Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

I am heading to NZ in November to do the 160km Lake Taupo ride. Just wondering if anyone out there has done it and can tell me how hard it is (particularly the hills) and can give me any tips re: training for this event...

Hi

Haven't done it before but will be joining my sister this year to do it. There is advice on the event website re-training. Also you might want to consider getting in a few Audax rides.

Oh, if you haven't got accommodation in Taupo you should move quick. Apparently nearly all booked out.

Regards
Andrew

Drove a car around the course a few months ago . I was surprised how hilly the first 2/3 of the route actually is. A lot of shortish steep rises, while the last 30-40km is reasonably flat with one steep climb of around a hundred metres elevation gain about 20km from the end. My legs started to wobble just thinking about the hill and the 140 odd km under the legs by this stage.

I had a book out of the library a few months ago, titled something like "Ride the Taupo Challenge" (can't recall exactly). Has detail on the course profile, water points etc. Well worth a read if you can find it.

I think you'll find lots of dead road from memory. I haven't done the ride but spent a fair bit of time driving those roads when I was younger.

There is a lot of rolling hills and that last hill mentioned (assuming an anti clockwise route) in the previous post will be very nasty as it does go on for a bit. The good news is that once you get over that the run back into Taupo is pretty flat.

Don't forget to slap on plenty of sunscreen as well as the sun is savage in NZ.

Other than that it'll be an awesome ride as you'll ride along the foot of Mt Ruapehu which is a fantastic view as long as you aren't suffering too much.

I only wish I could get to it as well. Good lick.

That's my goal for next year.

Good luck with it!

There is now a competition to win a trip for two to this years Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge - prize is worth over NZ$4300.

BNA are supporting this competition -> full details here on prize details and details how to enter. Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Competition >

Hi

Thanks for the heads-up on the comp. Had already entered the ride with my sister so winning this comp would be a nice bonus.

Andrew

Yes it is anti clockwise...you finish on the Hatepi grind up to the airport...if the wind is up that road can be savage...and all roads in NZ are dead!...really really shot between the eyes dead.But the views around Taupo certainly make up for it .

Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly do you mean by 'dead'. I am familiar with a dead track in horse racing, presuming not a lot of similarity though

Nice smooth hotmix compared to coarse road surface...NZ roads are pretty coarse so take a bit more effort to keep a good rolling speed.