Sand Country Run - Sunday 13 May!

[mazz1972]

Sand Country Run is back!! :niceone: This coming Sunday 13th May at Waitatere. The track is approx 70kms in the morning, and 50-60kms in the afternoon.

For intermediates there will be the option to do around 25kms of the track. Kids track as usual.

There will be a fuel stop so please bring a fuel container.

Check out one of the below links to view full details and conditions of entry. Any questions please email hmcc@kol.co.nz or phone 04 904 9800 in the evenings.

See you there!!

Here is the flyer (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/sandcountryrun2012.jpg/)

This is the Silver Bullet listing (http://www.silverbullet.co.nz/event.php?id=9066)

And our Facebook page event listing (http://www.facebook.com/events/125350164246764/)

Check out our website for photos from the 2010 ride. (http://www.hmcc.co.nz/sand-country-run-2010-photos.html)

Horowhenua Motorcycle Club
Website www.hmcc.co.nz
Facebook www.facebook.com/horomcc

[thecharmed01]

We'll be up there, will be a good ride!

[F5 Dave]

indeed, but keep the rain away please. i expect you out with a team of hairdressers drying me a nice line in the single track the day before.

[mazz1972]

indeed, but keep the rain away please. i expect you out with a team of hairdressers drying me a nice line in the single track the day before.

Shucks Dave, you don't want much eh! :rolleyes: A bit of precipitation makes it interesting!

[pierc]

got to be the best ride around.fast rolling country,plenty of passing room and a couple of short cuts this year.

[F5 Dave]

Has to be right up there,

but my all time fav in the area was the one the Gold coast MX club ran, Sand something or other.

Just mixed some gas & cut some sharp edges on my M12, but it's not half the tyre an S12 is with even a sceric of rain.

[thecharmed01]

As long as they don't cancel because of all the rain......... :chase:

[pete.ktm]

As long as they don't cancel because of all the rain......... :chase:

any levin locals? is it/has it been raining?

checked 4 different weather sites last night and got 4 different answers about the amount of rain for sunday.

[mazz1972]

any levin locals? is it/has it been raining?

checked 4 different weather sites last night and got 4 different answers about the amount of rain for sunday.


As long as they don't cancel because of all the rain......... :chase:

There has been bugger all rain up this way yesterday and today http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/levin

The forecast for Sunday keeps getting better! This afternoon metservice says "cloud increasing, rain later".

Pete where do you look up the rain forecasts?

[F5 Dave]

bit more gloomy, but heck who can predict weather in NZ 3 days out?

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/weather/weatherdetail.aspx?wla=36

[thecharmed01]

Didnt they cancel this one last year because of rain leading up to it? From memory the actual day wasn't so bad...
So many rides last year rained out, hoping this year they will have a better run with them! We missed out on a few rides that were really good rides for stupid weather reasons.

Hopefully it stays average to good for the next few days *fingers and toes crossed*

[mazz1972]

Didnt they cancel this one last year because of rain leading up to it? From memory the actual day wasn't so bad...
So many rides last year rained out, hoping this year they will have a better run with them! We missed out on a few rides that were really good rides for stupid weather reasons.

Hopefully it stays average to good for the next few days *fingers and toes crossed*

Yes it was cancelled last year, but not because of rain on the day - the damage was done in the week leading up to it with heaps of rain.

[mazz1972]

Has to be right up there,

but my all time fav in the area was the one the Gold coast MX club ran, Sand something or other.



Where was that one Dave?

[thecharmed01]

Yes it was cancelled last year, but not because of rain on the day - the damage was done in the week leading up to it with heaps of rain.


yeah... didn't I say that?

[mazz1972]

bit more gloomy, but heck who can predict weather in NZ 3 days out?

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/weather/weatherdetail.aspx?wla=36

Exactly. Just had someone on the phone from Welly saying it is miserable down there. Cloudy in Otaki at the moment but I haven't seen a drop of precipitation today so far *touch wood*

[mazz1972]

yeah... didn't I say that?

Was agreeing with you......

[thecharmed01]

Exactly. Just had someone on the phone from Welly saying it is miserable down there. Cloudy in Otaki at the moment but I haven't seen a drop of precipitation today so far *touch wood*

It's not too bad here, bit of light rain this morning, but nothing since and I've been out and about all day.
Bloody cold though!

[mazz1972]

It's not too bad here, bit of light rain this morning, but nothing since and I've been out and about all day.
Bloody cold though!

