Who went riding?
Monday, November 24, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
BRR There and back with Mt Dick - the videos
My GoPro was packing a sad again so here's a few videos from Sunday that Nev put together.
White Rock Road
Climbing Mt Dick
White Rock Road
Climbing Mt Dick
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
BRR There and back with Mt Dick
Sunday was our monthly BRR gravel ride and this time around Neil took the month off and let Neville arrange an excursion in the Wairarapa.
I met Neil at 6:30 in town under some arches where we had something that they call breakfast (me, I'm not so sure) and then we set off to ride over to Carterton to meet up with the others. The ride across the track was pretty good but as we made our way through to Mangamire and then down SH2 we got blown around a fair bit. Nearing Mt Bruce we started to encounter some cloud moisture and it got quite wet for a while until we neared Masterton where it fined up quite nicely.
Arriving in Carterton we gassed up the bikes and then parked up at the cafe for a coffee and to wait for the rest of the guys.
Pretty soon we were joined by the others and after everyone had had their coffee fix we had our ride briefing and got the show on the road.
Nev started us off by leading us out towards Gladstone and onto some great gravel roads that eventually led us to Hinakura. We had done these roads before but this time it was in the reverse direction - I can confirm that the roads are just as good whichever direction you're heading. Really great scenery as you climb up through open farmland and then drop down towards Hinakura. The dry conditions did however produce a lot of dust so following closely on the gravel wasn't the best idea and passing tricky for both the passer and the passee.
After a breather at Hinakura we got off the gravel and back onto tar for the trip into Martinborough where most of us fueled up for the next reasonably lengthy leg.
The first part of this next leg was a trip out to Tora and Te Awaiti. This involved some more great, dusty gravel and some dodging of sheep. Quite a nice spot for another stop and some piccys.
Because we were pretty much at the end of the road we now had to turn around and make our way back to White Rock Road so that we could head further South down the coast. On the way out Mick decided to enter a corner a wee bit hot and didn't quite get away with it.
With some cable-ties coming to the rescue the Beemer was soon ready for action again and we carried on to White Rock on some more great gravel. Top gear got used a few times so yes, it was very good gravel...
By now it was nearly 2pm and stomachs were rumbling so lit out and headed back towards Martinborough. In Martinborough we had a slight issue with the corner-man system and our group got split up into several smaller groups.
Me and the guys I was with reckoned we were supposed to be going back to Carterton for lunch so made for there. Nobody else was there when we got there but we were hungry so decided that yes, this was the lunch spot. Eventually we were joined by the rest of the guys and had a bit of a laugh at Nev's expense.
After our late lunch Nev had one last little loop for us to take in and it was a cracker. Just a short ride from Carterton had us climbing up quite a steep little track to get to the top of Mt Dick. This was well worth the trip as the views from the top were pretty impressive.
This was pretty much the end of the ride so Neil and I said cheerio to the rest of the guys and started the ride back to Palmy. The weather stayed fine but we did get to enjoy more blustery conditions as we made our way up SH2 and then over the Pahiatua Track.
I got home just after 6pm after nearly 12 hours and 500 odd km of enjoyable riding in some great country. A great day out exercising the Vee!
More pics here.
Arriving in Carterton we gassed up the bikes and then parked up at the cafe for a coffee and to wait for the rest of the guys.
Pretty soon we were joined by the others and after everyone had had their coffee fix we had our ride briefing and got the show on the road.
Nev started us off by leading us out towards Gladstone and onto some great gravel roads that eventually led us to Hinakura. We had done these roads before but this time it was in the reverse direction - I can confirm that the roads are just as good whichever direction you're heading. Really great scenery as you climb up through open farmland and then drop down towards Hinakura. The dry conditions did however produce a lot of dust so following closely on the gravel wasn't the best idea and passing tricky for both the passer and the passee.
 |
| Hinakura |
After a breather at Hinakura we got off the gravel and back onto tar for the trip into Martinborough where most of us fueled up for the next reasonably lengthy leg.
The first part of this next leg was a trip out to Tora and Te Awaiti. This involved some more great, dusty gravel and some dodging of sheep. Quite a nice spot for another stop and some piccys.
Because we were pretty much at the end of the road we now had to turn around and make our way back to White Rock Road so that we could head further South down the coast. On the way out Mick decided to enter a corner a wee bit hot and didn't quite get away with it.
 |
| A little bit much of the Go-hard... |
 |
| A White rock? |
By now it was nearly 2pm and stomachs were rumbling so lit out and headed back towards Martinborough. In Martinborough we had a slight issue with the corner-man system and our group got split up into several smaller groups.
Me and the guys I was with reckoned we were supposed to be going back to Carterton for lunch so made for there. Nobody else was there when we got there but we were hungry so decided that yes, this was the lunch spot. Eventually we were joined by the rest of the guys and had a bit of a laugh at Nev's expense.
