1 Week to Go!

Well, the time has nearly arrived.  We leave for NZ on Sunday to start the ride!  We've got all our gear ready and we've both got our feet into some clip-in shoes (haven't fallen off yet...although everyone says its inevitable).

We'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to the Red Cross on our behalf.  We've raised over $1500 so far for the Australian Red Cross and we've aldready had a few donations for NZ Red Cross.  The online donation sites will be up and running until well after we get back at the end of December so it's not too late to donate!

If you don't have a credit card and would like to donate, remember that you can also donate using PayPal (which can direct debit from your bank account), or email me at simporter at gmail dot com and I'll send you bank details by email.

Remember to check the blog during December for updates on our progress, photos and videos!

Once again - THANKYOU TO ALL HAVE DONATED.  The Red Cross do so much for so many and I'm sure they appreciate your generosity as much as we do!

Wish us luck!

-Simon & Joe

DriveSmart - Our First Corporate Sponsors

We're proud to announce our first corporate sponsor DriveSmart GPS Hire Australia. DriveSmart is proud to be supporting our ride and have generously donated the use of a portable GPS navigation unit. DriveSmart is Australia's very first in-car GPS navigation hire service and has helped hundreds of travellers navigate roads and cities worldwide. Whether you're travelling within Australia or overseas, let DriveSmart make your next trip faster, cheaper, easier and safer – without the stress! Take a look now at

www.gps-hire.com.au

NZ Sponsorship Page Online Now

With the help of Clare Cain, Red Cross New Zealand's national fundraising manager, RCNZ is now able to accept online donations through NZ's Fundraiseonline website.  We have set up a page to accept donations in $NZ so if you have friends / family over there who you think might be willing to throw a few bucks Red Cross's way please send them to our page at 

www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/nztandemride

Thankyou so much to all who have donated so far and for your continued support of our fundraising efforts!

Our First Tandem ride - Southbank to Southport

On Sunday 12 Oct, we hired a tandem and took part in the Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast ride. The 100km ride was supporting the Heart Foundation and Diabetes Australia. With nearly 8000 other cyclists (quite a few on tandems!) we managed to complete the ride in about 5 hours.

The 100km ride has taught us a few things:

1) Tandems are very fast on the flat and downhill.

2) Tandems are slow uphill.

3) Sitting on a bike seat for 5 hours hurts. A lot.

I purchased a pair of good padded bike nix the day before and I'm very glad I did. Joe on the other hand, did not. He has changed his tune since sunday and is now saving every penny to get the most padded shorts he can get his hands on. I'm sure it'll be worth it.

100km before 11am wasn't a bad effort, and we think it will be a lot easier when we've got a whole day to cover about 80km/day in NZ.

The training continues...might even have to start getting up early soon...imagine that!

-SP

Something to do in December

Simon and Joe are just two ordinary 25yo guys from a sharehouse in Brisbane. (They are not known for their cycling abilities to date.)

One afternoon not too long ago, Simon and Joe were sitting around trying to think of what to do for the month of December.

"Let's ride somewhere" one said. "Somewhere far away."

"Where?" asked the other. "I haven't ridden a bike in ages."

"Neither have I...we'll need to train."

"How about New Zealand!? We could ride the whole length and raise money for charity!"

"Yeah but anyone can do that - what's the novelty factor?"

"Let's ride the length of New Zealand...on a TANDEM".

...some time passes, fears and doubts are put aside, old bikes are resurrected, tubes are punctured, lights and helmets are bought, flights are booked, a tandem bike is hired...(imagine inspirational montage music is playing...)

Now here you are!

The plan is: ride from Cape Reinga, Northland, to Bluff, Southland, New Zealand from Dec 1 to Dec 28 this year. On a tandem bicycle with a trailer.

While we could do something this stupid just for the fun of it - we thought why not support a great charity like the Red Cross in the process!? So please support us by donating to the Red Cross and make the inevitable pain we're going to go through worthwhile.

Thanks!