peripheral
18th February 2006, 20:14
Having mostly been doing the Coro loop and a few trips down Scenic Drive and out Hunua ways, I decided it was time to explore SH22. Filled up at Bombay BP, took off towards Tuakau and round my nemisis 35km corner and then straight down 22 turning off to Raglan, great lunch in Raglan, then into Hamilton to visit a mate and then home via SH 1 as I had had enough for the day.
There were bugger all bikes out on 22 (actually none), a group of Harley's at Raglan having a gathering and plenty of bikes heading South on SH 1 on my way back home.
As well as being my first time down SH22, it was also the first time I've experienced a tank slapper on the road (entered a corner, realised that the light colored tarmac was actually that fine loose gravel, followed by the bike deciding it wanted some rodeo riding) all was well as I managed to ride it out before the next corner. That was not too long after I'd gotten into a good groove damn it.
Also my first time riding my road bike on the gravel for more than 100 metres, when i turned off towards Raglan the road changed to gravel, hmmmm I thought wonder how long the gravel lasts for maybe I should turn back, but being a guy I decided to keep going as turning around would infer that I didn't know where I was going and we all know that wasn't true. Anyway the tarmac emerged and then turned into gravel shortly afterwards, thankfully didn't last too much longer. I've decided my bike is better on the tarmac than gravel, no bike trips to Lake Waikaremoana for me.
All in all a good ride, the road's a bit patchy in places but what NZ road isn't. Next time I'll ride a bit further south along 22 and explore some of the other areas around South Waikato that I've only ever driven past.
There were bugger all bikes out on 22 (actually none), a group of Harley's at Raglan having a gathering and plenty of bikes heading South on SH 1 on my way back home.
As well as being my first time down SH22, it was also the first time I've experienced a tank slapper on the road (entered a corner, realised that the light colored tarmac was actually that fine loose gravel, followed by the bike deciding it wanted some rodeo riding) all was well as I managed to ride it out before the next corner. That was not too long after I'd gotten into a good groove damn it.
Also my first time riding my road bike on the gravel for more than 100 metres, when i turned off towards Raglan the road changed to gravel, hmmmm I thought wonder how long the gravel lasts for maybe I should turn back, but being a guy I decided to keep going as turning around would infer that I didn't know where I was going and we all know that wasn't true. Anyway the tarmac emerged and then turned into gravel shortly afterwards, thankfully didn't last too much longer. I've decided my bike is better on the tarmac than gravel, no bike trips to Lake Waikaremoana for me.
All in all a good ride, the road's a bit patchy in places but what NZ road isn't. Next time I'll ride a bit further south along 22 and explore some of the other areas around South Waikato that I've only ever driven past.