Iron Horse with Jeanette and Gary

Iron Horse with Jeanette and Gary
Our 1st Co-Motion Speedster Tandem. This tandem was bent down the middle during a crash with a delivery truck, June 2008. We replaced with the same model tandem but changed the color to pewter grey. Our Italian jerseys were cut off our bodies at the hospital. We need to go to Italy to get new ones???

Who are we???

There are many who thought that the Deters Tandem Team started with the purchase of our first tandem bicycle in 2003, that is a good assumption but if one looks at the legendary WALL in our family room you will find the correct answer.

It all started in 1972 when two people fell in love. Jeanette and I have tried to make it as a team supporting each other in all our endeavors. Heading a family of 6 children, their spouses and 10 grandchildren in addition to schooling, work, church and other activities has not been an easy task. But together we have brought different skills and traits into the marriage that have complemented each other, working for the same goals as a team. It has not been as easy as it may sound but it has certainly been rewarding.

We both have a love for cycling and in 2003 found that by combining our efforts as a team we were stronger than being individual cyclists (we have found this principle to be true in so many areas of our lives together). It is not uncommon for us to be riding on level ground and to find that we are going well over 20 mph. As most tandem cyclists will tell you, they still go slow up the hills. Gravity pulls down heavy with two riders but we are even tackling that as a team usually working out together.

In 2006, we participated in the Seattle-to-Portland (STP) ride which consists of mainly flat terrain of 206 miles. The ride pulls in almost 10,000 riders from all over the country. About 80% of the participants do the ride in 2 days, but Jeanette and I with the other 20% completed the ride in 1 long day. Often during the day we found themselves at the front of a paceline pulling more fit half-bike (single) cyclists behind us.

You will notice in the picture of the tandem bike, that on the frame cross-bars, just in front of each saddle, are couplers. This allows the bike frame to come apart into 3 separate pieces so that the entire bike will fit with frame, wheels, saddles, etc into 2 standard size suitcases. THIS BIKE WAS BUILT FOR TRAVEL, but up until now the bike is feeling underutilized. It has so far traveled the roads of Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado and Texas. It longs to ride the pavement of other states, even try some foreign soil AND NOW IT WILL!!

NEW ZEALAND here we come. From 12/26/2009 through 1/10/2010, Jeanette and I will take our iron (Cro-Moly steel) horse to ride the roads on the south island of New Zealand! Follow us as we record our adventure in words and pictures. Hopefully each night we will be able to add to this blog some of our thoughts (only the good ones) and pictures from the day. As you can read from the itinerary of the trip, we will cycle for 9 days and cover 590 miles with several rest days. We will have some demanding rides with an average of 65 miles/day. This does not bother us until we look at the 2nd week where we have 3 straight days of demanding riding of 46, 92 and 88 miles. This has us somewhat concerned.

Our complete itinerary for the trip is listed at the bottom of the blog.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009






Thursday 12/31/09

FANTASTIC RIDE!!! This is the day that Jeanette and I had thought we were signing up for. We left Mt Cook at 9 this morning and it was very chilly. Everyone had many layers with skull caps, gloves, arm warmers, leg warmers, extra pants. Someone commented that it looked like we were dressed to go skiing instead of a bike ride. We rode back along Lake Pukaki retracing our final segment from yesterday. We were concerned that yesterdays tail wind would turn into today’s head wind but today the winds were calm. We were averaging about 25 mph riding along this downhill stretch of road. At times we road with several other tandems in a pace-line and really flew down the mountain.

We stopped for lunch at a town called Twizel. We had 8 couples together enjoying lunch at the Power Station Bistro. We still had 30 km (18 miles) to go with very flat terrain and it was a great ride for the entire day. Everyone agreed that we needed it, tomorrow is planned to be another demanding days ride into Cromwell.

Tonight is New Years Eve. We welcome 2010 with gratitude and thanks for the many rich blessing we have received along with our family, friends and health. Due to tomorrow’s big ride, our heads will probably be lying on the pillows by 10pm. Because we are 20 hours ahead of Colorado time, we will try and celebrate it with you at 8pm tomorrow night.

Summary: We are amazed that we are here in New Zealand and have already cycled 171 miles. Al, our guide, told us today that we are riding stronger each day. While sitting here in the motel room we just saw Tom walk by with soda pop and candy bars in his arms. We laughed. Because of all the calories we are burning, we are eating huge amounts of food at the buffets and along the rides but still find ourselves running out of energy. Tonight we are all scheduled to go to a barbeque.
Posted by DetersTandem at 10:17 PM

3 comments:

Deters said...

