TRM “hire” (? Free for inmates!) bikes are in such hot demand over the summer.

It is so good to see inmates who have never ridden a bike since school to take on the challenge of an off road trail such as the TRT . 

They cautiously nervously wobble off to return so full of confidence and enthusiastic you would think they invented biking. 

Above is the van Gurp family bike team who set a new teams record for a lap of the TRT (Tongariro River Trail). 

Of course SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed is a keen bike manager  too) tells them all that they have set a new record just to encourage thm…

There are so many different bikers using the Tongariro River Trail.

The next group of keen bikers are anglers – using bikes to get to the more remote Tongariro River Pools with maximum speed and minimum effort.

Andy Simensen from Wellington, Mal Borschman from Melbourne & Mal Christie from Canberra about to leave TRM for their initial reconnaissance along all the Tongariro River pools. 

From the various lookouts they can clearly spot where the most trout are waiting for anglers before they start fishing.

They can then plot their approach, where to cast from, to greatly improve their chances.

The hard-to-reach pools midway between the Koura Street and Red Hut swing bridges become so much more accessible – where they can usually find pools that have not been disturbed at all that day. 

Then the chances of a hookup are much enhanced.  

If they arrive at a pool and another angler is already there it is no problem as they just bike on to the next pool.

And the Dominigue family from Canada going fishing Tongariro style

 

Then there are always the teams of kids being introduced to trail biking with their guide.  Great to see.  Look at the enthusiasm. 

Then we have the smallest youngest ever discovered on the TRT.  Start them young!

Then the couples – this is such an enjoyable method to see so much more up and down the Tongariro River.  The full circuit is about 14 km with views of anglers fishing the Tongariro River, views over Lake Taupo, easy contoured (Grade 2) trail through mature bush, fern glens, across swing bridges, across farm land, everything every good bike trail should have.

Some passengers don’t have to pedal at all – just the anticipation tired him out.

Then there are the family groups discovering what it is like having far too much fun.  Much better for them than texting…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bikers having a wonderful time – show even more enthusiasm than fishos. 

Then there is some old twit testing what looks like a new more leisurely method of pedaling in comfort.  The advantage was that these laid back bikes can zoom under the crush barriers on the trail without slowing down.  There is always one eccentric who wants to be different – training for the Great New Zealand Trek.