Wellington 250 rides?

[rwh]

I've been reading about the 250-friendly rides in Auckland, and they sound good.
Anybody keen to lead some here in Wellington? I'd rather leave it to someone a bit more experienced than me (about 2 months so far)

Richard

[judecatmad]

Not good at organising stuff, but would be really keen to join in on a learner-friendly 250 ride if anyone does take you up on it :)

[Wasp]

Ive held a few rides before but never a 250 one, im keen to participate with my gsf250 - been riding for awhile now...

Must be time to do "Wasp's Welly Weekend WAdventure Wride" again :yes:, any ride I organise however will never be restricted to only 250s it will be open class with just an emphasis on 250s (i feel its better to have the fast/experienced guys around for advice and if the unthinkable should happen i know they will handle it alot better than i possibly could.)

I'm quietly looking forwards to the face off between rwh's vt250f and IR's VTZ250(j). GO VTZ GO!!!:first:

[James Deuce]

TSS have a ride the 2nd Sunday of every month specifically targeting 250cc riders.

www.tssmotorcycles.co.nz

[Wasp]

WHAT?!! jim2 i didnt know that!

[McJim]

I ended up leading the Auckland 250 ride by default and I've only been riding 3 months. Haven't had too many complaints about the pace either.

Just a case of keeping it sensible and checking the mirrors.

Be aware of the need to stagger the positions for maximum visibility.

Make sure people leave a good stopping distance otherwise there could be a pile up when an inexperienced biker panic brakes in a corner for example.

Go for it.

Let us all know how it goes.

[Wasp]

bah stuff that big mcjim, we have the newbies ride on for the newbies, any 250 ride i lead will be as fast as i can go over the takas then slightly above 100 kms out the back of martinborough

[Deano]

Cliffhanger Promotions are keen to have a 250 class at the Wairarapa Sprints, as they want to encourage younger riders to get into road racing.

It would be an opportunity to test out your machines in a controlled environment, providing you are comfortable getting close to your bikes top speed, in addition to testing your standing starts and 1/4 mile times.

More info will follow soon, either in Meetings and Events or Racing.

[poorbastard]

Cliffhanger Promotions are keen to have a 250 class at the Wairarapa Sprints, as they want to encourage younger riders to get into road racing.

It would be an opportunity to test out your machines in a controlled environment, providing you are comfortable getting close to your bikes top speed, in addition to testing your standing starts and 1/4 mile times.

More info will follow soon, either in Meetings and Events or Racing.


Now that sounds like some fun. Id be keen for a go if this goes ahead, thats if I still have the 250 then.

[poorbastard]

I've been reading about the 250-friendly rides in Auckland, and they sound good.
Anybody keen to lead some here in Wellington? I'd rather leave it to someone a bit more experienced than me (about 2 months so far)

Richard

Theres a newbee ride coming up that should be right up your ally otherwise alot of rides still have 250s on them.

[skelstar]

Here you go mate: Great KBer Ride (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=33725)

[judecatmad]

Cliffhanger Promotions are keen to have a 250 class at the Wairarapa Sprints, as they want to encourage younger riders to get into road racing.

It would be an opportunity to test out your machines in a controlled environment, providing you are comfortable getting close to your bikes top speed, in addition to testing your standing starts and 1/4 mile times.

More info will follow soon, either in Meetings and Events or Racing.

Hmmm....all 120kph of it :rofl:

And........LOL, is 33 still in the 'younger rider' category??

[MikeyG]

Cliffhanger Promotions are keen to have a 250 class at the Wairarapa Sprints, as they want to encourage younger riders to get into road racing.

It would be an opportunity to test out your machines in a controlled environment, providing you are comfortable getting close to your bikes top speed, in addition to testing your standing starts and 1/4 mile times.

More info will follow soon, either in Meetings and Events or Racing.

Sweet. After watching at Manfield on Sat I'm keen to get the GN on the track.

[Deano]

Hmmm....all 120kph of it :rofl:

And........LOL, is 33 still in the 'younger rider' category??


Sorry for generalising, but you know what I mean...would you prefer Newbie ?:dodge:

And, it's about getting out there and into it, not so much a competition, although prizes are anticipated for the fastest.....and maybe the slowest?


Sweet. After watching at Manfield on Sat I'm keen to get the GN on the track.

Now that's the attitude :Punk:

[McJim]

Sweet. After watching at Manfield on Sat I'm keen to get the GN on the track.

