Wellington Ride - It's going to be HUGE!

[Slingshot]

I'd like to re-create the very first Kiwi Biker ride I ever went on.

Last year, on the 5th of September around 30 Kiwi Bikers decended upon Caltex Rimutaka (see here for the ride report) (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=4971), the ride was well organised from the outset and everyone had a great time. Here are the guidelines (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=4931) that Jim2 put together for last years ride.

Last year, riders split into three groups and I think it would be a good idea to look to do the same this year, the groups would be:
Quick
Average
Sight Seeing
Each group had a leader and a tail-end-charlie (calling for volunteers).

I'm looking for some direction with the date, post your thoughs and we'll go with the date that gets the most support.

The plan would be along the lines of (but subject to change):
Meet at Caltex Rimutaka at 10am.
Fast group leaves 1st at 10:30, followed by Average then Sight Seeing.

Brunch at Flying Fish (or similar) in Martinborough and then onto Masterton via the back roads.
From Masterton, the possibility of heading out to the coast or back to Wellington (open to debate).

All levels of riding are most welcome although fluoro-vests are strictly prohibited (unless someone really wants to wear one).

It would also be great to see some out of town riders, I'm sure between us Welly people we can put up the accommodation.

[Coyote]

Argh! Bikes still in the shop waiting for a gasket and still haven't got my bloody restricted yet!

[Ms Piggy]

Great idea :)

[Quasievil]

I went on that ride, it was freackin awesome , love to come back down for it !!

[Skunk]

Give me heaps of warning... I'll need to convert the bikes back the road use. :ride:

[Sparky Bills]

Sounds interesting.
been a while since i been on a decent road ride with a big group for a while.
Should be keen.

[poorbastard]

If I get a new bike in time i'll be along

[Velox]

Yep - keen as usual. If the time is right that is. I always prefer a Sat, but whatever everyone else can do.
:Punk:

[Slingshot]

I'm thinking the first weekend in October might be a good date to aim for, that give people heaps of time to get organised and the weather should be a litle more settled by then.

Put the word out to other riders that you know that may not have yet heard about this wonderful thing that we know as kiwi biker.

[Skunk]

Don't do the 15-16! That's MotoGP in Oz... several of us will be over there.

[Slingshot]

Don't do the 15-16! That's MotoGP in Oz... several of us will be over there.

Lucky for some!

[Paul in NZ]

How about something a bit different this time?

Make it September again and head over the hill and straight to Masterton. Gas up and back road to Alfreton, back roads to the track and lunch at that cafe' beyond the bridge... Over the track back roads to Shannon etc and home...?

Or - Burn up out to Castle Point?

[Str8 Jacket]

All levels of riding are most welcome although fluoro-vests are strictly prohibited (unless someone really wants to wear one).



I would really like to go on this ride, however I would have only been riding for a few months by then and the futherest I have ridden to date is to Paremata back up through Pauatahanui to Wellington . . .
Basically is it worth my while coming along, or am I just likely to hold everyone up/piss everyone off?!

[skelstar]

Hey Str8,
I started riding about three weeks ago and did the TSS trip to Woodville (and lost everyone). I rode along at 100km and it was fine. Would like to go on this trip so I dont think youll be holding anyone up really. Be nice to have someone else to ride with.

[Str8 Jacket]

Hey Str8,
I started riding about three weeks ago and did the TSS trip to Woodville (and lost everyone). I rode along at 100km and it was fine. Would like to go on this trip so I dont think youll be holding anyone up really. Be nice to have someone else to ride with.

Yea, I was supposed to go along to that ride too, glad I didn't though there were a couple of "off's" form what I heard . . .
The thing I am most afraid of (asmentioned) is being left alone. That's also why im glad I didn't go on the TSS ride, as I was told that there would always be someone "tail end" but there obviously wasn't if you were left behind . . . . I know that most groups will re-group at certain places, but what about the "in-between" re-grouping?

[Slingshot]

I would really like to go on this ride, however I would have only been riding for a few months by then and the futherest I have ridden to date is to Paremata back up through Pauatahanui to Wellington . . .
Basically is it worth my while coming along, or am I just likely to hold everyone up/piss everyone off?!


Hell yes...that's the whole reason for having three different groups. I would suggest you start off in the sight seeing group. You may feel that the pace is a bit slow so at the next stop you may like to move into the average group.

To give you an idea, last year the speeds of the groups was around:
Sight Seeing: 90 to 100ks (I think)
Average: 100 to 130ish
Fast: Lightspeed

Last year, the fast group stopped every now and then and waited for the other groups to catch up, quick break then we were off again.

It'll be great experence for you and I want it to be well organised to make it nice and safe.

Paul...I'm keen for any suggestions on the route.

