Wellington TCSMR 25 November 2007 Ride Photos Here

[merv]

Well as an alternative to getting up early and going to the sprints I said I would go on the TCSMR and any one was welcome to join me. In the end we got five in total - merv (VFR750F), bull (Aprilia Futura), ffsnz (GT650R), Hawkeye (CB500) and madmal64 (Aprilia Falco). Here's the usual bunch of photos from me and a bit of a ride story.

The weather was fantastic and we were obliged to take in one of our usual enjoyable routes, being over the Rimutakas to Featherston, down Western Lake Road, across the Barrage Bridge on the East West Access Road then on to Martinborough and Toppys Cafe for a nice lunch break.

At Toppys one of the tables already had a few others of note there including BusaJim, magicfairy, Scamp and Kerry. However bugger me being confronted with the beauty of Scamp and magicfairy I never noticed roogazza was there too until he was leaving but here he is in the second to last photo. Sorry about that Gaz I should have said hello.

As for Hawkeye, for 10 months he tells us he won't go to far because he's meant to be renovating the rental property. Mate if you paid someone to do the work and then just came riding you'd probably have rented the house by now and made some money. No wonder you are contemplating the options in that last photo.

[merv]

Its thirsty and hungry work this riding on a hot day.

Hawkeye and ffsnz dropped out after lunch leaving three of us to enjoy the afternoon. bull said he'd never been up the hillclimb road out of Gladstone, so that's where we decided to go, via the Bell tea corner and the back road to Gladstone.

[Zuki Bandit]

Cool pics Merv, looks like yiz had a great day.:niceone:

[merv]

The Aprilias needed some gas and then we were on our way, taking the usual break at the Wainuiouru Hall. Man it was hot there today so we relaxed in the small bit of shade.

Then it was off to Gladstone pub for some cold soft drink because bull said he'd never been there before either so now he's on his bigger bike he's losing his virginity very quickly.

Plenty of bikes there too besides our three.

[merv]

Cool pics Merv, looks like yiz had a great day.:niceone:

Yeah perfect biking weather, I presume the sprints went well too.

We had a quick stop at the top of the hill on the way home and then I made it back to my house around 4pm.

Thanks for your company today guys, that was quite a nice crusiy Sunday ride and I'd recommend them to anyone and as I don't get to the Wednesday nights I will still be out occasionally on Sundays to get my fix so I'll keep an eye on the TCSMR thread.

[merv]

Here's the GPS track of the ride for you bull so you can see where you went. Sorry Google Earth Maps are pretty crappy for Wairarapa and the greens blend a bit.

I've added the track directly off my GPS topo map too as a comparison.

[bull]

great Photos Merv and an awesome ride to boot.

This may seem very vain but i love the photo of me coming in to the summit (photo 2 in the last set) ive had to set it as my profile piccy.

Finally i dont look like im riding a pocket bike when im on the Aprilia, the Hyo seems so small in comparison.

Cheers fullas for the ride it was nice to get the Aprilia out and stretch its legs, and to visit the places i had only read about on here.

[merv]

great Photos Merv and an awesome ride to boot.

This may seem very vain but i love the photo of me coming in to the summit (photo 2 in the last set) ive had to set it as my profile piccy.

Finally i dont look like im riding a pocket bike when im on the Aprilia, the Hyo seems so small in comparison.

Cheers fullas for the ride it was nice to get the Aprilia out and stretch its legs, and to visit the places i had only read about on here.

Glad to be there with you and yeah you look a good fit on that bike. Shame BuckBuck wasn't with us to see how you've progressed onto the 1000.

[merv]

Just seen Jimmy boy on the TV1 weather and he said Masterton was 29 deg today - that was a nice day for biking and may there be many more.

We are lucky to have the 'rapa roads to cruise and of course :Police: was out there today. I had to follow him (that one with the SLOWDN number plate - LB knows him I think - see 2004 pic here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1214&d=1078635949, but he's got the nice new Commodore now) nicely from Martinborough to half way back to Featherston where he stopped, no doubt to catch winos in their BMW cars or Porsche SUVs or whatever Finn's mates drive these days.

[madmal64]

It was a bloody brilliant day out. Perfect weather and great company. I really enjoy these type of rides.
The route the Merv lead us through today is one of my favorite shortish one day rides. It takes in a bit of everything. Some tightish twistys, lots of wonderful sweeping corners, long straights and of course fantastic country views.
Great to see Bulls new ride and nice to have another Aprilia in the Welly KB bunch. The Futura looks bloody good!
The pace was steady and definetly not race pace so it made for a very enjoyable day out.
Bull mentioned that he found the pace quick but coming off a 250cc to 1000cc means the pace would probably be a little higher.
Great pics as per usual Merv & another great write up.
Will have to do it again!

[merv]

One thing that stood out was with the heat the hillclimb road on its lower slopes was suffering badly from melted tar so we certainly weren't doing any heroics into the first few corners going up there but from about half way up it was fine. I guess that's why its a good idea to be having the straight road sprints at Carterton at this time of the year.

[Drum]

I see Movember is going well for you Mal.

Gutted I couldn't join yous fullas.

[merv]

Gutted I couldn't join yous fullas.

Wheres were yous?

[madmal64]

I see Movember is going well for you Mal.

Gutted I couldn't join yous fullas.

Yeah..... roll on December. Ive got $500 raised for the cause and I cant wait to get rid of it!
The wife & kids think it suits me though.

[bull]

speaking of money - how good was my $5 kids meal at Toppy's, best $5 ive ever spent there and bloody good feed too, lovely ham and cheese toastie and side of fries with tom sauce.

Wonder if theyll let me do that order again.

[merv]

Man that made my pancakes at $14 look downright expensive.

[Kinje]

One thing that stood out was with the heat the hillclimb road on its lower slopes was suffering badly from melted tar so we certainly weren't doing any heroics into the first few corners going up there but from about half way up it was fine. I guess that's why its a good idea to be having the straight road sprints at Carterton at this time of the year.

I noticed that too a couple of weekends ago when I popped up there for a play. Took it pretty easy on the lower slopes, but came right as you went further up. Certainly wouldn't want to be racing on it tho :sick: