The Bike Wife 1.0: NZ Fun Facts

Friday, July 27, 2012

NZ Fun Facts

I got an email the other day (possibly prompted by possibly a slightly impatient sounding one sent the day before by yours truly)...
"Kristen, we have received all the documents needed to process your nursing license. It should be issued in a couple of days"

YESSSSS!!!!

I've been spending a disproportionate amount of time studying everything I can about NZ lately, instead of: cleaning my house, completing my CE's (shit, 3 to go, 3 days to do it), updating my blog... I've been reading others' blogs, books, looking at statistics regarding the quality of living, nursing comparisons, the increased cost of living. I think there's a saying buried in there somewhere... quality is more expensive??

Anyhow, a few interesting/fun tidbits about my future home country:

-The ratio of sheep to humans.... 9:1 (higher than 20:1 on the south island, our future home)!!!

-Buy sunblock! There's a hole in the ozone layer RIGHT over NZ. So fair skinned Norske's like me burn easy; there's a higher rate of skin cancer in NZ.

- It's true! There are no snakes in New Zealand.

-You have accident insurance the second your feet touch NZ soil. Visitor, expat, or citizen, it doesn't matter who you are. Translation: your mental and physical health costs are fully covered in the country of NZ in the event of an accident, and therefore you need not SUE anyone over your misfortune. Actual quote from the book I'm reading: "Are you a personal injury lawyer moving to New Zealand??? ...Find a new profession".

-New Zealand was the first country to give men and women equal suffrage (ie: rights, the right to vote) in 1893. It was also the first country to have its top three positions of power held by women: The Prime Minister, the Governor General, and the Chief Justice.

- The most southern point of New Zealand is the closest land mass to Antarctica.

- New Zealand was forced out of the ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, United States) alliance in the 1980s when it outlawed nuclear arms and power.

- The legal drinking age is 18, but alcohol consumption at any age is allowed when parents are at the table.

-In the spirit of tonights opening ceremony: New Zealand has won more Olympic gold medals than any other country, per capita.

-Gay marriage is legal. 'NOUGH SAID!

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Bike Babble

Here's a list of terms to help decipher what the #@&*! I'm blogging about:

Berm - a turn in a trail, usually built up with hard packed dirt, or sometimes wood/rock. A berm's purpose is to allow/withstand the weight of a rider making an aggressive turn.

Chamois - the padded spandex shorts worn under loose mountain bike shorts, and never, ever on its own. Also, should never be worn a minute longer than absolutely necessary. Like a condom.

Clapped Out - and old, well used bike. It may have been nice at one time, but is now a POS.

Clipless - bicycle pedals that clip in to one's bike shoes, thus making the human and the bike into one cohesive unit.

DH - downhill; as in DH bike (more travel), or DH trail. Downhill mountain biking is gravity assisted decent down a mountain, usually with technical features like jumps, drops, and rocky sections. DH races are very technical, usually no climbing, and are only a few minutes in length.

Enduro - A multi-staged race that includes both climbing and descending, and can also include being shuttled to the top of a trail or mountain. Timed stages are usually downhill, un-timed stages uphill.

Fire Road - a large, wide open trail, usually the width of a 4-wheeler or truck, typically smoother dirt or gravel. Preferred by roadies who are trying to mountain bike.

Fork - the front end of the bike, below the handle bars. The fork compresses (see "travel") anywhere from 2-8 inches on a mountain bike , depending on the type, to allow for more aggressive riding.

Free Riding - a broader range of mountain bikers; generally used to describe individuals who build their own trails, use natural features as stunts, are creative in trail/jump building. Will hike-a-bike for good DH trail riding, will put blood, sweat, and tears into good trail building.

Full Suspension - front and rear suspension on a mountain bike: the fork in front, and a rear shock in back. Contrasts with a hard tail (a mountain bike with suspension only in the front) or a road bike or cruiser (no suspension at all).

Gap - the distance between the take off and landing of a jump or drop, ie: the spot where you and your bike are in the air.

Hucking - to commit to a very large jump, drop, or gap, usually a very large stunt.

Loamy - soft, highly organic dirt. Desirable. Not rocky. Think Oregon and Washington conditions.

MTB - Mountain Biking

North Rim - A local Chico trail that is extremely rough and rocky. Quite steep in some places, less in others, but a steady climb for several miles. There are barely any trees, and it is the bane of my existence.

Shred - to ride vigorously, synonymous with "ripping" and "killing it".

Shuttle - the means of getting up to the top of a mountain/hill where a downhill trail starts. Usually in the form of a truck, or "shuttle truck".

Single Track - a narrow trail that is approximately the width of the bike. It is frequently smooth and flowing, but it may also exhibit technical rocky sections and may be criss-crossed with tree roots. Considered the best type of trail on which to ride mountain bikes.

Super D - a long downhill race with some climbing. Not nearly as much climbing as in XC, or as long of a race. Usually Super D has more technical downhill features, and lasts 20-30 minutes.

Travel - the amount that the fork is able to compress, thus, the larger amounts of force the bike can withstand.

XC - Cross Country, as in XC bike (less travel) or XC trail (uphill & downhill). XC racing is up and down hills, and courses are typically several miles long, and can take 2-4 hours to complete.