Touring & The Bikes You Use

OK, for those that want to "fill their car" with what I'd recommend as fairly bog std crap for long-ish touring rides (ex the Chch Weds Night Rides thread after I reminded them that a tyre kit wasn't a bad idea and then someone did a clutch cable too & then they got all smart-ass):

Yeah, well I do carry one of those too - don't want the 6-weeks-ex-germany-its-unobtainium-otherwise BS I'd get via Murphys' law if i didn't have one!... But I thought I'd already lectured the obvious too ...

Yet again my fine person of quality that peruses the personal volumes of memoirs that make up the stock within KiwiBiker, I bid you welcome and I hope you are well rested. I find the time to wax lyrical on my rides and I do so appreciate the time and effort that you deign to actually dabble on my diadems of biking discernment.

This day once again found me at odd sorts, I had already commenced a full day of housebound chores involving the clearance of unwanted vegetative matter from ...

Winter in Wanaka.
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As I have mentioned, I was given an opportunity to speak in Wanaka at a week long veterinary educational conference which meant a nearly all expense paid week in Wanaka including skiing.
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http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/al...ictureid=35761

I gave 7.5 hours of lecture ...

Better late than never they say... so I should probably take a little time out to write up my take on the 2009 Grand Challenge.

Last year, the KTM was 3 weeks old, with the run in and a few parts fitted in a rushed stressed fashion. GPS had been barely used, and it showed during route planning. Promises were made to myself to know this much better when the 09 came around.

True to my pedantic self, I had done more than 20,000km on the GPS since 2008 GC, and knew it muuuch ...

(Continued from Pt 1)............With that done, the usual rituals completed, we were back on our way and I opted to bring up the rear. From my perspective, in these conditions, this is actually the worst place to be because you cop all the crap thrown up from the other bikes. Also, when following another bike at night, my preferred option is to sit close behind within the range of my low beam and ride off the lights of the bike in front, however in these conditions one has to sit back because if ...

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It was a long slow wait for this year’s Grand Challenge (my 4th), until the last month which seemed to fly by and all of a sudden we were away again.

Last week I had the bike booked for a service, pre-empting the 78,000Km check at 76,500Kms, as well as replacing the Metzler Z6 with a new Avon Storm on the front, a new air cleaner, new left main bulb, front right fork seal and the usual pre-GC super WoF check to ensure no problems when Brian Rusty and his crew did their scrutineering. ...

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Great ride out at the weekend all the way to the Cape and back, the 749 was great on the fast sweepers and twisties but hopeless on gravel roads....no surprise there eh?!!

Well done ladies what a great ride, great people and fantastic cause. Took loads of pictures which at all 10mp and limits on here are limited, limits are limits so will add more later. If you would like some sent let me know.

Sam