Weedons Road

[Ayrtonsenna]

Hi Guys
Wishing everyone a Merry christmas - happy new years and all that…

I’ve been keeping a pretty low profile lately, had some work done on the mighty Husa- big thanks to Precision motorcycles / Jacques.

Decided to head down to Weedons road to run the bike in…..3 x 30min 3/4 throttle runs etc.
Not a place I go often, but with a trail ride the next day (Mount Grey) Parked the Van on the left just over the rise, end of the seal, and headed off, decided to have a run through the forest on the right- yes I know- no trial bikes but…under the fence I went..

Now….at about the hour mark I was getting bored starting making my own track through the trees- slipping second, but as I came back out on to one of many forest brakes I felt some thing pull at the bike…looked down and I’d caught part of an old fence line…got off the bike to find it well and truly caught around the back of the bike.

Helmut off, large pliers out…sitting next to the bike trying to untangle the wire, I noticed a white hliux making its way down the road towards me…..F#$%$

To be honest…I stood there waiting for dad to give me a serve…..he rolled up- “What the hell are you doing in here” I obviously I went into “I’m running the bike in” lol….

He was really good….but disappointed that he was still catching trail bike riders in this part. This area has now been designated for Horses / cyclists / and for people to walking there dogs….period.

He did however tell me the council are working hard on providing an area for motorcyclists- I explained simply riding up the river bead was no good.



So…..I’m working towards doing a few Enduros this year- but need a place to practice. I’m over Blackridge- laps to quick- I’ve herd of some good riding in Ashvegas ?
I'm after technical / tight / forest -

Any ideas.

Cheers.

A

[1zero]

Yep that right side forest had the best tracks too, rode in there often but now Ecan have designated it to the horse brigade.......excellent.
You probly know of the tracks on the left side of that carpark but anyway I'll point them out just in case as lots of riders don't seem to know about them, as we use them regularly.
As per my attachment you have the Kelvins stage 1,2 and 3 forest blocks then further on to another stand alone block then more towards the Intake.
I have more track info if you want just let us know.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=4999&attachmentid=318584

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=318584&d=1451956925

[Ayrtonsenna]

Thanks for that- but the link is dead?

[Hads]

I ride around the Ashley river, there are quite a few 4x4 tracks around here, I specifically start out from Swamp Rd in Loburn, but technically you can go north or south of the Ashley bridge in Rangiora. I've never tried the south bank, only the north bank.

[Tazz]

x2 on Ashley. Better for your bike too as the mud isn't full of the same silty shite. In the grand scheme of things it's not thaaaat much further.

Worsleys Spur is close as and can be a little tricky ;)

On a side note, don't know how dry it is down there this summer but don't forgot your common sense in long grasses etc ;)

[Kickaha]

I ride around the Ashley river, there are quite a few 4x4 tracks around here, I specifically start out from Swamp Rd in Loburn, but technically you can go north or south of the Ashley bridge in Rangiora. I've never tried the south bank, only the north bank.

South side had some good riding from the Airfield upwards but probably only about 15-20 minutes and you'd run out of tracks, we'd also cross over and ride up the Okuku river

North side from Ashley down to the main road bridge there were a lot of 4wd tracks, about 20 km round trip

[1zero]

Thanks for that- but the link is dead?

All sorted now......

[mattsdakar]

Hi Guys
Wishing everyone a Merry christmas - happy new years and all that…

I’ve been keeping a pretty low profile lately, had some work done on the mighty Husa- big thanks to Precision motorcycles / Jacques.

Decided to head down to Weedons road to run the bike in…..3 x 30min 3/4 throttle runs etc.
Not a place I go often, but with a trail ride the next day (Mount Grey) Parked the Van on the left just over the rise, end of the seal, and headed off, decided to have a run through the forest on the right- yes I know- no trial bikes but…under the fence I went..

Now….at about the hour mark I was getting bored starting making my own track through the trees- slipping second, but as I came back out on to one of many forest brakes I felt some thing pull at the bike…looked down and I’d caught part of an old fence line…got off the bike to find it well and truly caught around the back of the bike.

Helmut off, large pliers out…sitting next to the bike trying to untangle the wire, I noticed a white hliux making its way down the road towards me…..F#$%$

To be honest…I stood there waiting for dad to give me a serve…..he rolled up- “What the hell are you doing in here” I obviously I went into “I’m running the bike in” lol….

He was really good….but disappointed that he was still catching trail bike riders in this part. This area has now been designated for Horses / cyclists / and for people to walking there dogs….period.

