Moving to Wellington - What's it like having a bike in the Windy City?

[BlightyBiker]

I'm going to have to move from Auckland to Wellington for 3-6 months for training. I'm trying to decide whether to take my Hyosung GT250 down with me.

I've been riding almost 6 months and about to take my restricted. I love my bike and it's my main form of transport (i.e. I don't know if I can bear to be apart from it for this many months!! :shutup:)

However, I'm a bit apprehensive when it comes to riding in the wind and parking on hills - two things that I hear are very common in Wellington! (I've not actually been there yet myself!)

I'm keen to hear from riders in Wellington (especially those who have moved from Auckland) about their experiences riding in Wellington and whether you think it's a bike friendly city.

Thanks!

[Maha]

Take your bike Tara, there are some really nice people down there that will look after you, and show you some roads that are considered 'biking nirvana' by local standards, like the Hutt M/Way :eek:

[Dragon]

Heaps of free parking espically in the city for bikes and its all on the flat

wind isnt to bad just need to be aware and tbh its only an issue on the motorways

What area you going to be based in?

I ride 110km a day and its good apart from roadworks atm

Traffic isn't as bad as Auckland

Also I am always keen for a ride and to go out riding with different people so hit me up :)

[James Deuce]

It's not as windy in Wellington as the rest of the country would have you believe.

Just like Auckland isn't entirely filled with Wankers. Only some JAFAs are pretentious dickheads with a superiority complex and a focus on money above all else.

When it's windy in Wellington, it's windy and you learn to deal with it. There are, at least, one million threads with good ideas on how to manage riding in windy wind. Those threads also contain ideas that are utter n00bish bilge, so ask before you think of employing techniques you've read about. I often giggle at people starting threads on how terrible the wind in Wellington is and how you should leave your bike at home if at all possible, when I've just ridden to work over the Rimutakas and have no choice but to ride the whale home.

The reality is that managing the wind comes down to utilising the mental tool set you should already have acquired to get a license in the first place, and to remain relaxed and alert, and to avoid overreacting, despite your brain telling you you're about to be blown under a bus containing 2 PI under-19 rugby teams and their mums. You can't learn to deal with the wind unless you ride in it and practice being a loose goose who doesn't crap itself every time the bike moves around a little, or freeze when you really need to be applying some steering input and looking where you want to go.

[oneofsix]

Yeah like the city of volcanoes doesn't have hills. At least in Welly the CBD is relatively flat unlike Queens Dr and K road. Leave it in gear facing up hill when parking. But unless you are heading into the hill suburbs generally you will be parking on relatively flat ground. Are you heading for the CBD, Uni or valley? As that can make a difference.

As to the wind depends when and where you ride. If you can handle 130k winds - no problem :laugh: Wind usually strike in spring at the worst so when you intend being here makes a difference. If during daylight saving you could attend one of the slow paced rides and pick up some advice there.

Pretty sure you will adjust ok. Bring the bike and enjoy some different roads. It will add to your experience and therefore skills.

[\m/]

The wind in wellington itself isn't that bad, top of the rimutaka hills however...

[Maha]

The wind in wellington itself isn't that bad, top of the rimutaka hills however...

Groundsmen at the Basin are so clever, they ''push'' the covers about, no dragging bullshit there.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tr6pyC6jEtA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...and in Featherston street...lady blowen over at 0:14

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UfFeciu8N7s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[MIXONE]

If you commute now in Auckland you will find riding in Welly a breeze(pun intended).
As JD says the secret is to stay loose,don't try and fight the bike moving and you might even end up enjoying it.
I do.

[caspernz]

Meh, if you can ride in Aucks then Welly is no drama. We moved in 2004 (Akld to Wgtn) and apart from the noticeably colder temps year round, maybe 3-5 degrees on average, the wind is more of a permanent fixture than a hazard as such.

The Hutt motorway is a nuisance actually, not many bits of four lane motorway with traffic lights on them around that I know of in the main centres...but yeah, dodgy at first. Just becomes drag racing practice for some :innocent:

Plenty of choice roads to ride in the Wairarapa, and the Rimutaka Hill isn't as daunting as what some make out. No worse than heading over to Raglan in my opinion.

And you can still head out on a sunny Sunday morning into the Wairarapa and enjoy a ride, I mean most of the posers will be sipping lattes and admiring their bikes while us riders are out there wearing out the tyres...:shit:

Bring your bike would be my suggestion :msn-wink:

[Milts]

Have owned a bike in Wellington for the last 4 years and loved it, very few issues. Make sure the flat you move to has a garage/storage space is all - it never actually fell, but I always got twitchy when it was blowing an absolute gale and my bike was parked on the road.

In many ways a bike is better here because we have a bunch of narrow, windy streets in the suburbs which can be a bit of a bitch in a car. On a bike all the gaps suddenly look a lot bigger.

[James Deuce]

The Hutt "motorway" isn't motorway, it's State Highway 2. The motorway turns left at Ngauranga.

[Hitcher]

Wind, schmind. Show me a place in New Zealand that doesn't have wind and I'll show you the inside of my refrigerator.

