Pommie Git welcome to KB Ride - Chch [Archive]

cooneyr

24th July 2007, 22:03

Given we are being invaded by Poms down here in Chch at the moment we had better show them some hospitality and show them a bit of the countryside. So a mission though Lees Valley seems to be the go.

I recon south to north (Oxford to Rangiora) with a pie n "OJ" at the Ashley Pub on the way back would be a fitting. Meet at the Peg pub at 9am on the 5th of August.

For those who dont know the Peg is at the southern end of the motorway immediately before the motorway starts on your left heading north. PM if you need more details.

Cheers R

boomer

24th July 2007, 22:31

did your flight get diverted..???!!!! it's farkin cold down there brother

Transalper

24th July 2007, 22:38

Lees Valley, always a plesant ride, good for the novices too, I'll put it on my calender.

Skinny_Birdman

25th July 2007, 07:54

May be able to make it, but I have a vague uneasy feeling I have something else on that weekend........

cooneyr

25th July 2007, 08:08

did your flight get diverted..???!!!! it's farkin cold down there brother

Na I'm a native of south canty so just a loverly winters day out :D You lot up north don't even know what cold is do you :innocent:

Cheers R

nigelp

25th July 2007, 12:36

cooneyr

25th July 2007, 12:43

I'd be keen to come, good to hear that it will be a noob friendly ride! I must fall into that category!

Does my memory serve me correctly that someone did that trip last winter and there was a fair bit of snow around?

There is always potential for snow as we found out last November. Will have to check closer to the time but anything there at the moment wont last long with the WX we've got at the moment.

Cheers R

far queue

25th July 2007, 15:39

I can't make that weekend, so I might go for a ride round Lees this Sat.

RedKLR650

25th July 2007, 16:10

There is always potential for snow as we found out last November. Will have to check closer to the time but anything there at the moment wont last long with the WX we've got at the moment.
Cheers R

No snow here, we should be riding today !!! :yes:

It was 24 degrees here in Timvegas earlier due to the Nor Wester wind :gob:

Saw a couple of mangled road bikes at the weekend after the trecherous conditions in the McKenzie country ( Twizel had a high of -4 :sunny: on friday when I went through in the car..... Check out some of the photos - Note the ice forming on the side mirror due to the foggy freezing conditions - and the trees, that's frost, not snow..... and the big ice crystals are on the individual blades of grass :shit:

Looking forward to catching up soon :Punk:

Regards, Stu :scooter:

Bullitt

25th July 2007, 18:55

Na I'm a native of south canty so just a loverly winters day out :D You lot up north don't even know what cold is do you :innocent:

Cheers R

This is my first year of a Wellington winter compared to all previous in Dunedin then Christchurch. This is the worst Wellington winter in memory apparently and Ive seen two frosts on cars and none on the ground. Its like a Dunedin summer:Punk:

Adux

25th July 2007, 19:39

This Pom would love to tag along.

What gear do you guys take? Warm gear, waterproofs, tools, spare tubes?

Will I need a 5L petrol can or will the DRZ make it without? What is the terrain like, the Suzuk is shod with road legal knobblies, hope these are suitable?

Would it be recommended to change the stock front sprocket for one with an extra tooth for Adv riding?

Apologies if these seem like bone questions but I am pretty new to this game and all advice is greatly appreciated

Cheers

MyGSXF

25th July 2007, 19:53

and the trees, that's frost, not snow.....

:gob: holy crap!!!

Have an awesome ride you lot!! :scooter: also awesome to see the bike riding is still going well too R!! :Punk:

Jen :rockon:

ps: great pics Stu!! :yes:

McJim

25th July 2007, 20:10

HTFU - it doesn't even start to get cold here in New Zealand until you're halfway up Mount Cook.

You fellas should try ice climbing in -33.

