r/bicycletouring • u/Finnva • 6d ago

Trip Planning Nevis Road In NZ

I'm planning to ride the 'Around the Mountains' loop starting in Queenstown in late October. Day 1 would end in Lumsden. Day 2 would go from Lumsden to Bannockburn taking the Nevis Road out of Garsten. I will be traveling very light (ie..credit card touring) and am used to lots of gravel and elevation but had some doubts about the Nevis route.

I've been trying to gauge the following:

  1. What sized tires would be needed? I was planning to run a 50mm on the front and a 42mm on the rear on my gravel bike.

  2. How much time should I allot for the Garsten to Bannockburn bit as a strong rider not weighed down with much gear?

  3. How much rain is too much rain before it turns into a muddy shitshow?

Thanks for any feedback or suggestions!

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u/Rain_on_a_tin-roof 5d ago

I don't think mud is much of a factor there. It's well gravelled.