I had a fairly windy ride getting in to Napier, but it was nothing compared to the endless, gusting, hurricane-force winds I rode through when I left. The worst thing about it wasn’t the huge gusts, but the fact that it could make a 180 degree change in direction at the drop of a hat, forcing me to make a quick change in the angle of the bike to compensate for it and sliding clear across the lane, hoping I wouldn’t be blown either off the road or into oncoming traffic. Mile for mile, I can’t think of a more exhausting day of riding (on paved roads, at least)

This is just south of Napier, in Hastings…I took a quick ride up Te Mata peak, and yes, it was windy as hell on the top

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