Canterbury Sunday Winter Rides

[Transalper]

I'm always keen for wee semi off road excursions! I think it'd be nice to explore some areas that are off the beaten track, like the Ashley Forest out near you Gareth. Must be some nice tracks up there ...

I thought the Ashley Forrest was generally all locked up but don't know for sure.
There are some roads I think run in to dead ends or locked gates I wouldn't mind going to the end for a look.
The Lees Valley kind of touches on the edge of the Ashley and the road in from Amberley to Lake Janet runs into the Ashley Forrest and is open at times but not always. That has a locked gate a bit past Lake Janet.
Again the whole topic would be better placed in the Adventure Forum where those in the know might see it.
I have a bit of free time over the next month or so but can't really afford to fill the gas tank too often in that time.

[Gareth123]

Last years Oxford trailride on youtube (here)
It's not an adventure ride, it's a proper trailride, KLR isn't really suitable but if you start watching and posting in the Adventure Forum you should be able to get some local Adventure action going.

There looks like there is a lot of mud If I went I'm assuming I'd have a fair bit of trouble.

I shall think a bit more, I'd hate to drop the thing, it weighs a ton!

[gloplg]

I hope everyone came through today's shake ok. Scary stuff!!!!!!

[BornAgainBiker]

I hope everyone came through today's shake ok. Scary stuff!!!!!!

Yep all good here, wife and kids accounted for. I was in my garage when they both hit putting together some shelfing and had to run out and hold onto the bike twice, for the fear of it falling over as the drive is a pea gravel.

[Gareth123]

...and had to run out and hold onto the bike twice, for the fear of it falling over as the drive is a pea gravel.

Glad to see you have your priorities in order

[KiwiPhoenix]

All good here, yeah first thing I checked after making sure MinxiMe was ok was the bikes! All good, thankfully!

Anyone heard from MaxF, Peeteey, Dave3362??

[Peeteey]

The Lees Valley kind of touches on the edge of the Ashley and the road in from Amberley to Lake Janet runs into the Ashley Forrest and is open at times but not always. That has a locked gate a bit past Lake Janet.

That sounds good! Have you been up the Lees Valley much? Sounds like it could be fun.
I also still haven't explored the hills above Little River! I'll get there one day.

On Sunday Transalper came round and helped me pull the back wheel off the DR and change sprockets etc. I have 2 back rims and was getting one set for the new dirt tyre (all on now with rim lock) and getting the other rim ready for the old tyre and will become the road wheel.

TA jokingly said "Are you sure you want to leave the bike jacked up like this with no back wheel?" as it was balancing on its paddock stand.
I said "No worries, the shaking seems to be dying out now, haven't had a good one for ages!"

Lo and behold!

All the bikes stayed up including the DR. Just. The left fork was only holding on to the stand by about 3mm. If it had come off that side it would have fallen on the Katana. That was my biggest fear. Whew!

All good here, yeah first thing I checked after making sure MinxiMe was ok was the bikes! All good, thankfully!

Anyone heard from MaxF, Peeteey, Dave3362??

YOU'VE heard from me, you silly bugger!

I finally got in touch with Dave a few days before the shake. I'll send him another email now ...


I was in town for yesterdays shakes. Quite different to being in bed which is where I was for the last two ...
The wee kids at school seemed to find it all very exciting!

[KiwiPhoenix]

YOU'VE heard from me, you silly bugger!

I finally got in touch with Dave a few days before the shake. I'll send him another email now ...


I was in town for yesterdays shakes. Quite different to being in bed which is where I was for the last two ...
The wee kids at school seemed to find it all very exciting!

Posted this before I heard from you!!

Glad to hear Dave is ok! How about everyone else??

[Buyasta]

All the bikes stayed up including the DR. Just. The left fork was only holding on to the stand by about 3mm. If it had come off that side it would have fallen on the Katana. That was my biggest fear. Whew!

Good to hear, given how close you are to the epicenter it really seems to stretch the realms of probability a bit that none of your bikes went over in this or the February quake, particularly if you had the DR up on a paddock stand at the time, so I'd seriously consider picking up a lotto ticket or two if I was you.

