Preparing For Your New Zealand Mountain Bike Tour

Flight Info

Native North

Pickup Auckland / Auckland Airport 9-11AM

Drop off Auckland / Auckland Airport 4-6PM

Alpine South 12 day

Pickup Christchurch / Christchurch Airport 10AM-12PM

Drop off Queenstown Airport 12PM

Alpine South 7 day

Pickup - As required

Drop off Queenstown Airport 12PM

We suggest flying in at least 1 day before to allow you to acclmiatise to New Zealand and prepare for your tour. There is plenty of accommodation close to our airports - should the following not suit your needs, please contact us for more options & suggestions.

Auckland

Christchurch

Packing List

Below is an outline of suggested item to bring on your trip (it is not exhaustive and there may be personal items you'd like to include)

Casual Clothes

You won't need too many non riding clothes as you'll really only be wearing them for a few hours a day, but do make sure you're prepared as it will be warm in the day but equally can be cool at night. So try to include a selection of shorts & trousers, tshirts/singlets, a waterproof and a warm coat (down jacket for example). A pair of shoes you're happy to walk in and a pair of flip flops. Don't forget swimwear and a microfibre towel for swimming opportunities.

Riding Kit

Aim to take enough kit for 2/3 days - we do have access to clothes washing facilities, however not every night. I find it beneficial to take more lycra jerseys & padded shorts & socks than anything else as this is what sits on the skin and gets sweaty. A good quality base layer is a good idea for cooler mornings and of course a waterproof is mandatory. This is what I'd suggest packing;

Base Layer x 2

Lycra Jersey x 3

Lycra padded short x 3

Baggy short x 2

Socks x 3/4

Leggings - (if doing overnight hut trip or winter trip)

Beanie - (if doing overnight hut trip)

Waterproof x 1

Gloves x 2

Glasses

Knee/Elbow pads if worn

Bandanna

Helmet

SPDS/Five Ten shoes

Pedals

Riding Bag

3l Bladder

Multi tool

Spare link

Spare inner tube x 2

Tyre lever x 2

Patch kit

Pump

Zipties

Spare bolts – if you have any odd sizes on your bike

Mech hanger

Spare brake pads

Gear inner cable

Misc

Sunglasses

Toiletries including sunscreen

Plug Adapters

NZ Cash

Any current medication

Of course then you'll need to bring your bike and any specific spares you may need. We have plenty of shops, and should be able to get most things delivered to the local shops via overnight courier. If there's anything that you think may not make it through the tour, ie an older mech - it may be worth bringing a spare. Also any parts or tools which are very specific to your bike we may not have - so once again worth bringing. Spare inner tubes, brake pads and a mech hanger are fairly standard and advisable to carry.

Training Tips

Please note this is just a guide to get you working towards a good level of fitness for your tour. It's not a training plan, and we don't expect you to treat it as gospel - take as much or as little as you need from it to acheive your goals. It can be incorporated into your weekend rides, daily commute to work or sprint laps of the neighbourhood before dinner.

8 Weeks Until Tour

2 days Riding

1 Long low intensity 2 hours

1 Long low intensity 2.5 to 4 hours (Weekend)

7 Weeks Until Tour

2 days Riding

1 Long low intensity 2 hours with a few hills / some longer climbs

1 Long low intensity 2.5 to 4 hours (Weekend)

6 Weeks Until Tour

3 days Riding

1 Long low intensity 2 hours with a few hills / some longer climbs

1 Long low intensity 2 hours

1 Long low intensity 2.5 to 4 hours (Weekend)

5 Weeks Until Tour

Easy week / recovery

2 days riding

1 long low intensity 1.5-3 hours

1 long low intensity 2-3 hours

4 Weeks Until Tour

3 days Riding

1 Higher intensity 1.5 hours with few short fast hills

1 Long Low intensity 2 hours

1 Long Low intensity 2.5 to 4 hours (Weekend)

3 Weeks Until Tour

4 days Riding

1 Long low intensity 2 hours.

1 Higher intensity 1 hour with a few short fast hills

1 Long Low intensity 2.5 to 4 hours (Weekend)

2 Weeks Until Tour

Taper week

3 days Riding

1 Long low intensity 2 hours

1 Low intensity 1 hour with a few short hills

1 Long low intensity 2.5 to 4 hours (Weekend)

1 Week Until Tour

Rest Week / Recovery

1 day Riding

1 Low intensity 2-3 hours

A little gym time is also good, with squats, abs and core. (could be combined with cardio at gym)
Rest and recovery, without rest the body does not adapt to the new work loads. Majority of riding I assume will be on the weekend. Monday’s always off.
Every 4th week is an easy/ recovery week.
Longer rides can be done with a combination of road and trail. Road bike is ok for this if you ride one
Medium length rides, enjoy and throw in a few technical trails. This helps bike handling. Also nice to have a longer sustained climb.
Shorter intensity rides, without it being an interval session, push a little harder on the sharp climbs.
Remember to eat well and often during rides, as well as before & after. The same rules apply to hydration - little and often. 1 hour workout = minimum 1L water. Remember to hydrate well before and after too.
Focus on a higher protien and balanced diet to let your body make the most of your training efforts

Training Tips