It is a test of grit and planning.

Central locals Bernie Lepper and Lindsay Breen completed the Great Southern Brevet (GSB), a 1100km self supported ride, beginning and ending in Lake Tekapo. 

The back-to-basics bikepacking adventure crosses multiple mountain passes and experiences the Central South Island’s extreme weather.

GSB is not a race but a timed challenge to complete the route, in eight and a half days or less, involving navigation and rest stops and nutrition planning, and no outside support is permitted.  

Cyclists have to find their own accommodation (camping or otherwise) and food along the route, which is mountainous, wild, exposed, rugged, and muddy, yet picturesque.

Bernie and Lindsay’s reasons for participating were different; Bernie said she had wanted to do the GSB for a few years and she always wanted to keep challenging herself.

Lindsay said he wanted to see if he liked this sort of two wheel adventure and, as it was a local event, if it wasn’t for him he knew he could bail easily. 

GSB 2025 route. PHOTO: Matthew Hughes/ ridewithgps.com 

Bernie, who has had a hip and ankle replacement, said she was ecstatic to complete the ride, although she missed a section over the Pisa range due to bad weather.

Out of the 200 entrants only one third managed the entire course, one third missed Pisa and the final third dropped out altogether. 

“At one point I was so cold I almost pulled out [nearing] Duffer's Saddle… then we got a tailwind all the way to Garston and the sun came out.”

Bernie with her bike and the schist tors during the GSB. PHOTO: Supplied 

Lindsay said he was lucky not to get cold in inclement weather including snow, but that getting over the Pisa range was significant for him. 

The worst thing was an injury to his right quad; it meant a slow day from Alexandra to Ranfurly and a huge 21 hours on his bike, he said.

Lindsay near the Obelisk. PHOTO: Supplied 

“Then I had four hours of sleep and did another 18 hours on my bike. I [pretty much] fell asleep on my bike and I had another couple of hours sleep [near Kurow].”

He set a goal of finishing it in those two days, not adding on a third, and he ended up making it at 1.30am, Friday, January 31.

Lindsay Breen on his bike with the sheep coming off Mt Pisa during the Great Southern Brevet. PHOTO: Supplied.

“Coming into Tekapo there were no lights, dark skies… and it was a great relief to be there.”

His final push to the end was aided by no-doze (a caffeine supplement), which meant it was hard to get sleep but he enjoyed a few quiet beers, and stayed in Tekapo to recharge.

When Bernie finished she went home straight away to a family party and celebration.

“Everyone got into [the GSB], and absolutely addicted to dot-watching.” 

Dot-watching is the term used for supporters following along with riders’ (dots) progress online on a map - each rider carries a GPS tracker with them on route.  

The pair said seeing friends and family cheering at points along the trail was fantastic and gave them a boost.

For Lindsay - who placed 20th overall, taking five days, 16 hours and 21 minutes - it was nice to be in New Zealand’s wild places, but there were no big moments of self realisation or reflection, he said.

“There’s no time to think of anything else, it’s just yourself and your bike,” Bernie agreed.

They had to carry approximately three litres of water with them, and food for up to two days at a time.

The kindness of strangers played a part in both of their success.

Bernie left from Waikaia Bush at 4.30am to climb to the Obelisk atop Old Man Range.

“We got there and we were cold, sheltering by the rock… and a guy arrived to do maintenance at the tower.

“I joked with him, oh have you got our coffees?

“He actually shared his thermos of coffee with us and essentially gave up his morning tea.

“People are really kind, it was just the nicest thing.”

Lindsay was a little bit worried about running out of water at one point and was handed some water and a coke by someone.

“I needed it and I was so grateful,” he said.

He went off the route by mistake, having to double back and pick up where he made the wrong turn, meaning on his biggest day he did close to 4000m of climbing. 

For Lindsay and Bernie bikepacking seems to have stuck - both have been back on their bikes since and are planning their next missions to see parts of New Zealand and overseas.

The GSB was established in 2012 and runs every two years.  

In the 2025 edition there was 19,000m of elevation and the fastest person, Luke Hoetjes, completed the course in three days, 21 hours and 17 minutes

The GSB is free to enter and there is a welcoming community of bikepackers willing to share tips and tricks on everything from nutrition, to what else to carry and where to bivvy under a rock or verandah.

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