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