NZ Tour -- In Memory of Mike

$30,580 of $35,000 goal

Given by 256 generous donors in around 3 months

We're touring NZ, from North to South, in memory of Mike Doig, fundraising for the wonderful rescue helicopters along the way

Dunedin, Otago

+202 images

The world-famous Phantom riders are off on another NZ tour, in memory of Mike Doig who we sadly lost last year. We're raising funds to support the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust, who do great work and whose services some of us have used in the past!

We start our trip in from Cape Reinga on 2nd March 2024, and will spend the next 21 days on the road, ending at Bluff on 23rd March.

Whatever you can donate will make a big difference to the rescue helicopter trust

Your $10 donation will sponsor 1 km of our journey

Your $100 donation will sponsor 1000 metres of elevation for our climbs

Your $1000 donation will sponsor either the North Island or South Island legs of our journey.

...and your donation of any other amount will be greatly appreciated by our burning muscles!

Reset — Back to Regular Phantom Rides 6 April 2024

Life as a Phantom reruns to normal now that the Tour is over and the bodies are rested — Easter was a great time for many of us to refresh (bike-free for some of us).

What does normal look like for a Phantom Ride? Well, at this time of year it looks like *dark*, as we set off on our Otago Peninsula loop before dawn!

This means it’s headlights and taillights on high, with the road ahead navigated by memory and torch beam (no street lights on most of the loop). The photo with the update is at Pukehiki, just past the summit of Highcliff Road, close to Larnach Castle.

The early start gives us the joy of sunrise (around 8am today) and glorious views thereafter — the Highcliff/Portobello loop was rated as one of the top 10 urban bike rides *in the world* by Lonely Planet, so it is never boring or lacking scenery.

It’s back to town via the bays on the low road, with the lure of coffee and cheese rolls a strong motivator by this time, with the legs starting to get a little weary.

And the end-of-ride coffee is great at Salt, the Phantoms’ favourite cafe, and clearly the best in the known universe.

We’re there by 9am, just as the vibe is building at St Clair with dog walkers, surfers and folks out for a stroll and a coffee. It was nice enough to pull together a Phantom table out on the pavement today, but as the winter months approach we’ll need to retreat indoors to thaw out instead.

It’s nice to be home and back to our normal ride, but with great memories of the Tour…

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Read 29 more updates

Cathy on 17 Apr 2024

$100

Phantom Riders Cycle Group

Thanks Cathy. According to the Give-a-Little counter you are the 256th donor to our fundraiser. It's not a round number as such (unless you count in base-16), but it is remarkable to us, as a group of ageing cyclists, how generous people have been to our cause! We know that we have chosen a critical charity to support, in the Rescue Helicopter Trust, and we also know how appreciative they will be for the generous donation you have made. With all our best wishes, from "The Phantoms"

ASURE Brookvale Motel on 16 Apr 2024

$50

Phantom Riders Cycle Group

Thanks so much for this, which will be greatly appreciated by the Rescue Helicopter Trust. We were very appreciative of your wonderful accommodation in Wanaka, which was close to the end of our Tour so when we were feeling quite tired! We look forward to coming back your way soon, and highly recommend your motel to anyone who's reading our posts... with best regards from "The Phantoms"

Guest Donor on 14 Apr 2024

Private

Phantom Riders Cycle Group

Thanks so much for this, which adds significantly to the amount we've raised for the Rescue Helicopter Trust -- it was amazing to see what a dedicated team they have here in Dunedin, and we also called in to see their Queenstown base when we passing through on the Tour. Thanksfully we had a safe ride and didn't need their services -- partly because we were so fortunate with the lovely conditions during March, not like the dreadful rain that lashed the West Coast and elsewhere this week. We hope you've stayed safe and dry. With best regards and thanks again from "The Phantoms"

FPA on 10 Apr 2024

Well done guys.

$30

Phantom Riders Cycle Group

Thanks very much! We've had time to reflect on our achievements and thing we did pretty well also... but we were very lucky, as if we had been coming down the West Coast this week just past we would probably have all got washed away. With thanks again from "The Phantoms"

Dave on 04 Apr 2024

👏👏👏

$50

Phantom Riders Cycle Group

Thanks Dave, that's much appreciated and will certainly help support the Rescue Helicopter Trust's great work. We're pleased to be finished the Tour, with wonderful memories of the time on the road together, and we're amazed with how fortunate we were with the weather we had along the way. Bodies are resting and bikes are getting some TLC after being pushed hard for three weeks... All the best from "The Phantoms".