Tussock Buster 2012

[thecharmed01]

I managed to run dry about 5kms from the camp, conveniently right beside an army guy on a 200exc as well, he just let me help myself to his tank, best service I've ever seen!

We wussed out on sunday as it was raining when we got to the campground so opted for coffee and breakfast on the way home instead.

Good ride though, I'm still sore all over.

The army guys were awesome weren't they?
We've always had really good encounters with them, always super friendly, helpful to the end and very patient.
Had one following us closing off the trail and I felt bad as I'd slowed right down after the crash I hit my head on but he was really patient, just followed along behind us and made sure we made it back to camp ok.

Sunday was great riding, I'm so sore today but it was totally worth it!
We had a cruisy morning. Got out of bed and it was raining, so we took our time packing up, breakfasting at the lodge and mucking around. By the time we rolled into Waiouru it was sunny so we hit the trails.
Didn't do any of the big loops but still had fun.

I am a bit disappointed I didn't get to do Snipers this year, I did Broxy's training, while the others were supposed to do a short loop. But they got lost and ended up on B2 and B20 so were out all day and as I wasn't sure where the were I was doing small loops to keep checking if they were back yet.

[BoristheBiter]

I did spur, snipers then butts on the Saturday and dam on Sunday.
Should have just stayed in bed on Sunday as I now have a missing bark buster and no front guard as I just couldn't keep it out if the ruts and lost count of the times i dropped it.

[thecharmed01]

I did spur, snipers then butts on the Saturday and dam on Sunday.
Should have just stayed in bed on Sunday as I now have a missing bark buster and no front guard as I just couldn't keep it out if the ruts and lost count of the times i dropped it.

oh bugger! Least you are ok though!

I hit a few of those buggers, smashed the helmetcam off when my head decided to converse with a bank LOL

[BoristheBiter]

oh bugger! Least you are ok though!

I hit a few of those buggers, smashed the helmetcam off when my head decided to converse with a bank LOL

I knew what sort of weekend it was going to be when we arrived in Carrotsville and found no key for the other halfs bike
After spending 2 hours trying to hot wire it (thanks to the guys in the next unit) a guy had it done in 2 mins on the Sat.

[random rider]

We were one of the last groups through that river crossing with the hill straight after it. Quite proud that I got through the river then up the top on my own......poor bike though - it was severely tested!

I had help walking my bike over the big river crossing. A guy walked beside me and about 2/3 way over I was already half over my thigh when he gave me a hand after realizing that I was a short arse

Loved the 2 stroke as she started back up, and there were a few drowned bikes after that crossing. We counted 6 river crossings of various size and depth.

I know exactly the bog you are talking about....3 of us got stuck in it at the one time, then saw someone take the only 1 mt of dry area and cruise past. Once we got out bikes out (I fell over into the mud so had to do a dive into the grass to wash it off) I watched some poor dude go full on into it and fly over his handle bars! He got up and did a bow for us....

One stupid hill got me - I was exhausted and just kept screwing it up. After that one though I managed all the others, so felt better when a mate told me it took him 3 goes at it too.

Will be back next year but will make sure the overall fitness is better. Was full on but worth the effort.

[mattnzl]

One thing I packed this year was a 6m length of tie down strap with a loop at one end. It's heaps easier to pull a bike out if the pulling people aren't also in the bog!
Was very handy for our group of three - wrap the strap around a fork and two people can pull while one rev's the nuts off the bike

Only downside was we spent a while at one bog pulling everyone else out!

[motor_mayhem]

Unfortunately I gained a little bit of infamy when me and and mate were doing a wheel stand leaving the first fuel station and crashed into each other. I was the one flattened on the tarmac. Bike was pretty much unscathed which was a huge relief. I wasn't quite so lucky.

New bike was great on the ride, no falls apart from above, didn't drown the bike and got up all the hill climbs in one go, though stayed away from BZ/B20 sections. Finished the entire big loop on Saturday (though did Argo Buster instead of Snipers alley) which I was quite pleased with considering I was riding with a severely bruised arm for most of it. The Tussock Buster on Friday was probably my favourite bit of riding.

I felt that compared to last year the good bits were better and the bad bits were worse.

Will chuck up some video when our data cap is reset - my flatmates used it all while I was away.

[turbolizard]

Had a great day on Saturday doing the Dam Buster trail with my 10 year old son. His little KLX110 with 12 inch tyre lacked the ground clearance for some of the ruts and he had a few stacks busting of his front mudguard (which he got me to carry home) but did pretty well and was one of the smallest guys out there I think. Slow and steady was the way he goes on the hills - he had no trouble chugging up with great traction on awesome trails. Spectacular country.

[meteor]

Anyone know the website for the photographer guy? Sure he took some snaps of us but as wasn't camping didn't see the nightly slide show.

[MikeLong]

Few trail rides under my belt and first major outing with friends who've been doing this for years...managed about 20 mins on the Friday before a low speed bail ended with what the St Johns guys reckoned was a dislocated shoulder that relocated itself but left me unable to ride....rest of the weekend spent chilled out in the camp ground watching people go back and forth as we had a tent setup right next to where people came back into the grounds. Think the last bike on the Sat night came back in around 8 and we were gob-smacked that people were still out there....HUGE thanks to the marshals and the Army folk out and about, when I bailed had 2 marshals stop and check before I'd even really figured out what happened and made sure I could get back to camp ok and then endless stories of people being hauled out of ruts and banks without as much as a word of complaint...I can assure you its always appreciated

Awesome event and planning to be there again next year with a few more hours riding under the belt to get out and have some fun in the back blocks