Cycle Coach - Janet Stark

Between worlds?
This morning’s ride felt strange, one moment I am riding along in beautiful winter sunshine then next in thick sea fog as I return to the coastline back home.

Kind of reflected my mood ‘between worlds’. With less than three weeks till we go away I feel trapped in ‘work & pack worlds. The thought of a biking holiday that we have been planning since our Sounds to Sounds trip last year still seems unreal.

Work commitments have me jammed packed till we leave, feeling the pressure to tick things off.

My training has dropped to shorter rides way earlier than I had planned. At least I know I will get ‘fitter’ the more we pedal on the trip!

Riverside Adventures - Waikato need participants for their Audit Observation.

Check out the details

***UPDATE... We are full..thanks so much for all your interest and help. If there is any cancelations we'll let you know 🥰

👉𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Bike Tour on the Waikato River Trails - 6 places available!⭐ 10th August
Each year we get audited on our procedures, and this year our bike tour is getting reviewed! ✅
So, if you'd like a free tour, learn some history, get some tips, enjoy a day out and maybe a small snack or 2 as well... get in touch! First in first served so don't muck around! This ride is on the Karapiro section and is a Grade2/3 trail. If you don't have a bike, we can lend you one. 😁

Lots of muddy bikes today at Totara Park Mountain Bike Club

2 x instructor bikes
2 x school staff bikes
14 x student bikes

Good thing we came prepared with brushes, rags, hose, buckets, bike wash and bike l**e.

All students passed their assessments which was totally fab. Riding beyond the required level too 😊🚴🏻‍♀️

Feeling worn out now, I love these jobs, riding with students who don’t normally get this opportunity. I work hard to make sure they have the best day ever

Wish they had Biking NCEA credits when I was at school!

Spreading my love of biking teaching high school students bike maintenance and mountain biking skills for two days at Totara Park Mountain Bike Club.

Love these trees!

Meet Hubby my partner in all things cycling and life!

We first meet in 1987 at Central Institute of Technology, Upper Hutt. I was studying Podiatry and he was doing Electrical Engineering.

Bikes were our main form of transport until 1997 when our first child was born. He was an avid cycle tourist having ridden all over New Zealand.

We have been on many cycling trips together from micro to more epic. One road and trails. Here in New Zealand and overseas.

This cycling business is possible due to all the support he gives me in the background that you don’t see or hear about. I am totally thankful for him being my chief helper in life.

Celebrating with him today and the family on his birthday. Very excited we only have 24 days till we go on our next cycling adventure together.

Working in Rotorua (bummer 🤣🚴🏻‍♀️…)

Totally stoked to have the opportunity to be here for the weekend. The weather wasn’t perfect but I made the most of it!

Working as a Technical Expert Advisor for Adventure Mark, observing a local operator as part of their Adventure Activities Audit. Report part next (the less fun side)

Multi day cycling adventures create frequent washing due to your limited clothing range (there is only so much you want to carry!)

On our Sounds to Sounds trip last year we opted to buy single washing powder packets along route. This turned out to be a rather expensive option, $3-$4 in most places.

Stoked to have a different option for our upcoming trip. Super light weighing in around 45g for over 25 washes. Laundry detergent sheets now folded and bagged 🧼💦🫧

Tip came from Bike Bestie who has recently retuned from a multi day European Cycling Adventure. Love it when we can glean info from others.

Feeling bright
On the 22 May I made the decision to take control of my chocolate bar habit/addiction and stop eating:

❌chocolate bars/pieces/lollies
❌consume no chocolate biscuits (which I didn’t eat a lot of but decided to add to the list so I wouldn’t sneak them in)

The aim was to stop for 30 days still allowing myself access to

✅ a hot chocolate or chocolate milk every now and then
✅ nothing naughty protein bar
✅ cake on birthdays

The last 6 months I noticed my consumption of chocolate had increased a little in conjunction with my busy life and work stress as I tried to balance everything.

I got to the end of the 30 days and decided why don’t I try for another 30 days! Now I am thinking why not just continue?

The two weeks were super hard and since then I have had a few moments but never caved.