After our late lunch Nev had one last little loop for us to take in and it was a cracker. Just a short ride from Carterton had us climbing up quite a steep little track to get to the top of Mt Dick. This was well worth the trip as the views from the top were pretty impressive.
This was pretty much the end of the ride so Neil and I said cheerio to the rest of the guys and started the ride back to Palmy. The weather stayed fine but we did get to enjoy more blustery conditions as we made our way up SH2 and then over the Pahiatua Track.
I got home just after 6pm after nearly 12 hours and 500 odd km of enjoyable riding in some great country. A great day out exercising the Vee!
More pics here.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Dean's videos
Dean has started uploading some of his video from the C1KC. Get a taste of riding 1,000km on screaming 4 cylinder 250 - 9,000rpm @ 100km/h.
The little bike that could...
Monday, November 10, 2014
2014 Capital 1000km Cruise
Saturday was my 7th C1KC and it was a great day out on the bike except for one nasty little incident which we'll get to further down the page.
As per usual the day started very early for us Palmy riders. We were due to leave at 5am so I set the alarm for 4 and got up at 3:30. After a quick cuppa and some toast I wheeled out the Connie and set out to meet the others in town. The usual keen mob (Meanie, Monie and Yod) were down for the ride along with a newbie in the form of Dean on his mighty CBR250. Dean was nearly as keen as me as he rocked up not long after me with the others not far behind him.
As we all were there nice and early we got away just before 5 and slowly made our way South as the skies began to lighten up. The Paicock hill was nice and deserted but it was pretty chilly going - Monie's Viffer reckoned it was 0 degrees!
We rolled into C1KC HQ just before 6:30 and quickly signed onto the ride and fixed the yellow ties to our bikes before departing for the Rimutakas.
It was still chilly (frost on the side of the road) as we climbed up through a bit of light mist to summit the 'takas. By now it was getting a bit lighter but still chilly as we made our way through to Masterton before turning off to get our first evidence photo in Mauriceville - a familiar haunt.
Next up was a slow cruise up SH2 to Woodville where we all filled up for the run up the 'naki. Gradually it was starting to get warmer as we took in the gorge and then made our way over to Feilding then out to Halcombe and onto Wanganui. By Wanganui we had covered not quite 400km so we stopped to fill up the CBR and also to grab a coffee and a bite.
The next short leg was to Stratford taking in the Hawera bypass (past the Tawhiti museum). In Stratford we had to get a photo at the Z service station and gas the bikes for the assault on the Forgotten Highway. This was Dean's first trip across the FH so we had to stop in Whangamomona for photos of the pub and to see what he thought of the ride. He was loving it and the chicken strips were getting seeing to.
If Dean had liked his first taste of the FH then he probably enjoyed the next bit what with the tunnel and then the lovely section of gravel. Truth be told the gravel section was unusually rough for the first few kms before reverting to it's normal smooth fast self. I hate getting stuck behind cars on the gravel...
Eventually we ran out of Forgotten Highway and ended up in Taumarunui where it was time for a late lunch.
After our break we then suited up and rode a couple of hundred metres up the road to the next photo checkpoint.
Our next little jaunt was down through National Park to Raetihi where we refuelled for the ride down the Paraparas. We had a pretty quiet but enjoyable ride down the Paras before turning off to go through Okoia and then onto our next photo-stop at the neat old bridge over the Whangaehu River.
The next stint was through to Hunterville and I found the shady bits a bit of a challenge with my tinted visor on so changed visors at Hunterville while the CBR was drinking. Dean also had a battle with a bee riding through here - it must have been attracted to the buzzing of his bike...
By now we were on familiar turf as we took in Vinegar Hill and then carried on up to Kimbolton for our next compulsory photo stop.
With not long to go until the 1,000km mark we carried on around the Apiti Loop to our next stop at one of the bridges crossing the Pohangina River.
Leaving the bridge we only had about 35km to our finish point in Ashhurst but this is where things didn't go to plan. Meanie, Yod, Dean and I got away on Monie a bit and when we rocked up at the Ashhurst Inn we were missing a VFR pilot.
Initially we weren't too worried as there had been a Harley rider on the loop with us who was a little lost and we thought that Monie may have been helping him along. But when a few minutes had passed we got a bit more concerned. When Meanie couldn't get Monie on the phone it was time to mount up and head up the valley. Not a nice situation to be in.
As we rode back up the valley another group of riders coming the other way and flagged us down. They let us know that there had been an accident but that Monie was ok but had a very sore shoulder.
