Around 80 ‘bikepackers’ cycled their way around an 830km course that took in much of the Ruapehu District including most of the Mountains to Sea cycle track earlier this month.
The riders set off from Drury Hill in Whanganui on 10 November, heading north inland then back towards the coast.The course took in 830km of farm tracks, Heartland Rides, gravel roads and sections of the Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand – Mountains to Sea.
They passed through Ohura, Taumarunui, Owhango, the 42 Traverse, National Park Village, Fishers Track, Kaiwhakauka Track, the Mangapurua Track, Raetihi, Ohakune, the Ohakune Old Coach Road, then followed the Whangaehu River back to Whanganui.
It was the third Renegades Muster.Under bluebird skies 82 riders embarked on this years ride. Once they enjoy a rapid descent from Durie Hill it’s a mellow start along the Whanganui River before turning inland and curling up through the hills before heading to Kai Iwi and joining the new stretch through the farms lining the coast of Ototoka Beach. Patea (140km) is the first chance for re-supplies. “Small town NZ probably feel like they are being invaded by locusts when this crowd pass through. Some stormed the four square and carried on and others relaxed at the end of the day’s work,” said one of the organisers.
The front-runners picked off this section in six hours, before heading to Hawera and McDonalds.
Many of the field took the opportunity to rest and recover at either Patea or Hawera while the pointy end rode
through the night. “The muster is a race although it doesn’t need to be and I’m sure this year as in others we will see some extreme racing and at the other end the old fart brigade enjoying the miles slowly and with purpose. Both have their merits and its fantastic to see such a mix of approaches to the same route,” reported the Muster
source: Ruapehu Bulletin