I do like my hot chocolates especially with it being winter so they will be the next thing i slowly decrease but not right now!

The benefits of this challenge is I feel more in control of what goes into my mouth. Also the scales tell me I am a little lighter and my clothes fit me better.

I never set out to lose weight so this is definitely a big thumbs up 👍

If you are struggling with something I can highly recommend just starting, taking one day at a time. Being accountable with the chart on the fridge for the whole family to see worked a treat and helped me keep track of my progress

WHAT SHOES I WEAR

For the last few years I have been using Ride Concepts shoes. In fact I have already worn out a few pairs!

I wear them all the time for general wear, coaching, personal biking and instructing. I currently have 5 sets on the go from almost need to throw out to brand new.

What I love about them 😊
➡️ they fit my feet and I normally now buy online (waiting for the sales)
➡️ they stick like glue on my pedals
➡️ I can wear them for hours without getting sore feet
➡️ the exterior stops the morning dew soaking in or light rain, stopping my socks from getting wet
➡️ I can put them on without undoing or doing up the laces 🤣
➡️ perfect for cycle touring, coaching, instructing and bike packing for when you need to get off the bike and walk.

What I don’t like about them 🥲
➡️ the women’s colours suck (hubby’s got a bright yellow and red pair!). My latest ones are grey….so boring maybe that’s why they were only $49.90!
➡️ in heavy rain your feet end up swimming in water
➡️ they take ages to dry out if wet (stuffed newspaper helps)
➡️ they can stink if you get them wet often (granny’s foot powder works like magic)
➡️ after you have got them wet a lot of times they start to shrink very slightly and eventually your toes end up hitting the ends. Can’t go up another size as my heels will slip out so can’t walk in them.
➡️ when walking on slippery sections they don’t grip but most shoes would!

Even with the negatives I still find them my go to shoe. These shoes have changed my riding from someone who was always clipped in to now someone who uses flats. The ease of getting on and off the bike makes it worth it.

FAMILY RIDES
It doesn’t matter where you ride together, it’s about how you ride as a unit.

PLAN TOGETHER
Get the family to have input into the planning of your bike outing

MAKE IT FUN
Add in a cool location urban or rural with an ‘off the bike activity’
✳️ pump track
✳️ cloud watching
✳️ playground fun
✳️ rock throwing
✳️ picking flowers
✳️ practicing skills
✳️ Bike park
✳️ cartwheel challenge
✳️ sandcastles
✳️ single track
✳️ ice cream treat
✳️ visit to a cafe
✳️ homemade yummy treat (bake it together for extra value)

FRIENDLY PACE
Think of the whole family unit and what pace suits. If you have a difference in ability within the family unit find a place where an extra loop can be done by those that need to burn off a bit more energy while the others rest for a bit.

BIKE CHALLENGES
Adding challenges is a good approach to ‘getting’ everyone to try doing something out of their comfort zone
➡️ Distance
➡️ hill climbs
➡️ single track
➡️ bike trick

LEARN FROM EACH OTHER
Discuss at the end of the ride their favourite bits AND not so favourite
This will help you plan your next ride together and get the buy in of the whole family.

No much happening today except lots of fog which has meant cancelled ferries and planes.

Delaying opening up the office door and sitting in front of the computer for the day.

Task at hand finishing the final paper work for term 3 at Nga Iwi School. We will be going in once a week to deliver cycle education to the junior classes. T

Distractions welcome if you are in Beachlands 🤣. We have heaps of lemons and grapefruit if you need a reason!!

✅ Tent check done

One very unimpressed cat 🐱 as I take up the lounge space checking the tent
➡️ poles in working order
➡️ cleaned the dirt off the pegs
➡️ correct footprint packed
➡️ tent checked to see if it is clean
➡️ have all the items required!

For our cycling holiday along the Pacific Coast of USA we are taking our Big Agnes Cooper Spur HV UL3 Bikepack tent. Can’t believe it is only 33 days till we fly out. So much to do.

