Bagels on board for big adventure

Because it was there. The possibility, that is. Mountaineer George Mallory was talking about Everest. I was thinking of an equally daunting feat – a free-breakfast quadrathon from Nelson to Richmond on Go By Bike Day.

"Steady," I told myself. "You can handle the ride, but nobody has done that many breakfasts without oxygen."

Common sense prevailed until I left home. At the bottom of Seymour Ave, I suddenly veered right instead of left, heading for Stewarts Cycles. It was all on.

The adrenalin and gastric juices were pumping as I pulled up to the gazebo outside. A staff member greeted me with a bagel. "Raspberry or apricot jam?" she asked. "Raspberry, and just a half," I replied, pacing myself. I declined a banana.

Since I was down that way, I scooted across to St Vincent St, a much more pleasant ride than my usual route, the snarling Waimea Rd. I'd love to see a cycle path through Victory, connecting with the lovely new Railway Reserve ribbon of asphalt. They can route the logging trucks past Nick Smith's house. He doesn't seem to mind them.

Happy cyclists were flashing past, bidding "Good morning". This was our special day. Even my bike had a spring in her step. She's coming up to her 30th birthday. I've caught her looking in the mirror for signs of a sagging crossbar or crow's feet around the headlight, but I still love her to bits. It's just not easy for a bloke to say these things.

We flew up the reserve on bagel wings, then down to the Stoke leg. I can commute most of the 15km to Richmond off the roads, which is fantastic. Nelson really is the cycling capital of New Zealand, and the council should be flogging that hard. Paint a white line down a footpath in each street. There are precious few walkers left to worry about, and I say that as an avid footslogger. We are such an endangered species that DOC should be helping us to mate and breed (an intriguing thought).

Stoke Cycles had set up their feeding station beside the bike path. "Pull up a seat and I'll take your order – then ignore it completely," said the affable Mike. "Thanks. I'll have, oh, a bagel and cream cheese." Yes, the menu was identical. Never mind. Second one down, and halfway there. As I pulled away, Kerry Marshall rolled in from the south. "I've already had two bagels," he groaned. How about that – the mayor and I shared the same vision. Oncoming cyclists were still wearing huge grins, possibly because their mouths were cemented open by cream cheese.

I flicked left to glide down Main Rd Stoke – a pleasant thoroughfare since the bypass went in. The only nice thing to be said for bypasses is that they create quiet streets elsewhere. New highways ultimately generate more traffic. As soon as Ruby Bay opens, Motueka will become an easier commute. On it goes.

At Cycle Surgery, "we are pushing bells", said a nice lady, trowelling a bagel and offering a choice of free warning devices: loud or soft. My inner wimp wimpered, and I opted for the gentle tinkle. Hey, it's free – as was the drink bottle.

My last bagel had just popped from the toaster as I limped into Village Cycles in Richmond, gasping for that oxygen. The euphoria of summiting got me through. I love the smell of a bagel in the morning. It smelt like, um, the other three.

Pocketing a banana, I rode defiantly up the Queen St footpath to the office, laying my booty out on the desk: bell, bottle, fruit.

"Where did you score all that?" moaned a cyclist workmate. "I've usually got mega-strong radar for giveaways."

"No such thing as a free lunch," I sniffed. "You have to put in the bagels."

We should complete our list of Cheap Thrills in Nelson. Thanks to those readers who sent in suggestions:

Monthly folk club concerts at Yaza serve up quality music. (Cheap) Fly a kite at Neale Park. (Free) Quiz nights at pubs. Stick with water – it sharpens the brain. (CH)

Dive into one of the region's swimming pools. (CH)

Fish and chips at Wakefield Quay. I saw a foursome walk to the end of the wharf, set up a folding table and chairs, unscrew the wine and enjoy million-dollar ambience. Time it for the Wednesday night yacht racing and you have a front-row seat. (CH)

Follow the Maitai on foot or bike, finishing with a wicked pastry (that you've already worked off) from Tozzettis. (CH) Check out the Sculpture walk and other trails. (F)

The Brook Sanctuary. Kids can press the buttons to summon bird calls. Wouldn't it be great if the sanctuary people put out a fundraising CD of native bird calls? Imagine nodding off on the couch to that. (CH)

Picnic on Haulashore Island or up the top of the Boulder Bank lighthouse, (F) if you have your own transport or (CH) if you take the ferry.

Mapua – a gem. Do the shops, have an icecream at the wharf and soak up the estuary views. Cleanest topsoil in the land – guaranteed. (CH)

(Thanks to Nic, Chris, Jim, Anne, Bev and "receptionist").

- © Fairfax NZ News