Eighty years to the day after his grandfather cycled from Christchurch to Invercargill in record time, Queenstowner Thijs Hubber plans to recreate the journey to raise money for mental health.
On October 29, 1943, Southland farmer Harry Hubber — then 21 — completed the 587km ride in 22 hours 39 minutes.
Twenty-five years later, he regained the record in 20hr 22min.
Thijs, who’s 39, has been thinking of replicating the ride ever since his parents gifted him, for his 21st, a 10-speed his grandad had built — the bike he’ll now saddle up on October 29.
Having never met his grandad, who died in 1972, aged 51, Thijs wants to connect with him through experiencing and enduring what he did in 1943.
An inspiration: Harry Hubber broke the Christchurch to Invercargill cycling record in both 1943 and 1968
However, he’s also using the ride to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation, given he, like Harry, has struggled with mental health while competing.
A competitive triathlete and runner since his school days, Thijs notes Harry was a prolific road cyclist who once also raced a horse, Rustic Lad, over a two-furlong sprint.
Thijs, whose longest ride has been about 220km, plans building up his distance, to between 350 and 400km a month out from his big ride.
He’s not wanting to put any pressure on himself by targeting any particular time.
His Givealittle page is givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/henry-harry-hubber-1943-remembrance-ride
