TRAVEL

MY FIRST E-BIKE experience

E-bikes and numerous new cycle trails are transforming the way active seniors explore their country. Like many retirees, Charmian Smith takes up cycling again after several decades.

SOME years ago we we were intrigued by the cycle trails being built around the country and wanted to explore them.

Despite not having cycled for more than 30 years we bought bikes, got a bike rack for our campervan, and set off.

It was great. We rode parts of the Central Otago rail trail, whizzed around the Hawkes Bay vineyards and coast on their lovely flat trails, and explored the scenic the Karagahake Gorge rail trail.

However, Lloyd would speed ahead, wait at the top of a hill while I was pushing my bike up, then zoom away while I stopped to catch my breath.

So I suggested I go first and set the pace. That worked fine until we came to a hill and I’d have to stop part way up to get off and push. He would almost crash into me and have to get off and push too which frustrated him. We used our bikes less and less.

Then I bought an e-bike. Lloyd, being tough, said he didn’t need one.

I loved my first e-bike, a pale green step-through comfort bike with adjustable handlebars so I could sit upright. It looked like the kind of bike we used to ride when I was young.

You had to pedal to make the motor work but switching to high power would allow me to stream past Lloyd on the hills while pedalling easily and I could go much further than before. Sure, it was a bit heavier than my old bike, but if I did need to get off and push there was a button I could hold down and it would power itself along slowly.

Now I’d wait at the top of hills for him to catch up as he ratcheted down the gears, puffing with the effort. And when there was a headwind I’d be way ahead while he struggled into it.

We gained confidence and tackled some rougher trails, like parts of the A2O from Mt Cook to Oamaru, one along the Clutha river from Wanaka, and attempted part of the Roxburgh Gorge trail. Our bikes didn’t feel too safe on the thicker gravel with sharper bends and steeper stretches. And when we went over rough ground, like the rutted road to the Wairau Bar in Marlborough, the bumping didn’t do my dodgy back any good at all.

Then we went on a trip with my sister and brother in law who had recently bought their own motorhome and upgraded to e-mountain bikes with all the bells and whistles - rear suspension, seats that rose and lowered at the touch of a button, powerful motors and fat, knobbly tyres.

Lloyd tried Mike’s bike and was immediately won over - e-bikes were’t just for sissies! I tried Sharon’s and loved the comfort of the rear suspension and the way it felt so stable on rough ground.

We thought about it. To get rear suspension and knobbly tyres suitable for gravel we had to get mountain bikes. These e-mountain bikes are not cheap but we decided we might as well get them while we could enjoy them or we might be too old to use them in a few years.

These are the sort of bikes (without the batteries) you see in ads with youngsters flying through the air over bumps or spraying up the dirt careening round sharp corners. Not that we intended to do anything in that realm. We stick to the easy trails.

One of our favourite types of ride is to cycle eight or 10 kilometres to

AN E-BIKE ALLOWS YOU TO CYCLE FURTHER MORE EASILY. LLOYD ON ONE OF THE WAIKATO RIVER TRAILS.

a cafe or winery, have coffee or a leisurely lunch with a glass of wine, then head back along the cycle trail.

E-bikes are becoming hugely popular. According to Cycling Action Network, New Zealanders are buying 50,000 a year. In the past year or two we’ve met a lot of fellow motorhomers with e-bikes and often see them setting off in the mornings or rolling in later in the day after exploring the neighbourhood.

These bikes are powerful and take a bit of getting used to. You do need to learn to use them safely. I’ve had to learn to lift my leg over the seat and bar again. With the seat raised pedalling is much easier but a couple of times when I forgot to lower it before stopping, I’ve almost fallen off.

However, with a gel seat and rear suspension cushioning the bumps it’s comfortable to ride. It opens up a whole new vista of where and how far we can go and provides an opportunity for exercise and exploration.

Lloyd has returned to speeding ahead, but the bike has a limit - if he goes over 30kph the electric motor cuts out and the pedalling gets tougher.

I tend to cycle more sedately, learning to work the gears and the power levels to keep the pedalling steady while enjoying the countryside, but occasionally, if the heavens should open as they did on one of our rides, I can crank up the power and speed back to our motorhome.

Of course, if you’re on a shared path with walkers, you need to keep the speed down and ring your bell to alert them you are coming up behind.

Although you can take out the heavy batteries, e-bikes are also more difficult to lift onto a bike rack, but with the numbers of older people getting e-bikes they’ve thought of this too. There are low racks for cars and, for motorhomes, nifty ones that can be raised and lowered so you can wheel the bikes up a little ramp onto the rack and secure them, then wind the rack up to a suitable level for travelling. 

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THE SEASON OF ROAD TRIPS AND HOLIDAYS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

The season of road trips and holidays is just around the corner. Our Interislander crew know a thing or two about making your time away as memorable as possible – after all, we’ve been helping our customers cross Cook Strait for nearly 60 years!

There is something special about every crossing, especially on a good day. Endless ocean, a chance of seeing marine life and enjoying the wind in your hair from one of the viewing decks.

Get ahead of the crowds

With strong demand from locals during summer, travel in winter and spring offers a range of benefits. The shoulder season is great for those looking to relax and take it easy during their trip. Facilities on board Interislander are aplenty but travelling outside peak season offers you more seats to choose from and fewer people to line up with at any of the eateries. As an unexpected bonus, if you are making a journey across Cook Strait between June and September, there is a chance you’ll spot the giant deep-sea dwellers - Humpback Whales. Marlborough Sounds are also home to dolphins, stingrays, seals, and even orcas! While seeing any of the marine life is not guaranteed, your chances in spring are pretty high!

Choose Interislander for your next Cook Strait Crossing

Your comfort is our top priority – we want your journey to be enjoyable from the moment you drive or walk on board. Remember, you do not have to turn around your vehicle on our larger ferries (Kaitaki and Kairahi) thanks to the bow and stern doors. If you need any assistance, our staff members are happy to help and direct you.

If you are not a member yet, now is a good idea to join our Nautical Miles Loyalty Programme. Recently revamped, it offers three tiers of membership to choose from, offering different benefits such as priority luggage and disembarking, free coffee vouchers, double rewards and more. See online for tier options and terms and conditions.

Treat yourself

Feel like trying something different on board? Try the Interislander Plus lounge. Restricted to passengers 18 years and older, spoil yourself with the luxuries of a complimentary bar, buffet, and reserved armchair-style seating. Interislander is one of The Great Journeys of New Zealand, which also includes three scenic trains; Northern Explorer, which journeys through the heart of the North Island, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine which cover breathtaking parts of South Island.

Find out more at www. greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/

interislander 

With nearly 60 years’ experience carrying passengers across Cook Strait we know a thing or two about making your journey as smooth as possible. Drive on, park your car or caravan and head upstairs to enjoy the views.

Make your Interislander travel even more rewarding with our recently revamped and improved Nautical Miles Loyalty Programme. Now there are three tiers of membership available to choose from with different benefits and membership fees. Here’s a taste of the Gold Member benefits*:

• Free Plus Lounge passes • 50% off additional lounge passes • Earn double Nautical Miles dollars with each sailing • Priority luggage and disembarking • Five free coffee vouchers • Free reusable coffee cup

We can’t wait to welcome you aboard.

*See our website for more details, T&Cs apply.