New Plymouth to Invercargill in a day...????

[FatMax]

Hoping some of you lovely folk can put shed some light on this one.

Was listening to talkback radio in the other night and the discussion got onto motorbikes and road trips etc. Some geezer calls up and says he knew of a few guys that rode from New Plymouth to Invercargill for a burger then road back the same day..???

He was 150% positive that they did this and gave the talk show host a bollocking for questioning it, but seriously, is that a ride that could be done in 24 hours including burger, ferry crossings, fuel stops and time allowed for poos and wees?

And.....were YOU one of these fellas or ladies that actually did this ride?

Just wondering, eh......

[AllanB]

Two Ferry crossings - 6 hours sailing. Add at least a hour or more waiting time after boarding/disembarking for the two.

Lets say 7 hours are used on the two crossings.

New Plymouth to Wellington is 350 kms - twice = 700

Picton to Invercargill is 1040 kms - x2 2080.

Total riding kms around 2,780 kms in 17 hours

That's a average speed of 165 kmph

Without stops for fuel, food or peeing.

[pzkpfw]

I bet they did it on one wheel.

[pritch]

I was going to do it one way the other direction until the headlight glass broke with the forecast for rain. I wasn't sure how the bulb would react to getting drenched so I decided to wait for the early morning sailing rather than riding up from Wellington in the dark.

According to my plan A I'd have got home about 10.00PM which would've left about 2 hours for the return trip. That's quick. :whistle:

If they used that high speed ferry that used to run, or even the Bristol Freighter they'd still be pushing it.

[Honest Andy]

...which is why talkback radio only serves 3% of the population, on a good day...

[release_the_bees]

I rode from Arrowtown to Masterton once. I left Arrowtown at 5.45 am and arrived at Masterton around 11pm if I remember correctly. It probably didn't help that I did it on around 5 hours sleep (or that I was riding a CBR250), but I literally couldn't have ridden any further. I was absolutely stuffed to the point that riding was becoming dangerous. There is no way I could have turned around and gone back again, that's for damn sure.

Awesome trip though, especially the first half as I literally didn't see another vehicle for over an hour when I first set off. Great roads in the way to Kaikoura too. I feel lucky to have had the chance to ride through there given what has happened to the road and surrounding areas since then.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[caspernz]

New Plymouth to Inglewood and back more like...talk back radio is such fun.

Actually one could be cheeky and ask why the OP would even consider the validity of New Ply to Inver and back in one day :innocent::facepalm:

[Gremlin]

Well AllanB has done the math. Main roads are certainly easier than back roads, but I've done 2000km in 24 hours (inc a lot of winding back roads - plan was 500km in 5.5hrs and 30min break for food and fuel, rinse and repeat) and 1850km in 25.5 hours including gravel passes like Hakataramea and Danseys.

Math wise, that specific trip doesn't stack up, plus I learnt through those big distances that you miss all the awesome photo stops because your schedule doesn't allow it...

[R650R]

Really into the how long is a piece of string territory here, plus being hearsay from third party you dont know exact details. Eg rode back the same day doesnt mean they did it exactly or less than 24 hours.
I say plausible IF you got the right EARLY and LATE ferry crossings, and did not care about losing your licence or limbs.
You'd need a new set of tyres before you left, prefueled and stop at right fuel stations on way....
Have to be really fit, rested or on drugs lol.....
There are a lot of tricks be it bike or truck to maintaining high average speeds and good trip times.

And are you measuring from town centre or fuel stop on outskirts... And when it comes to trip times a very small increase in your average speed seems to be big gain in trip time.
I think the key to this legend would be bikes with very large fuel tanks for less stopping, outright power and high cruising speed being secondary.

Just done some maths here on some of my recent big trips. If the poor lil DR can avg 80km/h whilst never going above 110 ish then I'm sure the appropriate big bike could avg 165 plus quite easily, all risks and ttyre consumable costs aside.....

