Jantar
3rd December 2005, 13:53
44 Riders arrived for the start of this years 1000 miler. One guy came from Whangarei, two from Rotorua, and rest from the mainland. This year the course was Chatto Creek, Clyde, Raes Junction, Tapanui, Clinton, Balclutha, Catlins, Invercargill, Tuatapare, The Key, Mossburn, Queenstown, Alexandra, Ranfurly, Mosgiel, Oamaru, Kurow, Waimate, Timaru, Fairlie, Tekapo, Omarama, Chatto Creek for a total distance of 1630 km. Checkpoints were at Invercargill, Mossburn, Alexandra, Mosgiel and Waimate. I had already offered to serve as a checkpoint marshall, so wouldn't be riding the event.
The riders were allowed to depart just before midday, and I departed for my checkpoint shortly after the last rider left Chatto Creek. I generally followed the official route to begin with except that I missed out Clyde, and at Tapanui I rode the back road to Conical Hill rather than the main route. At Clinton, when the main group carried on to Balclutha I took the back road to Mataura, then through Hedgehope and Winton to Wreys Bush, and up to Mossburn and my checkpoint. As soon as I arrived there I phoned the organiser to advise that the checkpoint was open at 3:35 pm. 352 km in just over 3 1/2 hours... Not too bad I thought, untill I heard that the first Riders had already departed Invercargill 20 minutes earlier. I also heard that Triumph rider had a clutch problem at Roxburgh,and had limped back to Alexandra for repairs. He finally got underway almost 3 hours late, and I was aked to pass on to his riding mate that he was back in the ride. It looked like I was going to be at the checkpoint for a long time.
The first rider who I won't name, (But he has the same surname as the designer and maker of New Zealand's most successfull home grown race bike) arrived at 4:45 pm, and the three North island Riders arrived less than 2 minutes later. 570 Km in 4 3/4 hours, Come on Guys, this isn't meant to be a race.
Most riders came through in small bunches between 5 and 7 pm. At 8:20 pm the last rider arrived at Mossburn, so he had obviously been pushing quite hard to make up time. By the time he re-fuelled and had a short comfort stop it was 8:35 before we were on our way. I was supposed to be Tail End Charlie back to Alexandra, but as the previous riders were an hour ahead, and this rider didn't know Central's roads too well, I led the way to give him a bit of a rest from his hard concentration.
We arrived at the Alexandra checkpoint at 10:30 where there was hot coffee and a light snack ready for us. The Triumph rider's mate had waited as well as at that stage he was only 3/4 hour ahead. While here there was a phone call from the Waimate checkpoint to say that the first riders had just departed, and would likely be finished before 2:00 am. In fact the three north Island riders arrived in at 1:45, and the fastest South Island rider was 2 minutes behind.
One rider withdrew at Alexandra with contaminated fuel lines, and another(from Alexandra) ran out of fuel just short of Mosgiel and started pushing his CX500 the last 3 km to the checkpoint when another rider stopped to help. How can anyone run out on the short 216 km leg?
One rider was stopped for speeding on the Aleaxandra - Mosgiel leg, but otherwise the ride was incident free.
As far as I'm aware there was only one KBer entered. Well done plug. A great weekend's ride, and we hope to see more entrys next year.
The riders were allowed to depart just before midday, and I departed for my checkpoint shortly after the last rider left Chatto Creek. I generally followed the official route to begin with except that I missed out Clyde, and at Tapanui I rode the back road to Conical Hill rather than the main route. At Clinton, when the main group carried on to Balclutha I took the back road to Mataura, then through Hedgehope and Winton to Wreys Bush, and up to Mossburn and my checkpoint. As soon as I arrived there I phoned the organiser to advise that the checkpoint was open at 3:35 pm. 352 km in just over 3 1/2 hours... Not too bad I thought, untill I heard that the first Riders had already departed Invercargill 20 minutes earlier. I also heard that Triumph rider had a clutch problem at Roxburgh,and had limped back to Alexandra for repairs. He finally got underway almost 3 hours late, and I was aked to pass on to his riding mate that he was back in the ride. It looked like I was going to be at the checkpoint for a long time.
The first rider who I won't name, (But he has the same surname as the designer and maker of New Zealand's most successfull home grown race bike) arrived at 4:45 pm, and the three North island Riders arrived less than 2 minutes later. 570 Km in 4 3/4 hours, Come on Guys, this isn't meant to be a race.
Most riders came through in small bunches between 5 and 7 pm. At 8:20 pm the last rider arrived at Mossburn, so he had obviously been pushing quite hard to make up time. By the time he re-fuelled and had a short comfort stop it was 8:35 before we were on our way. I was supposed to be Tail End Charlie back to Alexandra, but as the previous riders were an hour ahead, and this rider didn't know Central's roads too well, I led the way to give him a bit of a rest from his hard concentration.
We arrived at the Alexandra checkpoint at 10:30 where there was hot coffee and a light snack ready for us. The Triumph rider's mate had waited as well as at that stage he was only 3/4 hour ahead. While here there was a phone call from the Waimate checkpoint to say that the first riders had just departed, and would likely be finished before 2:00 am. In fact the three north Island riders arrived in at 1:45, and the fastest South Island rider was 2 minutes behind.
One rider withdrew at Alexandra with contaminated fuel lines, and another(from Alexandra) ran out of fuel just short of Mosgiel and started pushing his CX500 the last 3 km to the checkpoint when another rider stopped to help. How can anyone run out on the short 216 km leg?
One rider was stopped for speeding on the Aleaxandra - Mosgiel leg, but otherwise the ride was incident free.
As far as I'm aware there was only one KBer entered. Well done plug. A great weekend's ride, and we hope to see more entrys next year.