Amy and Kyle's Around the world challenge

[rualexander]

Overnight flight to NZ South Island so they had an easier day. ‘Only’ 88 hilly miles! They are very fit now and going well. I hope the weather holds as NZ can be grim in July, especially south of Wellington.

Forecast for the week ahead is pretty good.
Daytime temps of around 10-12°C and around -2° to 5C overnight.
Winds variable.
Need to watch out for ice in early morning starts I guess, especially as salt isn't used on roads in NZ.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Do Panaracer do ice spike tyres?🤣

 

[fossyant]

Do Panaracer do ice spike tyres?🤣

You don't want to be doing more than 20 miles on them. They'll never get the record.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Do Panaracer do ice spike tyres?🤣

No but all the nails in their tyres will deal with it

 

[Ming the Merciless]

They are now 56 days in, and averaged 235km a day thus far. Looks solid for Amy’s aim so far. Just over a third of the way through if they keep it up.

 

[Sea of vapours]

Just over a third of the way through

45% of the required distance: I'm giving that 'not far off half way round' ! They'll pass half way somewhere on North Island, in about six days from now, so Amy's sub 150 days target does look very much within reach.
EDIT: half the required distance is 14,485km. From where they are now, they'll reach that about 50km before Auckland. Their actual half way mark is likely to be a little way out of Anchorage, depending on how precise they're being with the distance.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

45% of the required distance: I'm giving that 'not far off half way round' ! They'll pass half way somewhere on North Island, in about six days from now, so Amy's sub 150 days target does look very much within reach.

Yeah sub 140 at current rate of progress now you mention it.

 

[fossyant]

Comfortable margin now for breakdowns/illness/crappy weather

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Comfortable margin now for breakdowns/illness/crappy weather

Punctures…

 

[rualexander]

Got herself a QOM straight out of the airport 😂

 

[geocycle]

Got herself a QOM straight out of the airport 😂

View attachment 812768

While carrying kit!

 

[Sea of vapours]

While carrying kit!

It is not, shall we say, a hotly contested segment ...

EDIT: What's very impressive is that they were faster than Lael Wilcox on many segments across Australia. Obviously, weather conditions will have been different, but on some of those segments they definitely had a headwind.

 

[geocycle]

It is not, shall we say, a hotly contested segment ...

EDIT: What's very impressive is that they were faster than Lael Wilcox on many segments across Australia. Obviously, weather conditions will have been different, but on some of those segments they definitely had a headwind.

Yes that is impressive. Being mentioned in the same sentence as Lael shows they have really moved up a level. They definitely had some days with headwinds across Australia but overall the winter weather there seemed fairly kind. Whatever the conditions, the mental strength to ride across places like the Nullabor is considerable. I can’t imagine riding all day on the same road with barely bend or a gear change.

 

[fossyant]

I can’t imagine riding all day on the same road with barely bend or a gear change.

Quite, it's like a real life version of Zwift. I ride outside for the visual and physical output - must be hard going on one road, all day for 200 miles every day. At least New Zealand will be stunning scenery.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Quite, it's like a real life version of Zwift. I ride outside for the visual and physical output - must be hard going on one road, all day for 200 miles every day. At least New Zealand will be stunning scenery.

Oh the Outback has its changes as well. The vegetation, the shades of colour, the rocks, open vistas. Plus wildlife when it pops up. It is different but still compelling.