Fun and spectacular.

far queue

25th July 2007, 21:17

What gear do you guys take? Warm gear, waterproofs, tools, spare tubes?It never hurts to carry all that stuff. Also take food and drink, such as food bars and water.
Will I need a 5L petrol can or will the DRZ make it without? What is the terrain like, the Suzuk is shod with road legal knobblies, hope these are suitable?See below
Would it be recommended to change the stock front sprocket for one with an extra tooth for Adv riding?No need to bother for Lees Valley
Apologies if these seem like bone questions but I am pretty new to this game and all advice is greatly appreciatedNo problem, happy to help.

Have a read of this (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=24678) thread from another Lees Valley ride, it should tell you what you want to know.

mattsdakar

25th July 2007, 21:21

I'm a starter, Ryan shall I pick you up on the way thru?

cooneyr

25th July 2007, 21:41

Will I need a 5L petrol can or will the DRZ make it without? What is the terrain like, the Suzuk is shod with road legal knobblies, hope these are suitable?

I just measured 110kms from Oxford to Rangiora very roughly of a map so if you have enough fuel for 150kms on one tank then I wouldnt worry about carrying extra fuel.

HTFU - it doesn't even start to get cold here in New Zealand until you're halfway up Mount Cook.

You fellas should try ice climbing in -33.

Fun and spectacular.

Try building a snow cave in -20 in the Arctic (ok lower artic but still the Arctic ) or riding in the back seat of a car at -30 when the heat from the heaters wont make the back seats. Another fun experience was riding a snow mobile in -16 degrees at 75 kph. Wind chill makes it around -50 degrees but I never sweated so much on a petrol powered machine from the damn suits and hanging on over the bumps. :Punk:

I'm a starter, Ryan shall I pick you up on the way thru?

You dodgy bugger - you aint picking me up! I'll see you round here about 0845 though if you want. :innocent:

Cheers R

_Shrek_

25th July 2007, 22:33

did your flight get diverted..???!!!! it's farkin cold down there brother

hey boomer its warmed up it's above -10 here these days :innocent:

Quickrik

26th July 2007, 00:38

I'm a pomme, I'm a git but I'm not in NZ yet. So'll not make this ride, but once i'm in the coutry i'd love to tag along on a ride later in the year.

Rik

Mint Sauce

26th July 2007, 08:43

Shame. As a new POM and beginner to off road I would have loved to have been there. Unfortunantely up in New Plymouth for Karen's friend's 50th that weekend.

Have a good time and l look forward to seeing pictures and the next ride posted.

Dances With Poultry

26th July 2007, 16:43

I have ridden through Lees Valley about five or six times, including one very eventful trip by myself in October, on a lovely nor'west day. It was the nor'wester that was the problem. Lots of rain and snowmelt in the headwaters of the Okuku River meant the river was fairly high. I saw wet wheel tracks on the other side of the river so figured if a 4WD could get over, so could I. Beeep, WRONG... There was a short deep swift bit and stupidly I thought I could get thru that quickly and then be right. I got washed off as soon as I hit the water. Immediately downstream from the ford, the river got very deep and there I was swimming with my bike floating.... yes a Funduro with waterproof Al Jesse panniers will float... for a while. I was determined to stay with my precious, and not watch it disappear down the gorge. The problem was I was downstream of the bike and the first big rock I came to nearly killed me. My foot got trapped between the bike and the rock and then the bike started to climb over me and pushed me under. I managed to pull my foot out (fear had given me the strength of 10!!) and swimming beside the bike I slowly pulled it closer to the far bank. I pulled the bike up onto dry land with the last fading remains of adrenaline, and sat shivering. Pulling the right sparkplug out allowed me to pump out the water, but to drain the left carb needed a very long screwdriver. I got it to fire and run a few times with only the right carb cleared, but gave up and started the long walk to the nearest farm house. As I warmed up my foot started to hurt so I took off that boot and found I had crushed my big toe and ripped the toenail off that and the toe next to it. It was a long cold slow walk.
I guess what I'm trying to say is walk the river if it looks dodgy and if you ever get washed off, stay upstream of the bike.

