Kiwi's have a reputation for being able to fix, make or do
anything they set their heart on, I guess you could call us a
country of 4 million MacGyvers. (The intelligent, optimistic,
laid-back, resourceful secret agent played by Richard Dean Anderson) While
visiting Rotorua, in the central north island I came across three
great examples of the kind of kiwi ingenuity we're famous for.
65 people voted that I race a Shweeb - effectively a monorail
crossed with a bicycle that sits 7 metres off the ground. While I
got to experience it's adventure application, the concept of a
bicycle monorail transport system really excited me. It turns out
I'm not the only one impressed with the idea. The Shweeb won $1
million in a Google competition last year for 10 ideas that
will change the world. This invention has the potential not only to
eliminate annoying stinky traffic, but accidents as well.
Shane, my one-man support crew and I arrived at Agroventures adventure playground just out of
Rotorua city, ready to race. We were strapped into our pods, door
closed and given a push to start. You're in a recumbent position
(lying back) which is 3x more energy efficient than pedalling a
mountain bike. The plan is to cycle your heart out for three laps
in a 600 metre race. In retrospect I probably shouldn't have cycled
from Taupo to Rotorua BEFORE the race and Shane demolished me with
a time of 64 seconds to my 68. After a minute in the Shweeb I'd accumulated so much lactic acid
that my legs wobbled like a bowl of jelly. But it was an absolute
thrill and one I'd recommend to anyone who loves a clever invention
as well as a physical challenge.
After all that frantic pedalling I found my legs a happy home at
QE Health
for a therapeutic massage. In 1942 QE Health was a Services
Convalescent Hospital providing rehabilitation to soldiers
returning from World War II. Rather than just treating the return
servicemen's physical complaints they took part in a daily
programme of exercise, counselling, recreation, physiotherapy and
spa treatments. Dr Wilfred Stanley Wallis, Medical Superintendent,
Dr Reeve his deputy and Matron Watt headed a staff of medical
personnel. This forward-thinking and holistic approach to health
was ahead of its time and helped hundreds of soldiers readjust to
civilian life.
After my terrible luggage experience with Pacific Blue my bike
needed some serious tuning. Enter Jeff, master bike builder at Kiwi Bikes
who was able to modify the frame that houses my rear wheel. It's
always been a tight fit and his 4mm adjustment made a world of
difference. I'd talked to countless mechanics about the problem and
rather than finding a band-aid solution, Jeff went back to basics
and modified the frame as well as tuning the brakes. With all these
clever cookies around me I had no trouble working out how to
balance my 25kg of gear on my 15kg bicycle, ready to tackle the
long cycle to Tauranga.