YEARS of experience have taught me to beware when Rozy Rawlinson says "Why don't we....?" The ensuing expeditions usually take much longer than expected and include many unmentioned hazards.
So, naturally, when Rozy asked me to try out the recently opened mountainbike park in Harakeke forest, I agreed with sometrepidation. But what a pleasant surprise! Even for an ageing novice without the "right' bike or gear (ladies, padded shorts are recommended), it was a wonderful experience.
On a glorious autumn morning we started out on the "easy", flat Pauri track, a 6 km stretch along the northern perimeter of the forest. It incorporates a viewpoint where, on a good day Mt Taranaki and Mt Ruapehu are both visible. We returned along a beautiful, hand-smoothed forest tracks called Mark's Meander and Express, past clumps of vivid yellow toadstools.
I was in my element, reminiscing to Rozy about many childhood bike rides in Africa with my older brother.
The home stretch was along the aptly named Rozy's Folly. So bold and confident was I now, regardless of the many sharp bends that I found myself hurtling towards a small tree.
A swift left turn had me airborne, landing on a soft bank, unscathed.
There was a small adrenaline rush at finishing the ride intact and not having been too much of a wimp. As we were leaving we met a grandmother and two small girls who were pondering which trail to try next.
Credit for the construction of the park goes to Frank and Rozy Rawlinson, Mark Humphrey, Brett Watson and many others who have put hours of time and effort into creating a wonderful new facility for bikers of all ages.
If you haven't been there yet I'd highly recommend it. By joining the local mountainbike club you also receive a free "Manky" (Frank's design), with a map of all the tracks.
