The 1001 -Climb to the Top
There is a group of 30 local cyclists taking part in a 7 day bike ride in February 2019 called the 1001.
This cycling adventure has been planned and organised by Bike Manawatu member and Sponsor Rob Ryan of Palmfeild Motors.
Rob previously organised another long distance ride, the SPCA 640, which was a fundraising ride from Palmerston North to Christchurch, that finished with participants competing in the iconic Le Race. After receiving some great feedback after that ride, Rob was keen to organise another long distance ride – but this time it would take in some different roads and destinations, and it wouldn’t have a race as the final event.
This time, the ride leaves from Palmerston North and arrives back in Palmerston North 7 days and 1001 kms later, and after climbing 8936 metres – that’s more than Mt Everest! The ride has a Facebook page, ** link here*** which gives full details of their itinerary, so feel free to pop over and give them a like to keep up to date with what’s happening
As a part of the preparation for the 1001, the team had a team training ride of the ‘Pongaroa Loop’ on Sunday.
25 of us departed the Bike Barn car park in 2 groups, bound for the Pongaroa Pub via pahiatua, Pa Valley Rd and Route 52, with Neil Vertongen driving our support vehicle. It is a demanding and challenging course that takes in some fantastic views in the Tararua region.
After 110 kms, we stopped at the Pongaroa Pub to enjoy a well earned lunch. As usual, the pub were welcoming to us, and their large outdoor area provided some much needed shade in the sweltering 30 plus degree heat.
After leaving the pub, into a headwind, we needed to climb and descend the Puketoi Range – this is never easy after consuming country pub sized servings of lunch – but we all managed it. On the downhill run through the Makuri gorge, we got our only puncture of the day.
We carried on through to Pahiatua where we stopped for cold cokes and some shade before the final 40kms, including the Pahiatua Track back to Palmerston North and a debrief, quite possibly over a beer or 2 at Rendevous.
This ride was more than 200 kms, with more than 2500 metres of climbing – it’s up there on a par with K2, which has the reputation of being the toughest 1 day race in the Southern Hemisphere – while today wasn’t a race, we think it’s an achievement worth celebrating and would like to acknowledge each and every rider on today’s ride – well done to all of you
