‘Forgotten Highways’, a film of adventure and cultural discovery is premiering and the 2020 NZ Mountain Film Festival, having received a ‘Special Judges Award’. Watch the teaser and stay tuned for the online premiere, COMING SOON.
A short film about an epic bikepacking journey of two non-bikers who lived in New Zealand and decided to travel home on bicycles with a minimum gear. And where is their home? It’s located in the heart of Europe, in Czech republic, in Beskydy mountains close to Slovak and Polish borders. Enjoy the one year journey in about 25 minutes going through countries of Southeast Asia, Nepal, mountains of Central Asia and northern Europe.
Czech language with ENG subtitles.
Do you want to see more? You can support production of full-lenght film on http://bikepackingnomads.com/en/movie/
More informations about project can be found on http://www.bikepackingnomads.com/en http://www.facebook.com/BikepackingNomads https://instagram.com/bikepackingnomad
The West Coast of the South Island is rapidly becoming New Zealand’s premier multi-day bike packing destination, you’ve got the Heaphy in the North, followed by the Old Ghost Road (surely being one of the top 10 in the world), the new and nearly finished Paparoa Trail and finally, the West Coast Wilderness trail. I’m not sure if too many other regions can compete with this many high class, multi-day trails.
So this first photo is of my old 2017 Pivot Les 29er a week before a unplanned dismount riding to work a week later!
Now you may note the short distance from the BB (where the crankset would be) to the front wheel axle, also the long handlebar stem. This makes the bike less stable when riding over uneven terrain and this leads a nervous feeling when riding down hills etc.
Most Bike have been made like this for the last 20 plus years so that you can turn into corners fast if you were in a race, but how many of us are racing?
But mountain bikes have started to changing to a longer front end and slacker geometry from late 2018 from most maker’s, this makes the bike much more stable feeling riding over uneven terrain and especially on down hills.
I feel this change is for the better and my new Ritchey is so much more fun (and safer) to ride and that’s the point is it not?
How gravel bikes are starting to change too the same way of thinking and here is a video by Alee (Cycling About)
So I did know about this from my time as Motorcycle Engineer but had forgotten over time.
Here is my Jones LWB Plus from back in early 2017 and if only I had rode this bike in my unplanned dismount in late 2017! I probably would have not come off the same way?
May have broken some bones but not ended up with a TBI.
Yes I still have this bike and I have been riding her in this time of Lockdown, but I have changed one thing! the tyres are now 2.3″ x 29″er instead of the 3.0″ x 29″er which were feeling too slow because of the tyre and rim weight.
and here is her today
I hope this makes sent’s to you, Pete
So if your looking for the right tyre pressure to run in your tyres here is a great online tool designed but Joshua Poertner who was Technical Director at Zipp Speed for over 14 years and worked with Pro tour, gravel and MTB riders find the right tyre pressures for the max speed etc.
Silca Professional Pressure Calculator
Like always most people run too much air in there tyres!
It’s free to use so have a go, happy riding.
Just go for a ride and you will feel better
Not bikepacking but inspirational and beautiful place to go riding
Yes Bikepacking New Zealand is backup and running again.
Yes I’m going to keep this website going for the coming