Wellington - Saturday 8 September 11am Wainuiomata coast ride: Photos here.

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 15:46

The weather forecast for Sunday in Wellington is crap so I thought I might as well join BuckBuckNo1's cruisy ride to the Wainuiomata Coast and back around to Eastbourne for lunch. Seemed like a reasonably popular choice with 12 bikes in all turning up at the Duckpond ready for the ride.

Where did all those Hyosung's come from?

I thought I'd take Mrs merv's DR650SE out for a run.

Here's a few photos for you taken with the waterproof camera - but no rain today any way LoL. The crew that came can remind me who is who and which bike they belong to.

So here they are starting with the gathering at the Duckpond.

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 15:51

The crew kept gathering with all sorts of bikes turning up including a few cruisers.

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 15:57

Then it was off through the Hutt and over the Wainuiomata Hill for a stop just past the centre of Wainuiomata to regroup.

Once all were together again we cruised on down the road to the Coast and it was cool to see with a bit of wind blowing how the surf was up down there making for some nice photos with the bikes in the foreground.

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 16:02

Good view across to the snow on the Kaikouras too!

Then it was back on the bikes and off up the Coast Road through Wainuiomata, over the hill and then left towards Eastbourne for lunch at Lifeboat Café and Bar. I followed BB#1 most of the day on his bike and I said to him at the pub he does look real comfy on it and we talked more about why he'd swapped from the V-Strom.

I understand now it was more about the physical size of the Suzuki, even though it is lighter than the Hornet. For the sort of riding he is doing as he said to me "the Hornet is very much like a GN with balls".

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 16:07

Here's my last 3 photos at Eastbourne.

We basically split up after lunch but I rode back to Lower Hutt with BB#1 as far as just short of the Ewen Bridge roundabout which had us turning off onto a side street and BB#1 just had a wee bit of drama whcih I'll leave him to tell you about.

From there I rode off home on my own. All in not a bad little days ride, food and good company. I clocked up only 115km from home and back to home again.

So there you go Cowpoos I rode the Suzuki, it behaved, I had fun and got home safely so they're not all that bad eh and it hasn't started leaking oil again.

**Terminated** · 8th September 2007, 16:59

Originally Posted by merv

We basically split up after lunch but I rode back to Lower Hutt with BB#1 as far as just short of the Ewen Bridge roundabout which had us turning off onto a side street and BB#1 just had a wee bit of drama whcih I'll leave him to tell you about.

Just a wee bit of drama: The screw holding the left side handlebar weight came loose, pulled into the side street near Kentucky Fried Chicken, put key into seat lock, got tools, phillips driver fixed end weight screw. Returned tools to bag, put bag under seat, put seat on, got on bike.......went to start engine, hmmmm no key - that's right it is in the seat lock. Swung leg over to get off bike, boot snagged key, key bent, shhhhhhhh

Onto cell phone and Moira was down with duplicate in 20 minutes. Got home tried to straighten key no luck, think I may have to get another. Will try one of the lock shops to see if they can salvage the key though and straighten it.

It was a busy morning: the Saturday Morning Practise Ride saw four of us complete the Stokes Valley left hand ciruit and once over the Holborne Drive ridge from 9.10am -10.10am. The ride was 30km and there were quite a few foot down moments. Then it was down to the duckpond and quite a good role up, and thanks to Merv for his commentary and pictures above.

We had a good roll up with:

Father and Son - Mike and Chris
Shane and Ngaire [spelling?] rode down from Himatangi Beach
Tom down in Wellington from Auckland.
Russell
Grant
Allan - attended the 9am ride too
Paul - attended the 9am ride too
Danny
Merv
Guy

Nice to have met you all today.

Will post another ride for next Saturday during the week.

Including the 30 Practise Ride, total distance today 130km.

The weather is looking so so for tomorrow, I am going to watch the rugby replay at 8am and perhaps go out later in the morning.

Heads Up and Enjoy

**Weaver** · 8th September 2007, 17:27

I had a great time. I haven't been riding for long (two and a half weeks) and wasn't sure if i would be up to it. Happy to say i was.
I definitely look foward to going out again, work depending.

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 17:29

Originally Posted by BuckBuckNo1

We had a good roll up with:

Father and Son - Mike and Chris
Shane and Ngaire [spelling?] rode down from Himatangi Beach
Tom down in Wellington from Auckland.
Russell
Grant
Allan - attended the 9am ride too
Paul - attended the 9am ride too
Danny
Merv
Guy

Ngaire [spelling?] was Noreen, KBer from Himatangi on the Intruder.

If we are to match the KB names, Weaver which one were you from BB#1 (Guy)'s list?

One of these days I should make each person stand in front of their own bike for a decent photo so we match bike with KB name.

**Weaver** · 8th September 2007, 17:41

I was Alan, in the All Blacks shirt and with the yellow Hyosung

**Bullitt** · 8th September 2007, 17:49

Im Paul with the Ducati and the blue/black jacket.

Was good to meet everyone and put some faces to names.

All up including heading from wellington, the 9am ride, the 11am ride, going out to see a mate afterwards and heading home I did 200ks give or take so Im happy with that.

Some of the stokes valley residents are probably glad Im no longer quietly riding past their houses

and I dont really have the steering lock for all those u-turns. But it was a good ride and Im glad I chose to do both.

Its reassuring to see how quick Im learning, although Ive still got along way to go I probably had more trouble standing in the wind on the coast than I did riding it it.

Cheers to everyone, especially Guy for organising it.

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 17:51

Originally Posted by Weaver

I was Alan, in the All Blacks shirt and with the yellow Hyosung

Cheers, good to see you.

**Cave Cleaner** · 8th September 2007, 18:02

Well that was a great ride. thanks to Guy leading the way. It was good to see a couple of other Intruders in the pack rather than just my one. Great to meet you guys.
Thanks to Merv and the camera too. Great pictures. Just a tad breezy when we left the coast for Eastbourne, but made for some interesting riding.Other than that it was Great weather.
Chris and I were staying on in Eastbourne to get some photos of our old haunt, but the damn camera battery gave up. Have to go out that way again now.

I did that same thing with my car key two days ago Guy. left it in the door and brushed past it in the garage and

Bent key, so your not the only one!!

**merv** · 8th September 2007, 18:44

Cheers Bullit and Cave Cleaner I guess our list is coming together a bit then for those on today's ride:

Mike (Cave Cleaner) - Suzuki Intruder
Chris (karmakillernz) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Shane (not a KBer yet) and Noreen (Noreen) rode down from Himatangi Beach both on Suzuki Intruders
Tom (cowboy) - Honda VTX1300
Russell (KBer ??) - Suzuki Savage
Grant (325rocket) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Alan (Weaver) - Yellow Hyosung GT250R
Paul (Bullit) - Ducati 600ss
Danny (bull) - Black Hysosung GT250R
Merv (merv) - Suzuki DR650SE
Guy (BuckBuckNo1) - Honda Hornet 900

**cowboy** · 8th September 2007, 18:53

Im Tom with the vtx1300
It was a great ride at a good pace for all who came along
Good to meet you all today & looking to the next ride & hop to meet more local riders befor I go ack to auck

Cheers & thanks for a great day