Can a turbo be fitted to a Ginny?
If so how much power could you actually get out of it?

I have no Ginny nor any ability to attach a turbo but I'd love to see it done.

Not actually intending to take the piss here.:rockon:

[Wasp]

Cliffhanger Promotions are keen to have a 250 class at the Wairarapa Sprints, as they want to encourage younger riders to get into road racing.

It would be an opportunity to test out your machines in a controlled environment, providing you are comfortable getting close to your bikes top speed, in addition to testing your standing starts and 1/4 mile times.

More info will follow soon, either in Meetings and Events or Racing.

Count me in!

[rwh]

Here you go mate: Great KBer Ride (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=33725)

Looks like a good ride, and I'll try to be there .. but I think I might want a bit more practice first :scooter:

I've been doing most of my practising (other than commuting) on the Makara road, though, and the takas aren't much worse than that. More traffic though.

Richard

[skelstar]

Makara Rd is an interesting one. Its pretty tight and lots of blind corners. Takas are far easier to ride up at a fair clip. Treated with respect it can be lots of fun. I dont think that many seek the Makara Rd to be honest (just a personal pref.).

[rwh]

Ive held a few rides before but never a 250 one, im keen to participate with my gsf250 - been riding for awhile now...

Must be time to do "Wasp's Welly Weekend WAdventure Wride" again :yes:, any ride I organise however will never be restricted to only 250s it will be open class with just an emphasis on 250s (i feel its better to have the fast/experienced guys around for advice and if the unthinkable should happen i know they will handle it alot better than i possibly could.)

I'm quietly looking forwards to the face off between rwh's vt250f and IR's VTZ250(j). GO VTZ GO!!!:first:

Hmm. Perhaps the term I should have quoted from the Auckland thread was 'Learner friendly' rather than '250 friendly'. There is rather a difference, of course :scooter:

Richard

[rwh]

Makara Rd is an interesting one. Its pretty tight and lots of blind corners. Takas are far easier to ride up at a fair clip. Treated with respect it can be lots of fun. I dont think that many seek the Makara Rd to be honest (just a personal pref.).

It's right next to home, so I don't have to spend ages on the open road (deciding whether to go with the flow or stick to the legal 70) to get there. Though of course it now has limits of 50 or 60 all the way through :angry:

But I think I can now get through there faster on my bike than in my car:done:

Richard

[skelstar]

Yeah I was ondering if that was the criteria.

Im sure you are, but take it easy on that road. Cars will cut corners if they want to have fun. Similar to the Paekakariki Hill Rd, has its fans, but even good riders will steer clear.

[rwh]

Im sure you are, but take it easy on that road. Cars will cut corners if they want to have fun. Similar to the Paekakariki Hill Rd, has its fans, but even good riders will steer clear.

Sure. I think I'm actually quite conservative compared to lots of drivers of both cars and bikes - many drivers would be going much faster than I do on either.

Richard

[Str8 Jacket]

Cliffhanger Promotions are keen to have a 250 class at the Wairarapa Sprints, as they want to encourage younger riders to get into road racing.

It would be an opportunity to test out your machines in a controlled environment, providing you are comfortable getting close to your bikes top speed, in addition to testing your standing starts and 1/4 mile times.

More info will follow soon, either in Meetings and Events or Racing.

What about my bike? I wouldnt mind giving it a go....

[Deano]

What about my bike? I wouldnt mind giving it a go....

I'm proposing a 150 2 stroke/250 4 stroke category which would suit you, but not sure about further restricting to specify twins and four cylinder 250's.

It gets complicated don't it.

Plus I doubt these categories would need quite the same run up for the flying 1/4's as the bigger bikes to hit top speed.......a bit more oganising to go yet.

[Str8 Jacket]

I'm proposing a 150 2 stroke/250 4 stroke category which would suit you, but not sure about further restricting to specify twins and four cylinder 250's.

It gets complicated don't it.

Plus I doubt these categories would need quite the same run up for the flying 1/4's as the bigger bikes to hit top speed.......a bit more oganising to go yet.

Yeah it is quite complicated! Im definately keen, will keep my eyes open.....

[Wasp]

so the age old question will be answered: which is faster - a 150 2 stroke or a 250 4 stroke..... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN LAST CHANCE TO PLACE YOUR BETS, PLACE YOUR BETS PLEASE!

