Pioneer 3-Day Traverse Recap

Guest blog by Megan Martin
Pushbikes Customer

Dan and I were entered as a team for The Pioneer 3-day Traverse, which is 241km long and 7,574m of climbing over 3 days. Dan pulled his hamstrings playing cricket 3 days before the event, which meant he couldn't complete the first two days. We changed our entries to solo so I could carry on and he could ride if he came right.

Day 1 was truly epic, the queen stage of the event 112km (my GPS said 117km) with over 3,700m of elevation gain going back country from Lake Ohau to Hawea. Fair to say, it was the hardest day of my life but the most rewarding. With four massive climbs and a buckled back wheel, I was stoked to make the cut-off for the last climb and very surprised when I finished to find out I was the stage winner in my category. I was presented with a leader's jersey and kept it for the rest of the race. When Anton Cooper says that's the longest he's ever ridden in a day by 2 hours you know it's been a big day!

Day 2 was 67km and another amazing, but brutal, day. From Hawea through Wanaka's river trails, climbing 2,000m to stay at Snow Farm.

Day 3 was 62km. I was stoked that Dan was able to ride the last day with me to Queenstown as even though the course profile appeared to be downhill there was still over 1,900m of elevation gain with some technical downhill and smaller, more manageable climbs it still proved to be a big day.

It was an absolutely amazing experience, not only the riding but the atmosphere of the camp village sharing war stories with athletes from all over NZ and the world. I only wish that Dan and I could have completed the whole race together. Thanks to Pushbikes for the race kit and support, we really appreciated it. Who knows next year we might take on the 7-day.

- Megan

Dan and Megan (1st Place Female 3-Day Traverse)