Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Distance: 18 km
Distance: 18 km
Start: Beach Road car park near Waimairi Surf Club
Finish: Same place (it's a loop)
Date: Friday 29th November 2019
We parked at the end of Beach Road at the car park and biked along the coastal track heading north (with glimpses of some fine surfing waves). Then it was into the forest along a higgeldy piggledy track through the pines. This was the most adventurous mountain bike track I have ever done - but I think the grade is possibly 'easy'. I have no idea where we went but it was a loop track and at some point we were very near Spencer Park [Editors note: see map below - added 2 years later].
Finish: Same place (it's a loop)
Date: Friday 29th November 2019
We parked at the end of Beach Road at the car park and biked along the coastal track heading north (with glimpses of some fine surfing waves). Then it was into the forest along a higgeldy piggledy track through the pines. This was the most adventurous mountain bike track I have ever done - but I think the grade is possibly 'easy'. I have no idea where we went but it was a loop track and at some point we were very near Spencer Park [Editors note: see map below - added 2 years later].
I loved the wind whistling through my ears and the rush down the 'steep' tracks. I cannot believe I have lived in Christchurch for twenty years and have never biked this track!! I think Bottle Lake Forest Park might be a bit of a Christchurch gem. It used to be the site of the Burwood landfill but now that's a grassy hill. We forgot to take photos but we did end up being on telly (that's the triathlete Andrea Hewitt running, we are in the background).
The grand finale was a well earned flat white at "Switch" cafe in Brighton. They make great coffee.
Update May 2021: Managed to record the track this time -and it's still an awesome ride!
