Rail Trail No Match for Tiny TourerGuest post by Jennifer Branje | Southproud.co.nz

If you cringe at the thought of a slight incline while riding your bike, meet nine-year-old Miranda Hill!

Miranda’s dad, Leon Hill, is no stranger to the Central Otago Rail Trail. A keen bike packer, Leon has tackled the trail before. This time, his daughter Miranda wasn’t missing out. This Dad and Daughter duo from Brisbane, Australia, have just spent a week riding the Central Otago Rail Trail.
Southproud.co.nz met with Leon and Miranda in Dunedin to have a chat about their experience and cycling in general. Leon is keen to demonstrate that cycling with children, and in general, is relatively easy and loads fun.
Admittedly a little apprehensive about how a wee lady would handle long days on her bike, our misgivings were quickly allayed when Miranda’s daily diary entries were published. Not one single complaint. This little Ozzie has spunk!
Miranda is tiny. Her petite frame belies her ability and gutsy attitude. She learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels and has been riding alongside her Dad since she was four years old. Taking on the local tracks around Brisbane, Miranda mastered balancing with her panniers on unsealed terrain. Though she was a little worried about the weight of carrying her own gear, Dad Leon only had to help out once while traversing Tiger Hill. “Tiger Hill was really tough”, say’s Miranda. [The ride up Tiger Hill was very steep and went for 4km. After we went under a bridge it was all very steep downhill for the next 6-8km. We didn't have to pedal and we went really fast. We pretty much zoomed into Omakau.] “Dad took my shoes and a bit of other gear so it was easier for me” she says.

Excitedly, Miranda tells me about meeting other people on the trail who complimented her on her efforts. “Lots of people were using e-bikes on organised tours. They didn’t pedal the whole way like me and Dad”. We decide that every experience has its merits, but there’s nothing like the achievement of reaching another fantastic destination under your own steam. With her Rail Trail Passport completely stamped, Miranda is proud of her remarkable achievement and rightfully so.

Clearly, Leon is besotted with New Zealand cycle trails. He’s toured the West Coast Wilderness Trail, Central Otago Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge & Wharfedale trails respectively. What brings him back every time is the friendliness of our local hoteliers and the scenery. “You can ride for miles in Australia and it’s mostly the same, but here, change is constant”. Leon is toying with the idea of participating in Tour Aotearoa - 2020. With trails from Cape Reinga in the north, to Bluff in the south, it’s a massive undertaking that more are enjoying. I leave Leon and the delightful Miss Miranda aka #TinyTourer at their motel in Dunedin. Both are ready for a good sleep prior to an early flight back to Australia. Their bikes are all cleaned up and packed ready for some more adventures on home soil.
You can follow more of Leon’s cycling adventures and gain some great knowledge at Velocetera Blogspot or follow on Facebook & Instagram. 
We’ll be teaming up with Leon to bring you some great tips on cycling, featuring ‘Freedom Cycling’ where we’ll encourage you to hit the trail under your own steam, in your own time. It’s really not hard at all.
Miranda is dead keen to hit the Alps to Ocean Trail when Leon returns. “We’ll see,” Leon tells her, clearly proud of his little girl.

We acknowledge Leon’s sponsors;
Bombtrack Bicycle Co
Link Sports Australia
Wilderness Equipment