I did the Harcourt Park to Poet's Park Upper Hutt loop with my eldest as part of Bike the Trail on Sunday. It's the furtherest any of my kids have biked (about 12km return) and TBH possibly the furthest I've biked. I deliberately took the most capable so it didn't feel like a long trip in the end.

The normal Bike the Trail goes from Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt to the Riverbank Carpark in Lower Hutt, about 21km, but they do a shorter loop track for people like me taking kids.

Edit: autocorrect keeps changing Upper Hutt to Upper Hurt 😆

[–] liv 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Actually yes I did, I was taken to a local festival and saw this tree.

It's really cool, all day they let all the kids do free art and craft activities and display the results.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That's awesome! My kids love going to places and doing drawing/art despite all the art stuff we have at home. I guess it's not the same.

[–] liv 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I think communal art making is a pretty different experience.

This thing has all these stations with different supplies and adult helpers, and it's part of a bigger art festival. They even get to make pottery.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Oh wow, that's cool! My kids would love doing some pottery.

[–] liv 2 points 9 months ago

So would I. Hopefully I'll get well enough soon and do some!!!

Unfortunately I have a covid vax next month so that will probably make me out for a few weeks but who knows.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Great effort for a kid! I think the longest I’ve done so far is about 20km. I’m quite enjoying cycling, it definitely feels easier biking 20km than running 20km 😅

Was wet and overcast most of the weekend here, so didn’t really get up to much.

Oh I lie I did do one thing, I learnt and practiced removing, cleaning, reattaching and relubing the chain on my eldest’s old bike.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Oh boy, my bike repair plan is to not ride further from home/car than I can carry the bike back. I really should learn some basic maintenance and repair.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I enjoy doing my own repairs/maintenance. It really helps you understand how things work.

Can highly recommend getting a work stand if you do plan on it. It makes it a lot easier disassembling and reassembling.

I was trying to figure out a noise I was getting from one of my wheels and it was really annoying trying to spin the wheels while listening/looking closely to find what was causing it AND holding up the bike at the same time.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't know where to start! Buying a work stand feels like assuming I'm gonna keep doing it instead of giving up the first time I try 😆

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Well, like a car, a bike is always going to need maintenance and service, so it’s good to learn! Give it a go, before investing in a stand.

Park Tool have a a lot of repair help playlists: https://youtube.com/@parktool

You don’t need to get their specific tools, there are lots of other brands and knock offs around. They are kind of pricey here from what I can see. I’m still learning, but I do want to try some more advanced things. I figure it’s worth it learning, seeing as we’ve got kids bikes to maintain too

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago

Yeah that makes sense. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out and see if I can't work out some basic maintenance.

[–] BalpeenHammer 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I went looking for some new footwear. I fought the heat and the traffic and the crowds and four hours later came back home empty handed because I couldn't get myself to spend 150-250 dollars for some fucking sandals. I think the next stop is K mart and some cheap ass footwear that might last me two years if I am lucky.

[–] Dave 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I would normally quote the Boots Theory, but $150-250 for good quality sandals still seems like too much.

[–] BalpeenHammer 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That's what merrel, teva, keen, birkenstock etc cost.

[–] Dave 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Well it turns out I'm poor, because I've never heard of any of those brands 🤷

[–] BalpeenHammer 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Really? You haven't heard of those brands? I find that astonishing.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Not even a tiny bit! I have no recognition of those names at all. I can't say I know much about shoes though.

For fancy (or at least non-budget) shoe brands, I can think of Nike, New Balance, I think there's one called Ecco (might have that wrong, but the brand I'm thinking of has a store in Wellington). There's a fancy boot store in Wellington too (not work boots, but boots a person might wear to work in an office). I can't remember what it's called though. Someone's name. Robert? Oh, and Sketchers, though I don't think I've ever owned any.

And that's about the end of the list of shoe brands I can name.

It's not like I buy super cheap shoes, I buy shoes that last me a few years or more. But normally sneakers TBH. I'm guessing I'd recognise a few more sneaker brands if I heard them.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Merrell, Teva, Keen are more outdoors brands. They do a lot of shoes, boots and sandals for walking, hiking and such.

Birkenstock not so much, but has been around a long time and known for quality and comfort (and price). I remember my sister getting gifted some from my grandparents when we were kids. An expensive sandal for kids for sure.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Honestly I probably still won't remember these brands even after having a conversation about them!

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Birkenstocks were seen as hippie sandals or dad sandals, but have become really popular in the last few years. You might recognise them if you saw a pic of them

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Probably not, how often do you look at a man's shoes?

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Maybe it’s me then, but I do notice peoples shoes/clothes, particularly if it’s something popular.

Birkenstocks are pretty obvious for the cork soles and chunky leather straps, unlike most regular jandals/sandals people wear.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago

It was a Shawshank Redemption reference but I also don't notice these things. I don't pay much attention to clothing.