Back on topic; if anyone wants to go riding this weekend either lateish saturday or on sunday then speak up

[Str8 Jacket]

so the age old question will be answered: which is faster - a 150 2 stroke or a 250 4 stroke..... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN LAST CHANCE TO PLACE YOUR BETS, PLACE YOUR BETS PLEASE!

Back on topic; if anyone wants to go riding this weekend either lateish saturday or on sunday then speak up

Depends really on who's riding what... Some people could manage to take out a 4 stroker on my bike and sometimes its the other way round.... Hopefully we'll get to find out! There's a few of us with 150 2strokes, a few of them KR's... would be a nice even test!

[Str8 Jacket]

Back on topic; if anyone wants to go riding this weekend either lateish saturday or on sunday then speak up

Oh yeah, ME! Either later Sat so I can go to the gym, or Sunday anytime... I dont really mind if I go by myself either so give a time and place and i'll see. :)

[judecatmad]

prizes are anticipated for the fastest.....and maybe the slowest?


Yay! Prizes for nannas! I win - may as well give me the prize now :rofl:

[rwh]

Back on topic; if anyone wants to go riding this weekend either lateish saturday or on sunday then speak up

Me, definitely. Remembering I've only had my learners 2 months ...

Richard

[Drum]

........if anyone wants to go riding this weekend either lateish saturday or on sunday then speak up

Could be keen, but my missus' is due to give birth this Saturday.

What is the acceptable stand down period before going riding I wonder?

[skelstar]

A good ... 6 hours I reckon.

Make em count.

[James Deuce]

Could be keen, but my missus' is due to give birth this Saturday.

What is the acceptable stand down period before going riding I wonder?
Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa

You'll have to get through the, "How the F__k did I get here" phase, then the "I wish she'd hurry up and get home from hospital 'cos I'm running out of undies and cat food tastes TERRIBLE" phase, and then the "she better not be permanently paralysed and unable to cook and do laundry" phase, and then the "she's only interested in the baby, and what is that smell" phase, and then the "how come that pink thing never sleeps" phase, and then the "you'll have to help me get the breast feeding going" phase, and then the "you're going to have to stop buying takeaways and learn how to cook" phase, and then the "Shit, I haven't had any sleep for 3 weeks and now I have to go back to work" phase. First. Plus some phases unique to you and your situation.

You should be able to go for a recreational ride in September. 2007. If you do some nice stuff for "the missus".

You're doomed.

Muahahahahahaaaa.

[Uncle B]

And that is exactly why I have cats........I can go riding whenever I like :Punk:

[Shadows]

What is the acceptable stand down period before going riding I wonder?

Don't worry, you'll soon be surprised how many trips to the shops for formula and nappies require travelling the Rimutakas. :ride:

[Drum]

Thanks for the support guys. I feel much better now.:mellow:

Shadmeister, whats the name of that formula/ nappie shop in Featherston?

And of course the upside to the whole ordeal is that I now get to commute on my bike, instead of in the cage.

[Drum]

A good ... 6 hours I reckon.

Make em count.

Six is bid from the man on the 919.

Do I hear a four? Anyone.........Anyone?

[Drum]

And that is exactly why I have cats........I can go riding whenever I like :Punk:


Except for when its shite weather and your tyre is "buggered" aye! :Pokey:

[sels1]

Could be keen, but my missus' is due to give birth this Saturday.

The everyday miracle. Make sure you dont miss any of it...even if it means having to tape the rugby and miss out on a ride. You wont regret it.

[Uncle B]

Except for when its shite weather and your tyre is "buggered" aye! :Pokey:
All sorted now and back in action....was just trying to get the 'most' out of the tyre before having to open the wallet and sift my way through the moths and cobbwebs to find the stash at the bottom.

[Bend-it]

Who got this thread off topic?>!?! :2guns:

250 rides are a great idea! Just need to get the time to go on them!!

[RantyDave]

Make sure you dont miss any of it...even if it means having to tape the rugby and miss out on a ride. You wont regret it.
By which Sels means that if you *do* miss any of it, even if you're ... well ... having a kidney removed at the time or something like that, you'll never hear the end of it. If you miss it because you're watching the rugby you might as well consign yourself to a life of misery now.

Seriously. The missus needs you.

