oldskool
15th January 2009, 13:44
Well I am back from "The Farm" Old Russell Rd and here's my report.
For those bikers who like to go camping and biking at the same time this place has got to be up there amongst the best you can get in NZ. Set on 1000 acres of hilly terrain it is dirt bike heaven (and horsey heaven).
I went up there with the expectation that I'd grab a tent site, stick to myself and find my own way around the traps. Also with a broken bike I was resigned to a holiday watching the kids ride their bikes. Well be prepared for a huuge welcome, I'm talking genuine open hospitality and overflowing friendliness from everyone up there.
Mike promptly found a bike for me, set us up with a perfect tent site and once we were sorted and briefed with commonsense rules took us off on a tour of the farm. Me on an old XR200R '81, which to tell you the truth handled way better than my '86 model. The views were breathtaking and he told us we were free to roam and explore everywhere.
The next day his mates from the Northshore arrived..amazingly both of which used to ride the same tracks as me in the '80's, Broken Hill, Poo Ponds etc. They were both on Yammy 250F's. So 5 of us shot off into the bush, this time I rode Mikes Husqvarna CR125. The pace was frenetic and I soon got arm pump keeping up with the big boys. Mike was riding the XR200R and rode it like a knife cutting through butter. He had no problem staying in the pack even when the seat peeled off and he just left it without stopping. (I was later told Mike won a national enduro title a few years ago which did not surprise me.) The lines they took diagonally across ruts were an eye opener for me and man could they fly over anything. I just managed to tag along following the last mans line.
Later he laughingly said I went through a baptism of fire and the pace we went at wasn't normally the pace but the boys were just keen to get out there.
The next day I rode Mikes YZ125 and I prefered that to the Husky, the previous night it had bucketed down and I found myself caught in an evil rutty place they called the stream track. The YZ just didn't have the bottom end I am used to (4 stroker) and the rear wheel just clogged with clay and slipped sideways. I finally managed to slip and slide my way back up the ravine.
On the 3rd day I rode Stuarts KDX200 and it handled really well, more bottom end than the little MX's which suited me, I rode and explored the farm with the kids that day. Another of Mikes mates from the Northshore arrived and again from the same era. Paul Taylor. This was begining to feel like an old timers reunion!
On the fourth day the Nield brothers from Hokianga turned up to teach dirt bike skills to a 'boys only' kids camp which was being run on 'The Farm'. I was fortunate enough to tag along with my son. Damon and Mitchell ride a Husky TE510 and a Husky WR300 and they ride bloody well. They taught us correct techniques on how to flat turn, berm turn, ride over holes, ride down hill and uphill, use the brakes properly and demonstrated some amazing stuff. Like riding up a sheer face that looked near impossible to do. (I am sold on electric start after that demonstration!) We then went for a trail ride and I soon found out a KDX200 limitation. We went down the same stream track I had problems with before but at least it had dried a bit. The Husky TE510 just muscled up this particularly long mean rut with an awesome snarl, The Husky WR300 just bounced up it, The CR125,YZ125, and KX85 spun and slipped up and the KDX went whump and the front forks dug into the middle of the rut. Modern bikes front forks stop at the axle where the KDX extends below it, and this was a situation where you needed as much clearance as possible.
While I was out riding my daughter would keep herself entertained with horse riding lessons and treks, my son played paintball and received bike riding lessons from Mike and we'd also take bikes out together on family rides. The bikes were parked outside our tent and the kids would wake up in the morning, breakfast, gear up, and blat off. It was unreal, We were all so 'laxed out. To sum up we had an awesome 5 days riding.
Where: 3 1/2 hours out of Auckland
Camping Cost: $12 a night (But there is talk of putting the prices up when including a bike)
BYO or pay $15 for a meal
My recommendation: Try and get Mike or one of his kids to show you the trails else you may get lost or not even find how to get to them.
I plan to go up again for a weekend in Feb, I reckon we could go up as a group.
For those bikers who like to go camping and biking at the same time this place has got to be up there amongst the best you can get in NZ. Set on 1000 acres of hilly terrain it is dirt bike heaven (and horsey heaven).
I went up there with the expectation that I'd grab a tent site, stick to myself and find my own way around the traps. Also with a broken bike I was resigned to a holiday watching the kids ride their bikes. Well be prepared for a huuge welcome, I'm talking genuine open hospitality and overflowing friendliness from everyone up there.
Mike promptly found a bike for me, set us up with a perfect tent site and once we were sorted and briefed with commonsense rules took us off on a tour of the farm. Me on an old XR200R '81, which to tell you the truth handled way better than my '86 model. The views were breathtaking and he told us we were free to roam and explore everywhere.
The next day his mates from the Northshore arrived..amazingly both of which used to ride the same tracks as me in the '80's, Broken Hill, Poo Ponds etc. They were both on Yammy 250F's. So 5 of us shot off into the bush, this time I rode Mikes Husqvarna CR125. The pace was frenetic and I soon got arm pump keeping up with the big boys. Mike was riding the XR200R and rode it like a knife cutting through butter. He had no problem staying in the pack even when the seat peeled off and he just left it without stopping. (I was later told Mike won a national enduro title a few years ago which did not surprise me.) The lines they took diagonally across ruts were an eye opener for me and man could they fly over anything. I just managed to tag along following the last mans line.
Later he laughingly said I went through a baptism of fire and the pace we went at wasn't normally the pace but the boys were just keen to get out there.
The next day I rode Mikes YZ125 and I prefered that to the Husky, the previous night it had bucketed down and I found myself caught in an evil rutty place they called the stream track. The YZ just didn't have the bottom end I am used to (4 stroker) and the rear wheel just clogged with clay and slipped sideways. I finally managed to slip and slide my way back up the ravine.
On the 3rd day I rode Stuarts KDX200 and it handled really well, more bottom end than the little MX's which suited me, I rode and explored the farm with the kids that day. Another of Mikes mates from the Northshore arrived and again from the same era. Paul Taylor. This was begining to feel like an old timers reunion!
On the fourth day the Nield brothers from Hokianga turned up to teach dirt bike skills to a 'boys only' kids camp which was being run on 'The Farm'. I was fortunate enough to tag along with my son. Damon and Mitchell ride a Husky TE510 and a Husky WR300 and they ride bloody well. They taught us correct techniques on how to flat turn, berm turn, ride over holes, ride down hill and uphill, use the brakes properly and demonstrated some amazing stuff. Like riding up a sheer face that looked near impossible to do. (I am sold on electric start after that demonstration!) We then went for a trail ride and I soon found out a KDX200 limitation. We went down the same stream track I had problems with before but at least it had dried a bit. The Husky TE510 just muscled up this particularly long mean rut with an awesome snarl, The Husky WR300 just bounced up it, The CR125,YZ125, and KX85 spun and slipped up and the KDX went whump and the front forks dug into the middle of the rut. Modern bikes front forks stop at the axle where the KDX extends below it, and this was a situation where you needed as much clearance as possible.
While I was out riding my daughter would keep herself entertained with horse riding lessons and treks, my son played paintball and received bike riding lessons from Mike and we'd also take bikes out together on family rides. The bikes were parked outside our tent and the kids would wake up in the morning, breakfast, gear up, and blat off. It was unreal, We were all so 'laxed out. To sum up we had an awesome 5 days riding.
Where: 3 1/2 hours out of Auckland
Camping Cost: $12 a night (But there is talk of putting the prices up when including a bike)
BYO or pay $15 for a meal
My recommendation: Try and get Mike or one of his kids to show you the trails else you may get lost or not even find how to get to them.
I plan to go up again for a weekend in Feb, I reckon we could go up as a group.