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When traveling overseas I try to arrive and leave from the same airport. That way you can leave stuff at your first and last night’s accommodation.
If my return journey starts at another airport I leave the bike bag at home and get a bike carton from my favorite bike shop, pack the bike in that, dispose of the carton at first accommodation, then get another carton from a local bike shop at departure town.
As for luggage I use a back-pack and a light-weight sack. Along the way I leave excess stuff at accommodation I’m coming back to.
Park City is my favourite USA mtb destination… Great lift serviced trails at Deer Park, huge variety of cross-country trails all over the hills, and get this – free bike-carrying shuttle buses to lots of trailheads. I’m not sure about accommodation etc as I slept in my van in the Walmart carpark.
The worst case of trails partly destroyed by skidding that I’ve ridden were the Whitefish downhill trails which I rode in August. They were severely cut up with braking bumps on braking bumps…
Braking bumps are ubiquitous on poorly designed downhill trails and when they’re the dominating feature they start to shake your bones and rattle your eyeballs. Poorly designed trails force skidding by things like putting a switchback immediately after a fast feature such as a big down-swooping berm.
Air New Zealand’s bike baggage policy as cut and pasted from their web site…
Transporting sports equipment
Sporting items less than 2m long and weighing up to 23kg count as a standard bag. Otherwise, excess baggage charges apply. The maximum allowed weight is 32kg and the maximum oversize length on jet aircraft is 2.5m.
If you’re travelling on our Regional Domestic services and your item dimensions exceed length 1.8m x width 0.8m x height 1.20m, please contact us for assistance. Due to their small volume, some items up to 2.2m long – such as fishing rods, skis and poles – may be accepted.
Sports bags can contain more than one piece of related equipment. They’re assessed on their overall weight and length.
Here are some examples of sporting equipment that can be packed or bagged as single items:
Bike (see packing instructions below)
Windsurfer
Hang glider
Surfboard(s)
Snow skis + boots + poles
Snowboard + boots + bindings
Water skis
Golf bag containing golf clubs and one pair of shoesIf you wish to travel with an item that exceeds the maximum weight or dimensions, contact Air New Zealand National or International Cargo or a local freight company to discuss your options at least five days before your flight.
Packing bikesApart from children’s bikes with no chain, all bicycles must be correctly packed in a bike box or bike bag. Bike boxes are sold at New Zealand airports for NZD $25.00, subject to availability.
You don’t have to deflate the tyres, but packed bicycles can only be accepted as checked-in luggage if:
Handle bars are removed or turned sideways
Pedals are removed or turned in
The pressure of any nitrogen gas in mountain bike struts is no more than 200kPa (kilopascal) or 29PSI (pounds per square inch)
Any cartridges for inflating tyres are small (less than 50 ml) and contain a non-flammable gasRemember to:
Place any loose accessories into a bag then place in the box
Seal the box and label with your name and phone number
Ensure no part of the bike is protruding from the boxBen
The best information on New Zealand trails is right here on singletracks. (I know because I wrote 90% of the trail descriptions!)
Air New Zealand and Quantas will take your bike for free as long as you don’t exceed the weight allowance which I think is 30kg.
New Zealand has a six grade system for trails: 1 beginner, 2 easy, 3 intermediate, 4 advanced, 5 expert, 6 extreme.
Best NZ destinations (from north to south!):
Rotorua
Taupo
Nelson
QueenstownBest multi-day back-country adventure trails:
Old Ghost Road (can be supported but only by helicopter – there are huts along the trail)
The Timber Trail (usually supported – camping ground mid-way)
Queen Charlotte Sound (usually supported by water taxi)
Heaphy Track (you must bike-pack but there are huts along the trail)Best family-scenic supported multi-day mellow adventure rides (on grade 2 purpose built trails):
Otago Central Rail Trail
Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold Trails (they join end to end and also join the Otago Central Rail)
Twin Coast Trail
West Coast Wilderness Trail
Waikato River Trails (four of them are grade 2, one is grade 3. They are end to end.)
