Dusty Butt 1,000km adventure ride

**Zukin** · 30th January 2007, 07:24

Hey

Dont worry too much if its a hassle?

If you are using Topomap, just add a waypoint before a turn and then again just after the turn (that way you know which way to turn), also add them in on long stretches, that way you also know you havent gone off track

I can do it if I know where we are going? Would I be able to understand where we were going just by reading the route sheet?

Cheers Scott

**cooneyr** · 30th January 2007, 07:40

Originally Posted by Zukin

Hey

Dont worry too much if its a hassle?

If you are using Topomap, just add a waypoint before a turn and then again just after the turn (that way you know which way to turn), also add them in on long stretches, that way you also know you havent gone off track

I can do it if I know where we are going? Would I be able to understand where we were going just by reading the route sheet?

Cheers Scott

You will probably struggle to understand from the route chart without being there and having the odo set. I'm planning on putting together a set of maps using different scale maps for different parts depending on how complicated that part of the route is. Should be able to figure out the route from that. I'm happy to do it just not sure I'll have time to do it before your ride so you can test it. I'll try and get the maps done over the next couple of days but still need conformation from forestry management re access (onto this today).

Cheers R

**Zukin** · 30th January 2007, 07:56

Hi

Dont worry about it, I would hate for you to do it all and then me not make it

I will just have to figure it out myself

Cheers Scott

**magicfairy** · 30th January 2007, 08:06

Originally Posted by warewolf

Hope there's enough water, carrying canoes is a b!tch, but carrying a houseboat must be a m*therf*cker!!!

Apparently the section where the houseboats travel NEVER runs out of water even in a drought. Apparently.
We agreed to this trip about 10 months ago, - back then it seemed a long way away.
To be honest we'd rather be riding our bikes while on holiday, doing our own thing and not mixing with the crowds, but sometimes you just have to make the effort to be socialable and mix with ordinary folks.

**Transalper** · 30th January 2007, 09:03

Originally Posted by cooneyr

...I made a holder last night but have not put the little bars across in the top corners so not quite finished. ..

Looks like a neat job, did you use long bolts as the axles?
The clickclack i used is the .04Litre one. Its inside dimensions are about 75mm wide, 110mm long and 50mm deep.
I used 8mm dowel and some handles drilled and glued to one end. Then a little tape raped around the axles inside the click clack and outside between the handles and clickclack so as the axles dont spin freely. That stopped the routesheet turning thru engine vibration etc. Others used rubber bands to stop the thing winding freely but the two sides turn at a different rate so that didn't work so well.
The little bars in the corners i used a small tent peg. Cut it up and slid it thru one side, then thru a straw and into the other side and just glued it in place. The straw turns freely so the route sheet doesnt snag (this is my mk2 design).
The bracket to mount on bike is just screwed on to the click clack. I used a kinda s or z shaped bar and mounted it above the handlebar off to one side bolted to a handle bar mount bolt.
To finish i put wide tape over the right side axle ends to help make it water resistant.
The only problem i have now is that when either side is full of routesheet, it gets stuck against the little bars in at the same end. So in mk3 i will move the axels with the handles on closer to the middle (and each other) to give more clearance to the bars with the straws on.
Lastly when cutting and joining the routesheet before installation, take your time and be neat and tidy and get the overlap the right way around. I used a bit of tape on both sides of the joins and never had a tear.. unlike others.

All photos are obviously with the lid off and routsheet not tensioned. So far it's survived two adventures so am fairly satisfied with it.

**cooneyr** · 30th January 2007, 11:10

Originally Posted by Transalper

Looks like a neat job, did you use long bolts as the axles?
The clickclack i used is the .04Litre one. Its inside dimensions are about 75mm wide, 110mm long and 50mm deep.

I used the .04 litre one as well. The axles are long bolts I had lying around. Guess they are M6's about 90 or 100mm long. The red "knobs" are the very high denisty foam from inside my mountain bike forks. It is a spare piece from a rebuild kit. I drilled 10mm holes into the foam and left about 3mm of 3 or 4mm hole at the box end. I though about using coke bottle lids and gluing them on but surprise we didn't have any for once. The bolts are pushed into the foam only (should glue them for security) as the head of the bole is slightly larger than 10mm so it friction fits nicely. I have nylock nuts so don't have to worry about loosing them but also allows me to adjust the length and hence friction of the foam on the box so they shouldn't turn while riding. I like like the idea with the straw so will have to make some modifications over the week.

The mounting plate is a flat piece of 1.5mm steel with two holes for handlebar mount bolts and two holes for the bolts through the box. I'm thinking about leaving the plate on as it doesn't protrude much more than the mounts behind the handle bars and just removing the box when not in use.

Cheers R

**warewolf** · 2nd February 2007, 13:26

Originally Posted by Ghost Lemur

Me, I want the Dakar system. Button controlled motor rolls on the chart... mmmm Sexy. Excessive, but sexy.

