Northern Gravel Adventure Riding Club

[offrd]

Yeah very nice pix!

[Waihou Thumper]

Resize them pictures, FAST!!

[suzieq]

Nice pics (while they last)...

Thanks I have more but am on limited inet whilst we are on holidays

I have more looking from the top of Tukino down back into Waiouru


Will post more online tomorrow

Was an excellent day exploring Tukino :

[suzieq]

Resize them pictures, FAST!!

Thanks will get onto it later this afternoon


Sue D I have more of Ngaruhoe etc and they are great

[offrd]

You need to re-size them to under 100kb or put them in as attachments not embedded or they will be removed.....

The moderators are at war....

[@ndy]

Hi all !
Just bought my first adventure bike (DR 650 '90) and loving it !
I come from small engine, sport type bikes tho so I'll be keen to learn from riders with more experience and meet for rides.
Do you think my bike (older thumper, kind of heavy and slow but solid) would be suitable for the type of riding you guys do?
About me... I can ride but like to take it slow (on the road) and enjoy the NZ scenery, not much of a racer

Cheers,
Andy.

[suzieq]

Hi all !
Just bought my first adventure bike (DR 650 '90) and loving it !
I come from small engine, sport type bikes tho so I'll be keen to learn from riders with more experience and meet for rides.
Do you think my bike (older thumper, kind of heavy and slow but solid) would be suitable for the type of riding you guys do?
About me... I can ride but like to take it slow (on the road) and enjoy the NZ scenery, not much of a racer

Cheers,
Andy.

Hi Andy I am also new to adventure riding and yes we have very fast along for our rides but then we also have the NEW people like myself (keeping it polite) NEW excellent term but we will be upskilling as we go along We all had to start someplace So welcome onboard the freedom express Riding amongst the rocks as my Reporoa friends terms it SIMPLY DIVINE I will have a new calendar of rides which will also be posted under the Calendar section here on K Biker site also. Our new club we will look to provide something a little different for the upcoming New Year. Always and forever on the hunt for interesting places to explore. I have a BIG bike at home but this holidays my husband is taking time out to teach me some skills over varying terrain. All new to me. Riding a flat gravel road is quite different to scaling it on narrow tracks thru big rocks with traction on the downhill sections. This was a first for me, I found it easy to get up the hilll Gas To The Max but going down again was tough. The bike skidded the whole way down, but great, I made it. (Basically the bike was PARKED UP on the side on BIG ROCK downhill by JIM) and i was made to ride it or should i say skidddd it down the hill. The small XT perfect for me to be learning these skills. Your DR will be valuable - you will have legs on the open road sections to get to these interesting places and good choice for varying terrain also.

[suzieq]

Hi all !
Just bought my first adventure bike (DR 650 '90) and loving it !
I come from small engine, sport type bikes tho so I'll be keen to learn from riders with more experience and meet for rides.
Do you think my bike (older thumper, kind of heavy and slow but solid) would be suitable for the type of riding you guys do?
About me... I can ride but like to take it slow (on the road) and enjoy the NZ scenery, not much of a racer

Cheers,
Andy.

(DR PERFECT) for being "OUT AMONGST THE ROCKS" FAVOURITE QUOTE FROM MY REPOROA FARMING FRIEND

[Shewolf]

good on ya, it can scare the stuffing out of you alright - keep at it

Riding a flat gravel road is quite different to scaling it on narrow tracks thru big rocks with traction on the downhill sections. This was a first for me, I found it easy to get up the hilll Gas To The Max but going down again was tough. The bike skidded the whole way down, but great, I made it.

