rangersac
Medically diagnosed OMS
Just at the end of an awesome weekend at the top end of NZ South Island so thought I’d share some intel. Rode some of the fun local stuff around Picton, and then the Nydia Bay track, which is around a six hour ride with three awesome technical rooty, rocky downhills and two equally hot hard techy uphills thrown into the mix.
Most of the track is a hand cut hiking trail, and there are a few sections you have to walk but a good rider can ride around 90 - 95% of the track. Good fitness is needed for the climbs though as there’s a lot of hard pinchy sections with little recovery time. It’s also definitely a dry weather only track, the roots and rocks would be a nightmare if wet.
Riding the whole track needs a bit of planning as ideally it has to be shuttled to avoid a 60km road slog at the end, but there is a lodge halfway if you want to spilt up the journey. Shane at Blue Moon Lodge in Havelock does shuttles, or you can use the post boat to get in, but you miss the first descent (Ophuri Saddle) which is probably the best one. Ophuri Saddle is worth shuttling on it’s own as well, or you could ride from the south end of the track into Nydia Bay and return.
As a bonus if you speak nicely to Shane and he might give you access to his own hand built trail near Havelock for the price of some trail maintenance. It’s a ripping old school single track steep and gnarly descent full of rocks, roots and narrow traverses.
Nydia track pics below
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Most of the track is a hand cut hiking trail, and there are a few sections you have to walk but a good rider can ride around 90 - 95% of the track. Good fitness is needed for the climbs though as there’s a lot of hard pinchy sections with little recovery time. It’s also definitely a dry weather only track, the roots and rocks would be a nightmare if wet.
Riding the whole track needs a bit of planning as ideally it has to be shuttled to avoid a 60km road slog at the end, but there is a lodge halfway if you want to spilt up the journey. Shane at Blue Moon Lodge in Havelock does shuttles, or you can use the post boat to get in, but you miss the first descent (Ophuri Saddle) which is probably the best one. Ophuri Saddle is worth shuttling on it’s own as well, or you could ride from the south end of the track into Nydia Bay and return.
As a bonus if you speak nicely to Shane and he might give you access to his own hand built trail near Havelock for the price of some trail maintenance. It’s a ripping old school single track steep and gnarly descent full of rocks, roots and narrow traverses.
Nydia track pics below
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk