Riding Free: A Kiwi’s Journey

When I was a child, right through my teenage years, I loved riding my bike every single day. I was so fit back then that I could ride all day under the hot sun and never seem to break a sweat. I rode from Auckland all the way up to the Bay of Islands, through the forests of Dargaville where the great kauri trees stand tall, trees so huge and ancient you could feel their spirit just by touching them.

In Auckland, I would often ride from Orakei Basin in Remuera to Selwyn College, all on my little three-speed Healing bike. Later, when I turned sixteen, I was given a ten-speed, and that changed everything. I absolutely loved racing fast, pushing myself to the limit, even trying to beat the buses that ran along my route, from Manukau City to Bombay, and even out to Devonport.

Cycling gave me something special: complete freedom. It was perfect for a teenager, just me, my bike, and the open road. It also taught me important road skills, which came in handy later when I got my first Vespa scooter. I rode that Vespa for about four years, and just like my bike, it became a part of who I was.

Of course, there were a few close calls, cars cutting in, slippery train tracks, and my own moments of youthful carelessness, but none of it stopped me. I loved the feeling too much.

These days, I stay away from bikes unless it’s in a safe environment. At my age, even a small accident could take a long time to heal. But looking back, cycling as a Kiwi was like flying, a way of lifting myself to new levels of freedom and spiritual connection with the land. Those rides shaped who I am, and I still carry that sense of adventure within me today.