It's always warmer up here :bleh: lol

[F5 Dave]

Where was that one Dave?
Hmm, old emails are great for research:

Pines ride.
Motuiti Rd, Foxton
Think about October is usual

was cancelled '11 due to rain I think.

[pete.ktm]

There has been bugger all rain up this way yesterday and today http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/levin

The forecast for Sunday keeps getting better! This afternoon metservice says "cloud increasing, rain later".

Pete where do you look up the rain forecasts?

sweet!

you tend to forget when your loading up the bike in the wet, cold and dark 30 minutes up the coast it's blue skies (hopefully).

as to weather guessers:

got 3 apps on my phone.
http://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni&noofdays=5
http://weatherspark.com/forecasts/yr/New+Zealand/Levin
and i even look at metservice

checking them again, it looks like the weathers getting better. oh yeah!

coz if it's cancelled i'd have to go buy my mum a pressie instead of tooting as i fly past whitby trying to get home to clean the bike before it's too dark.

[pierc]

Has to be right up there,

but my all time fav in the area was the one the Gold coast MX club ran, Sand something or other.

Just mixed some gas & cut some sharp edges on my M12, but it's not half the tyre an S12 is with even a sceric of rain.

dont play with the rubber, just be in the first 50 out before things cut up.

[F5 Dave]

and go home before lap 2?

Besides that can work both ways, sometimes they skim the mud off.


Knobblie knife. 10-15min work & sharp edges again. Shweet.

Not to say the M12 was any real chop when it was new in the wet. . .

[mazz1972]

dont play with the rubber, just be in the first 50 out before things cut up.

cutting the edges is an old trick and works a treat.

[mazz1972]

and go home before lap 2?

Besides that can work both ways, sometimes they skim the mud off.


Knobblie knife. 10-15min work & sharp edges again. Shweet.

Not to say the M12 was any real chop when it was new in the wet. . .

But the M12 is much more durable than an S12 which can be buggered after one ride.

[F5 Dave]

new s12 x? are supposed to be more durable. A mate has had one on his GG for ages. I've grown to dislike the M12, I'd never buy another. My fav was the Mitas C10, but don't seem to see them much, and they are never on special.

[mazz1972]

sweet!

you tend to forget when your loading up the bike in the wet, cold and dark 30 minutes up the coast it's blue skies (hopefully).

as to weather guessers:

got 3 apps on my phone.
http://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni&noofdays=5
http://weatherspark.com/forecasts/yr/New+Zealand/Levin
and i even look at metservice

checking them again, it looks like the weathers getting better. oh yeah!

coz if it's cancelled i'd have to go buy my mum a pressie instead of tooting as i fly past whitby trying to get home to clean the bike before it's too dark.

You're right Pete, and we hear frequently from people that they don't come because it was raining in town.....but often it is not raining up here. Alot of the rain that Wellington gets goes up through the Tararuas and doesn't reach the coast.

I hadn't heard of the weatherspark site before. Seems a bit weird reading weather for NZ that comes from the Norweigan Met Institute!

A little rain overnight in Kapiti, but I hear there was bugger all up Levin way.

[mazz1972]

new s12 x? are supposed to be more durable. A mate has had one on his GG for ages. I've grown to dislike the M12, I'd never buy another. My fav was the Mitas C10, but don't seem to see them much, and they are never on special.

I see on the importers site that the C10 is still available, but of course they don't list prices which is quite unhelpful.

Ah yes I'd forgotten the S12s have improved durability. Hubby has a rear on his DRZ but think it's only done one ride and it's been a while since the bike was ridden so I haven't noticed how worn it is.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah only takes one ride somewhere dumb like Karapoti(sp) & you'll round the edge off any tyre, or too long transport sections & people get bored & turn the handle. Sandy/loamy rides are great for tyres holding up.

[pete.ktm]

I hadn't heard of the weatherspark site before. Seems a bit weird reading weather for NZ that comes from the Norweigan Met Institute!


yeah real weird, theres actually three different sources you can choose from and if you go into dashboard mode it'll show you a graph of the day with the predicted rain fall per hour. love to know what random number generator they use for that.

but what i find useful at other sites and 'specially the phone apps is they usually give you a percentage of the change of rain. they'll say '30% chance of rain', the metservice just says 'rain'.

but i think even if it pisses down you'll probably still get 800+ to this ride :)

[pete.ktm]

My fav was the Mitas C10, but don't seem to see them much, and they are never on special.