[AllanB]

Just done some maths here on some of my recent big trips. If the poor lil DR can avg 80km/h whilst never going above 110 ish then I'm sure the appropriate big bike could avg 165 plus quite easily, all risks and ttyre consumable costs aside.....

Too many hills and towns in the way (even taking the highest speed bypass) to average 165 for that distance. You'd have to be sitting on say 200 at every opportunity - which means guzzling fuel ...... thus more stops.

I'd suggest the 'day' excluded sailing time - hey you are not riding while sailing so it does not count right?

That would drop your average speed to 116 kmph based on my earlier posted distances.

Now it is looking achievable if your have the ability to stay awake. Which is not unrealistic if you count sailing time as sleeping.

Still have to have you open road speed up at 'walk home' speed to make the average.

[Gremlin]

And are you measuring from town centre or fuel stop on outskirts... And when it comes to trip times a very small increase in your average speed seems to be big gain in trip time.
I think the key to this legend would be bikes with very large fuel tanks for less stopping, outright power and high cruising speed being secondary.
The key is consistency. Riding fast burns more fuel and tires you out. You then spend more time stopped, resting or refueling. Reducing the stopped time is key, easy to lose time, very hard to gain it back.

I remember one TT2000, I was heading south from Christchurch, barely over the speed limit. Sportsbike comes past, I shrug. 50-100km down the road, he's refueling. After a while, neeeeoooo, comes past again. Tortoise and the hare :laugh:

[FJRider]

Well AllanB has done the math. Main roads are certainly easier than back roads, but I've done 2000km in 24 hours (inc a lot of winding back roads - plan was 500km in 5.5hrs and 30min break for food and fuel, rinse and repeat) and 1850km in 25.5 hours including gravel passes like Hakataramea and Danseys.

Math wise, that specific trip doesn't stack up, plus I learnt through those big distances that you miss all the awesome photo stops because your schedule doesn't allow it...

Quite a few years back ... a book was published about state highway one. It it .. the author stated that the complete length could not be done in any 24 hour period. A fairly well known motorcyclist of the time made the effort to prove him wrong. And succeeded. A privately hired boat for the straight ... so ferry timings were not a factor.

Of this particular ride ... I have never heard anything mentioned ... but I think it could have been done (then). Different times now though ...

[Grumph]

Quite a few years back ... a book was published about state highway one. It it .. the author stated that the complete length could not be done in any 24 hour period. A fairly well known motorcyclist of the time made the effort to prove him wrong. And succeeded. A privately hired boat for the straight ... so ferry timings were not a factor.

Of this particular ride ... I have never heard anything mentioned ... but I think it could have been done (then). Different times now though ...

Was that Bob Burns ?

[FJRider]

Was that Bob Burns ?

No, it was not.

[jasonu]

Two Ferry crossings - 6 hours sailing. Add at least a hour or more waiting time after boarding/disembarking for the two.

Lets say 7 hours are used on the two crossings.

New Plymouth to Wellington is 350 kms - twice = 700

Picton to Invercargill is 1040 kms - x2 2080.

Total riding kms around 2,780 kms in 17 hours

That's a average speed of 165 kmph

Without stops for fuel, food or peeing.

Me and a mate rode from Mt Eden to the Beehive and back to Bulls in a day then Bulls to Mt Eden the next day. Me on an XR500 and the mate on an A100.

[R650R]

Too many hills and towns in the way (even taking the highest speed bypass) to average 165 for that distance. You'd have to be sitting on say 200 at every opportunity - which means guzzling fuel ...... thus more stops.

Now it is looking achievable if your have the ability to stay awake. Which is not unrealistic if you count sailing time as sleeping.



An average value is the middle of the bell curve, which may or may not be equal measurements on either side. A massive top speed would not be needed if you could limit the amount of time spent at 'below average speeds'.
Now if you are breaking the law with extreme speeds it could be taken for granted that fatigue management is not a priority and a variety of things could keep one awake.......