[skelstar]

Yea, I was supposed to go along to that ride too, glad I didn't though there were a couple of "off's" form what I heard . . .
The thing I am most afraid of (asmentioned) is being left alone. That's also why im glad I didn't go on the TSS ride, as I was told that there would always be someone "tail end" but there obviously wasn't if you were left behind . . . . I know that most groups will re-group at certain places, but what about the "in-between" re-grouping?
There was a tailend charlie but the person that was supposed to sit on the corner to wait for us didnt wait. Thanks for that :). TEC was my company in Woddville. Thanks Peter! Im sure you wouldnt get left, esp if we are aware of it now.

[kenepurus_FINEST]

woooooooooohooooooooooooooooo
group ride for noobs. that tss ride looked like it was packed with em at caltex, hate to see what it was like on the hill.
gotta be dangerous getting lots of noobs together
anywho.
bit of sport on the hill!

[Paul in NZ]

It's no problem folks...

The fast and furious will sort themselves out and the medium group is no worries...

Vicki will want to come and 2 up the Guzzi really can't be called medium paced anymore. Besides I'm more than happy to act as tail gunner...

We just sort out a gentle route...

Personally I'd like to avoid the Flying Fish if the numbers get up.. It takes too long to get a coffee in you if you arrive en masse and the days are short as it is....

Cheers

[Str8 Jacket]

Hell yes...that's the whole reason for having three different groups. I would suggest you start off in the sight seeing group. You may feel that the pace is a bit slow so at the next stop you may like to move into the average group.

To give you an idea, last year the speeds of the groups was around:
Sight Seeing: 90 to 100ks (I think)
Average: 100 to 130ish
Fast: Lightspeed



lol!! Believe me, even if I could ride any better I highly doubt that my mighty GN would keep up with any other group anyway! But i'll definately think about coming along and joining the "sightseeing" group. Be good to put some faces to names for one thing!

[skelstar]

One thing I hate about turning up to a new established group of people is when no-one comes up and introduces themselves. End up hanging with a bunch of strangers :).

[Paul in NZ]

One thing I hate about turning up to a new established group of people is when no-one comes up and introduces themselves. End up hanging with a bunch of strangers :).

Don't worry - we will get everyone a name badge.... :rofl:

Even if we do introduce everyone I forget who they are in 10 sec's

[skelstar]

Im going to get a 'star' sticker for my bike I think. I wonder if im passing (opposite direction) other Wgtn riders to and from work each day. I work in Gracefield, commute from Ngaio, and get to work at approx 7:50am.

[Slingshot]

Personally I'd like to avoid the Flying Fish if the numbers get up.. It takes too long to get a coffee in you if you arrive en masse and the days are short as it is....


Good point...although turning up en masse at any establishment is likely to create delays.

[Hitcher]

Don't forget that the Grand Challenge is the weekend of 15-16 October. We could be up for a bit of practice on any or all of the weekends earlier but...

[Sparky Bills]

Would be keen for pretty much any of those dates.
Sunday would be better for people me thinks.
Less likely to be working then.

[Slingshot]

Don't forget that the Grand Challenge is the weekend of 15-16 October. We could be up for a bit of practice on any or all of the weekends earlier but...

It sounds like between the Grand Challenge and Moto GP in OZ, those dates are out...it's a shame I can't edit the poll to remove them.

[madboy]

lol!! Believe me, even if I could ride any better I highly doubt that my mighty GN would keep up with any other group anyway! But i'll definately think about coming along and joining the "sightseeing" group. Be good to put some faces to names for one thing!Funny you should say that, I remember a GN riding with us some time ago and I never cracked 100 (it was particularly rare circumstances & I was 2 up), but everytime we slowed and then accelerated again we nearly lost the poor GN. Took him years to catch up again.

But I think the sightseeing group will be a bit more sympathetic than an R1, 636 and Z1000 :ride:

[old farts]

I'M in might ask the other half, kick her out of bed, put us in the sight seeing lot at the back we'll be the tail enders :clap:

[Slipstream]

anyone got a comfy pillion seat? me luv you loooooooongtime sailor :love:

I'd rather it be on a sunday too....

[Velox]

All those dates sound ok for me at this stage.

Another option would be to go down the Western Lake Rd (Ocean Beach I think it's called) and go to the pub at lake Ferry for lunch. That's what we did for my Round the Clock ride, but it's not a very long ride.

What about the road out to Cape Palliser? I'm real keen to have a look down there (we were looking at pics of it in lectures today). Evidently you head from Martinborough towards Lake Ferry but turn off and go over heaps of twisties!!! Don't know if there's any food over there though - anyone else know?

[skelstar]

...What about the road out to Cape Palliser? I'm real keen to have a look down there (we were looking at pics of it in lectures today). ...
I think theres some issues with some of the road being unsealed. Theres alos a ford. Ngawi is awesome though. Lots of rusting bulldozers sitting on the beach that they use for dragging boats out of the water.

