Old Steve
3rd May 2010, 20:00
Sunday was such a lovely day in the BOP, and the Ulysees Club had a trip to Taupo for lunch. So I took Gloria out for her first long road trip. Got to say that I find that riding in a group is great, there were a couple of riders who were happy to play tail-end-charlie behind me as I fell back from the main bunch (some of the group do 'cruise' at a slightly higher speed than I was able to on my 250). Also being in a group probably means I won't be noticed travelling at well above the 70 km/hr allowed on my learners plate.
The 'back' road from Tauranga to Rotorua is narrower and has a few tighter bends than I felt comfortable with. But once we got south of Rotorua on SH5 to Taupo I was as happy as a pig in mud. Lovely wider road, long straights and large radius curves through some beautiful country. I led the other two riding with me which allowed me to ride within my comfort zone, and though I slowed on a couple of corners I found I was cruising at the 100 to 110 km/hr mark on the open road which I thought wasn't too uncomfortable on my 250 (on the way back, we passed a car and I glanced at my speedo as I went passed and I was doing just above 120).
After lunch near the waterfront, I came back with 3 other riders as far as Rotorua. They rode at a pace which was quite comfortable for me, for that I am massively grateful. We split up at Rotorua and I rode home over the Tauranga Direct Road on my own. I rode a little slower because that road is narrower and has some tighter bends, and as I was on my own I thought I had better stick closer to my allowed limit. All the same I found I was cruising at 85 to 90 km/hr though slowing for the odd corner, a quite comfortable speed for me on that road and probably safer than going slower as few cars caught up with me and wanted to get passed.
So I put just under 400 km on the clock on my first major road trip. And what a fantastic ride it was on an incredible day - it got a bit cold as we got nearer to Taupo and that reminded me that I must buy a snook (or whatever they're called) and put the liner into my bike jacket. Only one thing wrong, my chain was a bit stretched and my rear wheel adjustment had been all taken up before the ride, and I think that ride may have sounded the death knell to my chain and sprockets. I've booked my bike in tomorrow for new front and rear sprockets and chain (she's done 13,500 km) and I'm also getting a Scottoiler fitted to her while she's in the workshop.
Gee, nobody told me it would be this much fun. I had an incredible day.
The 'back' road from Tauranga to Rotorua is narrower and has a few tighter bends than I felt comfortable with. But once we got south of Rotorua on SH5 to Taupo I was as happy as a pig in mud. Lovely wider road, long straights and large radius curves through some beautiful country. I led the other two riding with me which allowed me to ride within my comfort zone, and though I slowed on a couple of corners I found I was cruising at the 100 to 110 km/hr mark on the open road which I thought wasn't too uncomfortable on my 250 (on the way back, we passed a car and I glanced at my speedo as I went passed and I was doing just above 120).
After lunch near the waterfront, I came back with 3 other riders as far as Rotorua. They rode at a pace which was quite comfortable for me, for that I am massively grateful. We split up at Rotorua and I rode home over the Tauranga Direct Road on my own. I rode a little slower because that road is narrower and has some tighter bends, and as I was on my own I thought I had better stick closer to my allowed limit. All the same I found I was cruising at 85 to 90 km/hr though slowing for the odd corner, a quite comfortable speed for me on that road and probably safer than going slower as few cars caught up with me and wanted to get passed.
So I put just under 400 km on the clock on my first major road trip. And what a fantastic ride it was on an incredible day - it got a bit cold as we got nearer to Taupo and that reminded me that I must buy a snook (or whatever they're called) and put the liner into my bike jacket. Only one thing wrong, my chain was a bit stretched and my rear wheel adjustment had been all taken up before the ride, and I think that ride may have sounded the death knell to my chain and sprockets. I've booked my bike in tomorrow for new front and rear sprockets and chain (she's done 13,500 km) and I'm also getting a Scottoiler fitted to her while she's in the workshop.
Gee, nobody told me it would be this much fun. I had an incredible day.