Wednesday Night Ride

**SpeedMonger** · 9th January 2011, 07:08

Originally Posted by CeeJay

Well I know you young whippersnappers are just joking (I hope) but from a group perspective, we need to get everyone over the 14km as quickly and as safely as possible. The road has quite severe corrugations in places that if ridden over at any speed will cause your bike to go into resonance. Thats why the old BSAs, Trumpies etc used to literally shake themselves to bits. Since we will be quite a long way from help (medical or other), taking unnecessary risks is just plain dumb. We don't really want TV news filming one of us being choppered off to hospital, do we?

At least it will be 14km that you will be safe from getting a speeding ticket!

**CeeJay** · 9th January 2011, 07:41

Originally Posted by Peeteey

For the sake of making a plan how 'bout you lot meet CJ there at 1.30 and I'll wait for you at the other side of the hill in Governors Bay.

The Cashmere club is at 50 Colombo Street right near the base of the hill.

Map here!...

Good enough. There is some cycling event going on this weekend so I'll scoot out soon to make sure we won't get held up. Watch this space...

There's been enough banter about the gravel now - let's just do it and time how long it takes each person to get over the 14 kms without damaging themselves or their bikes.

**CeeJay** · 9th January 2011, 07:48

Originally Posted by The Hornet

At least it will be 14km that you will be safe from getting a speeding ticket!

Smart*rse mofo

**Transalper** · 9th January 2011, 08:38

Ok, I been away in the other Island for a while and only really started catching up on this thread this morning.

Checking my GPS track logs it takes my partner J on her DR650 (which she finds a bit big n heavy for her on gravel) about 36 minutes to do the 14km gravel bit from Little river back to Port Levy.

Also the bit about not touching the front brake is both good advice and bad.

The front brake will still give you the better stopping performance on gravel but you have to be more subtle, more carefully progressive with its application.... BUT however you sportbikers or anyone with touchy brakes may find you are indeed better off eliminating the risk of lock up all together by leaving it alone completely unless crashing in to something is imminent in which case use it and even lock it to dump the bike thus saving yourself maybe ?

The DR on the other hand has very tame front brakes enabling me to easily progressively apply it and feel the lock starting so as to get it stopping well yet avoid the full on lock, though if well balanced and upright the front wheel can be skidded with out issue for a bit anyway (not recommended you try it on a painted bike first time).

I'll see if I can get along but no guarantees at this stage as still in recovery mode from the NI trip

**gloplg** · 9th January 2011, 08:48

Originally Posted by Transalper

I'll see if I can get along but no guarantees at this stage as still in recovery mode from the NI trip

Thanks for the advice TA. Hope to see this afternoon.

So the plan as I understand it is to meet at BK at 1.00pm and go via the Cashmere Club for CJ. Dyers Pass, Diamond harbour, Purau, Port Levy, Pigeon Bay and ???????

See you all there.

**Transalper** · 9th January 2011, 08:55

Other stuff springs to mind....

Corrugation is hard to accelerate on so I usually don't try too hard, just cruise over it and accelerate when it smooths out and just to be annoying it is more common on uphill exits from corners. On the straighter bits if you encounter it and can get you speed up then bikes tend to float over the top making it feel smoother but make sure you give yourself enough time or space to slow down for the next bend especially if you are choosing not to use the front brake, it'll take ages to stop so experiment a bit to find out how things are reacting.

Let the bike move about, if you fight it or put your weight on the handle bars you will make it worse (same as on the race track).

On corners lean the bike in and the body out is what I was taught, like in a slow speed carpark type manoeuvring style (just remembering back to the roadsafe course a few years back, same technique).
Some corners will just about be a slow to almost stopped, turn the bike and go again experience. I still get that on the DR in some cases also.

A heap of info results on 'how to ride motorcycle on gravel roads', some good info, some bad. it's all just opinions you know.

**CeeJay** · 9th January 2011, 09:44

Great stuff TA - hope you can make it - come on, you know you want to...

I've just been over Dyers and the story with the cyclists is that they are riding up Hackthorne rd (eeeekk!!!) to where it meets Dyers and down Dyers to Cashmere. The worst that will happen is that the downhill bit will be closed for a few minutes each time the group does a circuit. They've got marshalls all over the place so it won't be a problem.

Lyttelton Harbour is like a milkpond and there's barely a zephyr of wind so it should be a fantastic afternnoons ride... bring your cameras. Water bottle might be an idea as well...

Sadly, theres no pub or cafe at Pidgeon Bay. However, the road back up to the Summit rd is great and then its a right turn and more twisties to Hilltop, where we join the main road and down the hill to Lil' River & home...

If anyone is having butterflies about the gravel bit - you needn't worry. However, no one is going to force you to do it and you'll have to ride home the same way you came...

**Gibbo89** · 9th January 2011, 10:16

Originally Posted by Peeteey

In the small chance that I won't be able to come I'll post here and txt you before hand Gibbo, I've got your number so long as it's correct here in your KB details.

However I really wanna ride so it'll take a lot to hold me back!

I got your texts last night, I replied maybe like an hour later then again about 5 mins after that. I assume you didn't get them? I'll go double check my phone but I'm sure they sent eh. (weird)

Looks like it will be a great day for a ride.

**Freespaceage** · 9th January 2011, 10:23

Looks like a fantastic day for a ride - see you all at BK at 1:00.

**Peeteey** · 9th January 2011, 11:49

Just stumbled out of bed.

Yay, see you lot soon.

So to all that might check this before leaving:

-BK at 1
and/or
-Cashmere club at 1.30
-I'll meet you in Gov Bay just at the bottom of the hill
-FUN!

**Peeteey** · 9th January 2011, 16:20

That was FUN!

What a beaut day for it too ...

Thanks all, hope the XR is ok ...

**Gibbo89** · 9th January 2011, 19:46

Yeah, as Peetey said, hope all is well with the XR apart from the bent bars.

Good ride today boys...

That gravel road was pretty easy to manage really, no tight or tricky bits you just needed to go at your own speed.