How did your guitars and basses fare?.. I've taken to keeping my guitars in slightly more earthquake-friendly positions so they can't fall and nothing can fall on them, but I've only got a pair of cheap ones, I imagine that with a more extensive collection of nicer ones your collection must be a tad more nerve-wracking.

Also I hope there was no further damage to your house?.. Had you had the rest of the brick cladding pulled down and the weatherboard put up yet, or were you still waiting on EQC/whoever?

[Transalper]

That sounds good! Have you been up the Lees Valley much? Sounds like it could be fun....

I've been there quite a few (or a lot) times, it is a nice ride with a few small 'almost challenges'. It will be a good warm up for cooneyr's CCC loop that's in the pipeline for the not to distant future.

So Lees Valley when??

[Peeteey]

Posted this before I heard from you!!

Hee hee, I figured that must have been the case but couldn't resist

Good to hear, given how close you are to the epicenter it really seems to stretch the realms of probability a bit that none of your bikes went over in this or the February quake, particularly if you had the DR up on a paddock stand at the time, so I'd seriously consider picking up a lotto ticket or two if I was you.

How did your guitars and basses fare?.. I've taken to keeping my guitars in slightly more earthquake-friendly positions so they can't fall and nothing can fall on them, but I've only got a pair of cheap ones, I imagine that with a more extensive collection of nicer ones your collection must be a tad more nerve-wracking.

Also I hope there was no further damage to your house?.. Had you had the rest of the brick cladding pulled down and the weatherboard put up yet, or were you still waiting on EQC/whoever?

I think a lotto ticket or two is a good idea tho I must remember to win this time ...
I was very, very relieved when I opened the door of the garage to see them all patiently waiting for me ...

Instruments were all fine again too, thankfully. I mainly have cheap ones too but still, can't afford to replace them! Most of them are under the bed still from the first quake, the precious ones anyhoo.

House is all good, one cracked window (two cracked occupants!) and the fireplace, which is stone, finally came down right into the cat food Luckily she was sleeping on the couch at the time ...

I've been there quite a few (or a lot) times, it is a nice ride with a few small 'almost challenges'. It will be a good warm up for cooneyr's CCC loop that's in the pipeline for the not to distant future.

So Lees Valley when??

CCC loop? Sounds interesting. If he's planning it, it'll be fun, where's it go?
As for lees valley, I'm keen for any time. Busy this Sun, maybe weekend of the 26th? Either Sat or Sun is fine with me, maybe depends on weather? Would give Gareth a good chance to stretch his legs on the KLR ...
Or should we leave it 'till after the trail ride on the 3rd? Would give us more time to put it up on the adventure thread and maybe round up a few extra troops.
Would also mean I don't have to change my rear wheel again either

[Transalper]

mmm, bit tricky... leaving it until after the Trailride would mean you have more front tyre to work with on the Trail ride and that will be important on this one.
Will keep an eye on the river level but even an in and out trip will be good.
If we wait too long the river is likely to rise or the snow may come which can make it impassable.

CCC loop is a slightly less regular ride we do, it Leaves Christchurch (the first C) goes up to Motunau then hits shingle and dirt with a short patch of downhill mud on the way to Gore Bay then out to Cheviot (the second C). Then crosses another un maintained clay road and comes out in Culverden (the third C) and down via Ram Paddock road to pass slightly inland behind Amberley and finally back on to seal road for the home stretch.
Do a search you'll find a thread or two on the ride and at least one youtube video of bits of it by ryan... (here on youtube).

[Pete88]

is there a ride this Sunday? Newish to NZ (Jan) and bikes just arrived. Any News would be good but not sure on the pass out just yet..

Pete

[KiwiPhoenix]

is there a ride this Sunday? Newish to NZ (Jan) and bikes just arrived. Any News would be good but not sure on the pass out just yet..

Pete

Welcome to KB and NZ! Where have you come from?? I hail from Scotland, been here almost 6 years!

I'm sure someone will be on later to post up something, I maybe along on Sunday depends on my ankle and whether DP is going into work, if he does, I'll come along in the car to see you all!

[Flip]

Well I am keen on tagging along on the Lees valley run but I will bring the landrover.
I have killed the side car and my other bikes drive belt is not suitable for gravel roads.