[Slingshot]

I'M in might ask the other half, kick her out of bed, put us in the sight seeing lot at the back we'll be the tail enders :clap:


Thanks Old Fart....and welcome to the site.

[mikey]

All those dates sound ok for me at this stage.

Another option would be to go down the Western Lake Rd (Ocean Beach I think it's called) and go to the pub at lake Ferry for lunch. That's what we did for my Round the Clock ride, but it's not a very long ride.

What about the road out to Cape Palliser? I'm real keen to have a look down there (we were looking at pics of it in lectures today). Evidently you head from Martinborough towards Lake Ferry but turn off and go over heaps of twisties!!! Don't know if there's any food over there though - anyone else know?

got tires with knobblys on them?
theres a lot of gravel. an speed limit is 100, so it will be some legal drifint fun! until i come off that is.

[merv]

I think theres some issues with some of the road being unsealed. Theres alos a ford. Ngawi is awesome though. Lots of rusting bulldozers sitting on the beach that they use for dragging boats out of the water.

Last time I was down there a few months ago there are still short stretches of gravel but all the fords have been piped or bridged as far as the Cape.

[skelstar]

Ive not ridden on gravel with a roadbike yet (ok mtnbiker though). Is it a big issue? If not I would love to go down there sometime.

[DemonWolf]

I'd be tempted to come down to Welly for a ride =) (will need those name tags though.. my memory is worse.. .03 seconds and I'd forget the name =/..)

[Fryin Finn]

I think I'll come along and meet someone :Punk:

[Charlie]

Hey, I'd love to come too, ohhh my 1st group ride!!! :ride:
Is it a trip over to Wairarapa??? Cause I'm with Str8 Jacket, I'm still very much the learner and the prospect of riding Tukas scares the crap outta me, :no: but am dying to do it and as they say.. just do it!
Will there be lots in our shoes and possibly some understanding experienced sod to keep us company??? But if no-one else is keen Str8 Jacket, I'll ride with ya, am originally from Masterton (shhhh) so know the way/place well, am just slow and cautious! I work Saturday mornings, so Sundays suit me best.

[Eurygnomes]

ARGH!! I'll have left by then. Hopefully Str8, we'll have sorted out going for a ride together by then, it definitely sounds as though we're of even riding style! :)

Skelstar, it's definitely not me you pass on your way TOO work...maybe coming home. You get to work WAY too early! :)

Charlie, I'm keen to tackle the Taka's too...though I'm a little wary of a) being in cars way and b) being in other bikers way. :) I'm quite cautious - especially the first time on a new stretch of wiggly road. Maybe (and this is just a hypothetically speaking at this point) Str8 and I could go up that way next weekend (am in Melb this weekend) and meet you, and then we'd ride back.?? Be lonely for you returning to Masterton though...Hmmm...

[mikey]

i think your a bunch of over cautios nans, were talkign abotu a ride over the hill here not swimming with sharks in south africa!

[Slipstream]

i think your a bunch of over cautios nans, were talkign abotu a ride over the hill here not swimming with sharks in south africa!

how do they swim on dirt?? :whistle:

[Slingshot]

i think your a bunch of over cautios nans, were talkign abotu a ride over the hill here not swimming with sharks in south africa!

I have to agree...it's all a mindset thing. Treat the road with respect and you'll be fine.

I remember the first time I went over the hill, I'd been told that it was a killer road and that I was asking for trouble so I got myself all worked up, turns out I didn't need to worry.

[Charlie]

Charlie, I'm keen to tackle the Taka's too...though I'm a little wary of a) being in cars way and b) being in other bikers way. :) I'm quite cautious - especially the first time on a new stretch of wiggly road. Maybe (and this is just a hypothetically speaking at this point) Str8 and I could go up that way next weekend (am in Melb this weekend) and meet you, and then we'd ride back.?? Be lonely for you returning to Masterton though...Hmmm...


Eurygnomes, would love to join up for a ride with you and Str8. LOL, yes have a similar view of the hill road!!! Loads of passing lanes so everyone can just get over it, am sure they were there once too; how soon they forget! :weird:
Havent gotten out much lately, my bike is my toy and I dont drive it to work everyday.
And no no, I live in WELLINGTON, grew up in Masterton, so will meet you on this side of the hill! Your talking weekend 20-21st Aug? The Sunday?

[mikey]

am sure they were there once too; how soon they forget! :weird:

yeh whate ever i was never scared its a ROAD!
were you scared of the dark when you were a kid?

live in fear, an you miss out on shit that you shouldn be scared about at all!

