Tussock Buster/ X Country, 26-27 March

[Ktmboy]

Well it seems this fell off the radar on KB.

Weather looks likely to be good Friday (tracks are open from midday) but could be average Saturday. Sunday would be the pick.

Looking forward to this as the NI X country is on Saturday across the other side of SW1 and although I won't be riding I'll be pit crew for the boy in the morning then back across the road in the afternoon for a blast to the old favorites like snipers alley etc.

Also with some rain the tracks will be mint let alone the river crossings. I'm picking multiply drownings (bikes that is)

Most of the X country riders will probably stay over saturday night as well so its a good time to meet some of NZ's top X country riders.
I'll be in the bar both nights. Any takers?

[Crisis management]

Tussock buster for me......been waiting a whole year for this!

[mattnzl]

Yep - all sorted. Never been before so not sure what to expect, but should be fun.

[Rmxer]

Tussock buster for me......been waiting a whole year for this!

Likewise! Best ride of the year hands down. Going for the whole 2 and a half days this year round, cant wait!!

[mattnzl]

Can anyone who's been before tell me what the re-fueling stops on the long loops are like? Is there a massive queue of bikes, or do people arrive fairly spread out by then?
Ta.

[krad_nz]

Fairly spread out. Also not everyone needs to get gas at every stop so its usually pretty good.
Mostly there are more people milling around waiting for mates than actually getting fuel.

[mattnzl]

Cool - cheers Krad. Could probably do with a break by 70km anyway I guess!

[Crisis management]

Cool - cheers Krad. Could probably do with a break by 70km anyway I guess!

It's fairly relaxed riding, lots of open space and the tricky bits have bypasses so you can challenge yourself if you want to...or not!
Two and a half days riding, lots of time to enjoy all the trails......:woohoo:

[meteor]

Waiouru's a long way from a bike shop! anyone know if any of the local shops have a stall there for things like levers/flat tyres etc

[scott411]

Waiouru's a long way from a bike shop! anyone know if any of the local shops have a stall there for things like levers/flat tyres etc

i am not sure that they would have anything on site, but a basic spares kit of a couple of tubes, and levers, a spark plug should really be in everyones truck for 2 day rides,

[L Rider]

i am not sure that they would have anything on site, but a basic spares kit of a couple of tubes, and levers, a spark plug should really be in everyones truck for 2 day rides,

Previous years they have had the odd shop/mechanic set up but unsure how many supplies they would actually carry.
Agree with Scott re having a basic spares kit at least. Better to be prepared than miss out on alot of riding for the sake of a 'minor' thing

[motor_mayhem]

I am still considering taking a spare bike. Don't have a spare tyre but have an aerosol can of the goo stuff that fills punctured tyres

can't wait for this.:rockon:

916 rides again!

[L Rider]

I am still considering taking a spare bike. Don't have a spare tyre but have an aerosol can of the goo stuff that fills punctured tyres

can't wait for this.:rockon:

916 rides again!

Having a spare bike should work in your favour if Murphy's on your side. Spare bike there so you won't need it.

I've got spare tubes, can't change a tyre myself though so i leave them in the truck & carry an aerosol can of temp tyre fixer stuff that way i can at least get back to the truck then get help with changing the tube.

[kezzafish]

bum bag, small punture repair kit, bike pump, and a set of tyre levers. You don't have to even ride it back to your vehicle to sort it out. And tyres are very easy to take on and off when they're "hot" so doing them on the side of the track is way better that doing it in a garage on a cold night!

[Mungatoke Mad]

Having a spare bike should work in your favour if Murphy's on your side. Spare bike there so you won't need it.

