isn't 22 the best..?

[bugjuice]

Just thinking about what makes a good road, and that'd probably be something that throws everything you can think of, at you, to deal with. I can't think of anything the 22 is missing (apart from closure signs at either end so we could race it)..

It's got everything from fast sweepers to slow tight hairpins, very smooth tarmac to lumps and bumps to make your bike fly (and I have), low valley spots up to high exposed hills, even not a heap of traffic (ok, some, with tractors etc, but not heaps).. everything and anything.. And all in a good hours' ride each way.

Does this make it one of the most technical roads around?

Are there any other roads that would compete to this? Around Auckland/Hammy that is.. I know the coro loop is there, but that's a days' ride, and a trek just to get it started.
And what's in the other regions? Is it the Takas around welly? Never ridden that way before, so wouldn't know..

I just want to share my for the 22

22

[Sniper]

I love the write ups of the north Island. But I still know that on my way to work I enjoy things like that everyday, move to the South Island guys

[Riff Raff]

One of my fave rides is down Ridge road to SH22, down to Ngaruawhia, then to Huntly via west of the river, 1.5 ks on SHW1, then turn down to Te Kauwhata along to SHW2 till Maramarua, Mangatangi, Fish & Chips at the good old Kaiaua takeaways, and back via Kawakawa bay, then head over the Skyhigh Rd from Clevedon to Hunua and through the gorge back to Papakura.

And people wonder why I live in South Auckland - see what I've got on my doorstep!!!

[Motu]

There are fantastic roads all over New Zealand - but if you insist on riding a sports bikes then I'm afraid your choices are limited....you'll also see more cops than I do too.

[dss3]

You weren't riding back up to Auck's on 22 early yesterday afternoon by any chance were ya? Think I remember seeing one of 'dem ugly kawazaki 636's along there somewhere!

But yeah I luv that road too. Like you say it isn't all perfect sweeping smooth race track corners, but its all the crazy humps and bumps, dirt and tractors that keeps ya on your toes!

-daryl

[JohnBoy]

hmm...its ok. i have ridden it a couple of times but not too fussed on it.
i reckommend that you go down to wellington for a weekend with the bike. do the aka's, rimutaka, moonshine & paekakariki hill roads loop.... that is a ride and a half! everything from fast to tight corners, high spec road surface to dry creek beds with in some areas only one lane (about 3-4 meters wide).

[Quasievil]

You weren't riding back up to Auck's on 22 early yesterday afternoon by any chance were ya? Think I remember seeing one of 'dem ugly kawazaki 636's along there somewhere!

But yeah I luv that road too. Like you say it isn't all perfect sweeping smooth race track corners, but its all the crazy humps and bumps, dirt and tractors that keeps ya on your toes!

-daryl

them there words will cost you a few hundy Quasi cash mate ( you will understand the importance of Quasi cash soon my friend)

[750Y]

it's nice, but the loop is nicer 8-)

[Yarg]

have you tried the Woodcock road between Warkworth & SH 16.

[Zed]

I've ridden SH22 about a dozen times during 2004-5 and have always enjoyed it. Can't say I've had any really 'hairy' moments doing it like some on this site have? The first few times were riding at medium pace until I got more familiar with it and then it was no holds barred! Now that I know the road quite well I enjoy it much more, as you do, but last weekend with the low fog it was an entirely different road altogether for the first 20kms or so...reduced me down to a 'Nana' pace.

If you want the opinion of the most experienced rider of the famous 22 you know who to ask!

(calling Firefight)

[Lou Girardin]

have you tried the Woodcock road between Warkworth & SH 16.

Do you mean West Coast Rd? That's a magic piece of road, only 1 or 2 k's of gravel left.

[Big Dave]

hmm...its ok. i have ridden it a couple of times but not too fussed on it.
i reckommend that you go down to wellington for a weekend with the bike. do the aka's, rimutaka, moonshine & paekakariki hill roads loop.... that is a ride and a half! everything from fast to tight corners, high spec road surface to dry creek beds with in some areas only one lane (about 3-4 meters wide).

Yeah, and around Welly itself has some good bits - but that's about all you got till you get to Palmy or other side of Bulls?
Out to lake ferrry is fast and sweepy too but at least there are more than 2 roads out of Auckland.

[Yarg]

Yup that's the one. Now I know the correct name. Thanks for that. More bikes are using it now , & ya hardly notice the gravel.

[Motu]

Yup that's the one. Now I know the correct name. Thanks for that. More bikes are using it now , & ya hardly notice the gravel.

Looks like I've lost one of my favorite roads,it was an awesome road when it was all gravel,mind you so was SH16.One of my favorites is a loop from Kaipara Hills road which joins the Tauhoa rd 1 Km from the gravel,at Tauhoa I turn around and go back...the seal scares the shit outta me! Did that on loop on sunday.

[bugjuice]

You weren't riding back up to Auck's on 22 early yesterday afternoon by any chance were ya? Think I remember seeing one of 'dem ugly kawazaki 636's along there somewhere!

But yeah I luv that road too. Like you say it isn't all perfect sweeping smooth race track corners, but its all the crazy humps and bumps, dirt and tractors that keeps ya on your toes!

-daryl

yeah, was me actually (well, could have been)
Yesterday on that ride, I saw twice as many bikes on the road than any other vehicle (including an accient ambo, which I reckon could be a ghost ambo from days of old, still trawling the 22... oooooo)

I reckon it's just got a mix of every kind of eventuallity you can think of. Yeah, it's a great 'cruise' road, but each section of the road has something different in it to teach you something more about you and your bike, if you're looking for it. Like Zed says, you get used to it, but I think if you want to learn from it, then that's a good road to do it from.
From the bumps in the road etc, I learnt how much tank slap hurts my wrists for example. Or how you shouldn't stand on the pegs to lift your butt off the seat while going over bumps, braking and changing down, else you loose a nut. mmm, ouch.

I think you could cruise that road a thousand times, and not learn a thing, but what's the fun in that? Personally, as close to home as it is for me, I can't think of a more demanding technical road, unless you're cruising.. just mho