Open road advice

[Fatt Max]

Up until now I've been very much the commuter rider but I want to take a spin up the the Corromandel over the christmas break.

I plan to go Auckland through Whitford, Clevedon, Kawakawa up to Kaiua, through to Kopo then over the range to Tairua.

Now, serious newbie to this kind of route and riding so I wondered if any of you lovely people can chuck a bit of advice a fat blokes way regarding the plans.

I promise I will have a camera with me in case I come acorss anything silly, stupid or otherwise.

Thanks as always my lovelies,

Oh, and dont forget to check out the 'Present From Fatt Max' in the general rant forum. It's free and rather seductive,,,

[Subike]

Advice for the open road?
Dont out ride your personal limits.
Keep control of the erge to catch the guy that passes you.
Eat lots of pies

[AD345]

Keep to the left

Never trust a car

Stop often to look at the scenery and remind yourself what a rare privilege it truly is to do this in Godzone

[Headbanger]

When you feel like a break,take a break.

[Trudes]

Take your time, stop often, pack for emergencies, keep your mind on the job and enjoy it!!:yes:

[blacksheep]

don't forget to keep putting go juice in:laugh:

[Fatt Max]

Take your time, stop often, pack for emergencies, keep your mind on the job and enjoy it!!:yes:

Cheers Trudes (and all of you of course),

As for the 'pack for emergencies bit', what would you reccomemend? I've seen so many different opinions on this (all good of course...apart from the blow up sheep one) but what would be the best bet. I always reckon mobile phone and cash are a goodie and a tyre repair kit, but what dya reckon?

Thanks again for your help guys, you make a fat pommie biker really happy....:niceone:

[kevfromcoro]

Hang on ..you coming down here..
i will just shift my bike and car off the road
just incase,

[raftn]

Hang on ..you coming down here..
i will just shift my bike and car off the road
just incase,

Thats kind of funny.......

[Headbanger]

Cheers Trudes (and all of you of course),

As for the 'pack for emergencies bit', what would you reccomemend? I've seen so many different opinions on this (all good of course...apart from the blow up sheep one) but what would be the best bet. I always reckon mobile phone and cash are a goodie and a tyre repair kit, but what dya reckon?

Thanks again for your help guys, you make a fat pommie biker really happy....:niceone:

The one time I took along everything I may need, I came off the bike,landed on my bag of tools, and got an almighty bruise for my troubles.

Nowadays, If it can't fit in my pocket I don't take it.


Wallet and phone.

[dpex]

There's two places you need to apply especial attention. The first is after you leave Kaiaua and head into the hills. It's a very deceptive, winding road, often with loads of crap (mud, stones, you name it) plus green stuff which grows because bugger all sun hits parts of that road.

When the sign recommends 25/20/50K's etc, for the corners, take the advice.

The Coro road, till you start ascending Tapu hill (I thinks that's what it's called) is also a very deceptive road. There's a lot of reducing radiius corners with either none or negative camber.

Worse yet. The scenery is quite spectacular, so keeping your eyes glued to the task in hand (ergo, avoiding Christmas-fevered cagers) is paramount.

If you're thinking about doing the full loop through to Tairau, be careful. Unless you've done a lot of distance riding, then you're not going to be road-fit.

Always keep in mind the missive of Kieth Code. You have ten bucks to spend each minute you ride. When you start getting sore, tired, hot, hungry, thirsty, you start spending whole dollars on the discomforts. Suddenly, you can find you have little left to spend on staying safe on the road because most of your concentration is targeted at how uncomfortable you feel.

When in doubt, rest. And if you're wearing full leathers, strip off the top at least and chill-out under a tree, while drinking buckets of water.

Hmmm. Might post a thread on the issue of dehydration.

And as someone else points out in this thread. Let the knob-jockeys go. Chances are you'll catch them up as they're being hefted into an ambulance, anyway.

Above all, enjoy. AND DO NOT FORGET to call into the Kaiaua oyster factory for a bucket of their home-made oyster soup. It truly is, oral heaven. Extra advice. Buy a french loaf at the local shopping centre first. They don't do breads at the factory. And ya need a good bread with this soup.:--))

Tell Sally (the bottle Blonde 50-something, lovely lady) Dave, on the Yami said you should call in. Her kid runs a dirt-bike, so she's a bit of a biker, by default.

[Fatt Max]

Hang on ..you coming down here..
i will just shift my bike and car off the road
just incase,

Arrhh, dont do that mate, I might just call in for a cup of tea and a mince pie. I mean, it is Christmas and eveything.....i'll bring some biccies...!

[madbikeboy]

I have some incredibly important advice. The servo at Tairua has the best pies, they always keep them just the right temperature. That's why I do the Coro loop. For the Pies.

