Colourfully Casey

Dropped The Hog 🐗 off to the team at 99 Bikes Takapuna this weekend for her free 6 week tune up to check everything’s still in order after clocking up some km’s!

Got given some good advice to make sure I’m using all my lower gears to slow any wear and tear, I do admit I’m guilty of not gearing down as I come to a stop so I’m definitely taking that on board 🫡

This is the 4th service I’ve had done by the Taka store on my various bikes and I’m always so impressed by how friendly and knowledgeable the team are, always taking time to explain things to me and showing me how I can do things at home to keep everything ticketyboo❤️

I always thought I lived way too far from city to be a daily commuter but getting an e-bike has changed the game, and we’re so lucky with the north western cycle way! Now I just need to convince some friends to join me 👀

It might seem too soon to say this, but I really think getting an ebike has changed my life.

Just over a week ago I started a 99 day challenge to ride to work 3 days a week, for a total of 150km each week. I’m not going to pretend like some mornings I’ve wanted to do anything other than get on my bike and head out into the cold for an hour, but there’s yet to be a morning where that feeling hasn’t disappeared once I’m on my way.

“Don’t you get so sweaty before work?!” I hear you squeal, and yes, the first day I was definitely worse for wear but nothing a shower couldn’t fix! I’ve since learned that the trick for not having gross hair by the time I get in is to start with it very clean (from the night before), put in some dry shampoo, make sure I’m wearing one less layer than I’d think I’d need on the ride (to keep cool!) and then blow dry it as soon as I get in 👏🏼

2000 more km to do before the challenge is complete…. Let’s gooooooo!

Let the challenge BEGIN! I’ve (read: Bryce) affectionately named her “The Hog” and we’re already off to a roaring start with 70km done ✅

Riding to work has been something I’ve wanted to commit to for a long time, but I found it just a little bit too taxing on my road bike so it was very easy to shrug off and jump in the car instead. With this competition, I don’t have the opportunity to give in to not doing it so I’m hoping this becomes a habit that sticks. Rain, hail or shine, expect to see me zooming up the north western 🤠

This is my second week having this as meal prep because it was SO GOOD the first time, I found myself having to stop myself having lunch early 😂

CHIPOTLE-STYLE BOWLS:
Shopping list:
- 1kg chicken
- 1 can adobo peppers
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Bottle of lime juice
- Red onion
- White onion
- 2 avocados
- LOTS of coriander
- Long grain rice
- Frozen corn
- Sour cream
- Bay leaves

Method
- Marinate chicken in peppers. Cook on stove until cooked through then dice once cool.
- Defrost half bag of corn. Stir in coriander, one finely diced red onion, lime juice, salt, pepper.
- Cook rice as per packet with 2 bay leaves. Add lime juice and coriander when finished cooking.
- Mash avocados, add in one finely diced onion, handful coriander, salt, lime juice
- Assemble and keep in fridge.
- Eat.

📍 Mercer Bay Loop Walk, Piha (dog friendly!)

Took us 45minutes to complete with a few stops on the way back up. Such a great way to start a Sunday. I was worried how the dogs would go but they loved it, very tried pups on the way home.

If anyone has any suggestions on other walks in or around Auckland that are good with dogs, I’m all ears! I really want to start getting out of going to all the same places all the time 🙃

Another fantastic year at ✅ loved the layout with the main stages visible from the stands, sitting on the hill watching Chappel was insane. So jealous of the people in Aus who are yet to experience it, I wanna go again 😭 also how fun is my bucket hat? I originally just made an orange hat to match my bag but decided it was too plain so added the beads and I loved it so much, definitely needed in the sun!

I’m a huge fan of getting in some pedal power in the morning before work, but I’m also very aware that I’m not doing it anywhere near as much as I’d like… mainly because some of the hills on the journey are just gnarly enough that they make grabbing my keys a bit too appealing.

I’ve been thinking about how an e-bike would be a great solve to this issue, coupling the dopamine boost I get from some manual action with a bit of oomph to get me moving when it’s all a bit hard, so it’s fair to say the ad targeting was doing its job when I was served up the / Green Team competition!

I’d love to join the team and document my journey to show other Aucklanders that we’ve got some pretty great cycleways! So here is my entry to join the team… what do ya think, have I got what it takes? 🚲

Really lost my sew-jo for a bit there but it’s time to dust off the cobwebs and get back behind the machine. I’ve had some of this fabric for over 6 years and knowing it’s there not being used makes me feel so guilty, so it’s time for it to find a new home and make someone else happy!