Spring on the Rail Trail: sunshine, snow and a sudden interest in gloves

Spring on the Otago Central Rail Trail likes to keep its options open. One recent unexpected snowfall had a few clients making a fairly urgent dash to buy gloves.

Quite sensible, really. There’s nothing like a little snow on the handlebars to move

warm fingers up your holiday priority list.

Spring in Central Otago: a pick-and-mix of weather, sometimes with rather more winter in the bag than anyone ordered.

Pack for the worst. Hope for the best.

“What will the weather be like?” is one of the questions we hear most often. If we could reliably predict it, we’d probably be ruling the world rather than running a bike company. What we can do is help you arrive prepared.

A frosty morning can give way to a stunning sunny day. A headwind can make you appreciate the next sheltered coffee stop. And an unexpected shower might provide an excellent reason to order something from the cake cabinet while it passes.

The trick is having a few useful things in your bag:

• Layers, so you can add warmth early and shed it as the day warms up.

• A proper windproof, waterproof jacket, even when the forecast looks promising.

• Gloves and a warm layer, particularly for spring and autumn mornings.

• Sun protection, because a cold start doesn’t mean the sun has taken the day off.

Our recent riders would probably put gloves at the top of that list.

A little weather is part of the story

Some of the moments you remember most aren’t the ones you planned: sunshine breaking through after a shower, a rainbow across the plains, or that first hot coffee after a chilly stretch of riding. That doesn’t mean you should grin and bear anything the weather throws at you.

If conditions become unsafe, we’ll take riders off the trail and work out another plan. Having local support means you have someone to call who knows where you are and where you’re heading. For the everyday changes, a little preparation goes a long way towards keeping the ride enjoyable. So bring your layers, your camera and a bit of flexibility. Spring can deliver some spectacular days on the Rail Trail.

Just don’t leave the gloves at home.