Heading up into the hills above Palmerston and enjoying one of Otago's longest downhills on the way home. The "Tuffnuts" option includes a trip to Otago's El Dorado, Macraes.
Distance: 45.9km (tougher ride 65km).
Main climb: 360m (440m).
Estimated riding time without stops: 3 hours (3 hours).
Our first ride for 2010-11 starts in pleasant Palmerston.
Park behind the shopping area in Bond St, zero your bike speedo and pedal north from "Palmy" on the main road.
Just 800m into your ride, before the SH1 railway overbridge, go straight ahead on to sealed Horse Range Rd, also signposted to Trotters Gorge.
Cruise north for 4.5km, watching on the left for Chalmers Rd, a gravel road which 5.3km into your ride veers left and heads up a small hill.
Chalmers Rd is a delight, meandering through farms and in and out of stands of trees, following a stream.
Eventually, Chalmers Rd swings south, down into a valley.
At an intersection (10.7km into the ride) it morphs into Craig Rd - go straight ahead.
Craig Rd climbs then dives down into the Shag Valley.
At the bottom, it crosses the Shag River to meet State Highway 85, the Pigroot.
This point, 13.9km into the ride, is a good "bug-out" spot for any riders who feel they've had enough for the day; they can go left and head back to Palmerston.
The rest turn right and head inland up the highway.
Before you reach Dunback, turn left on to Stoneburn Rd, at 18.4km.
Note: The longer tougher ride stays on the highway - see instructions at the end of this article.
Settle down for a steady 7.5km climb into the hinterland on Stoneburn Rd, which is sealed initially before turning to gravel 4.5km in.
You'll be rewarded with great views down to the coast and also west to the mountains.
Turn left on to this road and from here it's almost all downhill back to Palmerston, which you can pick out by spotting Puketapu, the pointed hill which looms over the town.
Away you go on one of the longest downhills in Otago, watching for stock on the road and the odd vehicle.
When you near Palmerston, turn right on to Brough Rd, which will take you into the town.
The tougher ride: Those keen for a longer ride and who want to see the Macraes gold mine should stay on SH85 at the intersection with Stoneburn Rd, ride through Dunback then turn left on to Macraes Rd, a sealed route which winds up into the hills.
At the mine, you can turn left on to Golden Bar Rd and set sail towards Palmerston or ride 3km further to visit the historic Stanleys Hotel - and if you've got a hunger, try a Stanleyburger.
Golden Bar Rd features a spectacular, sometimes scary downhill.
From Stoneburn, follow the main route back to Palmerston.