It'll be a great ride, just wish I could come along.

Nigel in Rangiora

P.S. The Pillion In A Million and I went through a few months back and for the first time we started from the Oxford end. This time we got lost in the new logging and milling operation at the Rangiora end, and despite backtracking to the farm track three times, for the life of us, we could not find the proper road out. In the end we pulled the bike under a pipe barrier arm and came out through the forest. Still can't see why we got so lost. With all the new roads they have set up, it might pay to start at the Rangiora end.

Transalper

26th July 2007, 17:15

Good story but...Man, we know that place like the back of our hands, you should not have been crossing the main river with out backup if it was high and finally the rivers are very low at the moment.

Oh yea, good tip on swimming with ya bike, i'll remember that for next time, but hopefully the mighty cooneyr will be there to save me again... see, ride with buddies.

FQ and I intend doing a scout through there Saturday anyway so i'll know if there are any unusual obstacles or slippery bits to warn novices of before this trip.

timg

28th July 2007, 08:18

Transalper

28th July 2007, 19:51

Righty, no chance of getting lost, could not find any roads in there that i hadn't already seen before.
The Okuku River (listed as Okuku Fox Creek on the flow records web site (http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Water/Rivers/RiverFlows/river-flow-table.htm)), the big river in the middle is listed as flowing today (http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Our%20Environment/Water/Rivers/RiverFlows/river-flows.html?site_no=66213&Location=N&StageFlow=W) at .22cubic meters, it was indeed very low as were the rest of the puddles, check the photos.
As for shingle, there was a bit of rolly stuff for the first 3 or 4 minutes at the Oxford end, the rest was just hard dirt, shingle all swept away, definitely a good time for a novice to go.

Well done to Mint Sauce on his intro to NZ Adventure riding.

1 Me taking a backward photo of me and Mint Sauce while on the move.
2 Far queue entering the big river.
3 Far queue 3/4 way thru the big one (.22cubic meters)
4 Mint Sauce followed by Far queue somewhere in the Okuku.

Roll on Sunday the 5th for the next one re:this thread.

Mint Sauce

29th July 2007, 09:27

Well done to Mint Sauce on his intro to NZ Adventure riding.

It was a great day. Big thanks to FQ and Transalper for taking this novice out. If there are any novices out there feeling cold or wet feet about going next Saturday: just go!

You cannot be more novice than this POM git. I made the river first go and managed all the fords and stuff. The roads are generally hard with some gravel around but very rideable; you soon get the feel for it.

Transalper was very kind in that he did not mention the corner I took wide and dropped it! I'd insert the picture Transalper did of the fallen bike but I'm also a novice at that too.

Now, I wonder if any Dakar owner can help me with this brake pedal that sticks out at 90? I need a an outline of the front section of a good pedal so that I can get a metal bender to sort this one out and use the outline as a pattern.

_Shrek_

29th July 2007, 10:00

It was a great day. Big thanks to FQ and Transalper for taking this novice out. If there are any novices out there feeling cold or wet feet about going next Saturday: just go!

You cannot be more novice than this POM git. I made the river first go and managed all the fords and stuff. The roads are generally hard with some gravel around but very rideable; you soon get the feel for it.

Transalper was very kind in that he did not mention the corner I took wide and dropped it! I'd insert the picture Transalper did of the fallen bike but I'm also a novice at that too.

Now, I wonder if any Dakar owner can help me with this brake pedal that sticks out at 90? I need a an outline of the front section of a good pedal so that I can get a metal bender to sort this one out and use the outline as a pattern.