If you can ride here, you can ride anywhere.

[Sable]

It's just another place to ride your bike. Back your bike into the kerb at a 45 degree angle facing uphill and leave it in gear, you should know this already. Wind is just wind, harden up

[mrchips]

If you can ride here, you can ride anywhere.

Amen to that....

Ha !........ i laugh in the face of the wind :shake:

You soon learn how to deal with the wind, grip your tank with ya legs & relax from the waist up.

If you plan to commute, be shure to get your self some good wets. Oh, welly is very bike friendly.

[Big Dave]

If you can ride here, you can ride anywhere.

So, to paraphrase. :-P

Yes, Wellington is the sucky-est place to ride a motorcycle in NZ.
But it's all relative. NZ's sucky-est still rates pretty well in the big picture.

EG - I used the car on a gig here today because it was just too hot and humid to wear the right kit for the all-freeway ride.

[GingerMidget]

I learned to ride in winter here in Wellington. Rain, strong winds and all sorts of fun. Its not that bad.

[Madness]

Take the bike. You'll spend 3 or 4 months kicking yourself otherwise.

[GrayWolf]

I moved here (Welly) in 2006 from Invergumboot, via the UK.
Bring the bike, there are some fantastic biking roads here the 'rapa, kapiti (SH57).. day jaunt to Wanger's or hastings, or taupo etc etc. If you get time the 'lost world highway' is a must. Wind? Southland had wind as strong, if not stronger at times. The 'biggest worry' IMO is getting used to the sudden gusts that can 'appear' when riding through Central Welly (tall building syndrome)....

[superjackal]

It's not as windy in Wellington as the rest of the country would have you believe.


You must be joking. Wellington is always windy - and it’s strong. But you can grit your teeth and put up with it happily enough. Yesterday I had a new experience. I had a low cross wind that cut across the bottom of my bike nearly toppling me over. It was like a Karate sweep! Certainly a brown trouser moment.

Bring your bike, it’s a fun place to ride. The standard of driving in Wellington is poor, stay alert. If you’re going to be on the M’way you may want to get a more powerful bike. The suburbs around the city can be very tight so bikes are nice to have in Wellington.

If you’re travelling to (or planning to live in) Lower Hutt make sure your inoculations are up to date.

[Maha]

You must be joking. Wellington is always windy - and it’s strong. But you can grit your teeth and put up with it happily enough. Yesterday I had a new experience. I had a low cross wind that cut across the bottom of my bike nearly toppling me over. It was like a Karate sweep! Certainly a brown trouser moment.

Bring your bike, it’s a fun place to ride. The standard of driving in Wellington is poor, stay alert. If you’re going to be on the M’way you may want to get a more powerful bike. The suburbs around the city can be very tight so bikes are nice to have in Wellington.

If you’re travelling to (or planning to live in) Lower Hutt make sure your inoculations are up to date.

You can spot a Wellingtonian a mile off, they walk listing to starboard.

[oneofsix]

You can spot a Wellingtonian a mile off, they walk listing to starboard.

Be easier if that were true however the wind here can gust from any direction due to the tall building syndrome alluded to above. One of the tricks to riding in the wind in Wellington when it is blowing is not to expect it from a fixed direction but be ready to react to it from anywhere.

As Auckland is winder than the USA windy city of Chicago, well the whole of NZ is windier than most of the world according to a study released last year, I really don't think the OP will have any problems and the experience will help build a more able rider.

Don't know where gnjackel found "wind" yesterday :weird: but then again he seems to think Lower Hutt is risky so guess he has never made it to the foot of the Rimatukas :laugh:

[GrayWolf]

You must be joking. Wellington is always windy - and it’s strong. But you can grit your teeth and put up with it happily enough. Yesterday I had a new experience. I had a low cross wind that cut across the bottom of my bike nearly toppling me over. It was like a Karate sweep! Certainly a brown trouser moment.

Bring your bike, it’s a fun place to ride. The standard of driving in Wellington is poor, stay alert. If you’re going to be on the M’way you may want to get a more powerful bike. The suburbs around the city can be very tight so bikes are nice to have in Wellington.

If you’re travelling to (or planning to live in) Lower Hutt make sure your inoculations are up to date.

Then Mate< NEVER buy a ZZR1100/1200 they are true 'sail boats' in a crosswind.. .
and as for needing inoculations to live in da Hutt? You're right, WE need them to keep the nasties (outsiders) at bay!! :laugh::laugh:

[superjackal]

Then Mate< NEVER buy a ZZR1100/1200 they are true 'sail boats' in a crosswind.. .
and as for needing inoculations to live in da Hutt? You're right, WE need them to keep the nasties (outsiders) at bay!! :laugh::laugh:

Heh heh, that was fun, like throwing a grenade in a room. :laugh:

[Str8 Jacket]

Heh heh, that was fun, like throwing a grenade in a room. :laugh:

yep, real tough guy! do you have tassels for your gn?? <_<

[superjackal]

yep, real tough guy! do you have tassels for your gn?? <_<

Yes, I do. My daughter wants them back.:Punk:

[Str8 Jacket]

Yes, I do. My daughter wants them back.:Punk:

ya big meanie!!!