He did however tell me the council are working hard on providing an area for motorcyclists- I explained simply riding up the river bead was no good.



So…..I’m working towards doing a few Enduros this year- but need a place to practice. I’m over Blackridge- laps to quick- I’ve herd of some good riding in Ashvegas ?
I'm after technical / tight / forest -

Any ideas.

Cheers.

A

Why on earth would you post that you were caught by a ranger in an area you shouldn't have been, that is sign posted that trailbikes are prohibited then bleat about the council closing the areas off, it's knobs like you that have caused them to do that and spoilt it for the rest of us...dick!!!

[KX500]

With horse riders having all of bottlelake and beaches why do they need that pocket of forest ?

[flashg]

With horse riders having all of bottlelake and beaches why do they need that pocket of forest ?


A work mate told me these horse people get so much because they are organized clubs/groups, they put in applications to the right people asking for more area's, and they get heard. Us trail riders are not clubs/groups, we aren't organized and ask/ apply for nothing. Guess what we get ? Nothing.
All thing's considered I guess we are lucky to get what we have, it's a huge area we just need to push more tracks in without causing any damage.

[Waihou Thumper]

these horse people get so much because they are organized clubs/groups, they put in applications to the right people asking for more area's, and they get heard.


They ask permission, that's something that this dick didn't do, and another thing.....It comes down to respect mate! Once again, the OP didn't have any judging by the write up and the smart arse comments made....If we went through the same channels as the equestrian folk, I am sure some would get the nod, but it takes just a few dicks to ruin it, as is the case here. :no:

Massive forestry and beaches belonging to Tangata te Whenua here in the Waikato....
This bloke turns up on a quad, machete and a few mates looking mean..
All he said was 'if you had simply knocked on the door and asked, we would have said yes!'
There ya go.....
Sometimes, no, all of the time, respect and simply asking can open doors or fenced off areas...

[Ayrtonsenna]

Why on earth would you post that you were caught by a ranger in an area you shouldn't have been, that is sign posted that trailbikes are prohibited then bleat about the council closing the areas off, it's knobs like you that have caused them to do that and spoilt it for the rest of us...dick!!!

Easy tiger- Ive been there maybe twice over the last three years- this particular day I counted 9 bikes in this area alone. What I wanted todo is to inform others that this area has had fundamental changes in the past few months- yes everyone has ignored the signs in the past - probably not a good idea anymore. Like a said, I had a good chat to ranger who could have thrown the book at me, and didn't, what he did do, is to inform of the changes there implementing.
I decided to post to let everyone know.

Sorry for being a dick...Dick

A

[KX500]

Easy Tiger lololl Classic !


Cheers flashg for info - true true

[mattsdakar]

Easy tiger- Ive been there maybe twice over the last three years- this particular day I counted 9 bikes in this area alone. What I wanted todo is to inform others that this area has had fundamental changes in the past few months- yes everyone has ignored the signs in the past - probably not a good idea anymore. Like a said, I had a good chat to ranger who could have thrown the book at me, and didn't, what he did do, is to inform of the changes there implementing.
I decided to post to let everyone know.

Sorry for being a dick...Dick

A

As u said there are signs up and u knew trailbikes were prohibited before u went in there, enough said, the other nine bike riders are dicks as well, I don't know u so unlike others I won't resort to character assainination but plse peeps if we lose the Waimak area then that leaves fuck all places to ride that's
handy to town

[Stylo]

With horse riders having all of bottlelake and beaches why do they need that pocket of forest ?

Exactly, and where does all this demand for new horse riding areas come from ?

I don't think I've seen a horse trailer heading out that way yet and I've never seen a horse out there, not that I get out there that much these days. Are there special watering facilities for these horses and, where do they park their horse trailers at Mcleans Is when they want to go for a ride.

Or a gallop .

Mcleans Is used to be such a great place to meet your mates, go for a ride on your dirt bikes and and have a yak back at the cars when you finished. Now it all looks wiped out and fenced off with lots of 'not allowed ' signs everywhere.

If I was a horse rider I wouldn't want to go out there either.

Very uninviting.

[cynna]

horse riding areas on both sides of the waimak now....... cant do the loop anymore

the 4wders have lost there playground to

[Tazz]

the 4wders have lost their playground to

Really? That's a bit bullshit. I don't think it matters if you ride or drive where you shouldn't or not in regards to access these days. We're fucked either way.

Looking back I really don't understand how or why it has changed so drastically. 4wding and trial riding, often combined with hunting, has been a big part of NZ culture for a long time. We, the public, seem to be losing so much access to our own public land.