Get a KTM 640 Adventure, open wallet, exchange fun vouchers for factory-option road book, including mounting frame and handlebar-mounted controls, all just plugs/bolts into the bike, the fairing is designed for it. Muchos bling!!

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Not overly happy with the mounting location re the nadds but I figure if they get that close to the handle bars then I probably got problems anyway. Doesnt touch the fuel tank (about 10mm gap).

Usually they mount near or replace the LHS mirror. You don't want to compound any potential problems by not having any nuts (or "bolts") left afterwards...

Originally Posted by Transalper

The straw turns freely so the route sheet doesnt snag (this is my mk2 design).

Excellent addition, dude! That's one of the problems with mine: drag on the end pins. Will have to mod mine, too.

**NordieBoy** · 7th February 2007, 17:57

Nelson to Pelorus via the Maungatapu is 30km (about half of what was on the route sheet).

**Transalper** · 7th February 2007, 18:42

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Nelson to Pelorus via the Maungatapu is 30km (about half of what was on the route sheet).

Shhhh.. don't tell them that, now they r going to go try and find another 30km to tack on our soon to be sore butts somewhere.

**NordieBoy** · 7th February 2007, 19:12

Originally Posted by Transalper

Shhhh.. don't tell them that, now they r going to go try and find another 30km to tack on our soon to be sore butts somewhere.

Oops...

So I shouldn't mention names like Jacob's Ladder then?

**cooneyr** · 7th February 2007, 19:17

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Nelson to Pelorus via the Maungatapu is 30km (about half of what was on the route sheet).

Yep the first version has some errors. I have a revised version and I'm checking things further as I put together the route charts. Lots more checking to do yet. Will need this sort sanity check from others when I get first revision of the route charts completed.

Cheers R

**cooneyr** · 8th February 2007, 07:02

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Oops...

So I shouldn't mention names like Jacob's Ladder then?

Missed this one last night. Already included Jacobs Ladder. I don't want to put up the detailed maps yet in case the forestry sections dont come through and there has to be further revision of the route. I'm chasing Forestry Management at the moment so as soon as I get the all clear I'll post the maps.

Cheers R

**cooneyr** · 15th February 2007, 08:01

See Post Number 63 for changes since this was posted.

Starting to get some traction (as my colleagues would say). Basically we have a route sorted and I have arranged to get access to the Rainbow.

The maps attached show the route on 262 series maps and include references to the detailed maps I will attached to the next posts. Basically I got a rather short sharp no to getting access through the forests around Wakefield so had to revise the route again. I went to Nelson last weekend to see inlaws so took half a day and went driving around Thorpe/Nagimoti to come up with a suitable alternative. I've also added in the road to Palmer/Newcombes south of Springs Junction to get the km's back up. It is a relatively straight road gravel but am guessing not many have been there. Remember we are going Nelson, Blenhiem, Hanmer, Murcheson, Springs Junction, Murcheson, Tapawera, Wakefield, Nelson.

All up we are now in the order of 1020 kms as roughly measured from the 262 series Topomaps. I'm now going to put together the roll charts using the more detailed 260 series Topomaps so will confirm that distance. Attached to next post is updated calcs for the route distance's and times. DR650 and similar riders should note the distance between Blenheim and Hanmer - we are going to need to carry fuel.

Have talked to DOC south Malbrough to get a feel for the Molesworth dryness re possibility of an early closure. I couldn't get any comment from the DOC lady so no further ahead on that front other than she said it isnt on the cards at this stage. I need to check back on this closer to the time. I also found out that the Rainbow closes on the 4th of March so I've arranged to get a key this weekend (back off to Nelson this weekend). I'll be given a liability waver form when I pick up the key. Each rider needs to sign it before we go into the Rainbow. I think the best way to do this is for me to scan it and put it up here. Each rider then needs to print it, sign it and either rescan and email it to me (PM for private address) or fax it to my work - 03 366 9870 re Ryan Cooney. I'll get them to the station manager before we go through.

With regards to costs for the ride - with the exception of your own fuel, food etc the only fixed cost at this stage is $10 for access to the rainbow. I'll confirm the cost this weekend and we will pay money with return of the key when we go through.

There is a possibility of a video of the ride being made by one of our members. If this was to be done I think it is only fair that we pay for the DVD which it will be supplied on and a little extra to cover some of his time and equipment costs. The work is very good and the video would be in the order of an hour or so. I for one would love to have such a video, however he is non committal at this stage. If such a video was made available at say $30 how may would be interested. If there are enough we may be able to convince him to get the gear sorted for the day.

Think this covers everything to date. In summary we are looking good to go at this stage - we have a route, we have access to the roads needed and we have enough kms.

See additional posts for detailed maps and route km and time details.

Cheers R

P.S. I think a 5.30 start would be best so we can use as much of the dawn as possible. Sorry all you late risers.

See Post Number 63 for changes since this was posted.