:lol: MS i have a have a GS... i have bent both gear & brake levers just put a block behind it & use a cressent gently... i like to call them scenic ajustments enjoy the bike you got a good 1 (am biased not that you would notice)

Transalper

29th July 2007, 11:28

....Transalper was very kind in that he did not mention the corner I took wide and dropped it! I'd insert the picture Transalper did of the fallen bike but I'm also a novice at that too...Ok since you mentioned it...
1 starting to run wide
2 the parking place after running wide.
3 a good one of FQ earlier in Okuku

mbazza

29th July 2007, 16:13

No snow here, we should be riding today !!! :yes:

It was 24 degrees here in Timvegas earlier due to the Nor Wester wind :gob:

Saw a couple of mangled road bikes at the weekend after the trecherous conditions in the McKenzie country ( Twizel had a high of -4 :sunny: on friday when I went through in the car..... Check out some of the photos - Note the ice forming on the side mirror due to the foggy freezing conditions - and the trees, that's frost, not snow..... and the big ice crystals are on the individual blades of grass :shit:

Looking forward to catching up soon :Punk:

Regards, Stu :scooter:
Great Pics Stu. Bloody cold too! Did you see my mate Bruce in Twizel. Non bikers so he spent this weekend digging in a new septic tank. I'll soon have a base in Twizel to visit. Yeeha. Cheers.

RedKLR650

29th July 2007, 18:15

Ok since you mentioned it...
3 a good one of FQ earlier in Okuku

Good pix Carl, What's FQ's fuel capacity with the DR supertanker ? :shit:

Stu :scooter:

RedKLR650

29th July 2007, 18:25

It was a great day.Transalper was very kind in that he did not mention the corner I took wide and dropped it!

Good to see you survived the KB adventure Riding initiation there Mint Sauce :rockon:

I see the incident you described in the recently released photos by Tranzalper..... And you thought those strange bars on the back of your Beamer were luggage mounts, in actual fact, those clever people at BMW :love: had the foresight to pre-fit the wide corner lie down rear exhaust muffler guards just for those wee incidents like you've just encountered :shit:

Look forward to catching up on a future ride :dodge:

Cheers, Stu :scooter:

far queue

29th July 2007, 18:36

What's FQ's fuel capacity with the DR supertanker ? :shit:A mere 32L :yes: I didn't even get close to using half a tank on this wee jaunt :D

RedKLR650

29th July 2007, 18:38

A mere 32L :yes: I didn't even get close to using half a tank on this wee jaunt :D
WOW !! Ever heard of fuel tank envy :shutup:

Stu :scooter:

far queue

29th July 2007, 18:41

RedKLR650

29th July 2007, 18:41

Hey guy's. Great to see some new faces poping up. Welcome to the nut house. Unfortunately I've got other things happening & can't make it this time. Have an awesome trip. If there's anybody else in the same situation who'd like to have a run thru there later in the month I'd be keen - need to blow the cobwebs off the big red gravel express (not!) before the Penguin. Cheers :scooter:

Hi Tim,

About time we had a catchup, so sing out of you're looking for a riding buddy for a wee jaunt as discussed. :yes: Give me a buzz anytime you're looking like having some spare time - weekdays fine too :shutup: 0274 342 372

Cheers, Stu :scooter:

426crasher

30th July 2007, 19:38

cooneyr

30th July 2007, 21:26

I'm a pommie and my kids recon i'm a git so i suppose i qualify for the ride so i will see you guys at peg on sunday. What route are we taking to the Lees valley turn off.What about either taking the Waimak to the gorge or doing a bit of the Ashley river?

I wouldnt go near the Ashley or other small river on the way up there as they will be too time and energy sapping. The gravel roads up the waimak is an idea and wouldnt take too long or too much energy. Are others keen for this or would you rather stick to Tram Road (sealed and dead straight).