Back when 11 hours was a pertinent number a loaded linehaul truck could make a Hastings-Auckland-Hastings return trip in 11 hours allocated driving time (excludes refuelling/loading etc). Now this owrks out at an average speed of 78km/h, comfortably under the 81km/h average speed that the cops said was maximum a truck could achieve by doing 90 max and slowing down for small towns. Most people would be familiar with the very alrge hills on this route were you would be climbing at say 30km/h for quite a few places. But most of the journey is really on cruise control on boring relatively easy straightish state highway. See the analogy, a big fat dirty slow truck achieves a good average speed by keeping on the move and although goes very slow at times, most of the journey is above the average (78) so makes up for slow bits.

[R650R]

The key is consistency. Riding fast burns more fuel and tires you out. You then spend more time stopped, resting or refueling. Reducing the stopped time is key, easy to lose time, very hard to gain it back.



100% agree. In the truck you see this with MR midlife crisis flash HSV and 2.5 children. They overtake your truck about 4 times but stop at every piss and lolly stop that you still beat them from Auckland to hastings....

But in this mythbusters style breakdown we don't know the riders strengths or weaknesses so assume they make the cut on that count.

[FJRider]

The key is consistency. Riding fast burns more fuel and tires you out. You then spend more time stopped, resting or refueling. Reducing the stopped time is key, easy to lose time, very hard to gain it back.

I remember one TT2000, I was heading south from Christchurch, barely over the speed limit. Sportsbike comes past, I shrug. 50-100km down the road, he's refueling. After a while, neeeeoooo, comes past again. Tortoise and the hare :laugh:

I recall a few riders (from Roturua) doing the Chatto Creek 1000 mile challenge in a shade over 14 hours. About 1635 km's in distance.

Another Central Otago rider (not ME) was about 10 minutes behind.

There are a few that can do the distance very quickly.

[Trade_nancy]

Well I have done the trip to Invercargill - from palmerston North - the ride came from New Plymouth..in a Nissan Terrano. Left NP at about 5pm picked me up at Palmy about 8:30pm - we arrived in Invercargill (for a family funeral) at about 4:30pm next day. Non-stop except for fuel and a pie at a Timaru cafe. We had two drivers to share...a bike? Doubt it. Return trip..doubt that more.

[Daffyd]

Two Ferry crossings - 6 hours sailing. Add at least a hour or more waiting time after boarding/disembarking for the two.

Lets say 7 hours are used on the two crossings.



Maybe they didn't go that way... :2thumbsup

[pritch]

Funny but I've lived in New Plymouth off and on since 1960, and in most of that time have had bikes and mixed with bike people. Never did hear mention of this feat. The memory ain't what it was but I'll try to remember to ask around.

[Zedder]

Maybe they didn't go that way... :2thumbsup


Haha, that reminds me of a skit Billy T. James did.

[Daffyd]

Haha, that reminds me of a skit Billy T. James did.

That's what I was quoting, but couldn't remember where I heard it.

[eldog]

I recall a few riders (from Roturua) doing the Chatto Creek 12000 mile challenge in a shade over 14 hours.
There are a few that can do the distance very quickly.

Usually in an aircraft :shutup:


and yes there are a good number of people who can travel very quickly.

[Virago]

I recall a few riders (from Roturua) doing the Chatto Creek 12000 mile challenge in a shade over 14 hours...

Awesome. Here to London twice as fast an A380. :shutup:


...Was listening to talkback radio in the other night and the discussion got onto motorbikes and road trips etc. Some geezer calls up and says he knew of a few guys that rode from New Plymouth to Invercargill for a burger then road back the same day..???

He was 150% positive that they did this and gave the talk show host a bollocking for questioning it, but seriously, is that a ride that could be done in 24 hours including burger, ferry crossings, fuel stops and time allowed for poos and wees?...

I call bullshit. It's one of those chinese whisper stories, which invariably starts with "I knew of some guys...". Supposed event becomes story, story becomes myth, myth becomes legend, and legend becomes truth.

