The Return to Dillon trailer currently on Tour with the Big Bike Film Night
In 2022 I self-filmed a short film called "A year in the life of a gravel bike”. A very special thanks to @RideShimano for their support to make this film project happen.
In this episode, I sit down with Damian Stones. Damian is a professional MTB Guide, instructor, and pump track builder extraordinaire! With a long and wide-ranging career and life revolving around bikes, Damian has an incredible amount of wisdom to share, and a deep understanding of the processes behind progressing on a bike.
The short film, "Butters - Skip the gym & go digging" documents the crew building this trail for the upcoming EWS in April 2022, located in the top of the South Island, Nelson, New Zealand.
In November 2019 Damian Stones and Mike Anderson set off to the Marlborough Sounds across the top of the South Island in search of challenging trails on their gravel bikes.
Bike check time! Being riding this Santa Cruz Bicycles big travel XL Mega Tower Its been an epic summer. Now we are going into the autumn season which is the best riding time in Nelson. Just thought I would give ya break down of the current build with a few new Shimano NZ and Pro Bike Gear parts. Let me know if you have any questions on how I set this bike up.
In December 2019 the Paparoa Track on the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand was officially opened. This track is the 10th ‘Great Walk’ to be built and is designed to be mountain biked as well, meaning at present this track is the only Great Walk alongside the Heaphy Track that can be ridden. At 56 km this single track travels along the Paparoa ranges linking Blackball to Punakaiki.
It never gets old, building up a new bike, pumped to go to the bike shop and put together this new bike. A little bit cart before the horse as I put out the West Coast Wilderness Trail film, but here’s a video of the build. Big cheers to Santa Cruz NZ, Shimano and the crew at My Ride.
At least once a season I try and ride the Heaphy Track and usually it’s on our annual family trip. It’s been a few years now since we all did it as a family together. My kids have grown up riding this track and they still never tire from riding it.
I have a new sponsor, CLIF Bar. Anyone that knows me would agree that food is a pretty high priority for me. I have a small mantra when doing adventures, ‘eat a little often.’ Essentially it’s about efficiency, when you pause to look at a view or have a rest etc. have something to eat and drink. By doing this you are keeping the body fueled and hydrated and avoiding going into deficit.
Late last week I received numerous messages from my local bike shop Avanti Plus, Richmond and was super excited to go out and see a box that had just arrived with the new XTR group set. Have a read of my impressions with some detailed photographs of this flag ship group set.
I’m pretty excited by this, I have the new freshly released Yakima Hold Up Evo. In this video I explain and put together this 4-bike rack. This bike rack is going to get a lot of use going on mountain bike missions.
Kirwan's track has been on the list for years, finally got there a few weekends back. Located in the Victoria Forest Park on the West Coast of New Zealand. One of New Zealand's classic mountain bike overnight trips. A magic hut overlooking the Grey Valley and Paparoa National Park.
The top of the South Island of New Zealand has rapidly become a destination for backcountry cyclists. Like all good ideas, this one, to ride the Old Ghost Road and Heaphy Track in one grand loop, was thrown about over a few beers in a bike shop in Richmond, Nelson. Two riders, Damian Stones and Erik Hall completed this 6-day adventure in mid-winter on gravel bikes. Recent snowfalls, and a first bike packing trip for Erik, made this journey all the more challenging.
Really stoked to now be representing Absolute Wilderness For the bicycle adventures I do, having light, freeze-dried and super tasty meals really makes the trip.
The Heaphy track is one of the iconic backcountry trails in New Zealand and we are lucky enough to have this in our backyard. Come along on a journey through the Heaphy with us. As a family we try to do this once a year, this year only 3 of us made it, but it was still as memorable as ever.
Recently I had a blast touring the back roads and trails of the Nelson region. I was blown away by the versatility of the bike and how fun it was to ride whether on gravel roads or Kaiteriteri MTB Park single track.
Woohoo, I am stoked to be now riding for Lazer Sport Helmets and Eye-wear. Helmets are a key piece of MTB equipment I place super high importance on. This season I will be riding the Revolution all-mountain helmet with detachable chin bar for gnar trails and backcountry exploring. Basically it's two helmets in one! My whole family are using Lazer helmets, they will be rocking the Roller Helmet. Like the helmet, having eye protection is right up there in my priorities as well. Lazer have a wide variety of eyewear from riding glasses to street wear. 😎👓
Really stoked that Waiau-Toa Odyssey full-length film is now online. Hope it gets you stoked on our little island country and pumped for some summer missions. Massive high five to our film sponsors this film wouldn't have happened without them Kayak HQ, Alpacka Pack rafts, Packrafting nz and Marmot NZ.
This year's family trip on the Heaphy Track was just Zack and I over a couple of days in the middle of the winter. The Heaphy track is always a special trip with my kids, really rewarding to see them grow and progress on each trip. Each time we take them through we always talk about sections of the trail they have had challenges on, like the first time Zack cleaned the notoriously slippery coal seam (RIP), or highlights like getting to the Heaphy hut or reaching the tops of major climbs... but mostly we end up talking about food.