Banks Peninsula Ramble

[cooneyr]

NEW - Ramble Round 2 on Sunday the 21st of may - see post 6 (click on http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...57&postcount=6 )

Thinking of going for a ride from Chch out around Banks Peninsula on Saturday (6/5/06) morning if anybody keen.

Planned route (but open to suggestions) Sign of the Kiwi, Sumit Road, down Gebbies Pass, Dimond Harbour, Purau/Port Levy, Little River (vai gravel road behind Mt Herbit), up onto southern part of Penisula, down to beach at beach Birdlings Flat (gravel road) and across mouth of Lake Forsyth (very soft gravel) onto SH 75, then back to Chch with clay 4WD track behind Black Tulip on the way.

Was thinking if anybody keen then meet at Sign of the Kiwi around 9.00. I'm on the Gerbil (Djebel) so relatively relaxed pace.

R

[laRIKin]

Mate I/we would like to do the ride with you another day.
Because we had to many Fanta's last night I new I would miss this one.

[cooneyr]

Sorry about the short notice. Only decided late on Friday.

Was an awsome ride though. Bit of fun getting across the mouth of Lake Forsyth in the really soft gravel with road pressure in the tyres. Next time I think I will drop the pressures even if it is only for a couple of hundred meters. The Western Valley Road (down to Little River) was pretty also pretty interesting with the loose gravel, corrigations and steepness of the approaches to some corners.

Am keen to do something similar again, so will post again in a couple of weeks or so.

R

[Transalper]

Would have been keen except (1) I just noticed the thread and (2) was on the Charity Ride to Cholmondeley Childerens Home in Governors Bay on Saturday.
Might have been a laugh to maybe see my Transalp bogged in soft gravel... it'll be all right, just give it more gas Transalper!

Maybe next time.

[cooneyr]

(2) was on the Charity Ride to Cholmondeley Childerens Home in Governors Bay on Saturday.

Saw that was on but wanted more "adventure"

Might have been a laugh to maybe see my Transalp bogged in soft gravel... it'll be all right, just give it more gas Transalper!

Tried more gas - just dug in deeper with the high tire pressure. Experience with 4wd's (and now bikes) suggest less pressure otherwise just get holes with wheels filling them.

Next time then.
R

[cooneyr]

Hi Guys,

Morning of Sunday the 21st, thinking of going for another ride over some gravel/4wd roads on the peninsula. WX looks like it is going to be OK with big high here on Sat and hopefully Sunday

Less certain of a route this time (havent made my mind up) but thinking of including the southern bays road from Little River to Wainui and the Robinsons Bay and Tompsons Bay stock tracks.

Currently thinking of something like through Tai Tapu, up to Hilltop via the stock track (#1), to Robinsons bay and up stock track (#2), along the summit road for a couple of km, back down Thompsons bay stock (#3), into Akaroa for a bite to eat, then home via Wainui, Southern Bays summit road and down into either Little River or Birdlings Flat then home. Possibly also include the 4wd track behind the Black Tulip if keen (I decided not to last trip).

Attached is a map with the stock tracks (x3) highlighted.

If anybody wants to come was thinking of meeting at Tai Tapu at around 9am ish, There are other options if so desired, I'm just keen for a ride. Robinsons Bay Stock track is a grass track with some rought and some steep bits so could be fun if to wet. Thompsons is gravelly based so not so bad. Other off road tracks are gravel except the one behind the Black tulip which is clay.

Ususal disclamer - I'm on the 250 dejebel so not going to be a fast trip.

R

[SDU]

Buggar, working as usual.
Looks like a good ride.

Can I suggest to attract more attention for the ride edit your first post with the new date, or give this ride it's own thread.

Hope you get a few to the ride!
Cheers
SDU

[cooneyr]

Thanks for the advice SDU.

Pitty your working - keen to see how a DR650 goes as thinking of getting one later in the year.

R

[Transalper]

Not totally sure, but i think i've done all 3 of those on the Transalp. If so, the middle track doesn't like me...or would that be I haven't made it up there without getting sideways yet... underline 'yet'.
I'd like to go again but have two bikes than need attention before the Brass Monkey and already comitted this weekend to them so as to have a weekend spare up my sleve if anything goes wrong... like super glueing hotgrips to fingers instead of miss T's handlebars... get the idea.

If by some strange twist of fate i am finished in time.. i'll be watching the thread to see whats happening.