That said if it means there will be less fuckwits riding horses in 100k zones and having a whinge when they're spooked by traffic (shock horror) then that's a bit of a win.

On the flip side, how many people own horses compared to bikes and 4x4's anyway?

[Stylo]

Really? That's a bit bullshit. I don't think it matters if you ride or drive where you shouldn't or not in regards to access these days. We're fucked either way.

Looking back I really don't understand how or why it has changed so drastically. 4wding and trial riding, often combined with hunting, has been a big part of NZ culture for a long time. We, the public, seem to be losing so much access to our own public land.

That said if it means there will be less fuckwits riding horses in 100k zones and having a whinge when they're spooked by traffic (shock horror) then that's a bit of a win.

On the flip side, how many people own horses compared to bikes and 4x4's anyway?

I'd take a guess at one horse for every 20 off-road machines, conservatively.

The North bank is even quieter at the new 'recreational park' just off the old Waimak bridge, went there a couple of Sundays before Christmas . Full of signs banning this and that, all wire roped off and manicured. Lot's of sign posts banning this and allowing that but basically projecting an 'anti-welcome' message to all.

Except the blessed Horse riders, of course. And there were none there, 11 am

Saw one guy with his boy on a mini-bike and that was it.

Fuck that and thanks very much . Left the bike on the trailer and went home.

[Peril]

Even the horse tracks through Bottle Lake,while mountain biking through there years ago,I hardly saw a horse or any trailers in the car park.
The tracks at Miners Bank up to the Willows are still open?
That was probably where the best riding was.
Not being able to do the loop seems a bit harsh,as I thought the roadways and stopbanks were classed as public roads? As you could have technically got a ticket for riding an unregd bike around there.

[Tazz]

The thing that rips my nighty about things like this is that you can take a horse to many more areas than a bike (or 4x4) away. I think the only places DOC frowns on it are places that have sensitive and or rare fauna and the like, which they don't want you walking on yourself either anyway (there are some alpine mosses that will not recover from your footprint in your lifetime for example).

It's the same when they close off tracks to MTB's for the sake of walkers. You can't cycle a proper tramping track anyway so why ruin good tracks by grooming the fark out of them and then limit their use. The mind boggles.

Anyway, going off on a bit of a tangent here :laugh:

I think the thing to do would be to rally a bunch of people together, get some signatures and make some shit happen. If people aren't lazy about it there is no way the horse folk could match the numbers of trail riders.
It's a bit of effort and needs some dedicated peeps, but even a national club with token membership would be a good move to have a voice. Bit like herding cats that sort of thing though. 4x4ers do it (although it's kinda a North vs South setup for some reason for the most part).

There is definitely room to share.

[Ayrtonsenna]

The thing that rips my nighty about things like this is that you can take a horse to many more areas than a bike (or 4x4) away. I think the only places DOC frowns on it are places that have sensitive and or rare fauna and the like, which they don't want you walking on yourself either anyway (there are some alpine mosses that will not recover from your footprint in your lifetime for example).

It's the same when they close off tracks to MTB's for the sake of walkers. You can't cycle a proper tramping track anyway so why ruin good tracks by grooming the fark out of them and then limit their use. The mind boggles.

Anyway, going off on a bit of a tangent here :laugh:

I think the thing to do would be to rally a bunch of people together, get some signatures and make some shit happen. If people aren't lazy about it there is no way the horse folk could match the numbers of trail riders.
It's a bit of effort and needs some dedicated peeps, but even a national club with token membership would be a good move to have a voice. Bit like herding cats that sort of thing though. 4x4ers do it (although it's kinda a North vs South setup for some reason for the most part).

There is definitely room to share.

Count me in!

[Stylo]

I'm going out there for a squirt tomorrow morning (Weedons Rd ), been a while ..... See how many more signs have been put up telling us what we're not allowed to do.

I'll count the number of horse trailers I see and report back too :-)

[flashg]

Go through the gate on your right at the end of the road, we have a track with signs that takes you to the next road, and back (it's a one way loop) just where the horse floats should be. Never saw any on Monday. I managed 41 km's and didn't repeat too much. Never saw a horse either.

[Stylo]

Go through the gate on your right at the end of the road, we have a track with signs that takes you to the next road, and back (it's a one way loop) just where the horse floats should be. Never saw any on Monday. I managed 41 km's and didn't repeat too much. Never saw a horse either.