I'm happy with my S12's, they seem a little bit better in soft conditions than the Pirelli Extra's i previously had and so far wearing well.

Just saw a Chris Birch tweet:

@BirchyNZ Chris what's your tyre choice and rear size for all round riding ?????
@transfit97 mitas EF06 front and a 120 Mitas C18 on the rear (run it backwards)

but i guess he might be sponsored by Mitas :shifty:

[F5 Dave]

bearing in mind some Euro enduros have to run compliant non aggressive pattern tyres I believe.


I've driven to a couple of rides over the years & stopping in Otaki when realising that it is still pissn down up there. Its a ball breaker. 3hr round trip, no riding & thinkni of what you could have been doing instead (largely involving staying in bed avoiding the family)

[pete.ktm]

that was a good ride, a lot of nice open fast jumpy stuff. but my body is gonna be sore tomorrow.

bit of rain before hand to dampen down the sand, all good.

a few pics @ http://www.kaseus.net/gallery/hmcc-sand-country-run-charity-trail-ride-120513

unfortunately (for the photo count anyway) we stopped to help a dead 300 EXC which took a lot longer than planned and one of us was doing the mothers day dinner thing so we had to boot it after that with no stops for pics. poor guy was still sitting in the paddock with his bike when we went past him in the afternoon. actually saw quite a few guys stopped in funny places, hope they all wern't waiting to be picked up else it would've been a long night for the marshalls.

cheers HMCC.

[thecharmed01]

Dude I think you are stalking me hahahaha

Did you say hi when you stopped next to Jo & I when that big bunch of riders were all lost?

[crfchick]

This is my fav ride too but I don't think Gold Coast have access to this land anymore :no:

How many riders did you get Mazz? I heard 600 but it seemed like much more than this!


Hmm, old emails are great for research:

Pines ride.
Motuiti Rd, Foxton
Think about October is usual

was cancelled '11 due to rain I think.

[F5 Dave]

That is a shame, the pines ride was like berm after berm, coolest ride.

[F5 Dave]

Well I'm a bit stiff now. 116k we did. Good ride, little bit open for my tastes, but nice for a change. The wet sand was actually better & made those sections easy compared to dry where they can be a drag.

Well run, but what a turn out. May need to consider a 2nd sign in area as that is what delayed things.

Marking was good, but there were a couple of places we got lost for a mo (along with a heap of others). Clearly hard work marking out such a long track.


A couple of points I think should be commented on though;
Before point 26 there was a dirt road section where you passed through a couple of tall gates. These gates were open 90 degrees. if your eyesight wasn't that good or perhaps it was raining, or other riders about, the consequence of hitting a sturdy edge head on would be most likely the last thing you ever did. Ideally they should have been opened further, or if not possible at least some orange paint or bunting tied to them to make them obvious.

2nd thing was we all heard the spiel about not going the wrong way down the track. Not even marshals. So I was a bit surprised to meet the fuel truck opposing traffic. Surely that wasn't necessary? Or a Marshall could have been called to close the track on that stretch for a couple of minutes so he could drive down that stretch.

Sorry if that sounds like criticism, but better to give feedback, they club doesn't want any more injuries, or worse I'm sure. One of the StJohns guys told me there was nearly enough for a bus.

[mazz1972]

Well I'm a bit stiff now. 116k we did. Good ride, little bit open for my tastes, but nice for a change. The wet sand was actually better & made those sections easy compared to dry where they can be a drag.

Well run, but what a turn out. May need to consider a 2nd sign in area as that is what delayed things.

Marking was good, but there were a couple of places we got lost for a mo (along with a heap of others). Clearly hard work marking out such a long track.


A couple of points I think should be commented on though;
Before point 26 there was a dirt road section where you passed through a couple of tall gates. These gates were open 90 degrees. if your eyesight wasn't that good or perhaps it was raining, or other riders about, the consequence of hitting a sturdy edge head on would be most likely the last thing you ever did. Ideally they should have been opened further, or if not possible at least some orange paint or bunting tied to them to make them obvious.

2nd thing was we all heard the spiel about not going the wrong way down the track. Not even marshals. So I was a bit surprised to meet the fuel truck opposing traffic. Surely that wasn't necessary? Or a Marshall could have been called to close the track on that stretch for a couple of minutes so he could drive down that stretch.

Sorry if that sounds like criticism, but better to give feedback, they club doesn't want any more injuries, or worse I'm sure. One of the StJohns guys told me there was nearly enough for a bus.