Cheers R

NordieBoy

31st July 2007, 14:22

A mere 32L :yes: I didn't even get close to using half a tank on this wee jaunt :D

What's it handle like in the slippery stuff with the big tank?

far queue

31st July 2007, 22:04

What's it handle like in the slippery stuff with the big tank?No different to the stock one so far, but I haven't been on a big enough ride to warrant filling it all the way yet. The most I've filled it is about 3/4, and it was fine.

alfonz

1st August 2007, 01:30

hi guys i would be a starter see you at the peg :scooter: havnt been on the bike since the brass so will be keen for a blast and meet some more pommy gits as they sure can ride through rivers fast

mattsdakar

1st August 2007, 07:23

I wouldnt go near the Ashley or other small river on the way up there as they will be too time and energy sapping. The gravel roads up the waimak is an idea and wouldnt take too long or too much energy. Are others keen for this or would you rather stick to Tram Road (sealed and dead straight).

Cheers R

Ryan,
I'd be keen to go up the Waimak or back down the Eyre, given the road like conditions thru the Lees Valley we should be through there pretty quickly.
I suggest meeting Westcoast/old west coast road and hooking up with Waimak from there at say Intake Road or even earlier

Rgds Matt

cooneyr

1st August 2007, 08:58

This is suppose to be a noobie welcome ride not a hard out trail ride (for big bikes anyway) - so - plan is that anything to difficult/energy sapping will be after Lees valley.

I'm suggesting sticking to the original plan although backwards i.e. Rangiora through Lees to Oxford. Once we get to Oxford we fuel up again and from there those that want to do something a bit more serious head off to either the Eyre or the south side of the Waimak. We can decide which after we have been through Lees Valley.

Current Participants
Transalper
Skinny Birdman - can you confirm yet A?
NiglelP
Adux
Matts Dakar
Alfonz
426Crasher
and me.

Other Participants since first list prepared
XF650 (to confirm)
Shrek lone rider

Cheers R

Transalper

1st August 2007, 09:39

....I'm suggesting sticking to the original plan although backwards i.e. Rangiora through Lees to Oxford. Once we get to Oxford we fuel up again and from there those that want to do something a bit more serious head off to either the Eyre or the south side of the Waimak. We can decide which after we have been through Lees Valley.
For a novice ride i think that is a better plan too.
We spent about 3 to 3 and a half hours from the time we left the seal until we got back on it, a few stops but no extra exploring last Saturday with a Mt Sauce on his first dirt ride.

_Shrek_

1st August 2007, 11:37

Transalper

1st August 2007, 15:37

I might have another Pomy friend riding an Africa Twin along... if he is up to it after his 'night before'.
I suspect we will not see him.

cooneyr

1st August 2007, 16:24

I might have another Pomy friend riding an Africa Twin along... if he is up to it after his 'night before'.
I suspect we will not see him.

Your Pommie friends like AT's or is it the same bike doing the rounds?

Cheers R

Transalper

1st August 2007, 19:26

Different Pommy friend, different Africas Twin. Showed him the snow video and he said he was very gald he was not there... too big and heavy for that carry on. I'm still amused at how well the other big one went when the Adventure turned trail.

mbazza

1st August 2007, 19:53

Hi TransA, excellent video very entertaining. Good to see someone out enjoying the winter. Bit damp down here over Sun & Mon. Again, impressive video. Cheers.:niceone:

NordieBoy

1st August 2007, 20:25

Cool vid.
Next time you're up here you need to smack my brother around a bit.
He was laughing his tits off every time you binned :D

Along with mutterings of "Oh man that looks like fun!".

cooneyr

1st August 2007, 21:21

Cool vid.
Next time you're up here you need to smack my brother around a bit.
He was laughing his tits off every time you binned :D

Along with mutterings of "Oh man that looks like fun!".

Which one of us nutters are your referring to. I think we all had a "few" offs or are you suggesting we form up a posse and give him a good working over? :mellow: :innocent: :D

Cheers R

NordieBoy

1st August 2007, 22:04

Which one of us nutters are your referring to. I think we all had a "few" offs or are you suggesting we form up a posse and give him a good working over? :mellow: :innocent: :D

Cheers R

The one with the short legs and helmet cam :D

Transalper

1st August 2007, 22:12

Think I'd like to go with the posse idea if we can please. Can we work over Nordie while we're at it.

