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, January 6, 2010
















Wednesday 1/6/2010










See other post for additional photos of today.

Rode 1.2 km – took side trip of 10 km
Sign on van that passed us yesterday - "Adventure before Dementia" -- We are doing our best!
We opened the blinds this morning at 6:30 am to find overcast skies but no rain. By the time that we had dressed, loaded our luggage, and made lunch it was raining hard. Everyone got dressed in the rain gear (see photo). We received nice complements about our shocking yellow rain suit. One other rider had shopped at the same store and was equally as bright. We rode a short distance to the restaurant for breakfast and during breakfast it was noted that many of the riders were exhaust and not able to complete the ride because of the rain and demanding coastal terrain. They encouraged three couples to SAG the entire distance to Franz Joseph Glacier where they would be dropped off at the hotel with the luggage. The guide would then go back to a location about 30 km from the starting point and be able to pick up 5 more teams and SAG them to Franz Joseph Glacier. We volunteered for the first group (see photo) and I was able to enjoy the coast line because I did not need to keep my eyes on the road.

I don’t think that I had mentioned before but the roads are terrific, very smooth but a small shoulder. Although we riding on the major highways (all two lanes), there is really only vacation traffic with minimal large trucks. On the wet (west) side of New Zealand the roads are totally different. Because of the weather the roads get chewed up a lot. They get over 140 inches of rain a year. They say that this is one of the wet places on earth and our number of inches may be wrong. We will find out and up date the blog.






As we traveled along we took a number of photos, Jeanette and I at the Tasman Sea, dense foliage along the road, rock stacking along the seashore. Apparently people visiting the beaches will take the rocks and stack them into a variety of shapes. The majority of bridges here on the south island are single lane (again this is the highway, see photo) with a sign on each end showing who has priority. They are usually very courteous and the person with priority will flash their lights to allow the other direction to cross if they have been waiting long. Today as we attempted to cross a bridge there was no one coming from the other side and we started across, suddenly a car entered the bridge and we ended up having to back up with the trailer behind us.






After arriving at our hotel we rode with another team, Dan and Gretchen, back down the road to the entrance to the Franz Joseph Glacier (see photos). It is amazing to see this glacier and to find that it and the Fox Glacier, just down the road, are still growing about 30 cm per year. These two glaciers are also the closest glaciers to sea level and to walk to them through a lush forest is amazing. This afternoon as we sit here typing up this blog it is pouring rain but we are enjoying very plush accommodations. We are in a two unit building back in the foliage and feel like we are in the middle of a rain forest.
Posted by DetersTandem at 1:20 AM

2 comments:

Melinda Macdonald said...

Looks like you found tropical paradise. Too bad it is pouring rain. Maybe the sun will come out. YOU GUYS LOOK HOT it your yellow!! NO ONE WILL MISS SEEING YOU ON THE ROAD! we all appreciate that fact. Good Luck you have had two big days of miles I am amazed! Can;t believe 4 days 75+ miles to finish the trip! That is incredible! Love you guys!

January 6, 2010 at 7:05 AM
Deters said...

RAIN FORRESTS TOO!!!!! This place is amazing!!! So jealous. What an amesome place? Definitely love the rain suits. loveyou
Michael, Stefanie, Caleb

January 6, 2010 at 10:27 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.