Coleridge - Sunday 27th

[XF650]

Not that we actually need an excuse for a ride, but "Homer" has bought a DR650 that needs christening. So anyone keen to join us?
An option is to meet @ Rakaia Gorge Bridge late morning. This just happens to coincide with upstream leg of jet boat race.
Then up gravel zigzag to Terrace Downs for lunch / coffee - your chance to mingle with the rich & famous.
From there ride up the top side of the Lake (Harper Rd, all gravel) to the Wilberforce River & Canal.
All very weather dependant at this time of year but any excuse for a ride in the high country.
If interested ping me a message.

[NordieBoy]

your chance to mingle with the rich & famous.
Just 'cause you got a shot of your "good side" in KiwiRider :D

[cooneyr]

Just 'cause you got a shot of your "good side" in KiwiRider :D

Man if that is the good side I'd hate to see the bad side :bleh:

Love to go riding XF but need a bike, need time .....

Have a good one. Check out the river while your there re a loop of Lake Coleridge.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

...So anyone keen to join us?
An option is to meet @ Rakaia Gorge Bridge late morning. ...

I'm interested, I would probably ride up one bank of the Waimak to get there... or at least jump on the dirt at the Intake Road again.
I'd be taking my own lunch, much cheaper than the Terrace Downs menu I suspect.

[XF650]

I reckon we might see a bit of the white stuff on Sunday. I'v just come through Porters Pass tonight & it was down right treacherous (new tyres on the Ranger have now paid for themselves). Then struck driving snow again near Mt Hutt Station, which might explain why a snow plough truck was waiting back at the Rakaia Gorge Bridge.
Transalper - can you bring enough lunch to feed all of us?

[nigelp]

I think I could be a starter - what time you thing you will stop for lunch? I am coming back from Oamaru on Sunday so can just adjust my trip as needed.

[Transalper]

I reckon we might see a bit of the white stuff on Sunday. .....
Transalper - can you bring enough lunch to feed all of us?
Um, no to the second bit, I'll get me a Subway again most likely.

For the first bit about snow, maybe I should stick em knobs on again for this trip... oh the effort :shutup:.
I'll stay tuned for developments.

[homer]

lets just hope its not a cold wet crap day .
ment to be wet !
but itll be good if can get out .

[El scooto]

I'm keen. Don't worry about the weather, that's what jackets and over trou are for!!!

[Peril]

Would be keen on an outing,but really need to get my rear shock rebuilt before I attempt anymore off road rides.
Anything after August and I'll be there :2thumbsup

[nigelp]

For the first bit about snow, maybe I should stick em knobs on again for this trip... oh the effort :shutup:.
I'll stay tuned for developments.

Knobs are overrated - will stick with my semi slicks as more fun! :bash:

[XF650]

I'v spoken to a couple of run holders up Coleridge way & the road is fine.
However we won't be attempting the loop to Algidus via the Wilberforce riverbed because there's a hunting competition on at the moment & at least 3 deer were shot in that area late yesterday.
So we will probably turn back at the canal intake but there's other interesting side tracks off Harper Rd if we have time & assuming the weather behaves.

Still looking to meet at the Gorge Bridge at 11am, small lay-by on north side, opposite the gravel zig zag.
My ph: 0274 325 883

[timg]

If it's a day like to day I'll be along. :woohoo: If the day is crap I'll pass as I'm trying to shake off a cold. :sick::crybaby::whocares: I'll be on the Hobbit's lowered CRF230 to see how it handles more than a commute to work :scooter: so I'll be slow - it cruises at 100kph max. Figure if I fuel up at Hororata I'll have enough to get back to Darfield comfortably - a bit different to the 350km range of the Transalp. See ya'll tomorrow. :ride:

[Transalper]

I think i'll be out, spent the gas money on other (new and currently exciting for me) interests (RC Helicoptors) today... oh the drama

[XF650]

I think i'll be out, spent the gas money on other (new and currently exciting for me) interests (RC Helicoptors) today... oh the drama

Fitted a camera to the new toy yet?

[timg]

I think i'll be out, spent the gas money on other (new and currently exciting for me) interests (RC Helicoptors) today... oh the drama

Boys & their bloody toys!! :shutup:

[Transalper]

Fitted a camera to the new toy yet?:laugh:
Their only baby electric helis, would probably lift the origon self contained cameras but nothing I currently own is small and especially crash proof enough for that. Be cool though.:niceone:

Have a good one those of you who go :ride:

[El scooto]

Won't be joining you fella's. Other commitments have to be attended first. The weekends just aren't long enough! Enjoy

[cooneyr]

Won't be joining you fella's. Other commitments have to be attended first. The weekends just aren't long enough! Enjoy

:spanking: you have a late night again? Other commitments involve getting over lots of :drinknsin:drinkup::apint: and watching the pathetic rugby?

Or is it much more benign in that your laying again :shifty:

Cheers R

[XF650]

Left my camera at home so will try to describe the ride in words:
By the time Timg (on his wifes CRF230L). NigelP (Freewind) & I (Freewind) had finished our lunch @ Terrace Downs the drizzle had cleared. We then headed up to the turn off at Lake Coleridge Station.
If you like riding gravel then the Harper Road is a must - a mix of fast sweepers, straights, hills & nicely cambered corners. The road base was damp but not too greasey - perfect. And all the while surrounded by the vistas of the high country, with views of Lake Coleridge plus a couple of smaller lakes right next to the road. Most of this road is through Ryton Station where we stopped for a yarn with some fisherman who reported good catches - the lakes were all like glass.
All too soon we arrived at the hut settlement at the head of Lake Coleridge. From there we followed the Canal up to the Wilberforce River diversion.
On our way back we rode up the Harper River diversion canal.
As you can guess, the two rivers are diverted into Lake Coleridge then fed through a hydro power station back into the Rakaia River - all to run the coffee machines up north I suppose.
So in the end a great day's ride. Looking forward to next time when we do the complete loop & hook up with the Mt Algidus road.