As for the riding stuff. Not sure. I close my eyes the whole way round. Thank christ that Scoot pays attention.

[kevfromcoro]

Arrhh, dont do that mate, I might just call in for a cup of tea and a mince pie. I mean, it is Christmas and eveything.....i'll bring some biccies...!
No worries .just be a bit carefull down here
its a bit crazy this time of year
just reading your last posts. you havent been having a lot of luck lattely..
Oh well ... shit happens
PM me if you need a place to stay ..

or a bit of advice
KEV

[pritch]

Above all, enjoy. AND DO NOT FORGET to call into the Kaiaua oyster factory for a bucket of their home-made oyster soup. It truly is, oral heaven. Extra advice. Buy a french loaf at the local shopping centre first. They don't do breads at the factory. And ya need a good bread with this soup.:--))


Some good advice in that post and not least the part quoted. I have passed there quite often and was unaware of the soup. Next time...

On the Coro loop over Christmas there might be shit loads of caravans and boats on the road. Well, there was when I did it last time. Don't become impatient.

[Trudes]

Cheers Trudes (and all of you of course),

As for the 'pack for emergencies bit', what would you reccomemend? I've seen so many different opinions on this (all good of course...apart from the blow up sheep one) but what would be the best bet. I always reckon mobile phone and cash are a goodie and a tyre repair kit, but what dya reckon?

Thanks again for your help guys, you make a fat pommie biker really happy....:niceone:

No worries.:niceone:
By pack for emergencies I meant like you said, phone, cash, and a tyre repair kit is a grand idea as well as a basic tool kit for the bike. I keep a basic first aid kit under my seat, electrical tape, pocket knife, spare ear plugs and a whole lot of other shit.... I'm a Cancerian, I can't help it, it's in my nature. Also if there's any chance of rain I will pack my wet weathers to go over my leathers, I find it most distracting to be wet and cold and miles from home!!
Hope you have a great time... I love Coro, lived there when I was a teen... pick me up some Coro Gold!!!!:doobey:

[Pedrostt500]

Nah you dont need to pack the blow up sheep for this one, plenty of live ones in the padocks, and if you feel the urge...













pack some mint so you can have lamb and mint Pies.

[MsKABC]

I'd pack some garlic & wooden stakes if I were you FM - knowing your luck you'll run into a vampire. Or perhaps a silver bullet for any pesky werewolves? :)

Have a good time, you'll love Coro. It's where I rode my first miles.

[Sharry]

Depending on the size of ya tail pack, saddle bags, pack rack bag and tank bag.........................................
I always take some window cleaner and cloth for visor (you can get a teeny weeny skirty bottle from payless plastics). Some tissues for the wind factor, Brufen just in case, travel pack of wet wipey things for hands. A bottle of water, minties and your chain lube if your riding over 500 kms.

[Chooky]

Some points to note for your trip round Coro....

No1. If your coming through Kaiaua,dont bother stopping unless you want gas...Best fish and chips....?...Na.

No2. When you get back on SH25 at Waitakaruru,over the rough bailey bridge a few hundred meters down the road on the left is MooLoo cafe...Good parking...Best coffee in town....Yea.

No3.The Kopu bridge...470 meters long single lane built in 1927..If there is a que it is acceptable for bikes to go to the front...Some go up the left..hmm not too sure about that..
If you want to jump the red light make sure you can catch the traffic already on the bridge,not like the wank*r in the WRX today..We had a green to go and this **** was coming at us at 150clicks.

No4. Kopu cafe on the left..Chinaman make best steak and pepper pie in the world..Plenty parking next to shop..

No5. Why go Kopu Hik..? Most turn left and go up the Thames coast first...Slow windy road on the coast beautiful old puhutakawa trees all in flower.

No6. Dont buy gas in Thames..rip off buggers..Diesel was 10c dearer than Ngatea.[20 min away].petrol probly the same.

No7. Dont speed through the 50k areas at Tepuru and Waioumu..Cops patrol the shit out of it...Its the only place they can turn round..otherwise you ok.

No8. When you leave the coast at Wilsons bay and wind up the hill,make sure to stop for a smoke at the big stopping bay at the top of the hill....You'd be amazed at the number of bikes that stop there..

No9. Have fun.

No10. If you need a tow,give me a yell.

[fergie]

good points Chooky but you forgot an important one...
Stop at whangapoua and say hi to ferg at the store, he will be busy as hell and cant stop for too long but nice place to have a stretch.

[raftn]

When i first got back into biking, the first big ride away was to coromandel, even stayed the night! Now i do it in a day nearly every weekend. It is a great ride, but do stop and look at the scenery it is great. And of course you carn't miss the Coroglen pub.....lots of bikers stop their, na dif you get tthe chance stop at the smoke house in coromandel and buy your self some fresh smoked fish, it is great.