[BlightyBiker]

ya big meanie!!!

Haha didn't realise I'd start a war and cause abuse to be thrown around. :bash:

Thanks all for the advice, it's been really helpful. The gist I've gotten from it is:

1) take the bike - I'll regret not having it otherwise
2) It is windy - but I'll learn to love it
3) I may want to avoid the Lower Hutt area.....:niceone:

[Str8 Jacket]

Haha didn't realise I'd start a war and cause abuse to be thrown around. :bash:

Thanks all for the advice, it's been really helpful. The gist I've gotten from it is:

1) take the bike - I'll regret not having it otherwise
2) It is windy - but I'll learn to love it
3) I may want to avoid the Lower Hutt area.....:niceone:

hehe, we get way less wind out in the hutt then in town! :)

You will learn some new skills and you will love it!

[Madness]

Haha didn't realise I'd start a war and cause abuse to be thrown around. :bash:

Thanks all for the advice, it's been really helpful. The gist I've gotten from it is:

1) take the bike - I'll regret not having it otherwise
2) It is windy - but I'll learn to love it
3) I may want to avoid the Lower Hutt Porirua area.....:niceone:

You're onto it.

[actungbaby]

I'm going to have to move from Auckland to Wellington for 3-6 months for training. I'm trying to decide whether to take my Hyosung GT250 down with me.

I've been riding almost 6 months and about to take my restricted. I love my bike and it's my main form of transport (i.e. I don't know if I can bear to be apart from it for this many months!! :shutup:)

However, I'm a bit apprehensive when it comes to riding in the wind and parking on hills - two things that I hear are very common in Wellington! (I've not actually been there yet myself!)

I'm keen to hear from riders in Wellington (especially those who have moved from Auckland) about their experiences riding in Wellington and whether you think it's a bike friendly city.

Thanks!

Think your be fine i been there alot on my vfr yeah can be windy but you quickly adapt

As for the hills well mostly flat even in wellington except where houses are of course

Hutt valley is , as for hills just park with bike in first gear

Id say great chance to have new experices only thing i found more so in car bloody narrow

Street in parts , and to watch out in the inner city quite few one way areas

[Road kill]

The worst problems in Wellington are the very high odds of some village person stealing your bike,so take a big chain an chain your bike to something that can't be moved.

The other thing is that the people seem pretty nice until you mention your from Auckland,and then this inferiority complex will suddenly appear and you'll have listen to a lot of whinging about The Blues,the Traffic,the drain on the enconomy and a whole lot of other shit you know nothing about and have even less interest in.:blink:

Believe me,,,just don't mention Auckland.

[Str8 Jacket]

The worst problems in Wellington are the very high odds of some village person stealing your bike,so take a big chain an chain your bike to something that can't be moved.

The other thing is that the people seem pretty nice until you mention your from Auckland,and then this inferiority complex will suddenly appear and you'll have listen to a lot of whinging about The Blues,the Traffic,the drain on the enconomy and a whole lot of other shit you know nothing about and have even less interest in.:blink:

Believe me,,,just don't mention Auckland.

i lived in aucks for a few years prior to moving to wellys. man those aucklanders are odd and rude and boy does the place suck. so glad to have to moved to wellys!

you mean that kind of thing, eh? that's cause it's true!!! ;-)

[Road kill]

i lived in aucks for a few years prior to moving to wellys. man those aucklanders are odd and rude and boy does the place suck. so glad to have to moved to wellys!

you mean that kind of thing, eh? that's cause it's true!!! ;-)

I rest my case.

[Str8 Jacket]

I rest my case.

oh yes, i forgot to add that they seem to have no sense of humour either...... ploody aucklanders! :rolleyes:

[superjackal]

The worst problems in Wellington are the very high odds of some village person stealing your bike,so take a big chain an chain your bike to something that can't be moved.


Really? Is bike theft a big problem in Wellington?

[Dogboy900]

On a day like today, with the sun shining, and the Rimutaka Hill Road to play on, Wellington is heaven when you own a bike!

[BuzzardNZ]

Really? Is bike theft a big problem in Wellington?

It sure is, but yours should be safe :)

[superjackal]

It sure is, but yours should be safe :)

Ha! You made my drink come out my nose! :laugh:

[Paulo]

Wellington's great, Hell on my 1 hr lunch break last Wednesday I rode to the beach went for a snorkle and got a dozen scallops and two good sized paua (all legal) and was back at my desk within the hour. You get used to the wind
but remember if you ever use a bike cover outside tie it on as it will act as a bloody good sail and pull you bike over or deposit it in the next suburb.

[Maha]

Wellington's great, Hell on my 1 hr lunch break last Wednesday I rode to the beach went for a snorkle and got a dozen scallops and two good sized paua (all legal) and was back at my desk within the hour. You get used to the wind
but remember if you ever use a bike cover outside tie it on as it will act as a bloody good sail and pull you bike over or deposit it in the next suburb.

Must be like living in the Islands?...but with way less coconut trees.