Up the River without a paddle

WHERE ARE WE GOING
Circumnavigating the Whau River by an indirect route....
Starting and finishing at Ken Maunder Park, New Lynn.
Kreem Cafe Henderson for lunch.

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS

• Northwestern cycle path - open the throttle and blast along, or just cruise and watch the tide coming in.
• Some West Auckland parks.
• An especially narrow bridge. (Bypass route for those with oversized handlebars).
• More parks.
• A myriad of quiet back streets.
• A couple of gravel tracks.
• 5 easy steps - 4 up and 1 down - all fairly gentle.

RIDE DIFFICULTY
Distance is approximately 35km. Total climb is estimated around 425m, (which means over 400m of glorious descent). Around 75% on quiet roads. The remainder is concrete paths, and 1.5km of gravel/dirt tracks.
No major hills, (ish...), but plenty of ups and downs with some short steep sections through parks that require full use of your gears, and power if you are on an ebike.
This ride at an Intermediate Level - Suitable for all types of bikes, road tyres may not be the best for the walking track in waterview, expect to walk your bike for very short distances unless you can navigate easy steps and a couple of clay patches with little mud...
The pace is will be the speed of the slowest rider, Some rider experience and ability is recommended.

THE RIDE
Ride starts at the car park by Ken Maunder Park, New Lynn. The entrance to the car park is on Binsted Road off Rata Street. Parking is available at this car park.
We will start the ride north along Rata St., then work our way through Avondale, past Riversdale and Eastdale Reserves, up through Heron Park, weave our way through Waterview and the local walking track, out along the Northwestern cycle path, wriggle through Te Atatu South, a short jaunt up and down Waikumete Stream and out past the Trusts Stadium to;

LUNCH
Kreem Cafe, Universal Drive, Henderson. With lashings of creamy goodness.

AFTER LUNCH
Back out to NW cycle path to work off some of those creamy calories, and by truly circuitous means and via every park reasonably possible on the way, we meander through Glendene and Kelston, thinking all the way how marvelous the Whau River cycle way will be when it is finally completed. Oh, and then back to Ken Maunder Park where it all began.

NOTE
- Is weather dependent, if more than light rain likely, will cancel day before.
- Please bring a spare tube for your bike wheel size.
- We travel at circa 20kmph an hour except for down hills.
- We stop often to bunch up.
- We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost.
- We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
- Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.
- Riders are encouraged to wear Hi Vis or visible colours and use their bike lights.

If you are signed up for the ride but change your mind at the last minute please text or phone me on 0221630500 to advise. Same if you are running late.