Two septuagenarians on an unsupported 7,269km bicycle ride around Aotearoa / NZ

On the 12th of October 2024, we embarked on a 7,269km journey around Aotearoa on a Tandem e-bike called the Angel Tandem (the ‘e’ stands for “extra help” – due to age and the unforgiving terrain).

With an average daily pedal of around 65km, we got back to our start point on 18 March 2025.

This was an ambitious journey with the toughest leg being the ride south during which we were blown off the tandem and, over the last 10 days, suffered from what we thought was a cold but turned out to be Covid. The hilly and mountainous terrain of our route challenged us, as did the variable weather, particularly pre Christmas. However, we rode through parts of NZ / Aotearoa that most people will never see and experience, met amazing people and along the way raised $10,433 for the charity* that we had chosen to raise funds and wareness for. We also hope that our efforts may inspire others to break free from the typical feedback of “you’re too old for that”. Getting active when you are still able benefits us and the health system.

* The Bald Angels Charitable Trust, which works to improve the lives of vulnerable kids in Te Tai Tokerau. While our runway is rapidly disappearing we hope that we’ve made a difference to some of those just starting out in life!

Ruth can’t believe that she has just biked to Cape Reinga

As you will read in our blog, we had done multi-day bicycle rides before but nothing as challenging as this. Riding a tandem bike was uncharted territory for us and riding long distances was not really something that was on Ruth’s agenda. We took delivery of our Moustache Tandem in December 2023. After our first 575km ride around Te Tai Tokerau back in February 2024, we declared that we’re ready to attempt the rest of the country.

The leg from Kerikeri to Invercargill was completed on 16 December 2024. We were not in 100% health when we arrived in the deep south. Thought we had a cold but later found out that it was Covid. Not ideal when riding. After a break over Christmas the plan was to return to Invercargill and start the trip back north. Ruth (the Rear Admiral) was still not 100% by departure date so decided to sit out the start of the ride. Cliff ended up biking the tandem solo for 2,400km of the ride north with Ruth rejoining the team for the final stage through Northland.

We had one other team member, Bob (Bear On Bike). Bob was seconded by Angel Mama to be our chaperone on the ride. Angel bears normally ride with first responders to be available to bring comfort to traumatised kids but Bob was saddled with riding with a couple of pensioners who on occasions traumatised him. He kept followers posted on the goings on within team tandem on his blog.