A day each way - maybe. A weekend adventure is certainly more plausible.

Don't listen to talkback radio mate, it rots your brain.

[Zedder]

It's possible it's just a wind-up by FatMax...

[BMWST?]

its the ferry that kills it.Thats a at least 600 km of distance right there,may 800.It is very difficult to maintain even 100 km hr on a a bike.I am not saying you cant but not over a whole day .It the fuel stops.You need a at least a 600 km range for that sort of caper.I reckon it may have been a 24 hour time,not including the ferry.A mate once did a circumnavigation of the whole south island ch ch to chch within 24 hours.
The average speed thing is insidious.It easy for a truck to average 80.Its an entirely different ball game to average 165.If you say travel through a town at a highly lillegal and dangerous 100 km an hour and that take 5 minutes you have to do 225 km an hour for 5 minutes too get back on par.If you stop for fuel for 5 minutes you have to do 330 km hr for 5 minutes.a very high average speed is too hard.

[FatMax]

It's possible it's just a wind-up by FatMax...

Nope, can assure you 100% that this is what the guy was saying. The host, Marcus Lush, questioned the caller on the shear logistics of the ferry crossings but this guy was '80's Highwayman Singer'...Adamant...geddit...., anyway he was certain to the point of getting narked up that his biker mates had done this trip. And that it was in a single day, no doubt about that,

The debate on the radio at the time was about Harleys and noise and blah de blah, but this guy banged on about his mates ride. It was at the weekend I heard this, either Friday or Saturday.

In my limited riding experience of the South Island I would say this it could not be done, but thats just my opinion.

So seriously guys and girls, no wind up from me at all, its exactly as I heard it on the old wireless

[Banditbandit]

It's around 18 hours one way - plus ferry time .. so No, it is not possible in 24 hours there and back ..

[R650R]

The average speed thing is insidious.It easy for a truck to average 80.Its an entirely different ball game to average 165.If you say travel through a town at a highly lillegal and dangerous 100 km an hour and that take 5 minutes you have to do 225 km an hour for 5 minutes too get back on par.If you stop for fuel for 5 minutes you have to do 330 km hr for 5 minutes.a very high average speed is too hard.

You don't have to have equal time spent above and below the average point, all that matters is you limit the amount of time spent BELOW the average.
Eg an average speed of 165 could be attained by going no faster than say 180km/h but spending a significant amount of time at that speed, no need for 330km/h.

Lets slow it down and eliminate the hysterical speed numbers. I did a 50km mountainbike event in around 4 and a half hours at an average of 12ish km/h. Now the race winner did that 50km in about 2hours 20 min. and average speed of about 25km/h. Now I was getting pretty decent speed on the downhills but where this obscenely fit fella would have wasted me was on the climbs. He would have spent much less time below his average speed, he didn't need to come down any of the hills at 130km/h to beat me and do that time.

[BMWST?]

You don't have to have equal time spent above and below the average point, all that matters is you limit the amount of time spent BELOW the average.
Eg an average speed of 165 could be attained by going no faster than say 180km/h but spending a significant amount of time at that speed, no need for 330km/h.

Lets slow it down and eliminate the hysterical speed numbers. I did a 50km mountainbike event in around 4 and a half hours at an average of 12ish km/h. Now the race winner did that 50km in about 2hours 20 min. and average speed of about 25km/h. Now I was getting pretty decent speed on the downhills but where this obscenely fit fella would have wasted me was on the climbs. He would have spent much less time below his average speed, he didn't need to come down any of the hills at 130km/h to beat me and do that time.
i know how it works.My speeds are only an illustration for every minute spent below the average speed you need to spend time above it.Again your explanation sound is all fine and dandy but with such a high average speed you will spend a lot of time over 200 to average 165..Your fit friend will have been crankin the flats too

[R650R]

Two Ferry crossings - 6 hours sailing. Add at least a hour or more waiting time after boarding/disembarking for the two.

