Before leaving home I spent sometime thinking of today, being the shortest day of the year - this struck a chord with me, and in view of the dreadful accidents these past 12 months involving motorcycles - and cars, as well as the recent truck and bicycle rider fatally on Thursday, to me it was ironic too.

I wrote to the District Police Commander earlier this month advising that a 'general public social motorcycle ride' was planned for the winter solstice weekend. I initiated the post in the calendar and forum and this morning prepared the following 'few words':


The internet can be like a highway with many many users – and to illustrate this point today’s Winter Solstice Ride, posted on the Kiwibiker site, brings together people whom have an interest in motorcycle riding.

Users of the internet and our roads and highways come from from all walks of life, chances are you can form a small group of 5 to 8 people here today and generally each of us would know very little about the other person. And, on the road it is much the same thing we know nothing about the other road user and what he or she may do.

Early this month I was in contact with the District Police Commander and seeing as we are road users coming together – some for the first time, I requested the presence of a NZ Police Officer to spend a few minutes to talk to us.

I would like to introduce:____________________________

____________________________

And in so doing I want to express our condolences in the sad and tragic loss of Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald

The ride today was excellent, a small group of seven - being an optimum small group ride size (had there been more, or many more, then I would have recommended staggered group departures).

One of the comments that came out today, regarding the police public relations stopping at Rimutex Upper Hutt and Mobil Masterton: "You see the same person in a different light, you are not receiving a ticket." Moreover however, my intention in requesting a police public relations involvement was to create a theme, and I believe that such involvement does not need elaborating suffice to say it is positive and reinforcing.

The winter solstice being the shortest day brought to mind for me that for all those that ride, the shortest day should not mean a short life. Therein remains the theme of the Winter Solstice Ride.


Heads up and Enjoy

Arrived at the Civic Square in my riding gear and reporter Emma Jollap [sic] from TV3 asked the digger carrying the Aussie flag and me for interviews.

In the news item last night there we were in two very brief commentary clips:http://www.tv3.co.nz/Video/Thousands...4/Default.aspx

1969 seems many moons ago, but yesterday listening to the dates (KIA) of each of thirty seven Kiwi servicemen I could not help but reflect where I was that year: Perth, Sydney, Sea, Sunda Strait (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:S...ait_map_v3.png) , then off Singapore, then into South Vietnam to unload military equipment and disembark numerous soldiers from a Royal Australian Regiment that joined the ship in Brisbane, then embark numerous more from a returning Royal Australian Regiment shipping them back to Fremantle and Port Adelaide. Listening to the dates took us back there immediately....Lest We Forget.

For Sunday 22 June 2008

Elapsed Timeframe including stops and Lunch - 11am to 4.30pm:

Caltex Rimutex Upper Hutt – Carterton – Masterton – Mauriceville – Masterton – Gladstone – Carterton – Caltex Rimutex Upper Hutt.

Distance 210km

Gathering points Carterton and Masterton

Lunch – Gladstone Approximately 2.15pm

Caltex Rimutex SH2 Upper Hutt:
10.45 am for 11.00am departure.

Ride to Carterton gathering point at Wild Oats Cafe then onto Mobil Service Station Masterton (north end of town through large roundabout SH2)

Masterton
12.30 for 12.45 departure.
Depending on numbers attending I suggest we then leave in staggered groups [senior, then intermediate/novice] for the main loop circuit from Masterton:


Masterton – Mauriceville – Masterton Loop then directly to Gladstone

[On Friday 30 May I rode this journey, the weather was superb, brisk but bright and sunny. The ride out from Masterton was along SH52, that is the road to Alfredton, and approximately half way to Alfredton I turned left onto Dreyers Rock Rd which leads back across to Mauriceville (and numerous railway crossings) and joins SH2 south to Masterton. Generally the road is open view however does close up to tighter corners in the shadows with extra caution for wet and slippery surfaces reducing speed to 30kph in places.]

I stopped in at the Gladstone Hotel just around 2pm and spoke to Sara there and alerted her that there is a ride on Sunday 22 June. I said to her I should be able to give her an indication of numbers for lunch later that afternoon and approximate arrival time, before we set off from Masterton on the loop circuit. At the Mobil Service Station I will ask for a show of hands from those wanting a meal and phone this through. Sara has taken a diary booking “subject to fine riding weather” and she says that two o’clock onwards should be okay as the main lunch gathering will be finishing and we could expect seating for up to 25 inside, and for the hearty souls plenty of room outside.]

On the actual riding day 22nd June allowing for a meal break in Gladstone, I would expect the ride back over the hill to Upper Hutt finishing at somewhere between 4pm – 4.30pm. Of course after lunch the ride has concluded and you may want to ride home via Martinborough perhaps.

I did this ride on Friday between 11am to 3pm comfortably with two 15 minute rest stops.

Some of you will note that I have kept the Eketahuna/Alfredton and Water Tower sections on the map [see link below] for those wanting a longer ride. I have also contacted Elle33f and for those of you arriving back in Carterton much later, then Elle and Chris may open up earlier that Sunday for pizza and you can go next door to eat. Elle and I will touch base before the ride with an update for you about pizzas.


Here is the link to this years calendar to put down your name if you are interested in attending:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/ca...&day=2008-6-22

Here is a map with several routes:

http://www.quikmaps.com/show/67617


Here is the link back to last years ride:
June 2007 - Wellington Wairarapa Winter Solstice Ride Photos here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=52422


Heads Up and Enjoy

Thanks to the Kendogs referral to PJSParts
the Rizoma Mirrors and Adapters, as well as the Grab Rail Covers arrived from Italy via Kentucky within the week.

Took a ride down the duckpond, taking two hex-keys with me, parked up with Uncle B's seat in the mirrors and using the keys adjusted the mirrors.

Charlie Bravo Nine Zero Zero - Hornet will be riding the Wairarapa this winter.

Heads Up and Enjoy

Good stuff, BB - always good to have reminders about safety.
And I am impressed by the amount of km's you have put on your bike!

Yesterday a bikie friend came over and we watched about half dozen crash videos (YouTube, etc) and that sobered us up quickly! In each case they were simply going too fast so that the "12 second horizon ahead" and other safety factors were meaningless.

As far as I am concerned, the more I reminders I get about safety, the better.

In the last couple of weeks my cornering skills have improved greatly. I worked on it by going up to the Rimatuka summit three times, and various other rides in the Wairarapa including one today to Castlepoint on a group ride. I found several good articles on the internet about cornering, printed and read them, then went out to do as in the articles. Riding in a group has helped me quite a bit.

The other thing I have managed to cope with is riding in the wind. Holy crappola its been very WINDY recently! Trying to manage a tight corner with a sudden side gust of wind makes it all interesting, but I found total concentration was the key. Battling the wind on the Rimatukas yesterday and today to Castlepoint has left me knackered but also with a sense of accomplishment.

Wow where do I start.

What I learned this summer.

a) 600cc supersports are farkin quick. Seriously, going for an inline-four thou after a 250 is suicide (and I'm 29 and responsible - well kinda).

b) One trackday is worth 1000km on the road. You learn so much more about cornering and braking in such a short space of time. Not for the beginner but once you're pretty confident on the road it's the next logical step.

c) You can never get complacent. Every now and again I find myself taking risks that I normally wouldn't. You have to spot it happening and dial it back a notch.

d) Actually more like part 2 of c. Bad situations develop so much quicker on a full sized bike. Yes that power and handling can help but they can also get you in teh shite real quick.

e) High beam on when splitting make a world of difference. Try it and be amazed.

I'm sure there's more but I got other threads to needle :Pokey:

Nice one Buckbuck, reminding all and sundry about the transitions of the different seasons of motorcycling! :yes:

Always a good time to ride a bike, riding through all weathers and night helps the skills and the confidence no end! :scooter: Or.. is that just me? :scratch:

WTF?

The only bad time to get a bike is later.

Finally today was spent in the carpark revising - and though I was keen to go and practise, it was one of those days when I didn't feel at one with the bike, so cut it short after 15-20minutes and returned home. A case of listening to yourself and in my case perhaps it was a full week of riding, and though not too far overall, it was time to cut it short and go home. I hope there is a message there.

You know when you listen to that little voice inside of you: like while I was polishing the bike, I thought to myself 'this is a damn good bike why do you want to let it go....?'

The little voice tells me, 'that the bike has got more weight and power than I need.' Well I know that type of attitude and opinion will probably stir the hornets nest, but don't get me wrong the bike is a real beauty, however I am convinced that to look for something else is probably the right thing for me, for me, to do leading into winter.

Heads Up and Enjoy