"It's only a small island ... right?"
This is what a team of four intrepid Cycling CHB members were convincing themselves as they mentally prepared for an epic ride around the North Island starting this Saturday.
Tim Mackie, Ross Pepper, Dean Gough and Marcus Smith are taking part in the North Island leg of this year's Tour of New Zealand.
Previously held in 2012 and 2013, the event is an eight-day amateur cycle race purported to celebrate everything about cycling "scenery, competition and community, played out on some of the best roads the country has to offer".
For the local riders, whose team is called "Veros and Villains" it's something of a bucket list challenge that will see them cycle 700km from Cape Reinga to Wellington, raising money for St John ambulance service along the way.