Selwyn River (Canterbury) ride on Sun 22 June

[cooneyr]

Gidday,

Been a while since I've suggested a ride and I'm seriously sick of studying (doing a masters at Uni) so whatchall on Sun arvo? Meet up will be at Rolleston BP at 1300 on Sunday and I expect the ride will take about 3-4 hours depending on speeds and how far we go.

The Selwyn river is generally loose soft stones when there is no sand about and harder stony riverbed when there is sand. Generally you are either dealing with loose rutted stones (you'll understand when you see it) or hard track that has dips and banks in it (if you into jumping it can be fun). There is potential for some water crossings but they should shallow at this time of year.

All bikes will be capable it but it can be tiring to ride. El took his XTZ 750 down there a couple of weeks ago and had a blast but did find it a bit interesting till he got in the groove of riding in the loose stones. If your unsure about riding on loose stuff then come along and use this as a learning experiance - I'm more than willing to help where I can. The reason I say this is because there is about 8 points along the 30km stretch that we can bail out of the river if it is becoming too much.

The attached pic shows the bit of the river we can ride. We will start at the south eastern end of the green line and head upstream (that way if the river crossings start to get too deep it is easy to head downstream again).

Cheers
Ryan

[Transalper]

:bash: that is exactly the opposite of what you were saying last week! You are supposed to be doing the uni thing and/or giving quality time to SWMBO.
Oh well, if you are going out to the Selwyn then it sounds like a good time to take the CRF out for a run. :woohoo:
I will just have to head back out past the entry point before I go home.

Wasn't there a geocache out there somewhere to check out too?

[cooneyr]

:bash: that is exactly the opposite of what you were saying last week! You are supposed to be doing the uni thing and/or giving quality time to SWMBO.
Oh well, if you are going out to the Selwyn then it sounds like a good time to take the CRF out for a run. :woohoo:
I will just have to head back out past the entry point before I go home.

Wasn't there a geocache out there somewhere to check out too?

Brownie points earned last week to this week I get half a day off :D

Umm Wasn't planning on going back to the start but .........

Cheers R

[Transalper]

...Umm Wasn't planning on going back to the start but .........

Cheers RYou don't have to but if I go with the CRF then obviously I will be, wether it is back down the riverbed or likely along the roads near it.
I can't think of anything interesting that I'd be missing by doing a double back instead of the other long straight flat options.

[Peril]

I shall be there,if the bike doesn't pack a sad in the meantime.

[Alpha Solo]

Sounds good, count me in (on condition I can get the day off work)

What does SWMBO mean?

[cooneyr]

Sounds good, count me in (on condition I can get the day off work)

What does SWMBO mean?

She Who Must Be Obeyed - between work, motorcycling and masters she hasn't had much of my time lately.

Cheers R

[Lugzy23]

Im keen, Ill be taking the KLX though, obviously should be alright for non- registered dirtbikes. Transalper, do you want to share a ride or a trailer? Save on gas???????

[Transalper]

....Transalper, do you want to share a ride or a trailer? Save on gas???????
Yep, sounds like a good idea.

[Lugzy23]

Roger, PM you later in the week

[cooneyr]

Looks like it could be a bit damp on Sunday. I'm still going as it is my only chance to get outside for the week. Check again closer to the time.

Cheers R

[Adux]

Only been out with you guys once before and that was quite a while ago but would like to tag along tomorrow for the ride.

Me and a mate (another Pom) will be travelling up from the Leeston side and meet you on the Selwyn at the entry point if that is OK.

What time do you reckon you will be at the Selwyn?

[Transalper]

I imagine it'd be about 1:20pm-ish. at the entry point of the river if everyone is at the Rolliston garage on time.

[Adux]

See you there at 1420 ish.

[Transalper]

Assume you meen 1320 ish... (1:20pm).

[cooneyr]

Only been out with you guys once before and that was quite a while ago but would like to tag along tomorrow for the ride.

Me and a mate (another Pom) will be travelling up from the Leeston side and meet you on the Selwyn at the entry point if that is OK.

What time do you reckon you will be at the Selwyn?

Yep will be about 1320 at the river. We are going in from Brookside and Burnaham Road Google Maps link here (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=-43.664302,172.31472&daddr=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=-43.666878,172.312918&sspn=0.015025,0.037594&ie=UTF8&ll=-43.666692,172.315879&spn=0.015025,0.037594&z=15).

Cheers R

[merv]

What's the weather like down your way boys? Its turned to crap here as expected so just as well BB#1 changed our solstice ride to yesterday.