I've got spare tubes, can't change a tyre myself though so i leave them in the truck & carry an aerosol can of temp tyre fixer stuff that way i can at least get back to the truck then get help with changing the tube.Do'n Tyres is a pain in the arse But Its something we all have to do eventually

[Crisis management]

Well that was fun, the weather exceeded all predictions, everyone I bumped into was well behaved and the tracks were great fun. Friday was a bit dusty and being old farts we only wandered around 50 or 60 kms, Marsden, Tussock and somewhere else we all can't remember what it's called, my apologies to the photographer on the Tussock Buster but standing in the middle of the track wasn't your smartest move.... :shutup:

Rain overnight sorted the dust out and we did whatever the big loop is called (Ktmboy was seen doing great work trying to herd bikes at the start, someone buy him a beer), the only disappointment on that loop was missing the Lion loop, either the army needs better signage or I need to take my glasses. I have to confess to an almost drowning at the first ford, a semi skillful bog crossing (meant to do that, ok?) :facepalm: some concern on the Aziz loop (a touch steep at the top!) :shit: and a semi successful attempt at Phils hill (I'm alive and the hills still intact). After a brief afternoon nap I wandered around Maki....whatever loop, the 40 km one, that was a good mixture of terrain, it would have been relaxing if I wasn't completely knackered.

Sunday was very restrained with a single assault on sniper alley, it was a touch slippery in places but again simply stunning terrain, views and weather. I should be recovered in about a week.

So, thanks to the army, Off-limits, the pub in Ohakune and all the people that did so much to make it work, if you haven't been there, mark your calendar for next year. :woohoo:

[meteor]

Sniper Alley took me and the kids 4 plus hours, managed to look like a black and white minstrel after one of the bogs and then that badly rutted and wet uphill! If the army/off limits guys weren't there to help I'd still be stuck on that hill. Great event tho'.

[Ktmboy]

Well that was another great TB. Yes, I missed Lion the first time around as it wasn't that well posted. Was well rutted by the time we rode it late this arvo but was still do able.

We also spent a bit of time riding bikes for others up the rutted bit on Sniper about 1300hrs. And then it rained...I mean big rain, certainly wasn't a novice track by that stage.

Over 1500 riders registered for the weekend and only a handful of injuries requiring the medics.
However I bet that there are a multitude going to the physio tomorrow.

[Crisis management]

We also spent a bit of time riding bikes for others up the rutted bit on Sniper about 1300hrs.

We were just ahead of you there! It did get a bit slow thru there....it was a straight forward piece of track as long as no one was standing about in the middle of it scratching their arse and blocking all the lines that didn't involve 2 metre deep ruts. I can safely say we were glad to get to the top of the hill and have a wee lie down.

Meteor, was it your lot that we passed at the ford before this hill? I was riding an orange & white KTM200.

[Cary]

First time at Tussock Buster and was almost the perfect ride.

Did the dust on Friday and 3 of my riding mates didn't see an arrow and took a wrong turn and got lost. I waited half an hour for them to return without luck! Managed to stop several riders from making the same error.

They returned home 3 1/2 hours later with zreo gas left. Only by luck they made it back. Had reported them to ride HQ as MIA.

When I gave up on there return I got a front flat and had to ride the last 20k home. Removed a bit of wire from tyre.

The Saturday was brillant and the lil KDX was screaming all day :wings:
Snipers Alley was the best loop and a good way to finish the ride off Sunday morn'

Seems the piston kit/muffler packing Taz & I did before the ride did the job!

Stayed in a house just off base and had the luxury of hot showers and could ride to/from the tracks from the house :yes:

Gotta be on anyones 'Must ride' list.

[BoristheBiter]

I am so sore, even just lifting my arms up hurts.
we did dam buster and the hill climb (B20 i think) then tussock, slipped off the waterfall crossing (not good).
Did than main loop again but took the other way (axim ??) then did the dam challenge.
I was disappointed that they closed part of the track and we just rode up the road but it was still a great weekend with no injury's.

[mattnzl]

I Managed to drop the bike in the drink at the second river crossing :shit: but the trusty 2 stroke started straight up and shot an impressive water canon out the exhaust.
That bog hole crossing that had the little slippery tin bridge caught me out every time though, and I'm sure that's why my arms are so nackered today (much pulling/pushing to get our bikes through).
Great time though. Next year I'm taking a portable drier to dry out my gear each night hehe!

[motor_mayhem]

Crazy weekend, my bike spent more time drifting than on any other ride I've done.

Friday aft did tussock buster and marsden loop, it was dry and a bit dusty b ut mostly great going. Flat in the last 2 or 3km, got a new rear tube put in that evening by the repairs/suspension guy. People in our group had their tent blown to pieces so opted for other accomodation on saturday. My pit tent cover was also shredded.

