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.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010











Tuesday 1/5/2010 (entered 1/6)





(photos of the day are spread across this post and the next)



Today we rode from Wanaka to the Township of Haast. It was scheduled to be a demanding day of 92 miles we were going to load our luggage and 6:30 and have breakfast at 7:00. When we got to the restaurant we found that they would not be ready for another 15 minutes so we went out to get our bike ready. We found that the front tire was flat so we started the day by repairing a flat tire (see photo). We ate breakfast and started our adventure along the beautiful Lake Hawea (see photo) with great weather conditions.

This mountainous terrain is beautiful and we are back to the base of the Southern Alps. We rode over the small piece of land which separated Lake Hawea with Lake Wanaka (see photo). As we crossed to Lake Wanaka some shepherds were moving a large group of sheep (see movie), it was really cool to see the dogs working the sheep down the mountain. When entering the road the sheep did not appear to know what to do and the dogs directed them. As we crossed to the Lake Wanaka side the wind really increased into our faces. We made very slow progress up the valley and saw new vegetation (see photo). Another team had already been picked up by the SAG vehicle leaving us the last in the row of teams. We accepted the offer to catch a lift to the top of Haast Pass (about 16 miles up the road). As we approached the top of the pass, the foliage changed to dense beech trees and thick undergrowth, a sign that there was more rain in this area.

They dropped us a the top of Haast Pass and we started down the side of the mountain (see photo) which would take us to sea level and the Tasman Sea (the sea between New Zealand and Australia). We came down a pretty good clip and saw the vegetation change to a rain forest with massive ferns (see photo) and canopy trees. There was many waterfalls feeding the Haast River (see photo). With about 20 km to go we started to ride in a falling mist and were getting wet. With about 10 km to go we had a flat on our rear tire which required changing. The rain kept the sand flies at bay which was to our advantage because the flies, which we will now have for the rest of our trip, can be a big nuisance. Their bite is like a mosquito. We arrived at our motel soaking wet and tired (see photo). The picture does not show the water that was running off our helmets and down our noses. We had ridden about 76 miles for the day and during the last 30 km Jeanette would periodically develop severe knee pain which caused us to often stop. They think is may be overuse and is being experienced by a number of riders.
Posted by DetersTandem at 8:51 PM

2 comments:

Melinda Macdonald said...

Mom, you are amazing! You are in our prayers that your body will heal and get you through! We sure love you! If I could I would use my amazing chinese hand rub powers to heal but from such a distance pray is the most effective tool! I love you! Dad you are an amazing motivator and I have no doubt you two as a team are a force to be reckoned with! I love you so much! Jess, Zach, Kyle and Lizzie are so very, very proud of you!

January 6, 2010 at 7:15 AM
Deters said...

This is truely amazing to follow. All the different changes in climate and vegetation simply blows my mind. What an incredible place you guys are seeing first hand. You guys look great!!! Love you,
Michael, Stefanie, Caleb

January 6, 2010 at 10:24 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.