We have strayed off topic again... these comments would have been better in the snow ride thread, as soon as my next video is up and i change my sig it won't make as much sense.

NordieBoy

2nd August 2007, 10:04

It made sense?

426crasher

2nd August 2007, 19:53

Adux

4th August 2007, 08:24

Apologies but you will have to scrub me from this weekends ride.

Hope all goes well & I will tag along another time

Cheers

cooneyr

4th August 2007, 08:44

Apologies but you will have to scrub me from this weekends ride.

Hope all goes well & I will tag along another time

Cheers

Thats a bugger but you gota do what you gota do.

Looks like a damp start and clearing over the day.

Cheers R

mattsdakar

4th August 2007, 13:10

[QUOTE=cooneyr;1153971]
I'm suggesting sticking to the original plan although backwards i.e. Rangiora through Lees to Oxford.

This route sounds good with me. I suppose we can make a decision to the way home from Oxford depending on what time it is.

I agree, starter from Rangiora end gives us more options for the return journey. Hope fully in will be wet overnight but fine tommorrow, should make traction abit more interesting on my near bald rear.
Catch ya tommorrow

_Shrek_

4th August 2007, 15:44

hey guys i don't know what its like over the leighs vally way but its snowing here like it did last november
if ride is still on what time are you meeting at Rangiora

cooneyr

4th August 2007, 16:15

hey guys i don't know what its like over the leighs vally way but its snowing here like it did last november
if ride is still on what time are you meeting at Rangiora

We would meet in Rangiora just after 9.20 ish.

Dont know about the snow. Might make a call in the morning about going. Will put a post up around 0745.

I'm pretty keen no matter what but not sure what others think.

Cheers R

Transalper

4th August 2007, 16:40

Yep, I in no matter what.
Hey maybe if there is any snow there it will be a little fun powder instead of that Hanmer ice but I don't think it will stay settled if it is snowing in Lees Valley.
The river reading today (http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Our%20Environment/Water/Rivers/RiverFlows/river-flows.html?site_no=66213&Location=N&StageFlow=W) is still extra low. I will be having another look at that in the morning but don't think it will be an issue.
Be nice if the rain is mostly if not all done by morning, forecast on NZ city (http://home.nzcity.co.nz/weather/weatherdetail.aspx?wla=5) and Stuff Weather (http://stuff.co.nz/8a15.html) look ok for tomorow so far. METVUW is down at the moment.

nigelp

4th August 2007, 16:53

I am keen as long as its not totally pissing down! I guess if theres snow there will be a fair few of us to help each other out.....

_Shrek_

4th August 2007, 17:06

its only raining so see you at the mobil Rangiora :2thumbsup

cooneyr

5th August 2007, 08:00

Weather is looking excellent for a day out. See you all at 9 at the Peg or 930 at the Mobile in Rangiora.

Cheers R

Transalper

5th August 2007, 08:17

Off to pick up a Sub for lunch then c u there.
River level has jumped a bit but only to 2.5cumecs and now dropping again by 4mm/hr. When in flood it gets up to over 100 cumecs so do not be put off. We will stop and have a good look at it before crossing or about turning. I want a photo of this level for future reference.

XF650

5th August 2007, 20:54

Awesome gravel, great scenery, top blokes & I didn't bin it.
A bloody good day.
Thanks

marks

5th August 2007, 20:58

Awesome gravel, great scenery, top blokes & I didn't bin it.
A bloody good day.
Thanks

so where are the bloody pictures....
did you take the 230?

nigelp

5th August 2007, 21:11

Awesome gravel, great scenery, top blokes & I didn't bin it.
A bloody good day.
Thanks

Ditto, apart from the comment about not binning it. Managed to do it properly once and was saved by the long arm of CooneyR a second time!

Had a awesome time, hanging out til next time!