Things we like about this tent
✳️ door on both sides meaning we don’t clamber over each other all the time
✳️ size of the vestibule- great for the panniers
✳️ how easy it is to put up
✳️ the inside loft pockets
✳️ not to heavy
✳️ packs down well and fits into a panniers, top of a rear bike rack or in a front roll.
✳️ seems to hold up well in the weather

A chilly start on the bike, with frost along the Hūnua Traverse as I rode up to Mangatangi Dam. The descents required long finger gloves and zipped up jackets with several layers on underneath.

Total of 1300m elevation over 65km (Kaiaua to Beachlands) with most of the climbing done from Kaiaua to Clevedon (45km 1100m elevation)

It felt like I was inhaling my lunch at Clevedon, but well deserved after all the effort it took to get there. Finished off at an easy pace back home along the Pohutukawa Coast.

Grateful to have such epic weather to enjoy being one with my bicycle listening to nature (and music/stories on the long climbs to take my mind off them).

Never get tired of having such an amazing place to practice hill climbing and gaining strength. Loved the opportunity to ride from Kaiaua to Clevedon for a change, leaving me keen to do it again.

Best sort of winters day wall to wall blue sky. Did end up with a cold head wind as the day progressed but knew I had a warm shower waiting for me.

Heading from my home around the coast to Kaiaua. It’s a mix of lovely rolling countryside and coastline with a number of regional parks.

Cool to meet the team at Betty Bean Cafe and rest the legs before tackling Snake Hill. Stopped in at Tapapakanga Regional Park for hot soup before heading to my final destination for the day.

I have loaded up the bags with a bit more weight to see how I fair up the hills. Definitely notice it but can cope with ‘normal hills’. Tomorrow might be a different story when I tackle the Hūnua Traverse! Those hills a mean!

Heading away for a 2 day mini escape with half loaded panniers. Cooker packed for a hot soup lunch enroute and opting for an air b & b…

Training in winter for a ‘summer escape’ has proved to be harder than I thought. Not so motivated when it’s colder outside!

Have snapped up the opportunity with the promise of sunshine in the sky.
😍

Awesome to spend some time with Shun from Mountain bike club - BOFA RIDE out a Hunua Regional Park on the trail network today.

I have been mentoring Shun with some training and development of his programs. It’s always good to share what you have learnt with others who have the same passion as you.

Today’s sunset from Pine Harbour has reminded me again the more we stay inside the less we see.

I have been thinking a lot about our choice of holiday that starts in just over 5 weeks time. Cycling over 3000km is not restful or easy. We will be visiting beaches, state parks, rivers and big cities, each one we have to pedal to. Our accommodation is often going to be a tent which requires unpacking and packing each day. Food might be difficult to find in some places and we have to learn the ways of avoiding bears and other animals we are not used to.

The journey to get to the start has involved hours of riding and testing gear. Figuring out what to take has definitely been entertaining.

Why choose this style of holiday?
So we see more and really take in our surroundings. Making it more enjoyable because the journey there has required effort.

Next time you go on holiday think about what is really around you taking time to absorb and soak it all in.
😍

Running back to back cycling activities through out the term is so much fun but it doesn’t leave you much time to stay on top of the dreaded paperwork. The school holidays have been delegated to the following:

➡️ Riding (surprise surprise)
➡️ Starting to pack for our trip
➡️ Meetings
➡️ Office work (my worst nightmare)
➡️ Personal appointments

My apologies there will be no school holiday cycling programs this July. The trails have turned slippery with the rain and colder temperatures. And I made the call to not host them.

I will be making every excuse to not sit at my desk!!! Interruptions always welcome 🤣🚴🏻‍♀️

Deciding to pursue becoming qualified as a mountain bike guide, cycle skills instructor and cycling coach has been the best decision I have ever made.

Up until then I had been volunteering my time helping woman gain confidence on a bike through the group myself and a couple of friends started up.