Saturday did sniper alley, went through the ford without dropping the bike :gob:, handstand on the handlebars at the peat bog (decided the bridge was cheating but my pick of the calm places wasn't very good) the clay hill wasn't too bad but got stuck when someone in front fell on the good line and had to take the bad line to avoid them, dragged bike back to good line when it cleared and was fine for the rest of it, another rear flat in the last 2km from home, turned out the valve had been sheared off the new tube :shit:. The offlimits guys were really good, one guy sold me a second hand but plenty usable tyre for cheap and another 2 fitted it with a spare tube I had.

Sunday, did azim, had to take alternate route to get to the start as the usual way was closed, was quite crazy traversing the hills, fell on one of the steepish and by then wetter clay downhills then 5 mins later dropped bike in the ford literally 1m from the end of it, was about 35ish meters when crossing on the diagonal. Luckily a guy there on a broken quad had a tow rope and the rmz was bought back to life pretty quickly with no other tools required. From there my riding buddies went up B20 and I went the flat way which was still not too easy in the wet. With the conditions getting worse and being by myself, I avoided the Lion loop and the hill climb after the 75km, opting instead to get me and bike home in one piece without assistance as there was very few people around either. The b20 boys had to come back the way they came as they reached a bit that was impassable due to the rain

Lessons learned: add tyre levers, patches etc. to tool kit, also acquire additional mx gear as putting on the wet muddy stuff back on was not amazingly pleasant, additional pegs and guide ropes for pit tent.

Lessons learned from other events that paid dividends here: having earplugs so you can't hear your tent flapping in the wind, good maintenance meant the engine ran great all weekend, altitiude and Sunday swim aside, carrying spare radiator water in backpack - 450 got a bit hot and bothered up the clay hill on Saturday, having a waterproof remote for your car alarm is a relief as is having the new outdoor cases you can get for Contour HD.

Great weekend - worth a small novel I thought.

[meteor]

Meteor, was it your lot that we passed at the ford before this hill? I was riding an orange & white KTM200.

It sure was. A couple of tired out fathers on CRF's and an assortment of teenage boys on 85's and a KDX200... Although I'd like to think of it as a river crossing as it make's me feel better about my efforts! Still owe you a beer for rescuing my son at Riverhead many moons ago.

[thecharmed01]

We also spent a bit of time riding bikes for others up the rutted bit on Sniper about 1300hrs. And then it rained...I mean big rain, certainly wasn't a novice track by that stage.

Possibly you guys rode my bike up... little CRF150 :doh:

I come flying round the corner at the bottom, chasing the boyfriend on his KX250 and saw him half way up stuck in a massive rut, I wound up sideways sliding up the hill about crapping myself cause I didn't think I could stop!!!!
Then once I did stop, there was no way I could get up there, the ruts were thigh deep on me hahahahaha
Plus, apparently I suck at clay so I discovered!
I think my bike was ridden about 2/3 the way up, then once I mucked around waiting for everyone else, me and my gf managed to make our way right up to the top and then up the next clay hill ok, but boy that first biggie was a killer!
There wasn't a single line up by the time we got there!!! I was well impressed when a couple of bikes came screaming past me, was wicked to see them do it so easy, when I'd watched 20 plus riders, needing help to get up!


I sort of enjoyed it, def gonna come back next year but this year forces conspired against me somewhat.
I got no sleep Friday night cause of the storm, so Saturday I was a wreck and too tired. so my morning trail did Tussock Buster and was just making dumb mistakes.
The afternoon was way better, did a lap of Marsdon and really enjoyed that! I was starting to find my groove on that track, it had the most awesome bermed corners... fast and floaty!
No one wanted to keep riding though so we ended up hitailing it to a lodge for sat night.

Wasn't gonna ride Sunday but peer pressure ruled and I ended up doing Sniper Alley hahahaha
Was a MEAN ride too! I was SO stoked that I was pushed into it as that was by far the best track of the ride for me!
The hills had a lot less whoopdy whoops, so were a lot faster.
The climbs were wicked... the tight DH forest section was tough, but easily cruised. I just made my way down in 1st over the back... rode it like a roller coaster and rode the rut all the way to the bottom!
Then the section after the forest was so fricking FAST! It was AWESOME!
Clay hill wasn't so great, but once we got past the first section it was fine, the sand was fun!

