Touring NI SI Jan/Feb 2011

[BritBiker]

Hoping someone could give me an idea of the weather we might find (I mean what's usual) in Jan/Feb on a 16 day tour from Auckland to Christchurch via Queenstown/Dunedin.

We are thinking about rain fall, and how wet weather prepared we should be.

[The Baron]

Hi. Sound like just the right time of year for your ride. Summer. You must get some rain on any ride but it will be warm at that time of year so use rain over pants not heavy winter rain gear.
Summer jackets and summer gloves etc.
Keep an eye on metservice.com for NZ weather.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Pfffft... tis only water...

However it is a good time of year to do the touring and the summer weather is settled by then...

But as always take your wet weather gear... Murphy says if you take it you won't need it, but if you don't you will be caught with out it...

[Genie]

Think the most important think to be aware of is the idiot tourists that you will be sharing the road with. Stay safe and have an awesome ride.

[Jantar]

We are experiencing a La-Nina weather patern this year. That means draught for most of the country. Particularly dry in the center of both islands, fewer westerly conditions (they are what brings rain to the west coast), and generally warm. As January and February are normally our most settled months anyway, I would predict that you should have great riding weather.

[Gibbo89]

Think the most important think to be aware of is the idiot tourists that you will be sharing the road with. Stay safe and have an awesome ride.

Are you saying they are idiot drivers too because they are tourists from London?!

tisk tisk

That time of the year I would take wet weather gear if I had lots of room. If not, then just water proof summer riding gear should be sweet, just take a thermal instead if its gets a bit nippy. Shouldn't be really at that time of the year.

[BritBiker]

Thanks for all the replies. Good to hear that the weather is usually good. I know we'll see a big range of temperatures and some rain, you always do touring but we're escaping the winter so anything above 5 degrees and sunny is a bonus.

I'll be wearing a Rukka Airpower which is usually perfect for summer rides, and a very light water/windproof jacket/trousers in case we're in mountains or it's windy/raining.

I got the impression we'll hardly see anyone, 4m people on two islands that size and mostly in the cities!

Only other question is about security, do we need to lock everything up all the time, i.e. viewpoints/short walks etc. Normally we carry helmets and jackets but it seems like everything is a walk from the roads and the gear is quite heavy.

[Jantar]

.....Only other question is about security, do we need to lock everything up all the time, i.e. viewpoints/short walks etc. Normally we carry helmets and jackets but it seems like everything is a walk from the roads and the gear is quite heavy.

In the cities, and popular tourist spots I would lock everything up. In the more remote areas there is no need to. Most people in NZ are honest, but there are a few who make a living out of ripping off tourists, so use your common sense and you should be fine. When my wife and I go on some of those short walks, we normally leave the helmets with the bike and carry (or wear) our gear. Everything else is locked in the panniers.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Only other question is about security, do we need to lock everything up all the time, i.e. viewpoints/short walks etc. Normally we carry helmets and jackets but it seems like everything is a walk from the roads and the gear is quite heavy.

Always wise to lock and load... oh wait... ummmm, I mean just lock up yah gear if you can.

though on saying that it does depend where you are, out in the what whats, walking to see something... or in the middle of town...

I have been known to leave my helmet & gloves (sometimes keys) on the bike with no issues, but I live in Dunedin and I wouldn't do that in Auckland... Basically bit of common sense.

[puddytat]

I wouldnt leave any of your stuff unlocked or unattended in the North Island full stop as there's always someone lurking in the trees
South Island is way betterer but all cities are alike world wide as in there lurks the undesireables waiting to take advantage of the unwary

[BritBiker]

Looks like we will need a bit of security then, we will probably not have any spare room in the panniers to lock up helmets and jackets which we would normally do.

The guys we are hiring from say they leave jackets and helmets on bikes outside of towns, looks like the lidsafes from pacsafe could be useful anyway.

[puddytat]

You can always approach locals & or shop owners & ask to leave gear with them too.(where practical)

[BritBiker]

You can always approach locals & or shop owners & ask to leave gear with them too.(where practical)

Thanks for that advice. NZ sounds relaxed/friendly in comparison with London/S.E. England.

[puddytat]

Yeah we still sort of are, but we're getting more anal .Its a by product of Globalisation.

[BritBiker]

Sad but true, everywhere starts to seem the same. Looking forward to some empty roads, sun and sea though.