Best of 2017
January, riding around Auckland with Antoine, an internet friend who turned out to be a real good fella, showing me around his home town, cooking dinner, providing beer, perfect start to my trip to New Zealand.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615204/blog/best-of-2017/silgqb5fqtqqlkarh4jq.jpg)
February, first ride after getting ill, a gentle spin along the bottom of the north island, happy to be riding again.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615206/blog/best-of-2017/qyncsjpcqky7zh8abpoh.jpg)
March, riding around Blenheim into a summers evening with this bloke.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615207/blog/best-of-2017/wykd3zf33ux5nz6ronov.jpg)
April, met Andy and we did a ride in the rain, just like being at home, apart from being on the other side of the world.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615209/blog/best-of-2017/bxr8rjynv4qrphci8zhx.jpg)
May, grassupthemiddle chippy run, a perfect evening involving bikes, chips and beer…oh and warm sunshine.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615204/blog/best-of-2017/clvqd6dgmbg4yqypplq4.jpg)
June, his and hers bivvy, possibly my favourite ride of the year, closely followed by our Otago Rail Trail trip back in March.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615210/blog/best-of-2017/s6uqd1dtntrxbmkwkzq7.jpg)
July, north west coast exploring, always good times with good company.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615211/blog/best-of-2017/alqjh9iuvbktzqmvrbzd.jpg)
August, exploring Anglesey with this bloke, more of this needed.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615212/blog/best-of-2017/xnl4szzmuaclknii05qa.jpg)
September, the Sunday morning breakfast rides in full swing, we can always find a reason to stop and brew up.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615213/blog/best-of-2017/qbgzakhm010suexkrxya.jpg)
October, ten days exploring north Wales, big climbs, lots of wind and rain, exceeded our expectations given the weather bomb we rode through.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615214/blog/best-of-2017/uh1caqe0hxufsny4dwdu.jpg)
November, a barren month due to another chest infection, the odd short ride became a sanity saver.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615215/blog/best-of-2017/bedxtwthh9ijswehnmht.jpg)
December, lingering chest infection and poor weather equal short rides, into the city via the canal, coffee shops and shelter, friends, chat, bullshit etc etc…
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dqy94tfaj/image/upload/v1708615216/blog/best-of-2017/jelppgyovnvl9dd6mku7.jpg)
Words and pictures - Steve Makin