_Shrek_

5th August 2007, 21:26

i was just lucky the duck on my windsreen kept us a float till we could stand my bike back up (nothing broken except pride):crybaby:
other than that great day and company :woohoo: lets do that again

mattsdakar

6th August 2007, 02:29

Good day all round fellas, pleasantly surprised how nice the weather was after the overnight rain, and nice crash Shrek pity I missed it
Until next time

cooneyr

6th August 2007, 08:15

The weather was awesome as was the company. Not too many offs and nothing damaged. TA managed to find an inventive place to park on the way back to Miners Road - hopefully he puts the pic up. We went along one of the river roads instead of the tracks thinking it would be easier but the flooding last year had made some interesting changes to the topography. Will let TA explain the rest.

Good to put a couple of faces to names.

Cheers guys
R

Transalper

6th August 2007, 09:57

I was waiting to see what other photos were posted first, then i'd fill in some of the gaps.
Anyone got anything decent with me in?

1 Meeting at the Belfast Tavern/The Peg.

2 Regroup by the Whiterock Lime Co entrance.

3 Regroup at the top of the first climb.

4 The first ford, is that Pevs followed by XF650 on his little bike.

5,6 nigelp, that Freewind makes a big bow wave and splash.

cooneyr

6th August 2007, 10:12

Anyone got anything decent with me in?

Yep but its on your camera :D

Cheers R

Transalper

6th August 2007, 10:25

That first ford is a deepish slow moving hole in the middle of a creek, nothing to it really so long as you ease in to it, every one made light work of it.

1 Shrek at the first ford.

2 DAS man Phil at the first ford.

3 we are all through the first ford.

4 Choices, fork left and up for the steeper, slightly more slippery and rocky path. Turned out not as bad as we remembered... or follow the main road to the right. We split and half went up, half went right.

5 down approching the big one there is this, another deepish slow moving hole. Easier than it looks 'cause there's no current.

The Okuku River, the big one. It was recorded as being up to 2.3cumecs from last weeks 0.2cumecs. Still a fairly easy cross except someone decided to cross with the current (usually a good idea) which started them off in a deeper area and made those that took that route drift across a bit. Still no big dramas.

6 cooneyr crossing.

Transalper

6th August 2007, 10:31

1 426crasher getting a wet foot, still the Okuku ford.

2 pevs with a better line.

3 Oxford lunch

4 Waimak south bank, Shrek has just picked the bike up.

5 (a bit out of order) Matsdakar - Okuku ford, making a nice line.

6 Nigelp makes it look deep. Okuku ford. (actually if it were any deeper i'd have second thoughts)

Transalper

6th August 2007, 10:36

After crossing the little bridge at Intake Rd traveling toward Christchurch things started getting interesting.

1 Matsdakar

2 it was a bit of a stick bump in the track.

3 that wasn't the direction I was traveling in. Would have been a bit messy if the back wheel hadn't fitted down there too. We came from my right side, there is no corner there.

I have more but out of time today, off to work now.

young1

6th August 2007, 11:13

Great pictures team, thanks for sharing!

scumdog

6th August 2007, 11:27

Hmm, those ford piccies brought back memories guys!

Honda XL125, a large pack on the back of the bike, a smaller one hanging over the headlight, rifle on shoulder (off tahr hunting).

Ya ain't lived until you've dropped a bike laden like that into a deepish fast flowing river (not actually even a ford) and had to 'steer-wrestle' it back upright again....

Enjoy yourselves guys, certainly looks like fun and weather seemed pretty good for it too!

NordieBoy

6th August 2007, 12:33

3 that wasn't the direction I was traveling in. Would have been a bit messy if the back wheel hadn't fitted down there too. We came from my right side, there is no corner there.

So how it the fork brace working out?

Transalper

6th August 2007, 15:49

So how it the fork brace working out?

I had a really good ride, fording on the DR is a time when I often exit in a different place to where i planned, but on this ride things just seemed to come together better.
Now maybe I finally cracked it with my technique or maybe it was the brace making itself worth the cash spent, I do not know.
It did seem that my input to the bars was being received more precisely at the wheel and maybe i was feeling better feedback, but then it may be that i was imagining it all after reading about the effects the brace should have... you know, like wishful thinking.