[suzieq]

Thanks

Jim parked the XT up as I ws unsure I could do it AN iminent OFFF seemed to be the ONLY way down for me but I was made to ride it DOWN Jim told me to bring a CAN DO ATTITUDE WITH ME on this ride, so decided I HAD BEEN TOLD. It is always hard when someone who has many skills attempts to impart those skills to a new person, The trail that takes you up the Tukino ski field is hard packed pumice one moment and then turns to thick and deeep stuff the next minute. I was trying to put the gas on so to head out of the track in some form of decent time, but hit soft thick pumice and nearly ended up over the side of the track when i hit that at speed. Was tough. But then put the gas on again and it made it easier for the small bike to plough thru it. They also have big thick rock chunks embedded into the hard packed surface. Tough on tyres also. Going up one small part was strewn with the big rolling round stones hard going, Jim was actually surprised how far up I had made it??? Did not even stop to think about the downhill process. I could have ridden my big bike over 90% of this ride. Just a few more skills have been added to my 'skill bag' and to say I will do it alll again. Simply awsome, always looking for the next challenge. This was my first stream crossing also. I was also made to do this several times to make the most of the opportunity. Another lot of skills to learn. Following the LINE of the bike in front, yes I knew about that one, standing on the foot pegs was easier, but have been told can end up IN THE STREAM just as easy. Was excellent. We will be riding the wash outs from the MMMMM ride also next couple days and also 42nd traverse. I have more pics to post up of Tukino and looking down from the top. Have to make the most of the very kind XT250 whilst here on holidays. Then to transfer my new skills back to BIG bike. May be looking at the new SERTAO in the next couple months. With that 21" front wheel to cut thru it and also more suited for me (LEGS NEEDED) on open road sections. We travelled many km's of open roading to get to our ride and the XT actually only managed 180kms. Yes I was riding as fast as the boys (thats all I will say on that one) so she ran out and i had a car tooo close behind me so had to pulll off the highway to flick the RESERVE switch. Just made it back to Turangi to gas her up again. Those big hills on open road sections take it out of the small bike.

[suzieq]

http://www.chrisbirch.co.nz/content/scrutineering-done

[hellokitty]

Hi all !
Just bought my first adventure bike (DR 650 '90) and loving it !
I come from small engine, sport type bikes tho so I'll be keen to learn from riders with more experience and meet for rides.
Do you think my bike (older thumper, kind of heavy and slow but solid) would be suitable for the type of riding you guys do?
About me... I can ride but like to take it slow (on the road) and enjoy the NZ scenery, not much of a racer

Cheers,
Andy.

Me too! Santa brought me a wee BMW F650 for Xmas and as I am used to a Harley, I am finding the change rather hilarious, but would love to get some training and rides in!

Oh Andy = are you on facebook? Cos the Aukland Gravel Riders are on there and it could be an easy way to learn about rides = I know I will be keeping any eye out!

[offrd]

Oh cool! Some new riders!

Welcome along!

I may tee up to go to kimmys soon for a ride if anyone is keen, will be after the 4th Jan some time after my kids have gone home.

I can show you how to fall off! im perfecting it.....

[suzieq]

will confirm date but maybe third sun in jan we will do puhoi gravel road ride


meet up will be bp kumeu which is on sh16 9am

as many gravel roads as we can get thru out to Cider Shed


Feb 17/18th Baylys Beach/Poutu and last weekend Feb official gravel/adventure riding training


Details posted after hols

Sue D

[suzieq]

On the mng BEFORE the big rains I was looking to make the most of the day before being stuck inside for these two days of torrential rain we have had down here at Taupo. So left home 6am and went on the hunt for more tracks to do whilst down here.

All pics have been uploaded to a photo manager to reduce sizing

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Riding DOWNHILL I noticed a track was running to the side of those big hills with a stream running along the side also. I had never thought to venture thru any of those side roads. Normally I ride THRU Hatepe and would not have noticed this.


Turning into the side road nice hard packed pumice road led for many kms along the riverbanks. Lovely.

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Concrete tower - the water pipeline runs for many kms thru the bush

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The end of the road and to me was well worth the ride. There is also another road running higher up and I think the XT will make it up there. Next trip.

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Lovely

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Reminded me of The Sounds

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