Mountain Biking, Top of the South 9 Day Tour - Christchurch

Fitness and Experience

• You will need to be a Mountain biker who owns and rides a Mountain bike reasonably often
• This is a fairly challenging trip and you will need to have a good base fitness and strong technical skills will be required
• Trail type and fitness. You will be cycling for between 3-7 hours most days on rough single track that has a reasonable component of technical riding. You will need to be mountain biking fit (although your fitness will increase during the tour). All the trails are of a cross country nature and rideable by all; its just a matter of pacing ourselves on the longer tougher rides, after all it’s not a race. But if you have a good base fitness and good bike handling skills you will enjoy your time better. Clients are normally aged between 20-50yrs young (some younger and older) who actively participate in mountain biking as their recreation
• Just because this is an organised trip does not make it a soft travel option, we just make the whole experience easier for you to enjoy, and you will still be riding for 3-7 hours most days
• There will be time to do some sight seeing on the drive times from trail to trail, a good meal and a comfortable bed at the end of the day

What to Bring/Wear

• Being prepared for all seasons is a must; New Zealand has a very changeable climate. Any day can give you a taste of all four seasons; add some altitude and we need to be prepared
• Good quality riding clothing is a must - Light gore-tex Shell and wind stopper outer
• Thermal top and bottom
• We recommend Ice Breaker woollen clothing
• Hydration system - 2litre water with enough space to carry spares, and jacket, trail food etc
• Pump
• Don’t forget your riding shoes and pedals if hiring from us!
• We would like you to limit the amount of luggage you bring to two small or one large ruck sack type bag
• There will be opportunity to wash clothes so you do not need to bring 10 sets of riding gear
• Mountain Bike (or hire one for an additional $45.00 per day)
• Camera – don't forget this or you will regret it!
• Sunscreen and sun glasses

What is Supplied

• All main meals
• Accommodation (twin share)
• Transport
• Land access and logistics
• Local New Zealander guides with extensive experience and pre-hospital emergency qualifications (just in case!)

More Information

What Bike: The ideal bike for the type of trails that will be ridden is a good cross country to all mountain- mountain bikes, with 3-5 inches travel full suspension although a good hard tail will be fine. Front suspension is essential. As lead guide, Greg rides either a Trek Liquid or a K2 Lithium, both bikes are 5 in travel, light and good climbing bikes. A big heavy free ride bike that is not a good pedalling bike is not so suitable. If you would like to rent a bike from us we will outfit you on a K2 Lithium or a Jamis XLT, both very good bikes. If bringing your own bike you will be responsible for all the bits that might break. The guides are bike mechanics and can keep bikes going. You will need to bring a minimum of spare parts and a trail tool. If your bike is deemed unsafe by the lead guide you will be required to hire a bike for the tour. Have the bike you are bringing thoroughly checked by a good bike mechanic before coming on tour. You will need a bike tool and chain breaker, spare tube, tyre repair kit, (we recommend tubeless tyre kits like ‘Stan’s no tubes’), derailer hanger, chain fixing link. We will do a gear check before leaving on the tour and any compulsory gear you do not have you will have to buy. If you are hiring a bike then you need to let us know at the time of booking. We need to know the make, model and size of the bike you usually go mountain biking on. We will do our best to set the bike up to your liking, but there is no bike like the one you are used to. It is very easy to bring your bike with you but do check with the airline you are travelling on, as there can be an extra charge on baggage handling and weight restriction on some flights.

Also note that the bio-security on entering New Zealand ports is very strict, so your bike and shoes should shine like new to avoid delays with customs. If you are planning on bringing a new bike, then you will need to have ridden it plenty so you are sure you like it. Where you sleep and eat. New Zealand has a good standard of accommodation and very good value. You will be staying at a variety of places from small country pubs and hotels, some motels, and hostels and maybe home stays (this depends on group numbers). Rooms will be on a twin share basis. If you require a single room to yourself then we will have to charge a supplement. All meals are provided, some will be cooked by your guides, and others will be at restaurants. There is plenty of choice for eating out at the many and varied eateries in New Zealand. We will make our own trail lunches and also take trail snacks.