TASC profile — Dean Brennan

I’m a pom and immigrated to NZ in 1990. I had a freak accident in 1997 and as a result am a C4 incomplete tetra. Initially I had a hard time dealing with the huge change in my life and certainly being told by a specialist I would just be a “head on a pillow” made accepting that…

Route Thu 28 May — Leigh to Mangawhai Heads

After being hosted by Team Torkington in Ti Point and well fed, I took the back roads to Mangawhai Heads which involved gravel roads, wild cows, and blue blue skies. I only got lost once, well not exactly lost but took a wrong turn following what…

A bike, some hills and a vomit

I had been making good progress with my planning so far. My route planning was coming together well, I had a couple of different options heading north, depending on wind and weather. People were getting in touch with me with all kinds of advice. What to take, where to go…

TASC profile — Murray Cohen

Here is the first of a few profiles I will be putting up on people involved with TASC and who TASC has helped out. They are all super stars!

Murray Cohen

Rhys Darby — Vaughan’s big ride

Rhys Darby gets in behind the ride. He got off his arse and became a TV and movie star. What impossible thing are you going to do?

Week one — Stewart Island to Dunedin

I am officially on the road! I stood at the start of SH1, New Zealand’s longest road that goes from tail to tip. I stood and looked at the signpost that in one direction pointed to Stewart Island, from where I had just come, and in the other to Cape Reinga. The…

Getting into the swing of things

I had almost made it to Dunedin and been through a couple of hard days adjusting to life on a bike. Taking a rest day in Mosgiel was essential as my body was sore and mentally I was shot. I was spent and couldn’t believe I had got so far. I was happy but exhausted. I knew…

Route Tue 19 May — Tokoroa to Te Aroha

Today I had a nice downhill run from Tokoroa to Tirau then flatish to Te Aroha. 91km but didn’t know this until looking back and counting the Ks.

Almost got taken out by an anger problem on wheels. Some young guy who came back for a…

An idiot’s guide to a charity bike ride — Part IV: Keeping everyone informed

Doing a solo challenge is not only tough physically, but mentally and emotionally too. There are a bunch of people out there who will ultimately be the people who will get you to the end, through the…