The Geyserland Gravel Grind - Mega Grind

Geyserland Gravel Grinds run free Brevet style events around the central North Island every year. This year 44 riders set off the on the 'Mega Grind', a 740km self supported brevet through some of the best singletrack and gravel roads the central North Island can offer. This was the first ride on the new Lake Custom Kaewa. The crew was a team of four old friends re-connecting, 3 of 4 on brand new, never ridden bikes, a different 3 of 4 having never bikepacked before. As it turns out,  one hell of  shakedown for a brand new frame build, and a lot of laughs and lessons learned.

The Route:

Day 1: 7am Grand Depart in Rotorua. A quick punch over the Mamaku's to Tokoroa for second breakfast was followed by a gruelling few hours down the Waikato River Trail to lunch in Mangakino. Through the Timber Trail link and onto the Timber Trail proper temps hit 30degrees - everybody was suffering. Setting up Camp in the Dark at Piropiro - 211k done.

Day 2: Sore bodies but blue skies had us heading out of the second half of the Timber Trail excited for the day ahead. The day took something of a turn, when Max 'Always Maximal' forgot his brakes in Wellington and full steamed into a large boulder. Broken frame, broken wheel and bloody knees. Original team of 4 now down to 3. After the excitement wore off, we ground our way to Taumaranui for a late breakfast. Heading out of Taumaranui into backcountry proper, a few hours of solid gravel had us at the glorious Fiesta Fare in Ohura - Michelle as usual turned it on with ice cold coke and a Mexican super food plate on par with anything in the world. Fuelled up, we pushed on to Piropiro to meet up with the lovely Uli - dinner at the Cozzy club, directions to camp and supplies for breakfast - thanks Uli and good luck for the TA next year! Another 173k - more in the tank, but nowhere to stop for the next 70k and the team called it for dinner and decent nights sleep. Good decision.

Day 3: Waking to the long expected rain, we rugged up and settled in for a long day slogging it out in very miserable conditions. Arriving to the Oparau Roadhouse 70km in, we were soaking wet but happy - hot food beckoned! Once fuelled up, we put the foot down to get to Raglan for an early dinner - we had some KM to cover off today and knew the weather was not going to get any better. Arriving in Raglan, fuelled up on chicken and rice kebabs, catastrophe struck. The long waning rear tyre on Sam 'Brickman' Brick's Karate Monkey had given up the ghost - time for a tube. Three spare tubes later, we were out of ideas. But, this being New Zealand a friendly local wandered over, and said he would get the local shop opened up for us to get some spares. Lifesaver! Derek shot down, filled our pockets with tubes and patches - thank you so much Derek! But then, the real catastrophe. Where the hell did the through axle bolt go?......after much ado, we removed a mounting bolt from the aerobars on Brickman's bike, got it squared away and pushed on. Our in and out dinner stop turned into 2 hours, and as we were pedalling away the thunderstorm struck. 50km on, through some new gravel, torrential rain, 18% gradient climbing in the dark (did I mention there were frogs on the road?) and we had made it to Ngaruawahia for a long awaited hot shower and warm bed.

Day 4: Feeling fresh after a good nights rest, we kicked on towards Hamilton for breakfast. 45 mins later, parked up in front of French Toast, Sausage Rolls and multiple coffee's, Brickman had to pull the pin. The set up on his new bike was not quite on point and his knees had started giving him grief. With a big few weeks of racing coming up, he called an assist from Always Maximal and settled for in another round of coffee. Then there were 2. Lakey and Snowey punched the next 100k in a little under 4 hours for lunch in Putararu - good tailwind, sealed cycleways and bodies keen to get home made it a fast trip. Hitting the last stretch of climbing over the Mamaku, it was head down time - we had another group to catch. with less than 30 seconds on us at the top, we hoped to sneak them. However that plan was foiled when we were spotted - and then it was red line for the last 25km to the finish. 740km later, we were about 30secs off the bunch in front, adding some friendly spice to the last stretch.

Overall a rock solid long weekend riding - good company, beautiful roads and trails and plenty of lessons for the greenhorns on the trip to take back. The Lake Custom Kaewa ran exceptionally well, did not miss a beat the whole trip. A great first impression for a brand new bike build.