I just wish we hadn't had to wait so long for one rider who never even made it up, because we were there when the downpour hit, then the wind picked up and I think I pretty much near gave myself hypothermia.. oops.
Once we decided (after about an hour or more standing round) to keep going, I was frozen through and by the time I hit the road section I couldnt feel my fingers and was changing gear without the clutch... Didn't take the last forest section back, but took the road all the way.
Got back to the car and just got out of the wet stuff and into dry as quick as possible trying to get my teeth to stop chattering hahahaha
Good times.... :2thumbsup

Hope it's slightly less stormy next year :D

[L Rider]

This was my 3rd year there and by far the best:yes:
Managed to arrive just in time to fit in a small ride on Friday arvo.
Expected the weather to be terrible and came prepared for it. Weather forecast was so wrong! Only real rain we got caught in was on Sunday arvo and even then it didn't last that long. Did make the clay hills very interesting to get up - on one hill I was on my on butt on the ground more than on the bike.

Already looking forward to doing it all again next year.

thecharmed01 - pretty sure you's were camped near us. Were you the one's who's tent & gazebo got blown over Friday night - had sleeping bags etc hanging out to dry?

[thecharmed01]

haha yup.... poor wee tent, was a summer tent, but I didn't expect it to be so bad up there so I thought it would be sweet....
Gazebo wasn't altogether fine before we went up, it got hit by wind another day so it was already held together with duct tape and luck hahaha.
The wind just really wrote it off....

We went to a lodge in Ohakune for Sat nite and it was much nicer and only cost us $20 each :P

[L Rider]

haha yup.... poor wee tent, was a summer tent, but I didn't expect it to be so bad up there so I thought it would be sweet....
Gazebo wasn't altogether fine before we went up, it got hit by wind another day so it was already held together with duct tape and luck hahaha.
The wind just really wrote it off....

We went to a lodge in Ohakune for Sat nite and it was much nicer and only cost us $20 each :P

The weather forecast was for worse than it was. Saturday night was calm as but then Sunday (we were they only tent to stay another night) was worse than Friday night with the wind.

That was cheap for the accomodation.

[thecharmed01]

I hadnt seen the wind forecast :-(
I saw it was meant to rain, that was why we took the gazebo anyway, but if I had realised the wind was meant to be high I would have booked the lodge for friday too hahaha.

Ohakune has a bunch of lodges like the one we stayed at, and being off-season they are cheap as chips!
The one we had, was perfect. Heaps of off-street parking (no bikes really visible from the road except the one in the carport) so we had 4 cars and 3 trailers parked up easy as and heaps more room.
It had beds for 12, plus the lounge and couches and was only $200 for the night.
$150 for the lodge and $50 for cleaning.
I would totally stay there again, it was wicked... Sky TV, (pay-as-you-go) Wifi access, massive yard...
She charges about $350 a night in snow season, but honestly, if you filled it, that's still only $30 a night for a dozen people.

Saturday morning we jumped online and looked at find a bach or something off google and scored it. Rang her, booked in and it was awesome!

Funny you guys were the only ones left hahaha
You guys are HARD yo!

[L Rider]

I hadnt seen the wind forecast :-(
I saw it was meant to rain, that was why we took the gazebo anyway, but if I had realised the wind was meant to be high I would have booked the lodge for friday too hahaha.

Ohakune has a bunch of lodges like the one we stayed at, and being off-season they are cheap as chips!
The one we had, was perfect. Heaps of off-street parking (no bikes really visible from the road except the one in the carport) so we had 4 cars and 3 trailers parked up easy as and heaps more room.
It had beds for 12, plus the lounge and couches and was only $200 for the night.
$150 for the lodge and $50 for cleaning.
I would totally stay there again, it was wicked... Sky TV, (pay-as-you-go) Wifi access, massive yard...
She charges about $350 a night in snow season, but honestly, if you filled it, that's still only $30 a night for a dozen people.

Saturday morning we jumped online and looked at find a bach or something off google and scored it. Rang her, booked in and it was awesome!