Dave

/done it before
//very fucking unpleasant pastime, believe me
///number 2 due nov 20th

[Str8 Jacket]

//done it before
//very fucking unpleasant pastime, believe me
///number 2 due nov 20th

Dave, are you a dad? And do you have another one due?.... Jesus I never knew!

[James Deuce]

Dave, are you a dad? And do you have another one due?.... Jesus I never knew!

Jeeez. It's pretty easy. His eyes have sunk into his head, he has black rings around them. His hair is Iron Grey. His pubes have fallen out (don't ask me how I know (shudder)). Those aren't his real teeth. He eats raw chilis to remind himself that he is both alive and awake. He's only 23 but looks 62.

These should have been clues.

[Shadows]

All sorted now and back in action....was just trying to get the 'most' out of the tyre before having to open the wallet and sift my way through the moths and cobbwebs to find the stash at the bottom.

You've got it all backwards, you should have found your stash first:doobey: and then gone and got the most out of our tyre. :ride:

[Streetwise]

Where are you going on the ride.???

[rwh]

Back on topic; if anyone wants to go riding this weekend either lateish saturday or on sunday then speak up

I've remembered I think I'm booked for Sunday afternoon, so Saturday would suit me better.

Richard

[rwh]

Where are you going on the ride.???

Well I'm not planning to organise, but I did have a think about some interesting roads I know of (I like windy):

Wainuiomata Coast Road
Moores Valley Road
Whitemans Valley
Sweetacres Drive (western Hutt hills) (haven't been there for ages, maybe not as good as I remember - and possibly a bit short)
Moonshine Hill Rd

That's without considering the more serious and well known ones like Paekak hill, Rimutakas and Akatarawas.

Loads more of course.

Richard
(Streetwise: I blame your B120 for my occasional wrong-way gearshift :o Nice little bike though :scooter: :) )

[Wasp]

If its my call it'll be the windmill road and mabye some detours, last time we planned to go there we changed our minds.

ill dig up the link to the old thread, here we go:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=28505

maps are no longer available as i no longer take my backpack with me and yes i still want to play on that gravel road...:shifty:

once i decide what i am doing saturday morning i will let you folks know (stupid optomitrist - better not rain for 2 reasons), if we are unlucky and it rains on saturday it will be posponed till sunday. I will post meeting times for saturday as soon as i know what im doing. if its cancelled till sunday then meeting times will be around 10ish.

I will also create a new thread with this info in it. (TOMMOROW, IM GROUCHY AND TIRED!)

[rwh]

Windmill road? Which is that? I'm thinking the Brooklyn hill is a little short, and the summit road north of the Manawatu Gorge is rather a long way away ... I suppose there are others

Edit: sorry, read your post now ... I wasn't thinking of doing the Rimutakas so soon, but hey why not :)

Richard

[Wasp]

ok, if i can sort my stuff out for saturday morn we should be good. (cmon weather)

i wont be riding on sunday as the bucket racing is on and i'll probably spend all day there. (rg100 offered me a ride on his fxr round the trak once - i hope its still open :yes:)

situation will be updated around 10ish tommorow.

i feel takas are the only way to go for the weekend, roads like moonshine are just too short (one tcwnr we did it AND the takas), weahter we can spend most of the day on the back roads of martinborough.

[RantyDave]

His pubes have fallen out (don't ask me how I know (shudder)).
I told you those pictures were for your eyes only. Don't go discussing them on KB.

I feel so ... used.

Dave

[Wasp]

okay, ive decided not to book my optomitrist appointment for saturday cos i reckon its going to pour down.

If it doesnt though i will be at caltex rimutaka (rimutex) at 10:00 am on saturday morning and will be leaving before 10:30, I will be heading out for a "play" (read multiple training runs) on the rimutakas and if others are present probably head out to the flying fish in martinborough for a lateish lunch.

[rwh]

Turns out I'm busy Saturday, not Sunday - so even if the weather's fine, it looks like I won't be doing the same ride as Wasp. Will be keen to do something on Sunday though, weather permitting.

Even something shortish - haywards/browns bay/mana/grays rd/moonshine rd is tempting - could be good. With or without a nominated experienced leader; just having other people for company and to go for help in emergencies is good.

I'll keep an eye on this thread ...

Richard

[poorbastard]

Well ill already be over the hill milking for poos by the time you guys get your asses out of bed. Not sure if i'll have the bike yet, exhaust has a crack through it, but mite come in for lunch anyway if you end up going over that is.