Thanks Flash

[cynna]

Go through the gate on your right at the end of the road, we have a track with signs that takes you to the next road, and back (it's a one way loop) just where the horse floats should be. Never saw any on Monday. I managed 41 km's and didn't repeat too much. Never saw a horse either.

back riding already? didnt take long to recover

[flashg]

back riding already? didnt take long to recover


Yeah mate the surgeon gave me the all clear and I had my first ride 24/1/16 So now I'm getting fitter. There's an organized trail ride next weekend I plan on attending and riding.

[pete-blen]

Yeah mate the surgeon gave me the all clear and I had my first ride 24/1/16 So now I'm getting fitter. There's an organized trail ride next weekend I plan on attending and riding.


Great....
May see out at the Conway ride.... Me & the boy hope to get there...
Be my first for a while as well.....






.

[flashg]

Great....
May see out at the Conway ride.... Me & the boy hope to get there...
Be my first for a while as well.....






.


I'll watch out for you Pete, be good to catch up.
Not yet sure if I'm taking my car or a passenger with someone else.

[kab343]

I am definitely in support of setting up a trail riding group to advocate for dirt biking areas. I had no idea this area was being fenced off until I went out a few weeks ago, its a real shame as the tracks out in the forest were by a long way the best out there. Nice tight technical single track.

Has anyone made progress setting up a group? If not I will see what I can get underway, keen for the dirt bikers to have a voice. I have only ever seen horses at Weedons once and I've been riding out there for a long time.

[neels]

A group is what will be needed, there are lots of rich horsey people out west who have obviously lobbied for an area or have access to the ears of people on the council, so if the average person wants to combat further fencing off it will need to be organised.

[Crap but happy]

The link at the start of the thread that sounded like a map of accessible Weedons tracks doesn't work. Any chance it could be uploaded again? I think I've found most of the single track there, but if there's any more I'd be keen to know.

I quite like the official marked loops down near the river, either side of the road. The woods tracks are fun but could do with some more variation, not just constant switchbacks like a lot of it is. Whoever put in all those tracks is a legend though. That sort of riding but in more hilly terrain would be awesome.

[Transalper]

Trails seem to come and go a bit so an actual map of them would be only relevant for a short time, I did have some mapped on my gps but as I said they came and go and thus it became semi useless other than to help me get to the main tracks which are actually roads when I wanted to short cut my way out.

I get annoyed with so many of the tracks being made of woops filled of rocks and would like to know how we're supposed to join the two green bits on the south bank to make the trip worth while when they go put a no go zone in the middle of it. My bike is REG and WOF so I have the advantage of being unstoppable when on a public road section whether in a pick nick area or trail zone so long as I am obeying road rules.

Ecan has an area map but that's it...

ecan.govt.nz/advice/recreation-and-parks/waimakariri-park/PublishingImages/trailbike-main-map.jpg (http://ecan.govt.nz/advice/recreation-and-parks/waimakariri-park/PublishingImages/trailbike-main-map.jpg)

Code of conduct etc... ecan.govt.nz/advice/recreation-and-parks/waimakariri-park/pages/trailbikeriding.aspx (http://ecan.govt.nz/advice/recreation-and-parks/waimakariri-park/pages/trailbikeriding.aspx)

[kab343]

I've been in touch with the Environment Canterbury Regional Parks ranger, they advised that the canterbury offroad motocross club president was the representative for the Weedons Rd hearings/consultations on the redevelopments. Has anybody had any dealing with this group? From my understanding they run the motocross track near the aero club?

I think we may need to form a more Enduro specific club or sub-group of the canterbury offroad motocross club to advocate for suitable tracks and areas... Disappointed to see the bridge has been removed over the creek up near the intake also.

[Husabergkiwi]

Know a few guys that would be keen on an enduro club/section.
I was a member of the moto-x track out there but changed riding interests now.

Just hope they didn't assume that all riders out that way wee more interested in their track then forest/trails when they represented us (full credit for being a voice though)

Just seems all the trails are slowly getting shut down..


I've been in touch with the Environment Canterbury Regional Parks ranger, they advised that the canterbury offroad motocross club president was the representative for the Weedons Rd hearings/consultations on the redevelopments. Has anybody had any dealing with this group? From my understanding they run the motocross track near the aero club?

I think we may need to form a more Enduro specific club or sub-group of the canterbury offroad motocross club to advocate for suitable tracks and areas... Disappointed to see the bridge has been removed over the creek up near the intake also.

[thepom]

You dont need the bridge anyway....we rode through last week no problem....