Adventure South NZ | What NOT To Do on a Cycling Tour

What NOT To Do on a Cycling Tour

Made it to the finish line | Bec Adams

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If you are new to guided cycling tours, not to worry, your friendly neighbourhood cycling newbie is going to share the advice that you're probably aware of already but you'll get a good laugh reading it.

As I joined my first guided bike tour Alps to Ocean End to End, I didn't know what to expect. A city girl tackling the wilderness of the Southern Alps... Yeah, you already know what's about to come next don't you?

These are the tips I learned on my first cycling tour.. ever! and I'm giving them to you for free so you don't make the same mistakes I did. Here are my four rules when embarking on a cycle tour.

Rule #1: Don't go overboard with the buffet dinner

As we arrived at the Hermitage Hotel for dinner, our guide informed us that dinner tonight was going to be a buffet. A buffet full of sushi, seafood, meats, desserts, and so much more. You best believe my little body went back for thirds.

Now as tempting as it is to try everything, do not, I repeat, do not go overboard because the next day's ride is 38km to your accommodation.

Also, Adventure South doesn't warn you how much food is actually included on these tours: with breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, you need to pace yourself at the beginning otherwise after a week's riding, you may just gain 5kgs.

Rule #2: Don't take selfies when riding

Don't take selfies on the bumpy gravel roads - I got a little overconfident.

Rule #3: Don't forget your bottom

Unless you are a professional athlete who lives on the bike, my 'professional' advice is to invest in those padded bike shorts! I beg you. Invest in comfort... your backside will thank you on day 2 and even more on day 3.

Turns out a cycling holiday is nothing like a spin class on a Thursday night at your local gym. Hikers buy good shoes for a trek so why not some extra comfort when you ride? You're on the bike 4-6 hours a day and over 5 days, it adds up to 20-30 hours in the saddle which is A LONG TIME! The first day you are cruising along loving life, then bam! You can't sit.

If you don't have time to purchase padded bike shorts, you can always add on a gel seat from Adventure South NZ. Trust me this will be an investment.

Rule #4: Don't expect perfect weather

New Zealand weather is extremely unpredictable, take it from someone who thought she could cruise a whole week in New Zealand's summer and not encounter rain.

I booked my tour for mid-March and I was picturing sunshine and rainbows, which most of the time it was but on day 4 I got caught out in the torrential rain with no wet weather gear. I was freezing so I spent the next few hours huddled next to the van's heater and missed out on riding. Not pleasant.

So from one cycling newbie to another, let's not make the same mistakes I did. With all of this in mind, I wouldn't have changed it for the world, even falling off the bike was a great story to tell. My belly is full, my phone has a million photos, I made lifelong friends and as a first-timer, I've never felt another achievement like this. Finishing the longest cycle trail in New Zealand, I've found a new passion and will return to ride the West Coast Wilderness!