMS with Daniel Roberts
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:02:18
Danseys Pass was similarly highlight and lowlight of trip - absolutely stunning with so much snow - but unbearably cold!  Hoping to get to Tekapo before hot pools close

SMS with Arran Pearson
Date:  Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:08:27
I thought of a lot of witty things to say... But all that comes to mind is thank fsck that's over

Late night in the Hakataramea

Well the plan was simple, one last push for the line and knock the bastard off.

Things looked good for awhile apart from a pesky headwind. Of course the headwind would soon be a distant memory as the front unleashed its full weight.

A gentle reminder, like it was needed

Crickey, even time for a picnic

Spokes? How many do you need? 32 -8 = ?

The last gate!

A wet but happy Jasper

Are you sure? I thought the church we started at was Anglican?

Please wake me up from this, I dreamt I was cold, wet and tired

First woman finishes Great Southern Brevet 2012

Cheating the approaching southerly, Tristan and Anja rolled into Tekapo early evening. This puts Anja Mcdonald as the first woman to complete the GSB 2012 in 5 days and 7 hours and 16 minutes. A substantial effort and well deserved.

SMS with Tristan Rawlence
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:16:15
Made it. t&a

Southerly blows in as the Great Southern Brevet hits the home stretch

And yet another twist in the saga of the Great Southern Brevet 2012. A southerly has roared up the lower South Island bringing high winds and torrential rain.

Although the majority of riders had made it to shelter, a few were on the final push for Tekapo.  About an hour ago at Hakataramea Pass (947m) winds would have been gusting 70 to 80 km/h, and then the rain started. It is not ideal riding conditions to say the least.

Jasper is near Tekapo (11pm), and in good spirits, while Gord, Mark, Trev, Barryn and Paul have just turned the corner onto Haldon Road.  Another torturing 30kms to Tekapo (ouch!).


SMS with Claude Dabaliz
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:18:04
In Tekapo thanks to some crank repairs from a kurow mechanic.

SMS with Greg Thurlow
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:46:19
Windy as ranfurly.southerly closing in.cant wait...

SMS with Hugh Calder
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:50:23
Camp ground closed in Middlemarch. Huge winds today. Good+bad. Amazing scenery.

SMS with Rob Davidson
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:37:15
Lounging in room in Kurow pub..
Contemplating new life without mountain bikes..

SMS with Mark Rayward
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:01:15
You poor guys still out there. Me still in tekapo and its been super windy and now pouring. All the best

SMS with Ken Scott
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:28:26
In Kurow.A bit wet & sore

SMS with Shelley Friedrich
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:34:09
Kurow. Pickd up by a friendly local and nice and dry. A good long day and saw some people!:-)

Day 6 Afternoon Photos

Some golden riding done today (pun aside).

Dirk and Shelley enjoying the Mt Ida Water Race Part 2

This is the "real" Great Southern Brevet!

Oversized carrots and salmon? You can identify with this!

I work with a couple of people like him

Shelley rides through the tables at Danseys Pass Hotel

So that's how to tell the difference between a cow and a bull

Bugger! I put in 60 ml of sealant like it said on the bottle

Riding 1100kms or digging for gold in a creek. Which do you think is more crazy?

But we have right of way

Do you think the locals would be interested in talking cycling?

Day 6 Afternoon Txt Update

Another big day on the trail for the Great Southern Brevet riders. Large groups tackling the Old Dunstan Road and Danseys Pass.

Wind has added some spice to the challenge but sounds like mixed fortunes. Those crossing Rough Ridge and the Rock and Pillar Range enjoyed a tailwind while those making a final push for home headed straight into it on the stretch to Kurow.

Times up the Haka are slow at the moment but the southerly change is on it's way. Those in Middlemarch may just pick up the jetstream back to Tekapo tomorrow!

SMS with Daniel Roberts
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:23:23
Don't know if I am Thomas
The Tank Engine or the Fat Controller - but nonetheless I am here

SMS with jasper van der lingen
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:25:20
Kuraw. Great ride over danseys. See how far I get up haka tonight.

SMS with Chaplow Paul
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:04:10
In Kurow, a big feed then 100km into strong NW wind to get back to Tekapo. Wouldn't want an easy finish!

SMS with Mark Wallace
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:04:12
Kurow. More head winds but supposed to swing around tonight. Gonna have a crack at making tekapo tonight

SMS with Nic Kelly
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:04:14
Wicked ride across the tops!

SMS with Greg Thurlow
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:05:11
Middle march.windy as Wellington on dunstan

SMS with Geoff Tilbrook
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:05:14
Arrived middlemarch.

SMS with Paul and Diana Conner
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:05:18
At Middlemarch. What a day. Bike sailing over the top. Waiting for the southerly for a lift to Ranfurly or Hyde.
Just enjoyed my first cheese roll for 4 days. Couldn't find one  in Southland!
Life is good.

SMS with Phil Chapman
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:11:19
Epic patagonia strength winds 2day, waiting until th southerly kicks in b4 smashing th snail trail. Never wanted a southerly so much b4

SMS with Neil Charters
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:25:45
Wow, that was serious wind on the old dunstan. Good times! Just waiting for the wind to turn to get us towards ranfurly

SMS with Arran Pearson
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:32:11
I'm in Kurow and was wondering if anyone packed a spare knee, I seem to need one

SMS with Phillip Pickering
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:56:09
Hi David ,now in Middlemarch

SMS with jenny cossey
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:01
Matilda is having a manicure in the alex bike shop. 9 four wheel drives on the old man range turned every thing into mud before the snow

SMS with Graeme Noble
Date:  Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:14:40
In middlemarch food shop attending to low fuel tank. Awesome tail wind today :-)

Day 6 Midday Photos

Cloud cover hasn't burned off today as expected so good riding conditions in the cooler temperatures.

Oops, spoke to soon. Clouds not gone as the wind has picked up with a beaut norwester screaming across the Maniototo Plain. Eye watering head wind into Ranfurly :-(

PLEASE NOTE: my apologies to Dietitians NZ for the first photo, I believe it exceeds recommended daily intake for saturated fats!

Craig and Geof go for the rugged, weathered look

High streamlined clouds, pretty? Not if you have to ride into the headwind

Wise Rail Trail rider walks across the Horseburn Bridge

What is looks like on paper

What it looks like in real life, too vast for the photo

Demi-Brevet riders Shelley and Dirk cruise Bute Street, Ranfurly