[MoFunthanmost]

Great idea - keen as always, and plenty of time to organise around work.
:ride:

[Hooks]

Make sure you post the date in a new thread and I'll be there ... as long as it's a saturday .... hint hint ..... :whistle:

[skelstar]

Eurygnomes, would love to join up for a ride with you and Str8.... I live in WELLINGTON, grew up in Masterton, so will meet you on this side of the hill! Your talking weekend 20-21st Aug? The Sunday?
Im keen for a ride guys if thats cool. Im on my learners so Im still relatively cautious. I dont ride a rocket-ship either.

[Eurygnomes]

Thankyou Skelstar. I think if others read back, what they'll see is that I said I was overly CAUTIOUS, not SCARED of the road. Totally different attitudes. I'm all for riding to the conditions, but blind corners, cold days and general Wellington dampness mean that I'm not sure how the conditions are going to change in a microsecond. Consequently, I ride secure in the knowledge that I HAVE no knowledge of what's around the corner, and may I continue to avoid patches of dirt/diesel/gravel/ice/moss/pine needles as I have thus far. (road to Makara is poo - surface wise - from Johnsonville!)

*sheesh* Oh, and I'm on my learners, ride a GN250 and don't go like the proverbial clappers at all, so all those with similar capabilities/attributes/mindsets are welcome!

Skel/Str8/Charlie/- let's make it Sunday 21st? Weather dependent (no point in riding it in shite weather really!) and I'll put up a notice of a newbie ('cautious') ride sooner to the date. :)

[skelstar]

...road to Makara is poo - surface wise - from Johnsonville!..
I agree on the makara road insight. Too many blind corners and relying on cagers to stay on their side of the road. However...the road from Mkara to Karori FANTASTIC!!! The makara side of the hill anyway.

21st would be cool. Will have to set an calendar alarm on my phone..

[GROOMER]

Im keen. Learners..don't be scared of "the hill". Just ride safely and within your limits and its just like any other (farken cool) road :D

[Uncle B]

I'm in. Be good to meet some of the new riders and show them the regular haunts.
Don't worry you'll be fine.


anyone got a comfy pillion seat? me luv you loooooooongtime sailor :love:

Slipstream, if nobody offers you a seat I'll do it.

[Skunk]

Lookin' good. I hope to have sold the 1100 and 600 by then so we'll be on the trail bikes. 135kmh pinned... and I don't do that. I'll sight see with the slow guys.

As for the road - it's a road. As any road is.
Ride to your ability. If you're worried about the hill you'll be (or should be) terrified of the motorway and suburban streets.
It is a mind set. You'll do it and wonder at the fuss.

[Str8 Jacket]

Skel/Str8/Charlie/- let's make it Sunday 21st? Weather dependent (no point in riding it in shite weather really!) and I'll put up a notice of a newbie ('cautious') ride sooner to the date. :)

Saweet as, Im definately in. Was supposed to be going to Palmy that day - but can make it Sat instead. A weekend of riding - YAY! :Punk:

[Charlie]

Fab! Eurygnomes I'll be there. Cheers

[Slingshot]

It would appear this thread has been hijacked...you're more than welcome to start your own thread.

[rfc85]

I'd like to re-create the very first Kiwi Biker ride I ever went on.

Last year, on the 5th of September around 30 Kiwi Bikers decended upon Caltex Rimutaka (see here for the ride report) (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=4971), the ride was well organised from the outset and everyone had a great time. Here are the guidelines (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=4931) that Jim2 put together for last years ride.

Last year, riders split into three groups and I think it would be a good idea to look to do the same this year, the groups would be:
Quick
Average
Sight Seeing
Each group had a leader and a tail-end-charlie (calling for volunteers).

I'm looking for some direction with the date, post your thoughs and we'll go with the date that gets the most support.

The plan would be along the lines of (but subject to change):
Meet at Caltex Rimutaka at 10am.
Fast group leaves 1st at 10:30, followed by Average then Sight Seeing.

Brunch at Flying Fish (or similar) in Martinborough and then onto Masterton via the back roads.
From Masterton, the possibility of heading out to the coast or back to Wellington (open to debate).

All levels of riding are most welcome although fluoro-vests are strictly prohibited (unless someone really wants to wear one).

It would also be great to see some out of town riders, I'm sure between us Welly people we can put up the accommodation.
i,m up for it any time jus post the confirmed date

[Eurygnomes]

It would appear this thread has been hijacked...you're more than welcome to start your own thread.

:sheepish: Sorry Sling...will do! (especially as now I can't tell who's going on what ride either! Your ride is too far into the future for this learner! :)

Shutting up now! :)

[sels1]

I'm in - and dont mind taking a turn at tail end charlie

[Slipstream]

Slipstream, if nobody offers you a seat I'll do it.

I might just take you up on that offer :devil2: do you mind if you have a video camera taping on the back tho??????

PM me if you are serious bout the lift :D