More test riding is needed, either way I think it's a keeper as it certainly isn't hurting the DRs handling.
Just got to sort the clearance issue... brace meeting fender, got the plan just need the time to mess with it.

On another note.. I always seem to forget to thank those who came out to play and thus made it a great day, so thanks everyone for your company.
Lees Valley is definitely one of my favourites so any time anyone wants to go again do let us know... even several weekends in a row.:niceone:

nigelp

6th August 2007, 17:24

6 Nigelp makes it look deep. Okuku ford. (actually if it were any deeper i'd have second thoughts)

I think that I would have second thoughts had it been any deeper.

On that note I am thinking of rebadging my bike from a "freewind" to a "free-willy". The way it made a decent bow wave and submarined in the water I think that it would give the real whale a run for its money!

_Shrek_

6th August 2007, 20:32

On that note I am thinking of rebadging my bike from a "freewind" to a "free-willy". The way it made a decent bow wave and submarined in the water I think that it would give the real whale a run for its money!

i wouldn't try going any deeper with out your water wings :msn-wink:

Adux

6th August 2007, 22:38

Looks like I missed an excellent day out.

Still, always next time!!

Transalper

7th August 2007, 00:14

Some more...

1 Shrek in another ford
2 Phil
3 nigelp in the one before (even part of) the Okuku.
4 Phil
5 XF650 approaching the Oxford end
6 cooneyr playing just off the side of the road.

mattsdakar

7th August 2007, 01:01

[QUOTE=Transalper;1160348]I was waiting to see what other photos were posted first, then i'd fill in some of the gaps.
Anyone got anything decent with me in?

................
Hey Carl,
Always photos of everyone else but not you eh!
Haven't checked what I got on my camera yet but pretty sure I videoed you going thru the first ford, I'll check and post if it's any good

Rgds Matt

_Shrek_

7th August 2007, 10:59

Some more...

1 Shrek in another ford
2 Phil
3 nigelp in the one before (even part of) the Okuku.
4 Phil
5 XF650 approaching the Oxford end
6 cooneyr playing just off the side of the road.

now you know why i had to lay down in that muddy puddle :love: there were to many clean water crossings

nigelp

8th August 2007, 17:56

Some more...

1 Shrek in another ford
2 Phil
3 nigelp in the one before (even part of) the Okuku.
4 Phil
5 XF650 approaching the Oxford end
6 cooneyr playing just off the side of the road.

Hey Carl, out of interest, why do you block the number plates on the bikes? Its not like we were doing anything illegal.... :innocent:

NordieBoy

8th August 2007, 18:07

Hey Carl, out of interest, why do you block the number plates on the bikes? Its not like we were doing anything illegal.... :innocent:

It's traditional.

Transalper

8th August 2007, 19:36

...why do you block the number plates on the bikes? Its not like we were doing anything illegal.... :innocent:

It's traditional.
I'll get this one...
It's a bit more about Online Safety (that's not just for the kids you know) and protecting ones privacy than tradition.
It's a bit like never using real names online which is why we have user names such as Transalper and on KB our names are in the private field only supposed to be available to people in our buddy lists.
It's the same reason we do not make email addresses using our names do we.

One should not make his or her self easily identifiable online, a lot of people do not like their faces or names posted on the web, same goes for plate numbers which can be used to track people down.
Ever heard of identity theft? It will probably never happen to you, maybe (like me) you don't have much of an identity to steal, but that does not mean you should go advertising yourself out there making it easy.
Also with the privacy laws now days it's quite probably illegal to post a picture that can identify a person or bike with out written consent as the Plains Club people have mentioned (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1142227&postcount=5) on the issue when asked about posting more Cholmondelety Run photos of which most pictures have the kids in them.