You could get away with taking about half of what you think you need when it comes to bike packing, but I was glad to have the extra gear... like the former scout I am. It wasn’ t pretty, but I packed everything needed, plus some gear Callum couldn’ t squeeze onto his Scrambler 400X. In reality, I probably only needed one third of what I took.
THE VENUE Over its 48 editions, the Cold Kiwi has called many places home. From its early days on military land, to the mud-fest of the Horopito site, it’ s seen much of the Central Plateau. The current site has been used a few years and is just 2km west of Waiouru township on State Highway 49. With the main marquee set in a wind-protected dell / valley below the camping area, those who had a need for rest after dancing to the bands and drinking merrily could get off to sleep without too much effort. After experiencing the Horopito horror show first-hand, gumboots were high on my packing list and they definitely weren’ t a bad idea. Taking place over Father’ s Day weekend, the weather can, and will, be a fickle mistress, and combined with the large number of bikes moving about chewing up the grass, it gets churned into a muddy mess in no time. For Cold Kiwi 48, team KR was hosted by the incredibly generous lads from Whanganui’ s Brown Brothers Bikes, whom Ben and Doug met by chance last year. With their trailer, used to haul their boys’“ custom” toys, as a wind break and a marquee to shelter from
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