Monday 2nd August 1999

It’s here! Unpacked, assembled and tested. A bike that is XXL!

Friday 30th July 1999 -> Auckland -> Home

We arrived about 6-30am in Auckland. Both bikes were present and correct.

Getting them through customs was a challenge. I started off with 2 carts side by side but these would not fit through the customs alleyway. After blocking it and contemplating my next move, a customs lady came and helped. She pushed the single trolley while I dragged the triple.

I was then told that 6½% duty plus 12½% duty was 20½%! This was finally recalculated and paid at 19½% (as the 12.5% GST sits on top of the 6½% duty.)

The next step was to drag the boxes to Air NZ. These were checked in and my flight time changed to 8-25am. This flight also left late.

Arriving in Napier just after 9-30am, the plane was unloaded and NO bikes appeared! Great! Air NZ then advised they should be on the next flight so I arranged delivery direct to Hastings Cycles. They then advised that the triple must go via Wellington as it won’t fit on the Auckland – Napier planes. Once home, they phone and advise it will have to be trucked as it won’t fit on the Wellington plane either! It won’t be seen until Sunday / Monday. The GT should arrive this afternoon. It arrived!

Thursday 29th July 1999 -> no existe!

Wednesday 28th July 1999 -> LA, CA

A 5-30am rising lead to leaving for Boston’s Logan Airport just after 7am. We arrived at the United terminal around 8-30am.

My bike was charged an horrific US$88 surcharge but I was upgraded! After that, it was wait, loiter and wait until after 11-30 to board the plane.

The plane left late but arrived on time at 3pm. After a bit of wandering, I found Marcia. The airline had told her not to check the bike in until just before the plane left and the cost would be from US$176 to $352! We then left the airport.

We went to a Disney store to try and find a Mickey Mouse poster but had no luck. After that it was to an Irish pub for Jefferies 21^st birthday. I had another huge plate of nachos!

We arrived back at the airport about 8-30pm and I checked the bike in. After many, many false starts, the final actual payment was US$60! and the triple was carried away! The crowd did not know what to think!

The plane left about 11pm bound for Auckland with both bikes on board.

Tuesday 27th July 1999 -> Portsmouth NH

The final day began at 6-00am with breakfast at 6-30am. This was a poor buffet – French toast, fruit and cereal only.

We left about 7-20am and rode with 10 or so other riders. The bunch cruised through the many city street turns, attracting much attention. The pace was about 12-15mph.

Weather was again fine and sunny with little wind. Some roads were very rough and others were perfect. Scenery was city, woods, tree lined roads etc.

After the sag at 30 miles, we picked up the pace and cruised to the Rye Junior High to congregate for the final 3 mile escort to the Atlantic.

We left the school under storm looking clouds with a police escort at about 12pm, arriving soon afterwards. There were many photos, handshaking and backslapping. Some of the many packed beach goers were very interested in our ride.

After that, we rode into Maine, took some photos, saw a drawbridge go up and down while a yacht went through and then cruised on into the motel around 1-30pm.

Lunch was held at the restaurant across the road and then the afternoon was spent packing the bike, which after a false start with a too small and decrepit box, was fairly readily achieved, and sorting out my luggage appropriately.

The ride was complete! Today’s total ride was 65.3 miles in 4hrs 22m with a max of 34.5 mph. HR was 90-130 and generally 90-110.

Bike odo reading is now 20,701 miles (33,308km) which means that 3,867 miles have been added since 6^th June (6,222km). Not a bad two months training!!

We had dinner at the hotel across the road, complete with dessert and a 10% discount!

Monday 26th July 1999 -> Lowell MA

Removing a wire from a flat back tyre started the day. Breakfast was at 6am in Friendlys across the carpark. Service was slow and the food average.

I left about 7am under clear blue skies with little wind. This then turned to mist, to high cloud, to sun and back to mist. A few stronger breezes were also evident.

Some good solid hill climbs were made as we covered the 3,680ft of climbing for the day. Riding was on some really rough roads, especially one down hill, through tree lined roads and suburbia and towns.

The cue sheet was rather poor with most intersections not noted. I ended up on a freeway for a brief period but the mileage was about the same!

At about 35 miles my front tyre picked up a piece of glass. 17 punctures now! I fixed this and continued cruising to the sag at 48 miles. This was reached after 2 bottles of drink.

The balance of the day was flatter with more and more city roads. Some roads had little signage so navigation was hope and pray! One sign did say “Blind Drive” though!

I arrived at bout 12-31pm after 86.8 miles in 5hrs 07m and a maximum if 41.0 mph. The first 20 or so miles were ridden with Tod as it was his birthday. I tried to keep the HR100-130 all day but failed on some of the early hills!  It sat on 100 as I rode with 5 or 6 others for 2 or 3 miles at 17-18mph.

Dinner turned out to be a poor buffet for the final “banquet.” Food was green salad, corn, bread, soup, meat and tacos plus a small dessert. That is all!

Certificate and awards were handed out to riders and brief? comments made on the ride by each rider.

Sunday 25th July 1999 -> Greenfield MA

We had to cycle back up the road to breakfast off the menu at “Friendlys” at 6-00am. Service and food were adequate.

After a false start, I left about 6-45am under a clear blue sky with virtually no wind. The road went up and down through tree lined roads. A couple of good climbs, which were not overly steep, one was 4 or so miles long, were climbed in the 53:24/21 gears to sag 1.

The Massachusetts state line followed just after the sag. Riding was more of the same, including a 6 mile climb to sag 2 and a summit. Another 2.6 miles lead to the final summit.

A long gentle descent of about 20 miles with a few small uphills then followed. We then took a “scenic” bypass through a small town, climbed up a few more hills and then descended the final 2 miles into the motel to arrive at about 11-25am.

With the mountains, the wind swirled in all directions but had no noticeable effect in any of them! Total climbing was about 5,200 vertical feet and this was done at 8-12mph with HR150-160.

Total cycling for the day was 79.3 miles in 4hrs 22m with a maximum of 40.1 mph at a surprising 18.1 mph average!

Cycling for the week was a modest 776.8km (482.8 miles) in 26hrs 37m with a maximum of 64.5kmh^-1 (40.1 mph) and an average of 29.2kmh^-1 (18.1 mph.)

Dinner was an adequate meal for 4 at a chinese restaurant across the road.