Rimutaka Rail TrailBest Mountain Bike Parks:
Whaka Forest – The Redwoods
Makara Peak, Wellington
Coronet Peak, Queenstown (a collection of trails – not a typical mountain bike park)…
Queenstown Bike Park (lift assisted, mainly downhill)
Best one day back-country scenic adventure trails:
Craigieburn Forest
Pakihi Track (usually shuttled)
Rameka Track (shuttle)
Involution (loop)
Moerangi Track (shuttle)
Four Lakes Loop (loop)
Bridge to Nowhere (bus and jet boat shuttle)Best scenic one day trails grade 3 or less
Great Lake Trails (all three of them – stunning views with mellow technicality)
Karangahake Gorge (out and back – with heritage interest)
Old Coach Road (out and back – heritage interest too)See also https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-trails/five2ride-the-5-best-mountain-bike-trails-in-new-zealand/
and https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-trails/experts-pick-best-mountain-bike-trails-world-country/5/Use both. The back will only skid on steep down. The front will dig in.
Yes… Check this out: https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/the-eagles-route.html
What, exactly, is a roller???
It makes sense to leave the keys at the car but on the tyre is too obvious. I have another place that I share with anyone with me but not here!
Replace the cluster. Classic problem of not replacing the chain often enough!
pump, multi-tool, patch kit, spare tube, 3 tyre levers, water bottle, rain coat, cell phone, sometimes lunch, wallet, car keys.
Wheelies and Manuals are not the same thing – similar but different! Plenty of videos of both on YouTube.
Jeans are horrible if they get wet!
I don’t often listen to music when I ride but for some reason I often break out into song. Nearly always the same ones:
La vie en Rose
Only the Lonely
https://www.singletracks.com/photo.php?i=0&c=0&p=125943
This is not quite what you wanted but anyway here is a photo of my home-away-from-home, along with the horse that tows it!
I haven’t seen anything quite like it in USA but its an arrangement that is quite popular in Europe and elsewhere. The bike, front wheel removed, goes in the back of the car – a 2.4 litre petrol Toyota Ipsum with optional four wheel drive.
The van, we call them caravans, has gas for cooking and heating, a solar panel, two deep cycle 12V batteries for lighting and running computer etc, two 26 gallon tanks, one for fresh water, one for grey water. A little bathroom with shower and cassette toilet.
Tough call. Fruita…
Tried to post a photo here but didn’t succeed!
Craigieburn Forest, photos here: https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/craigieburn-forest.html
Also Old Ghost Road, photos here: https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/the-old-ghost-road.htmlHi Cody
For the best advice on New Zealand trails you need look no further than singletracks.com!!! Specifically: https://www.singletracks.com/mountain-bike/best_trails.php?new_state_id=464
The best mountain bike destinations are in order: Rotorua, Queenstown, Nelson, Taupo. (Forget Auckland, it just doesn’t measure up! Even Wellington is much better.)
New Zealand’s back-country is unique – you must sample it. The best mellow back-country rides that both you and your wife will enjoy is at Taupo – the Great Lake Trails – more information on singletracks!!! Another great intermediate two day back country adventure ride in hobbit forest is The Timber Trail. Both you and your wife will love it.
An epic two to three day adventure trail that your wife will definitely not enjoy but you will never forget is The Old Ghost Road.
The best mountain bike park style riding is in Rotorua and Queenstown. Check out Whaka Forest, Coronet Peak, Queenstown Bike Park…
The best easy scenic pedal-and-quaff style riding is near Queenstown: Check out Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge, Clutha Gold Trail. Those three link together.
All of those are described on singletracks.com – in detail with photos and without marketing hype!!!
As for hikes, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Great_Walks and http://www.doc.govt.nz/great-walks
But be realistic Cody you won’t be able to bring your bikes and your hiking gear on the same trip!!!
The best time to come to New Zealand is February and March.
Shorter! I hate bottoming out.