[rwh]

Turns out I'm busy Saturday, not Sunday - so even if the weather's fine, it looks like I won't be doing the same ride as Wasp. Will be keen to do something on Sunday though, weather permitting.

Even something shortish - haywards/browns bay/mana/grays rd/moonshine rd is tempting - could be good. With or without a nominated experienced leader; just having other people for company and to go for help in emergencies is good.

I'll keep an eye on this thread ...

Richard

Well the weather looks pretty reasonable to me, so I aim to do something starting from the Hutt Valley - probably one or more of those I mentioned earlier, unless I feel really keen and take on the takas.

I probably won't get to the Hutt till 11ish at the earliest.

Will check back here later for any takers - might even take the laptop ...

Richard

[Wasp]

there are bucket races on in upper hutt in the council carpark beside the pool, map here: http://www.scs.net.nz/images/accessmap.gif

if you wanna stop in and dont know your way around gimme a txt on 021 120 1629 and ill meet you at the entrance into upper hutt or something

[Streetwise]

Well I'm not planning to organise, but I did have a think about some interesting roads I know of (I like windy):

Wainuiomata Coast Road
Moores Valley Road
Whitemans Valley
Sweetacres Drive (western Hutt hills) (haven't been there for ages, maybe not as good as I remember - and possibly a bit short)
Moonshine Hill Rd

That's without considering the more serious and well known ones like Paekak hill, Rimutakas and Akatarawas.

Loads more of course.

Richard
(Streetwise: I blame your B120 for my occasional wrong-way gearshift :o Nice little bike though :scooter: :) )

Haha it does the trick.. Hows it all going. :scooter:

[rwh]

Haha it does the trick.. Hows it all going. :scooter:

Mostly good - today had its issues though.

I followed up Wasp's suggestion and met up with him and a bunch of others at the Bucket racing in Upper Hutt - looked like fun, and good to meet people, but in the end I wasn't riding, so I suggested I'd be keen to pop over to Featherston and back, and Wasp agreed to join me.

As I was just about ready to go, though, RG100!! (I think?) pointed out that I might want to check my rear tyre pressure - it was almost completely flat. He promptly brought over his tyre pump - it didn't register any pressure on the gauge - and pumped it up for me - thanks mate! :rockon:

Wasp and I then headed off to Rimutex, where I discovered it was completely flat again. After a bit of investigation and discussion, we pumped it up and headed back, pumping it up again at the BP station, but still it was mostly flat most of the time - it felt really horrible going round corners. After more discussion, where RG100!! pointed out that it wasn't just the loose valve nut we'd thought, but a knackered tube, I arranged to borrow my parents' car and trailer - from Eastbourne.

Wasp generously txted an even more generous mate (these are all people I'd never met before), who agreed to come up from Lower Hutt and give me a lift to Eastbourne for a bit of petrol money. So he and I (with Wasp following on his Bandit) went and got the car & trailer, took it back to Upper Hutt, and loaded my bike on with the help of the split-level carpark acting like a loading dock. He then followed me down the Western Hutt Rd as far as Melling, and I drove back to Karori with no further incident.

I managed to get the bike off again using similar methods (backing up the trailer to a retaining wall and wheeling it off through the garden), dropped the car & trailer back to Eastbourne and caught a couple of buses home (plus a 40 min walk due to lack of appropriate buses). I was finally home by about 8:30pm.

I now intend to investigate getting a decent tow car for myself ... and work out whether I can get my wheel off to take it to the bike shop, or have to work out some way to get the whole bike there.

Many thanks to all who helped out - RG100!!, Wasp and Wasp's mate in particular.

Oh - and big apologies if I've got anyone confused with anyone else.

Richard

[Drum]

Well done Wasp and Co.

Maybe KiwiBikers arent dicks after all!!

[Wasp]

Maybe KiwiBikers arent dicks after all!!
Don't worry, I made sure to offend him by insulting his riding ability beforehand. (sorry about that, hopefully you understand what I meant either now or later on)

Glad to hear you got back ok rwh (and that our first attempts at tying a bike to a trailer was successful) let us know what happens with the tyre - either on here or it'll make a good yarn to hear while we're eating on a ride.