Thanks Dave, all points well noted, and yes we certainly appreciate the feedback. The fuel truck incident will be duly dealt with, we agree that's not on. I have the injury list and there certainly wasn't enough for a bus, so a big of exaggeration there me thinks.....or a very small bus!! Cheers.

[mazz1972]

This is my fav ride too but I don't think Gold Coast have access to this land anymore :no:

How many riders did you get Mazz? I heard 600 but it seemed like much more than this!

There were 617 :)

[mazz1972]

that was a good ride, a lot of nice open fast jumpy stuff. but my body is gonna be sore tomorrow.

bit of rain before hand to dampen down the sand, all good.

a few pics @ http://www.kaseus.net/gallery/hmcc-sand-country-run-charity-trail-ride-120513

unfortunately (for the photo count anyway) we stopped to help a dead 300 EXC which took a lot longer than planned and one of us was doing the mothers day dinner thing so we had to boot it after that with no stops for pics. poor guy was still sitting in the paddock with his bike when we went past him in the afternoon. actually saw quite a few guys stopped in funny places, hope they all wern't waiting to be picked up else it would've been a long night for the marshalls.

cheers HMCC.

Great photos as usual Pete :msn-wink:

[F5 Dave]

Thanks Dave, all points well noted, and yes we certainly appreciate the feedback. The fuel truck incident will be duly dealt with, we agree that's not on. I have the injury list and there certainly wasn't enough for a bus, so a big of exaggeration there me thinks.....or a very small bus!! Cheers.
The track numbers were great & I had been taking note of them, but predictibly, when we needed to know where we were I couldn't remember the last one we'd seen. But neither could the marshal we flagged over. He was struggling with his map, but fortuantely we were close to a access road & others knew where we were. As more people get flashy phones GPS will become more common & it will be easy to phone in location if help is needed.
I have to say I was unprepared and didn't have any bandages or whatnot on me, we'd come across this poor chap who had ripped his hand right open, I made a bandage from one of his kidney belt straps, but it was pretty bush, it would have been nice if the marshal had like just a Telfa pad & a crepe roll in plastic bag. Heck I should make a bag up like that to throw in the bum bag.

[mazz1972]

The track numbers were great & I had been taking note of them, but predictibly, when we needed to know where we were I couldn't remember the last one we'd seen. But neither could the marshal we flagged over. He was struggling with his map, but fortuantely we were close to a access road & others knew where we were. As more people get flashy phones GPS will become more common & it will be easy to phone in location if help is needed.
I have to say I was unprepared and didn't have any bandages or whatnot on me, we'd come across this poor chap who had ripped his hand right open, I made a bandage from one of his kidney belt straps, but it was pretty bush, it would have been nice if the marshal had like just a Telfa pad & a crepe roll in plastic bag. Heck I should make a bag up like that to throw in the bum bag.

Our marshals are all volunteers and not all have intimate knowledge of the area. With this ride it is not hard to get a bit disoriented, and as you can see it's easy enough to forget the last number you passed. Many of our marshals are carrying first aid kits and also radios, cellphones, and tools. It would be helpful if riders could carry a few basics such as you suggest......heck we have enough trouble getting people to carry their own tools!

[F5 Dave]

. . . Many of our marshals are carrying first aid kits and also radios, cellphones, . . .
That's cool, at least there is a bit more out there than just the medics. I understand that they are all volunteers & that getting enough people is hard enough & not all volunteers are going to be first aiders, but there are enough people passing that someone will be.

Anyway, off to the chemist to make a small pack up to sling in the bag.



.....heck we have enough trouble getting people to carry their own tools!
Yeah the amount of times you come across some 19yr old on a shagged out 250 MX bike that has fouled a plug & they don't have a plug or a spanner & their mates were carrying one but they took off

[mazz1972]

That's cool, at least there is a bit more out there than just the medics. I understand that they are all volunteers & that getting enough people is hard enough & not all volunteers are going to be first aiders, but there are enough people passing that someone will be.

Anyway, off to the chemist to make a small pack up to sling in the bag.



Yeah the amount of times you come across some 19yr old on a shagged out 250 MX bike that has fouled a plug & they don't have a plug or a spanner & their mates were carrying one but they took off

Dead right on both points there Dave!

[pete.ktm]

Dude I think you are stalking me hahahaha

Did you say hi when you stopped next to Jo & I when that big bunch of riders were all lost?

i know i must have seen you about 5 times in different places including when i lost my front wheel in the sand trying to go round the outside of you, lol.