Lets say 7 hours are used on the two crossings.

New Plymouth to Wellington is 350 kms - twice = 700

Picton to Invercargill is 1040 kms - x2 2080.

Total riding kms around 2,780 kms in 17 hours

That's a average speed of 165 kmph

Without stops for fuel, food or peeing.

Heres some more maths, I cnat be bothered to keep tweaking the numbers to make it fit but in keeping with being plausiblely obtainable but 300 odd km short here we are....

5 mins at 50k in 20 small towns, 1 hr at 50k

40 mins at 50 k for othr delays ropadworls etc

20 mins at 70k behind slow traffic

180 mins at zero speed, refuelling, rooting piussing, ball scratching

13 hrs (that's 780 mins) at 160k on the good bits

60mins at 200k on cumulative really good bits of road.

6 hours at zero on the ferry

Taking out time stopped that's an average speed of 149k while moving, good for just under 2400k in 16 hrs, its about 15% short on meeting the legend but with the numbers given you can see theres no need for nonsense like 300km/h
A little bit faster and its entirely plausioble journey albeit a very dangerous and expensive one with maybe free accommodation with her majesty at the end.

[FJRider]

Usually in an aircraft :shutup:


and yes there are a good number of people who can travel very quickly.

Oops ... my bad ... :doh:

[FJRider]

Awesome. Here to London twice as fast an A380. :shutup:





Oops ... my mistake ...
:whocares:

[skippa1]

Utter bullshit.

[Berries]

I'm going to Invercargill tomorrow. Will have a burger and report back.

[Zedder]

Heres some more maths, I cnat be bothered to keep tweaking the numbers to make it fit


Thank you for stopping.

[ajturbo]

Quite a few years back ... a book was published about state highway one. It it .. the author stated that the complete length could not be done in any 24 hour period. A fairly well known motorcyclist of the time made the effort to prove him wrong. And succeeded. A privately hired boat for the straight ... so ferry timings were not a factor.

Of this particular ride ... I have never heard anything mentioned ... but I think it could have been done (then). Different times now though ...

Just no one ask WhiteTrash what time he did Welly to Auckland to see his new misses(now wife).....

[Virago]

I'm going to Invercargill tomorrow. Will have a burger and report back.

Three days and still not back?

[Berries]

I'm back, just couldn't find a decent burger.

[Akzle]

Haha, that reminds me of a skit Billy T. James did.

also a barry crump story

[oldrider]

I'm back, just couldn't find a decent burger.

It's the way it is these days just like on KB all you can ever find are cheap shitty husabergers! :rofl:

[Trade_nancy]

Heres some more maths, I cnat be bothered to keep tweaking the numbers to make it fit but in keeping with being plausiblely obtainable but 300 odd km short here we are....

5 mins at 50k in 20 small towns, 1 hr at 50k

40 mins at 50 k for othr delays ropadworls etc

20 mins at 70k behind slow traffic

180 mins at zero speed, refuelling, rooting piussing, ball scratching

13 hrs (that's 780 mins) at 160k on the good bits

60mins at 200k on cumulative really good bits of road.

6 hours at zero on the ferry

Taking out time stopped that's an average speed of 149k while moving, good for just under 2400k in 16 hrs, its about 15% short on meeting the legend but with the numbers given you can see theres no need for nonsense like 300km/h
A little bit faster and its entirely plausioble journey albeit a very dangerous and expensive one with maybe free accommodation with her majesty at the end.
6 hours on the ferry? Make that 7 hours and a further 2 hours IF you turn up an hour early for each crossing - 9 hours.

[R650R]

6 hours on the ferry? Make that 7 hours and a further 2 hours IF you turn up an hour early for each crossing - 9 hours.

Not if you have the right contacts, that's just for the peasants....
Couldn't find a butrger either so settled for fish and chips... gopro timelapse footage tomorrow, need some sleep....