- Saturday 16th November
- Cowboy Paradise to Greymouth
- 59km
Starting in the true wilderness of the West Coast, Cowboy Paradise will take all riders back in time. You ride through stunning forests, reservoirs and waterways of yesteryear built by our ancestors. Racing through Kumara and finishing in Greymouth. This ride will leave picturesque memories for every rider. This ride is ideal for the Weekend Warrior. The start last year was amazing and only fitting at Cowboy Paradise "a real shotgun start".
10:00am
Main Street of Cowboy Paradise
Please note that at Cowboy Paradise there is NO phone access, and NO Eftpost - cash only!
With the start at 10:00am, there will be no access out of Cowboy Paradise back to Hokitika between 9:15am and 11:00am. This is due to the riders from Ross and Hokitika riding the shingle road into Cowboy Paradise. We do not want cars driving into riders around blind corners. This rule will be enforced. If you are dropping your rider off, please do so and make sure you have left by 9:15am.
Travel time from Hokitika to Cowboy Paraidse is approximately 40 minutes.
The Finish
Cut off finish time is 4:00pm
Your Race Pack will contain your Race Number, Race Information and Sponsors Product.
- Your Race Number must be secure to the front of your handle bars (cable ties provided)
Note: Every entrant has a Race Pack and this needs to be picked up in order to compete.
Race Pack Pick Up
Friday 15th November - between 3:00pm and 6:00pm - Monteith's Brewery, Herbert Street, Greymouth
You are more than welcome to pick up 'multiple packs'. Please email us with a list of all the names so we can have these all ready for you to speed things up - carol@cjmsevents.co.nz
Cowboy Paradise to Kumara is an amazing track to race over. You will start on the main street of Cowboy Paradise and then you'll find your way to some of the most amazing mountain biking in New Zealand. This section has a few short steep sections although it feels like it is downhill most of the way. You'll pass over suspension bridges (10 riders only on these at a time) you won't have time to look down but if you do it is just amazing what's below you.
You'll ride through the ancient Podocarp forest until you reach the Waitaiki Reserve. Then you race along the man made dams which were built over 130 years ago, fresh water mountain weirs and old logging trams as you head toward Kawaka Valley. You'll race the Old Christchurch Road (2-300 metres of it), the Loopline Road and then on to the sweeping boardwalk. This looks incredible, there is a spot or two to take a break and enjoy the scenery and comfort stop if you need it.
Following from here you see the Loopline Reservoir and spillway. This was hand laid back in 1883 by miners in the gold rush (you may not have time to take all this in as you race past) but if you do, just think how hard these ancestors worked to make this trail for you as you bike on by. Then the Kapitea Reservoir as you ride closer to Kumara. The last few kilometres to Kumara are just awesome as the track continues on and on, then all of a sudden you're in Kumara and looking for the last stage to Greymouth.
When you reach Kumara, you will ride straight to State Highway 73, turn left on to the highway and ride past the Theatre Royal Hotel. If you're feeling thirsty, "they may have a Monteiths for you if you drop in", but serious riders that we all are, will probably give that a miss. You will continue down to Greenstone Road, take a right here and head toward the trail and then it's on to Greymouth and the Finish.
As a team of two one starts at Cowboy Paradise and the change over is at Kumara.
There will be transport to the start at Cowboy Paradise before the event. Leaving Monteith's Brewery Greymouth at 8:15am sharp. This is non refundable or transferrable.
Cut off for all rides to be finished is 4:00pm