Next time i see you i'll shout out, although with a not quite distintive bike as yours you'll probably just think 'whos that weirdo'.


May need to consider a 2nd sign in area as that is what delayed things.

Marking was good, but there were a couple of places we got lost for a mo (along with a heap of others). Clearly hard work marking out such a long track.


the signin line did move reasonably fast and most people do know to turn up early for this one (and don't), i guess with unlimited helpers it would be easy...

we couldn't find the next arrow a couple of times as well, but you never know if it's sub optimal marking or some tool whose ridden over the arrow and not replaced it.


There were 617 :)

damn mothers day!


I couldn't remember the last one we'd seen. But neither could the marshal we flagged over.


big part of the reason i don't volunteer for helping, i suck big time at knowing where i am and am even worse with medical things. i figure it's probably better to have marshalls that can actually help.


It would be helpful if riders could carry a few basics such as you suggest......heck we have enough trouble getting people to carry their own tools!

maybe if F5 Dave gets his first aid kit ready he can list what he's got and you can include that and a bit of a first aid tutorial (must be something basic available with a google search) in the next mag.

The guy we stopped to help was on a two stroke and as soon as he said he had no tools and no spare spark plug we were sort of thinking 'screw it, he can get picked up at the end of the ride'. in the end it was probably more serious than just a new spark plug but at least he could have confirmed that himself and we wouldn't have wasted 45 minutes. and thanx to KTM for using a different sized spark plug for every model, real helpful.

[mazz1972]

maybe if F5 Dave gets his first aid kit ready he can list what he's got and you can include that and a bit of a first aid tutorial (must be something basic available with a google search) in the next mag.

Good thinking Batman, I will speak to my "people".




The guy we stopped to help was on a two stroke and as soon as he said he had no tools and no spare spark plug we were sort of thinking 'screw it, he can get picked up at the end of the ride'. in the end it was probably more serious than just a new spark plug but at least he could have confirmed that himself and we wouldn't have wasted 45 minutes. and thanx to KTM for using a different sized spark plug for every model, real helpful.
Unfortunately that has a very familiar ring to it Pete.

[F5 Dave]

Well best to speak to a Medic for a decent kit idea, but I've been doing these sort of rides for quite some years & haven't personally had to stop & do the 1st aiding before as there has been someone on the scene & just helped with diverting traffic etc.

The way I see it is that as a rider I'm unlikely to carry a proper first aid kit. Once you start to list the eventualities the kit size grows & personally I don't want to fall on that bag. I think to work on the principle that if you can see the insides of someone, or red stuff is leaking out then, cover, apply pressure & elevate that limb. If you have a sterile Telfa pad & some handi-bandage crepe roll you are ahead of the game. That is all I've bought & will double zip lock bag it & hope not to have to use it, but wouldn't have minded having it yesterday. Fortunately the guy wasn't bleeding much, but if he had been I wouldn't have had much this side of ripping my riding shirt off.

[thecharmed01]

i know i must have seen you about 5 times in different places including when i lost my front wheel in the sand trying to go round the outside of you, lol.

Next time i see you i'll shout out, although with a not quite distintive bike as yours you'll probably just think 'whos that weirdo'.



haha do say hi! I've seen so many of your pictures now it'd be bloody nice to meet you in person!!!!
Our 4WD is pretty distinctive, come say hi before the ride starts!

bwahahahaha at the front wheel thing. I was trying to figure out the sand. It's been so long since I rode sand I was actually struggling a bit. Every sandy bit I was trying something different to figure out whether I felt better on my feet... or sitting... or what but I'm not sure how successful I was with it at all hahaha
I was doing better than the two other girls I was riding with, but was being passed by all and sundry at a great rate of knots, so I can't have been going nearly fast enough :bleh:

[mazz1972]

The guy we stopped to help was on a two stroke and as soon as he said he had no tools and no spare spark plug we were sort of thinking 'screw it, he can get picked up at the end of the ride'. in the end it was probably more serious than just a new spark plug but at least he could have confirmed that himself and we wouldn't have wasted 45 minutes. and thanx to KTM for using a different sized spark plug for every model, real helpful.

Pete, can you remember if this guy was with his girlfriend? And he definately didn't have any tools with him? They would have been in about the last quarter of the track. Just trying to put two and two together here

[mazz1972]

Couple of things handed in at the ride and not claimed....

A pair of goggles.

A key with a remote attached, found at the far end of the carpark.

