Rotorua psychologist cycles the length of NZ
24/02/2025
As you read this Sheree Briggs will be making her way down the motu on the biggest physical challenge of her life.
The psychologist and Child Development Team lead at Health NZ Lakes is about to cycle as much of the length of New Zealand as she can in 30 days.
She’s one of about 200 cyclists taking part in the Tour Aotearoa self-supported 3000km brevet.
A brevet is not a race. It is a ride following a set course, via 30 photo checkpoints, which entrants must complete between 10 and 45 days.
Sheree starts on Sunday 23 February at 8am and has four weeks to complete the brevet before heading back to work at Te Aka Mauri, Rotorua’s children’s hub.
It’s only by accident she finds herself on this quest.
“I used to do triathlons but I was knocked off my bike and fractured my back. Running isn’t something that my back is happy with so I ended up doing more and more cycling.
“I was looking for another challenge and this is quite a good one. It’s my biggest physical challenge to date.
“I had a bike crash a few years ago. I had to lean into the recovery and wait for my back to heal. It was a challenge in being patient but this is a challenge I’ve made by choice.”
Being in the triathlon club has been a help to Sheree as several friends have already completed the brevet. They’ve helped her with not just the training but also knowing what and how to pack and other Tour Aotearoa admin.
Her bike is a “heavy old steel” bike with no suspension and she will carry about 10kg of gear, including a tent.
“The more I’ve ridden the bike the better I feel on it.
“My first ride was from Hamurana to the middle of Rotorua with nothing extra, about 16km and it felt like a tractor, but it’s got less hard. It’s robust and will stand up to the gravel roads.
“I’m looking forward to riding through the South Island as the scenery is so different to what I’ve seen on the North Island, but I don’t want to wish the North Island away.
“People keep reminding me to not stress about getting from A to B but to enjoy the journey, I’m looking forward to having a complete break away from work.”
You can follow Sheree’s dot on the Tour Aotearoa tracker here: https://ta25.maprogress.com/