Roll on 1/10/06

[rwh]

Don't worry, I made sure to offend him by insulting his riding ability beforehand. (sorry about that, hopefully you understand what I meant either now or later on)

Questioning my riding ability is fine and reasonable. The impression I get though, is that experienced bikers sometimes seem to translate that to my road (and other) experience as well. Things like following distances and ability to stop within what I can see etc are not new to me; I've been driving for 20 years. If that's not as valid as I think it is, I apologise. Oh - I've tied lots of interesting things onto trailers, too - never a (motor)bike, but in the case of a trailer it's just a slightly different shaped object :)

Anyway - I appreciate your concern :)



Roll on 1/10/06

Absolutely :rockon:

Richard

[Drum]

I know what you mean RWH.

Just because youre riding a 250 doesn't mean youre a spotty 17 year old! (no offence to you 17 year olds).

This being a motorcycle forum though, you can expect little respect for many years experience cage driving, and you may even get insulted for it!

[Wasp]

no offence taken Drum, that is a fair call but what do you mean? :scratch:

also agree with the statement about driving cars for x years, I expect alot more from a riding buddy than being able to give way, there have been a few times where I myself have done stupid things and could have taken out Str8 Jacket or phoenixgtr (and probably others) should something have gone wrong.

What I was more getting at about a newbies ability to ride is the group side of things, if said person cant control the bike sufficiently to not crash into me I want to make sure that they have enough self control/experience to not follow closely enough to make matters worse should I fall off. In my eyes any number of years driving a car cannot prepare you for being able to judge minute distances between tyres.

That being said I doubt it would have been a problem as (without trying to brag or look cool or anything) it is fairly easy for an experienced rider to pull away from a rider that is less experienced on a road such as the takas. (it is also advised that a newbie does not try and keep up and takes the road at THEIR pace.)

[Drum]

no offence taken Drum, that is a fair call but what do you mean? :scratch:...........

Not a reference to you in any way Wasp. I merely mean that on the interweb, when people see a 250 listed top right corner, they assume that youre some young whippersnapper, when this is not always the case.

[poorbastard]

Just because youre riding a 250 doesn't mean youre a spotty 17 year old! (no offence to you 17 year olds).


Sweet got 3 years on that, must mean im not spotty and here I was thinking I was still a young bastard :Punk:

Nice to meet you richard even if it was just for a little while you were waiting for the trailer.

[rwh]

also agree with the statement about driving cars for x years, I expect alot more from a riding buddy than being able to give way, there have been a few times where I myself have done stupid things and could have taken out Str8 Jacket or phoenixgtr (and probably others) should something have gone wrong.

My feeling is if you're in danger of hitting someone if either one of you loses control or bins it, then you're probably too close together full stop - and that's true when you're riding/driving anything from a bike to a B-train. My worst experiences riding a bike were when I was on about my second day, unsure of my ability to stop or corner properly, and there was someone in a car about 2m behind me - I didn't even have the confidence I could pull over safely. On the other hand, I also find it pretty nerve-wracking when I'm driving my car and can see nothing but a headlight and a helmet behind me - some bikers seem to think they're invincible - and the guy I'm thinking of was on a Ducati, so can't be that inexperienced.

I'm just saying I don't think I'm a significantly worse risk than anyone else.



What I was more getting at about a newbies ability to ride is the group side of things, if said person cant control the bike sufficiently to not crash into me I want to make sure that they have enough self control/experience to not follow closely enough to make matters worse should I fall off.

Absolutely. That's the following distance I was talking about. Admittedly, of course, many car drivers with plenty of experience don't get it, so I guess you're right to be wary. I think you're still safer with me behind you on my bike (as a buffer zone) - or in a car - than some random cager.


In my eyes any number of years driving a car cannot prepare you for being able to judge minute distances between tyres.

I'm not sure what minute distances you're talking about - if the distances between any tyres are minute, someone is riding too close.



That being said I doubt it would have been a problem as (without trying to brag or look cool or anything) it is fairly easy for an experienced rider to pull away from a rider that is less experienced on a road such as the takas. (it is also advised that a newbie does not try and keep up and takes the road at THEIR pace.)

Sure. My pace is improving though, and I'm not unfamiliar with the takas - I drive them for fun in my car too, and have done since it was a Hillman Hunter station wagon on crossplies when I was 15 :)

The convoy technique I like best is that used by the army - leave about 10-15 seconds gap between vehicles, so that anyone wanting to pass can easily pass one at a time. This doesn't seem to be recommended in biking circles; I'm not sure why.

Richard