❇️ 2014 Qualified MTB Guide L3
❇️ 2016 Qualified Cycle Skills Instructor
❇️ 2017 Registered Assessor
❇️ 2018 Accredited Cycling NZ Coach
❇️ 2018 Assessor Practice Qualification
❇️ 2020 Qualified MTB Coach L5
❇️ 2020 Senior Assessor Mentor
❇️ 2021 Qualified Sports Coach

I am super proud of these achievements but the most meaningful and memorable is:

➡️ Awesome Leading Lady

I had no clue that by starting a women’s only cycling group would kick start a chain of events to lead me to where I am today. WOW!

We have some amazing people in the world. Mr T and the Triple t**z team are some of them giving back to the Mangere Community.

This term we have been working together in Viscount School one day a week with several classes and the sports teachers. Loving being able to go into the same school each week. We change up to Nga Iwi School next term

Good Sorts: Auckland man encourages others to bike after losing 100kg Teau Aiturau, who goes by Mr T, first got on a bike after his body broke down a few years ago.

Best place in Auckland to chat and catch up with friends. Should have bought the thermos and scones! Next time will be way more organised.

It’s been a lovely weekend riding with hubby on the gravel bike in the Waikato . swapping over to the ebike for a local spin today. Shame we have to go back to work tomorrow but at least for me it’s Woodhill Mountain Bike Park 🚴🏻‍♀️
😍

The mood of the day was not going to dampen my spirits. Leaving at 8.30am in the freezing cold fog we headed north along the Waikato River Trails.

The section from Mangakino to Waipapa Dam is so much easier South to North. The bikes handled it well except for a couple of slippery steep patch’s. Definitely a different vibe riding trails like this on a gravel bike, I loved every minute of it.

The days temperature did not improve, and we were very grateful to make it to Arapuni before Rhubarb Cafe closed.

The temperature kept dropping and a light rain set in as we headed along the final section from Arapuni to the Northern Carpark next to Pokaiwhenua Stream. Grateful the rain didn’t get any worse and eased up.

I absolutely loved our mini winter solace gravel bike adventure. My bike is comfortable and the ORTLIEB Outdoor Equipment gravel bags fit so well and do not move.

Celebrating Matariki Weekend with hubby, stargazing from an outdoor bath at Karapiro Vista Airbnb last night. Thanks Bill your place is amazing.

Today started with us catching a shuttle with Riverside Adventures - Waikato down to the Southern end of the Riverside Adventures - Waikato (thanks Steve for the chat)

We rode North back to Mangakino via the Waikato River Trails testing our bikes and gear on the trail network. We are contemplating adding on the Olympic Adventure Trail to our USA trip and thought this a good test.

Now warming up at Lake Maraetai Lodge, they have awesome showers and two bike rooms, how cool is that 😍

Can’t believe I used to wear that Nutcase Helmet to all my coaching and guided rides! The bonus everyone knew me from the dots!

Meet Fiona who was my first paying personal mountain biking coaching client from 8 years ago.

Leading up to this point I had been group guiding and coaching through the Pohutukawa Coast Club and Adventure Girls for a few years.

It amazes me how many people I have meet during this time helping with clients cycling goals.

This last couple of school terms I have had limited spaces for clients due to more scheduled time in Schools. My apologies for this, if you need coaching please still reach out and I will make sure you are well looked after by either myself or referring you to another coach who I trust.

Ready to be topped with salmon/poached eggs/bacon/avocado/spinach or eaten as is. Should be a tasty bike ride treat. Might not make it past breakfast 🤣.

So far I have found the recipes easy to follow and ingredients at the supermarket or in the pantry.

Trying to be more organised with my ride food. I am not a fan of cooking or spending hours in the kitchen but have the occasional increase of activity.

Wild Thing
You make my heart sing…

Absolutely stoked with the new name sticker. It’s amazing what you can buy off Etsy. Decided this bike deserves a few stickers, not something I have done before. More will be added soon!
😍

What are your Matariki Weekend plans?

Hubby and I are heading away for an overnight mini bike adventure testing out our setups for our USA trip.

Meeting up with Riverside Adventures - Waikato shuttles on Friday then being dropped off at the Southern end of the Waikato River Trails. Biking back to our car at their HQ after spending one night in Mangakino.

I love having the option of one way rides, makes for a fun ride with no repeats. Having access to a shuttle makes for easy planning.