Have fun :woohoo:

[Adux]

Yep will be about 1320 at the river. We are going in from Brookside and Burnaham Road Google Maps link here (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=-43.664302,172.31472&daddr=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=-43.666878,172.312918&sspn=0.015025,0.037594&ie=UTF8&ll=-43.666692,172.315879&spn=0.015025,0.037594&z=15).

Cheers R

Roger that! Got my 13's & 14's mixed up

[Transalper]

What's the weather like down your way boys?
It's actually looking ok, some high grey cloud cover and the potential for it to spit at us but I think it will be better after lunch then maybe get worse after tea. Not all that cold either.
Yesterday did however have a lot of blue sky.

[Transalper]

Yep the weather was good.
The ride was about what I expected of a riverbed such as the Selwyn.
Took a few photos on the way up but nothing on the way back.

#1 - Been going for about 6km and now grouped by SHW1 bridge.
#2 - Cooneyr busted gearshifter spring thingy on the end of the leaver.
#3 - Peril dug a hole.
#4 - Not the best place to park that DRZ400.
#5 - Extracting the DRZ.
#6 - 426crasher inthe background and Peril in the foreground infront of the Bealey Rd bridge near Hororata.

[Transalper]

Rest of the crew arriving at the Bealey Rd bridge and a group shot same place.
This was the turn around point where some took the road home and rest of us started back down the river.

Thanks for a nice afternoon out. Very happy to have had a ride I could take the nice and light CRF for a play on.
Cheers
TA.

[Peril]

You left out the "i" :Pokey:
Anyone doing this ride in the future,take a small,light bike with tyres that like loose deep shingle.I think my arms now have muscles I never knew exisited.

[merv]

So DRZs are very much like KTMs then huh as per CCA ride http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1546830&postcount=101

Great ride guys, better than us staying inside today.

[cooneyr]

........Anyone doing this ride in the future,take a small,light bike with tyres that like loose deep shingle.I think my arms now have muscles I never knew exisited.

I hear you on that one. My forearms know they have done some work. I'm sore from holding on while accelerating across the loose stuff (which there was plenty off). A shorter gearing would make life a lot easier.

Awesome day though - had heaps of fun.

Cheers R

[Peril]

And to add to my sore arms,I've compressed 3-4 vertebrae near the top of my spine.
Didn't notice it till I got off the bike at work this morning,it felt like I was having a heart attack with sore ribs and hard to breath.
But hooray for Sportsmed,they're sorting me out.

[Transalper]

Shit, how did that happen, never noticed you in a situation of having had a sudden stop or anything.... just with back wheel sunk in.

[cooneyr]

That doesn't sound flash Peril. Hope it is just a temporary problem. Good luck getting it sorted.

Cheers R

[Peril]

Shit, how did that happen, never noticed you in a situation of having had a sudden stop or anything.... just with back wheel sunk in.
Think it was more bum go down,back end of bike kicking up and both meeting in the middle.
Weird though,I was fine last night,felt fine this morning until I dismounted at work.

[Adux]

Despite the occasional off and the arm pump, an excellent afternoon's ride.

[brgs01]

First time out with you guys and had a great time. My confidence grew as the day whent on riding on that kind of teran is not what Iam use to so Iwas very pleased to get home in one piece. Many thanks Roland

[426crasher]

Great arvo guys. Hey Peril get well soon. Not too surprised to find you have compressed body parts after slugging it out with the XT. Hmmm why does the DR650 look alot lighter than your XT? Another attepmt at Hanmer in the snow anybody....

[Transalper]

..... Another attepmt at Hanmer in the snow anybody....If I can van in with the little bike. :niceone:

[cooneyr]

If I can van in with the little bike. :niceone:

Wimp!!!!! :rofl:

Cheers R

[Transalper]

Of course it will be me doing the laughing if I do take a little bike... while the rest of you are sweating your asses off picking up :sweatdrop and pushing your bikes.:banana:

[NordieBoy]

You'll be sweet only having to pick up and push the CRF :woohoo:

Although as I found on sunday even a 250 is a heavy bugger to push up slick clay hills :(

[Transalper]

I also have a KLX125 at my desposal. A big kids bike, 19inch front wheel etc.
Crikey 1st gear is low on that thing... not as low as a trials bike but still plenty low and light. Lacks power but then that may not be all bad on compacted snow/ice.

[NordieBoy]

Sounds like a perfect videographic/photographic platform.

That's what I love about my little XR - I really need to get it road legal :D

[ThatRMX]

Does anyone on this forum still meet up and go riding on the Selwyn? I just moved here from the states and I live right next to it and get on at the end of Rakaia Selwyn Rd, I went down it today about 5kms until it started getting water in it and was thinking it would be awesome to get a few people together and see how far down we could make it. Just an idea