1. Master Gear list

2. links to web sites with gear you might want to buy

3. General info about riding the Heaphy Track

4. Tony Baldwin experience

Master Gear list (work inprogress)

Bike spares/tools

Item	No needed	Frank	Tim	Bill	Gavin	Rick	Ollie	Comments
Spare tyre	1
Brake pads		x	x	x	x	x	x
Tubes	each	x	x	x	x	x	x
Patches	each	x	x	x	x	x	x
Gear change cable	2		x
Chain lube	2		x
pump	each?		x
Shock pump	1		x
chain links	3		x					9 speed order by TB
Derailleur hanger	each		x	x	x		x
cassette whip	1	x
cassette wrench	1	x
leatherman	1				x
multitool	1 each
for those with a freeloader carrier the allen key to tighten  and other key	1		x
light	each	x	x	x	x	x	x
tyre levers	each	x	x	x	x	x	x
spokes	each?		x		bulletproof
crank tool	1?		x
duct tape	1		x
cable ties	5		x

JOINT Items

	No needed	Frank	Tim	Bill	Gavin	Rick	Ollie	Comments
Survival bag	1 or 2				x
EPURB	1				x
Map	1		x
billie & tea	1
camp stove	1
matches/lighters	2
insect repellant	2
coffee
5-10m cord
suncreen	2
first aid kit	1				x
GPS	1					x
leatherman		x			x
cards
port
vino
Breakfasts	3  to 4							porridge, powdered milk, sultanas, brown sugar
old tea towel
PERSONAL
sleeping bag
toiletries
toilet paper
shower caps/balaclava/skull cap
dry bags. Bungees, ties
outer bag to protect dry bag on carrier
medications
phone
maps
camera
ear plugs
small towel
beanie
polypro legs x2
polypro tops x2
down jacket/vest (optional)
gloves long fingered
gloves liners
dry shoes (optional)
headlight
knee warmers
cycle shorts 1-2
cycle top 1-2
thick woollen socks 2-3
polar fleece top
wind vest
reading material (mtb mags)
waterproof jacket
sweat band
FOOD
own lunches & tea breaks								packed lunch first day then pita bread, hummus, easy peel top cans of filling, fruit, nutella, etc
squeezies
one square meals
chocolate/sweets
doggie bowl	each
knife/fork/spoon	each
Dinner & Dessert
night one (Ollie/Frank)	1	x					x
night 2 - (Gavin/Rick)	2				x	x		Kaweka meals, dehydrated potatoes/peas, rice/pasta
night 3 - (Tim/Bill)	1		x	x				Asian noodles
BIKE PREPARATION
Full bike service
tyres - in good condition
brake pads new & levers adjusted
cables in good condition
gears tuned and changing properly
forks greased and in good condition
suspension seat post greased
shocks at correct pressure
BIKE GEAR for the rider
helmet, glasses
shoes
camelback & water bottles
AL survival blanket
whistle

Links to web sites with gear you might want to buy

Freeload Carrier

see Tony B recomendation below about the best carrier(s) to use

check them out at  freeload.co.nz



Dry Bags (as in above pictuire on carriers)

Special offer currently on at Kathmandu if we buy 2 or more get one free so three for $66.66 each
check out the 25L bag with carry straps, just the business to keep gear  dry

http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/Accessories/Hiking_&_Daywalking/Water-resistant_Covers_&_Bags/60992/Dry_Bag_With_Strap.html

dry bags also avail from Freeload slightly smaller but may be higher quality ass as above link


Bike Spares

Its is a good idea to have spare hangers and definitely need new brake disc pads
on the bike with a set of spares. Take a look at these websites links

 I find the Clark's or nukeproof pretty good. i tend to order 4 sets at a time.

Derailieur  Rangers

Disc Brake pads

General info about riding the Heaphy Track

Excellent run down read these :

http://www.mfla.org.nz/stuff-learnt-from-mountain-biking-the-heaphy-track/

 http://www.heaphytrack.com/about/alongthetrack.html

DOC track notes at:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/parks-and-recreation/activities/mountain-biking/heaphy-track-mountain-bike-trial/

 http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/activity-finder/mtn-biking/heaphy-track-mountain-biking-trial.pdf

 

Tony Baldwin experience

 

When we did it in mid June, with riding daylight 8.15am-4.30pm, it was good to start the longer sections as early as possible. 

 However,, by early Sept you’ll have quite a bit of extra daylight so you won’t have any pressures time-wise. 

 Definitely don’t ride from Collingwood to Browns Hut (too long and boring with a loaded MTB on the road). 

 Some rough riding times (which assume some mud, some rain (but not deluge), and no major mechanical and bodily malfunctions):

 
Browns to Perry Saddle – allow 3 hours (includes rest/view stops) 

Steady moderate gradiant – farm-bike track – mostly in bush – a few nice view windows – mostly stone base – a bit rocky in the top section (closer to Perry Saddle) – and some short slightly muddy corners but nothing of note

 Lunch at Perry Saddle

       Perry Saddle to Saxon – allow 2 hours for riding (add time for stop at Gouland Downs for afternoon tea).

Quite rocky for a stretch on leaving Perry.  Down hill stretch on rock.  Then track is quite smooth, slightly undulating, with great open vistas on the tablelands. One swing bridge if river is up.  Only ankle deep when we did it.  Then a gentle climb.  Some board-walks as you approach Saxon.  Listen out for Kiwi at night – quite a few in the area of the hut.

      Perry Saddle to MacKay – allow 2 hours for riding

Very brief ride across tussock-land, then starts into moderate uphill – probably about an hour.  Then interesting turning track – quite firm and smooth overall.  Then downhill toward MacKay.  Section approaching MacKay had some slick mud sections but nothing major.

 Morning tea stop at Mackay

 
Mackay to Lewis – allow 2 hours (includes view stops)

Quite a moderate gradient all the way down.  In bush all the way with a few view windows.  Top quarter has lots of rocky/muddy/log sections (not long – typically 10 metres).  Riding up (the other way to you guys), I had to walk quite a few of these.  Going down more of these would be rideable, but with mud and wet they are quite technical.       

Afternoon tea stop at Lewis

 
Lewis to Heaphy – allow 2 hours

This is where you hit most of the swing bridges.  Can’t remember exactly how many but at least five.  This was also the leg with the main mud.  It wasn’t especially deep – typically lower shin deep (not like the deep Karapito stuff) but it was very frequent and quite slick.  All rideable if you keep reasonable speed. 

 As for the swing bridges, everyone develops their own technique.  None seemed to be especially quicker than any other.  But two people per bike seemed to involve the least strain (bike is horizontal, one person carrying front, other person the rear.  Allowed each person to have one arm free to balance/fend side rails of bridge).

The rivers weren’t high when we did it, and I forded most rivers quite easily by following foot prints off the track to shallow crossing spots.  Much quicker than the swing bridges.  Good for long legs. 

 Heaphy Hut – take your sandfly lotion !!

 
Heaphy to Kohaihai – allow 4 hours

This is a stunning scenic section.  We took our time – stopped quite a bit.  Talked with everyone we came across.  Lots of pix.  95% flat track.  A couple of beach crossings.  Short climb at the end (after Scotts beach) before rolling down to Kohaihai (track end).

 It’s about 16km on a mainly sealed road to from Kohaiahi to Karamea. 

 

General stuff

 For sure you could ride the sections faster than the times I’ve indicated.  But it’s nice to cruise and stop for views and chats.

 Good to have a sleeve or spare tyre in the party – know of several parties where someone got a ‘holed’ tyre.  (Some rocks are quite pointed).

 Going south to north, you hit the sand and mud on days 1 and 2, so most of us had to change at one set of brake pads on day 3. 

 You’re going north to south, so shouldn’t get the grinding until days 2 and 3.    

 We would always regroup after about an hour just to make sure everyone was ok. 

 Swing bridge crossings take a bit of time with a large party, so good for people who have crossed to keep riding rather than wait for all to cross. 

 We had no punctures or mishaps.  No one fell off. 

 Only two mechanical glitches – a cable end got caught in (and twisted) a derailleur in the first hour, which reduced the guy’s gear range for the whole ride.   And a back carrier broke at the start, which meant the guy carried more on his back.

 The free-ride carrier is great.  Really tough.  Useful to check ratchet tightness of attachment periodically – I had to tighten one of mine a few times. 

 I reckon the ideal arrangement is to have a freeloader front and rear, with –

z-bag and overnight clothes in rear dry bag,

evening food + personal hut stuff in smaller front dry bag, and

day kit in a light day pack on your back.

 Means you free to ride and well balanced. 

 Some guys in our party didn’t have a rear carrier and had bigger loads on front and backpack.  They were fine, but better to spread it with more at rear than front.

Good to wrap your rear dry bag with a protective cover (for the swing bridges).

 DON’T use panniers – too hard on the swing bridges. 

 Browns hut v motel/backpackers in Collingwood

 Really a choice of style.  Sept daylight should give you plenty of time to get to Saxon  which ever choice you make. 

 There are some quaint guesthouse type accommodation around Takaka and Collingwood if you want a night of some home comforts. Browns Hut is quite shaded and roomy (doesn’t have the same cosy feeling as Saxon and Heaphy) but it’s still an ok hut.

 Don’t take a cooker on the ride (but do take a light emergency blanket and high gloucose snacks in case you has to wait for help on the track).

 Hope this is useful

 
Cheers

Tony