If you think either of these items could be yours, please contact us to identify them hmcc@kol.co.nz

Cheers
Maree

[pete.ktm]

Pete, can you remember if this guy was with his girlfriend? And he definately didn't have any tools with him? They would have been in about the last quarter of the track. Just trying to put two and two together here

yeah that would have been him, his gf (yz250f?) turned up after about 20 minutes and she was still with him when we passed him in the afternoon. and he had no tools.

what time did he get back to the car park?

[mazz1972]

yeah that would have been him, his gf (yz250f?) turned up after about 20 minutes and she was still with him when we passed him in the afternoon. and he had no tools.

what time did he get back to the car park?

Two and two makes four then, thanks for that. No idea what time they got back to the carpark, but it would have been pretty late in the day as they were still there when we started track clearing.

We were packing up in the pitch black with torches, and the poor fellas out doing the track clearing had to give up in the end as it was too dodgy to carry on in the dark. Fun times!

[pierc]

well i've done the ride, bike still goes, wifes bike still goes if it had a battery, and with a jar of nurofen I was able to get up on monday morning to clean the gear Ha Ha still think its the best ride out this side of Jaffaville, and the high point was the heavy shower of rain after the ride was finished

[quallman1234]

Finally turned up to a trial ride, after not going for ages... Was well ran and pretty well marked... Had fun, and the surface was had alot more grip than karapoti clay!

[F5 Dave]

Yeah even my M12 stuck in well, but I didn't see any hairdressers out there preparing my line, so that was a bit disappointing.

[thecharmed01]

Yeah even my M12 stuck in well, but I didn't see any hairdressers out there preparing my line, so that was a bit disappointing.

there was a hairdresser there :bleh:

[pete.ktm]

quick thread highjack...

for anyone who hasn't checked silverbullet recently theres another Makara Trail Ride on this w/e - the 20th.

as well as the Carterton ride.

and while i'm here, anyone know if Raetihi Ripper is on this year? Their web page is still advertising the 2011 ride.

cheers.

[thecharmed01]

quick thread highjack...

for anyone who hasn't checked silverbullet recently theres another Makara Trail Ride on this w/e - the 20th.

as well as the Carterton ride.

and while i'm here, anyone know if Raetihi Ripper is on this year? Their web page is still advertising the 2011 ride.

cheers.

That Carterton ride is crap for the fact it's not a great ride.
The terrain is not great, signposting was rubbish the last two years, they didn't mark a single hazard and there were so many - I'm so surprised there aren't more injuries there!
Then there is the fact they want $30 PLUS you have to buy lunch.
We swore we wouldn't do it again after the first time, it was just horrible. Then we got suckered the next year as they changed the name so we didn't realise till we got there it was the same one.
And it's not that I'm tight... I'll happily pay more money for GOOD riding.
I've paid a couple hundred dollars for the weekend at Desert Storm as the riding is totally worth the money!
That one however, WAY over priced.

Didn't see the local ride though, that's tempting me so bad even though we have Desert Storm next weekend... man, it's so close to home!
Ahhhh to do it or to save myself for the weekend!

[F5 Dave]

That was the one that was right out the sticks blowing like a barsteward & then we came to that uphill of muddy death? I made it up the right route having failed the left hill a few times, but I was pretty knackered. Then I figured I better go help my mate. He fluked it up the other way, but just walking (crawling?) back up the hill took me over 1/2 hr.

[F5 Dave]

there was a hairdresser there :bleh:
So why the hell weren't you clearing me a nice dry line through the bog. my bike got all 'iccky':cry:

[mazz1972]

So why the hell weren't you clearing me a nice dry line through the bog. my bike got all 'iccky':cry:


You weren't the only one that took home the free souvenir of mud and cowshit :laugh:

[thecharmed01]

So why the hell weren't you clearing me a nice dry line through the bog. my bike got all 'iccky':cry:

hahahahaha cause I probably don't ride as fast as you :bleh:

[pete.ktm]

cheers for the heads up on the carterton ride, wouldn't mind a bit of wairarapa hill country but we'll do the makara ride and get a couple of extra hours kip.


So why the hell weren't you clearing me a nice dry line through the bog. my bike got all 'iccky':cry:

saw a couple of guys go straight through the middle of the bog and come out ok. not many though, lol.

[F5 Dave]

Fortune favours the brave. . . .



and poos on the meek who merely had a rush of blood to the head & thought they were.



I decided to follow a mate who tends to pick reasonable lines & bounced around the right with differing levels of success.