When we arrived at the scene there were a lot of helpful people including a nurse who were doing a good job of looking after Monie until the emergency services got there. The emergency services guys got there soon after us and the helicopter not long after that. While Monie was looked after, Yod, Dean and I rescued the VFR out of a fence and stashed it in a paddock for the night. Monie was soon bundled into the helicopter for the rush to the hospital.
Since the accident it has been nice to talk to both Meanie and Monie and find out that Monie has got away pretty lightly with a broken collar bone and plenty of soreness in other places. The little VFR is getting a good looking at and it's future is to be determined (Monie has a hankering for a Z1000SX).
Monie doesn't remember a great deal of the accident but does remember hitting gravel on a little bridge and the bike fish-tailing it up the road. She fought to hang on (and we could see her braking marks on the road and onto the metal at the side of the road) but eventually ran out road, ploughing up a grass bank and finally destroying a fence (broke a concrete post). Apparently she stayed with the bike through the entire process!
Definitely not the way we wanted to finish up a great ride but very happy that Monie got off lightly and is now looking at bike adverts...
More pics here.
As per usual the day started very early for us Palmy riders. We were due to leave at 5am so I set the alarm for 4 and got up at 3:30. After a quick cuppa and some toast I wheeled out the Connie and set out to meet the others in town. The usual keen mob (Meanie, Monie and Yod) were down for the ride along with a newbie in the form of Dean on his mighty CBR250. Dean was nearly as keen as me as he rocked up not long after me with the others not far behind him.
As we all were there nice and early we got away just before 5 and slowly made our way South as the skies began to lighten up. The Paicock hill was nice and deserted but it was pretty chilly going - Monie's Viffer reckoned it was 0 degrees!
We rolled into C1KC HQ just before 6:30 and quickly signed onto the ride and fixed the yellow ties to our bikes before departing for the Rimutakas.
 |
| The Boss and KoroJ |
 |
| Two CBR's... |
 |
| That lump of dirt wasn't there a few weeks ago... |
Next up was a slow cruise up SH2 to Woodville where we all filled up for the run up the 'naki. Gradually it was starting to get warmer as we took in the gorge and then made our way over to Feilding then out to Halcombe and onto Wanganui. By Wanganui we had covered not quite 400km so we stopped to fill up the CBR and also to grab a coffee and a bite.
The next short leg was to Stratford taking in the Hawera bypass (past the Tawhiti museum). In Stratford we had to get a photo at the Z service station and gas the bikes for the assault on the Forgotten Highway. This was Dean's first trip across the FH so we had to stop in Whangamomona for photos of the pub and to see what he thought of the ride. He was loving it and the chicken strips were getting seeing to.
 |
| More C1KC riders parked next to Monie |
 |
| Monie back on the tar |
 |
| The CBR kids |
 |
| Crappy phone pic |
 |
| Just watching... |
 |
| Sneaky little CBR peaking out from between the Connies |
By now we were on familiar turf as we took in Vinegar Hill and then carried on up to Kimbolton for our next compulsory photo stop.
With not long to go until the 1,000km mark we carried on around the Apiti Loop to our next stop at one of the bridges crossing the Pohangina River.
Leaving the bridge we only had about 35km to our finish point in Ashhurst but this is where things didn't go to plan. Meanie, Yod, Dean and I got away on Monie a bit and when we rocked up at the Ashhurst Inn we were missing a VFR pilot.
Initially we weren't too worried as there had been a Harley rider on the loop with us who was a little lost and we thought that Monie may have been helping him along. But when a few minutes had passed we got a bit more concerned. When Meanie couldn't get Monie on the phone it was time to mount up and head up the valley. Not a nice situation to be in.
As we rode back up the valley another group of riders coming the other way and flagged us down. They let us know that there had been an accident but that Monie was ok but had a very sore shoulder.
When we arrived at the scene there were a lot of helpful people including a nurse who were doing a good job of looking after Monie until the emergency services got there. The emergency services guys got there soon after us and the helicopter not long after that. While Monie was looked after, Yod, Dean and I rescued the VFR out of a fence and stashed it in a paddock for the night. Monie was soon bundled into the helicopter for the rush to the hospital.
Since the accident it has been nice to talk to both Meanie and Monie and find out that Monie has got away pretty lightly with a broken collar bone and plenty of soreness in other places. The little VFR is getting a good looking at and it's future is to be determined (Monie has a hankering for a Z1000SX).
Monie doesn't remember a great deal of the accident but does remember hitting gravel on a little bridge and the bike fish-tailing it up the road. She fought to hang on (and we could see her braking marks on the road and onto the metal at the side of the road) but eventually ran out road, ploughing up a grass bank and finally destroying a fence (broke a concrete post). Apparently she stayed with the bike through the entire process!
Definitely not the way we wanted to finish up a great ride but very happy that Monie got off lightly and is now looking at bike adverts...
More pics here.
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