[nigelp]

Left my camera at home so will try to describe the ride in words:
By the time Timg (on his wifes CRF230L). NigelP (Freewind) & I (Freewind) had finished our lunch @ Terrace Downs the drizzle had cleared. We then headed up to the turn off at Lake Coleridge Station.
If you like riding gravel then the Harper Road is a must - a mix of fast sweepers, straights, hills & nicely cambered corners. The road base was damp but not too greasey - perfect. And all the while surrounded by the vistas of the high country, with views of Lake Coleridge plus a couple of smaller lakes right next to the road. Most of this road is through Ryton Station where we stopped for a yarn with some fisherman who reported good catches - the lakes were all like glass.
All too soon we arrived at the hut settlement at the head of Lake Coleridge. From there we followed the Canal up to the Wilberforce River diversion.
On our way back we rode up the Harper River diversion canal.
As you can guess, the two rivers are diverted into Lake Coleridge then fed through a hydro power station back into the Rakaia River - all to run the coffee machines up north I suppose.
So in the end a great day's ride. Looking forward to next time when we do the complete loop & hook up with the Mt Algidus road.

Well said, cheers for the ride! All we need to do is find a turbo small enough for the CRF and the road sections will be a breeze!

[homer]

sorry didnt make it .....next time fellas
sounds really cool . Yep those roads are great 80 k 110 k sweepers are great corners.

[XF650]

From the Wilberforce Canal we rode a track along the flood protection stop bank, that looked to follow the river downstream. Before the bluffs the river has scoured out the track leaving a 6ft drop. However the track still blends in with the river bed behind it. In certain light or going too fast, this route could be quite painful.

[nigelp]

From the Wilberforce Canal we rode a track along the flood protection stop bank, that looked to follow the river downstream. Before the bluffs the river has scoured out the track leaving a 6ft drop. However the track still blends in with the river bed behind it. In certain light or going too fast, this route could be quite painful.

I dont know why Timg didnt try and jump the gap anyway...wasnt his bike he was riding anyway. I guess he wont be allowed out for a while riding look at the state the bike was in when he got home!

[helenoftroy]

Left my camera at home so will try to describe the ride in words:
By the time Timg (on his wifes CRF230L). NigelP (Freewind) & I (Freewind) had finished our lunch @ Terrace Downs the drizzle had cleared. We then headed up to the turn off at Lake Coleridge Station.
If you like riding gravel then the Harper Road is a must - a mix of fast sweepers, straights, hills & nicely cambered corners. The road base was damp but not too greasey - perfect. And all the while surrounded by the vistas of the high country, with views of Lake Coleridge plus a couple of smaller lakes right next to the road. Most of this road is through Ryton Station where we stopped for a yarn with some fisherman who reported good catches - the lakes were all like glass.
All too soon we arrived at the hut settlement at the head of Lake Coleridge. From there we followed the Canal up to the Wilberforce River diversion.
On our way back we rode up the Harper River diversion canal.
As you can guess, the two rivers are diverted into Lake Coleridge then fed through a hydro power station back into the Rakaia River - all to run the coffee machines up north I suppose.
So in the end a great day's ride. Looking forward to next time when we do the complete loop & hook up with the Mt Algidus road.
Sounds like a good day was had......So would love to come next time:clap:
Have been up to the top on the lake on the old R100GS and it certainly is a stunning ride:devil2:

I dont know why Timg didnt try and jump the gap anyway...wasnt his bike he was riding anyway. I guess he wont be allowed out for a while riding look at the state the bike was in when he got home!
:clap:Slightly grubby was it Tim??:devil2:

[timg]

So in the end a great day's ride. Looking forward to next time when we do the complete loop & hook up with the Mt Algidus road.

Yup, a great day out. Weather just got better and better the further we went :niceone:

This was the first real outing with the Hobbits bike. Until now it's just been used for commuting and a couple of blats over Dyers Pass/Summit Road which it has handled well and been able to run at 100kmh reasonably comfortably and topping out at around 118kmh with a bit of a wind up. However on Sunday I was geared up with wet weather gear = increased wind resistance I guess heading inland with a bit of a southerly breeze/side wind and the wee bike struggled to get to and maintain 100kmh which does not bode well for it being used as a wee adventure bike for the Hobbit. On the way back heading down hill across the plains it was able to pull 100 no problem. Looks like we will have to look at buying a bit of upper end grunt - exhaust, jetting & airbox mods and see how it goes.


Sounds like a good day was had......So would love to come next time:clap:
Have been up to the top on the lake on the old R100GS and it certainly is a stunning ride:devil2:

:clap:Slightly grubby was it Tim??:devil2:

Not my bike, I'll clean it just as many times as Debbie's cleaned the Transalp. :whistle:

Pix;
1. See there is a bit of blue sky!
2. Always seem to be able to get a shoot of a zooki gettin fixed :bleh:
3. Grubby wee bike

[The Mistress]

Mmm looks and sounds good fellas,
I'm feelin pretty wistful,... got me heated grips on, but just road tyres for the winter, what a wuss...I'll crawl out from my rock when I've finished hibernating (and marking essays)...
Keep those stories coming, it could be sooner than expected.

[marks]

Left my camera at home

some things are unforgivable

2 foulwinds - that must some kind of record?

glad you all had a great/safe ride