[cooneyr]

Not totally sure, but i think i've done all 3 of those on the Transalp.

Seems I'm a bit behind the 8 ball. From reading old threads I knew you guys have been out out round the penensula but wasn't sure where.

If so, the middle track doesn't like me...or would that be I haven't made it up there without getting sideways yet... underline

I've taken an 80 series cruiser (the big VX one) up there with no worries did have 4 mudder tyres as opposed to 2 adventure? tyres and was nice and dry. Two wheels much more exciting though aye.

R

[SDU]

Thanks for the advice SDU.

Pitty your working - keen to see how a DR650 goes as thinking of getting one later in the year.

R

I'm keen to see how the DR650 is too- (I haven't had it for long) the nearest to adventure it has seen is the Western Valley Rd between Little River & Port Levy.
My DR has been lowered heaps, & I'm hoping I can handle the weight of a bigger bike on the dirt and the ground clearance is still enough not to get me stuck too much. If I can't handle it I'll just stick to the Serow for the heavier dirt stuff.
We have been busy setting it up for me & getting it ready for the Brass.

Far-que has a DR650 & has taken his off road in heaps of places, he's the best one to ask what it's like.
He's been very quite on here lately, I hope he's just too busy getting heaps off riding in to get on line.
Cheers
SDU

[cooneyr]

I'm keen to see how the DR650 is too- (I haven't had it for long)

I figured it was relatively new to you. Guessing there is a connection between you and Lemans and given that the DR650 that was at Eric Wood is gone and that Lemans was talking about it, I figure you have the one from Eric Wood! Hows that for a bit of a deduction based entirely on presumptions. Of course I may be totally wrong!

Far-que has a DR650 & has taken his off road in heaps of places, he's the best one to ask what it's like.
He's been very quite on here lately, I hope he's just too busy getting heaps off riding in to get on line.
Cheers
SDU

Been following Far-que's posts re the DR650. I think I've seen it at DAS.

I'm still on the R licence unfortunatly (making a late start on bikes) but when get the F (and the money) want to try a DR650. The Djebel is not a bad bike I just want more ponies at less RPM for the sealed sections. Previously scared myself enough with a RMX250 so know what lots of power is like off road (I know the 650 is a different beast though).

R

[Transalper]

From reading old threads I knew you guys have been out out round the penensula but wasn't sure where.

Two wheels much more exciting though aye.

R

The first spill up there was partly me getting the hang of the weight of the Transalp in adventerous situations, partly damp ground/tyre combo, and then the fact i chose the left wheel track and the over growth finished me off.

The second time i didn't actually come off. I just stopped facing across the track and hadn't even got to the slippery stuff. Kinda bounced out of a rut.
The Transalp just needs me to be a little more forceful or agressive with it.
Mental note: I must dominate the bike instead of letting it get away on me.

Also last i heard from Far-que was that he was having trouble getting the correct parts for his DR650 so was still off the road. Actually i'll pm him for an update now.

[cooneyr]

The Transalp just needs me to be a little more forceful or agressive with it.
Mental note: I must dominate the bike instead of letting it get away on me.

This sounds similar to my experience with the RMX on a steep mudstone firebreak in the Hira Forest in Nelson. Not enough speed to start with, got on the gas, back end steped out and I highsided (really a low side given the steepness of the hill) into the hill. Did it a couple of times and got enough bruises to give the hill a miss for the day.

The RMX with close to 50 ponies, highish enduro gearing and a power band was just to much for my experience at the time (and probably still is!) so sold it. Wanted a road legal dirt bike anyway as was getting sick of trailering a bike to a track.

R

[laRIKin]

I figured it was relatively new to you. Guessing there is a connection between you and Lemans and given that the DR650 that was at Eric Wood is gone and that Lemans was talking about it, I figure you have the one from Eric Wood! Hows that for a bit of a deduction based entirely on presumptions. Of course I may be totally wrong!

Close but no cigar.
Yes we are an item.
And we were going to buy that DR in Eric Wood's, but just before we bought it I were told about another DR that was in the paper, that was older 2000 model and cheaper, but was still in good nick.
And as there is not a lot of differences between them.

I'm not sure if I can make the ride, but man 9 o'clock on a Sunday. at this time of the year.
I do have a few things to do, to some bikes before the Brass and around the house.
Like trying to rebuilding a bath room.