You guys look all bundled up. I thought it was supposed to be summer in New Zealand this time of year! Hanni and I are so jealous of your trip and we are already talking about where we want to go later in life on our bikes. This is my first day getting on your blog since you got there and it looks like you are having an awesome time.

December 31, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Deters said...

caleb, stef and i have really been enjoying following your journey.the pictures are beautiful and amazing. sounds like you are getting into the groove and really enjoying youe adventure. caleb says nana and opa are amazing love you guys. happy new years!!!!!!!

December 31, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Melinda Macdonald said...

You guys look so skinny! I hope your eating enough, I am sure you will need a vacation from your vacation for sure! The kids are amazed and what you are doing they say "They have the coolest Nana and Opa in the universe" and that is a very big place! This is incredible! TX Mac's

January 1, 2010 at 10:59 AM

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Where is New Zealand???

Where is New Zealand???

New Zealand - South Island

New Zealand - South Island

Tour Itinerary

(see detail maps below)

Day 0. Saturday 26th December 2009
Depart Denver - cross international date-line losing a day

Day 1. Monday 28th December 2009
Arrive Christchurch for transfer to your accommodation in Geraldine (180 km/ 114miles).

Day 2. Tuesday 29th December 2009
Geraldine to Tekapo (90km/ 55miles)
A demanding days cycling with two climbs of 300-400m[1000-1300ft] over the day and an altitude gain of 600m[2000ft] over the day.

Day 3. Wednesday 30th December 2009
Tekapo- Mount Cook (100km/ 61miles)
A steady days cycling with several short climbs over the day, but no significant gain in altitude.

Day 4. Thursday 31st December 2009
Mount Cook to Omarama [90km/ 55miles].
A reasonably gentle day’s cycle, heading along the canals and glacier fed Southern Lakes of the McKenzie Basin. Your route takes you over several smaller hills of 100-200m over the day, but it’s an overall gradual descent to you destination of Omarama.

Day 5. Friday 1st January 2010
Omarama to Cromwell (110km/ 67miles).
A demanding days cycling that starts with a gradual climb and then steep climb, as you head tover the Lindis Pass [990m/3250ft]. From Lindis Pass it’s a sharp descent and then a flat ride to the Cluden Hill before your final 200m/650ft climb prior to Tarras. From Tarras a flat ride to Cromwell.

Day 6. Saturday 2nd January 2010
Cromwell to Queenstown (75km/46miles).
Today’s cycle is a steady 75km to Queenstown, with a number of hill climbs of 50-100m over the day and an altitude gain of 100m between Cromwell & Queenstown. This route is very scenic as you cycle alongside the through spectacular Kawarau River and the historic goldmining town of Arrowtown; in addition there are a number of suggested stops along the way, including wineries, jet boating and bungy jumping.

Day 7. Sunday 3rd January 2010
Rest Day Queenstown
10 am church at Queenstown Branch - 1076 Frankton Road

Day 8. Monday 4th January 2010
Queenstown to Wanaka (75km/46miles).
A relatively short distance, but a demanding day’s cycling that starts with an increasingly steep climb as you head over the crown range [1080m/3600ft]. From the crown range it’s a long descent and then a flat ride to Wanaka.

Day 9. Tuesday 5th January 2010
Wanaka to Haast (150km/ 92miles).
A demanding days cycling that starts with a fairly gentle series of flat road and smaller climbs before a steep climb over the demanding Haast Pass. Once over the Haast Pass it’s a great descent [with one small further climb] before a flat ride to Haast township.

Day 10. Wednesday 6th January 2010
Haast to Franz Josef (145km/ 88miles)
A demanding days cycling in terms of distance and difficulty with a number of sharp climbs including a steep ascent on your way to Franz Josef Glacier township.

Day 11. Thursday 7th January 2010
Rest Day Franz Josef

Day 12. Friday 8th January 2010
Franz Josef to Hokitka (130km/ 80miles)
A longish day in terms of distance, which starts with an undulating ride along the coast that doesn’t involve any significant climbs, before a flat ride to finish.

Day 13. Saturday 9th January 2010
Hokitika to Christchurch (140km/ 86miles)
Shuttle

Day 14. Sunday 10th January 2010
Complete Tour/ Depart Christchurch return to Denver. Leave at noon and get home before 3 pm because of gaining a day crossing international date-line.