Funny you guys were the only ones left hahaha
You guys are HARD yo!

The lodge sounds like a good score.
I love camping even in winter. Our tent was huge with even a big room that we had set up for cooking and sitting around and relaxing in.

[thecharmed01]

I love camping, we spent a lot of time camping when I was a kid, difference was, my parents spent a lot of money on decent tents and gear...

I've spent all my money on my bike, so got a cheap arse TWH tent hahahahaha
Suffice to say, it didn't survive bad weather :-(

If I could spend some decent money.... I'd be fine in a tent - if I was confident it wouldn't a) blow away and b) leak
But, right now, I'd rather spend a grand on my bike hahahaha

[L Rider]

I love camping, we spent a lot of time camping when I was a kid, difference was, my parents spent a lot of money on decent tents and gear...

I've spent all my money on my bike, so got a cheap arse TWH tent hahahahaha
Suffice to say, it didn't survive bad weather :-(

If I could spend some decent money.... I'd be fine in a tent - if I was confident it wouldn't a) blow away and b) leak
But, right now, I'd rather spend a grand on my bike hahahaha

Fair enough, if i had choice of $$ on bike or tent i'd go for the bike too

[SpikedPunch]

The lodge sounds like a good score.
I love camping even in winter. Our tent was huge with even a big room that we had set up for cooking and sitting around and relaxing in.

Did you guys bring that wicked big army tent again?

[L Rider]

Did you guys bring that wicked big army tent again?

No we didn't have that one. Friend has a massive family tent - heaps of room for 2 of us haha. Big 'bedroom' each then another big room for cooking and lazing around. Plus had a gazebo up as well.

[random rider]

Loved it. Got down to ride on the Friday for the first time ever (3rd tussock for me) and then I managed to complete the Dam Buster ride on the Saturday. Small ride on Sunday had.
Previous years I have not had the skill or the ability to complete that sort of ride (dam buster). Parts were amazing "vistas" but other area's took a bit of concentration.

Managed to get up a rather big hill with a heap of people waiting on top of it...think I got up only cos I was too stubborn to bail on it!

I did decide to take my bike for a bath on a river crossing....oh well 2/3 successful crossings ain't bad :innocent:

Not sure who the guy was but a father helped his son across and then helped me sort out my bike....water in every part possible. Thankfully have my spare sparkplug in a cover so we tipped the bike up and drained all the water. So who ever he was I am grateful for his help and advice.....99.8% of riders at TB were/are great.

Mental note....watch out for horses next year. Had a lonesome horse barrel across in front of me and another guy...he only just missed hitting it:facepalm:

Didn't camp but didn't miss it this year.......warm room and hot shower was what I needed after my impromptu bath

[MXNUT]

Arrived friday night and set up the tent in the dark. Absolutely pissed down from about 2 to 5.30 am. Was lying in bed in the tent thinking this is going to be a shit fest tommorow. Saturday morning dawned slightly overcast and the weather generally got better from then on.

Did the longest loop 1st on saturday Azim / lion and B20 at 110 kms, but wimped out on the water crossing the first time round as i didnt fancy wet boots for the rest of the day.:scooter:

That B20 loop is just awesome, 3rd/4th gear full throttle and just hang on untill the top, would have to be my favourite off road section in the whole country.

In the afternoon we did the water crossing whilst doing the the snippers alley loop, man tht hill goes down for a long way. I did not think that we had climbed that high.

Finished the day off with the marsden loop at 20 kms for a total of 190 kms for the day. I was pretty tired and sore that night untill the Whiskeys kicked in.:drinkup:

Next morning the whiskeys had worn off but the Body was in worse shape than the mind. :sick:
Went out and did the Tussock Buster loop and loved it so much we did another 2 laps.
I remember being on this loop a couple of years back on my RM250 and thinking i wish i had more top end speed, no such problem this year as i still had another gear to go but the Kahuna`s just weren't big enough. :facepalm:

90 kms for the Sunday was enough and we had just packed up at 1.00 on sunday afternoon when the rain came. Pretty lucky with the weather then, O and no dust. :sunny::sunny::sunny:

My wife said that for the last couple of days i was walking like i had a carrot up my arse and wanted to know what really happens on these boys weekends :love::love: