Wellington Wednesday Night Cruisy Summer Rides -- 2008/09

[Hitcher]

For the summer daylight saving period (from 28 September).

Rendezvous point: The Duck/Elephant Pond in Avalon Park, off Fairway Drive, Lower Hutt (map attached)

Arrive with a full tank of gas.

Assemble from 6:00pm

Depart at 6:30pm

These are informal easy-paced rides, ideal for learners and people new to Wellington to meet up and go riding.

The default ride is often over the Rimutakas to either the Tin Hut at Tauherenikau or the Red Pub in Featherston. But a final decision about destination is generally left to a group consensus prior to departure. Weather and road conditions on the Hill, combined with a Group Vibe, mean other destinations and routes are sometimes chosen.

There may be a couple of "practice" rides required prior to 28 September...

[Trudes]

Awesome!! My hours at work have changed so I finish at 6pm now, so if I get my shit together I may actually be able to make a few more of these now... bring on the daylight and the sweet sweet weather!!

[Bend-it]

Yayy!! I'm back in the country now and will try to make at least some of these rides!!

:

[Lissa]

Cool! Look forward to seeing you guys over this way (yay trudes!)

[Skunk]

I'll go if you guys are slow enough for me to keep up.

[RantyDave]

Awesome, can't wait.

[Hitcher]

I'll go if you guys are slow enough for me to keep up.

You can be the lead bike. That should solve that.

[davebullet]

Some dumb learner questions:
1. What time do you usually aim to finish?
2. What size group(s) do you travel in?
3. How much experience is needed to do the Rimutakas safely?
4. Do you travel at the slowest rider speed?

Cheerrs,
David.

[James Deuce]

1. Whenever you want.
2. Whatever you feel safe with.
3. None. "Safely" is entirely up to you. It's a road, and is somewhat over dramatised (cue safety Nazi speech from the relevant newbie intervention expert).
4. No. You travel at the speed you feel most comfortable with. People will wait for you at intersections, and we generally have a common destination.

Just turn up and have fun. Don't think too hard and it will become a weekly Summertime habit before long.

[Kinje]

Cool. Was looking forward to seeing this thread go back up with daylight savings arriving soon

Might have to start riding the motorbike to work on wednesdays so I can take off from there and perhaps get over to the rapa a bit more frequently than I have done the last six months!

[Hitcher]

4. Do you travel at the slowest rider speed?

Generally one of the more experienced riders who enjoys a nerdle will act as a sweeper, in case of breakdowns or to keep marauding car drivers away from the arse of any inexperienced riders, particularly on the Rimutakas. I like to think that being the last bike in means you've had the longest ride, which is never a bad thing.

There is a summertime Thursday Night Ride for the "quicker" members of the Wellington Kiwi Biker family. The Wednesday Night Ride has a history of being "cruisy" and very social.

Common sense and courtesy should prevail. This ride shouldn't have a lot of rules and procedures. If it does then something has gone wrong somewhere. Just turn up and enjoy!

There is often a "halfway" stop at the Rimutaka Summit, where the group can reassemble.

The "group ride" part of things loses its shape once the agreed destination is reached. People who need to get home early or who don't fancy riding the Rimutakas in the dark leave early. Those without pressing commitments may linger longer.

[Hawkeye]

Yeahhhhh!!!!! Summer must be almost here if this thread is up and running again.

Will try to make more of these this year.

[madmal64]

I'll go if you guys are slow enough for me to keep up.

I will ride slowly with ya!
Ive even cleared my Wednesday evenings for more riding.

[RantyDave]

1. What time do you usually aim to finish?
2. What size group(s) do you travel in?
3. How much experience is needed to do the Rimutakas safely?
4. Do you travel at the slowest rider speed?

1. Before it gets dark, basically. Obviously at the start of the season this is less likely to happen. Set aside at least two hours, maybe three depending on how far away you live. It can take half an hour just to leave the car park.

2. Tends to break into quite small groups quite quickly. This is actually a bit of a shame in many ways.

3. This is a motorcycle, not a ride at six flags. My point being that it's never ever ever safe and you don't have to be taller than "this" to have a go. I personally think the difficulty of the Takas is overhyped and that if your aim is to get from one side to the other then you should have no problem. Unless it's windy.

4. No. But if you make your newbieness known (being on a practically brand new VTR250 should do the job nicely) then someone will hang back with you.

Dave

[Bend-it]

Yeah, my 1st ride in the old TCWNR, I had an escort of about 4 bikes coming down the takas! one in front to show me the lines, and the other three just arsing around my arse...

One of the standout moments from KBers. The very best! :