Long distance event safety

[Gremlin]

Re the riding, Still in the thinking stage.....

any suggestions

Put gear on, go ride bike?

Around about 1000km to Cape Reinga and back, that's a good 1k to get under your belt. Go round East Cape and back, could be any distance over 1000km, depending on how far south you go before turning around. Coromandel loop is 400km+ from Auckland return. Used to do that at night, leaving Auckland around 10pm - midnight. Capital 1000km Cruise is on later this year, TT2000 next year, and there are a couple of thousand miler events (1600km) each year. However, start by being comfortable with 4-500km days, then builid from there.

Eventually you'll realise our island is a little small tho

Oh, and you're going to rack up expenses. Fuel (duh), tyres, servicing, even turn your gear into consumables as stuff wears out faster when you use it more...

[eldog]

Put gear on, go ride bike?

Around about 1000km to Cape Reinga and back, that's a good 1k to get under your belt. Go round East Cape and back, could be any distance over 1000km, depending on how far south you go before turning around. Coromandel loop is 400km+ from Auckland return. Used to do that at night, leaving Auckland around 10pm - midnight. Capital 1000km Cruise is on later this year, TT2000 next year, and there are a couple of thousand miler events (1600km) each year. However, start by being comfortable with 4-500km days, then builid from there.

Eventually you'll realise our island is a little small tho

Oh, and you're going to rack up expenses. Fuel (duh), tyres, servicing, even turn your gear into consumables as stuff wears out faster when you use it more...

lack of free time is a big problem, even during the week, so I was looking for things to do while I am not on the bike riding.
Put gear on, go ride bike? ok captain obvious

Coromandel loop is next, just got to figure out which road to take, weather dependant

figured a lot has to do with how I ride, what I consume, and mostly mental fitness

not going fast, want to enjoy the ride. so planning is essential.
Would go with Awa355 Waikato-Welly trip - my sort of trip, but not upto it at present (cant move my forearm at present due to poison in arm)

Picked up a lot of good suggestions here. thanks Gremlin et al.

[Gremlin]

Coromandel loop is next, just got to figure out which road to take, weather dependant

Realistically on long distance rides, especially ones where the route is pre-determined, you remove weather from the equation. If it rains, you get wet. If it's dry, you don't get wet. If it's windy you get blown around. Good gear is absolutely important as it stops you shedding warmth. You can come back from a 200km ride shivering and warm up. Under the same conditions... you won't make 1000km (or less perhaps). You can't get wet near the start and stay wet for hours on end as you'll risk hyperthermia.

Plus, because we live on a small island, the routes are usually in circles (or several circles). One ride, I think I rode through the same front 4 times in different parts of the island...

[FJRider]

Realistically on long distance rides, especially ones where the route is pre-determined, you remove weather from the equation. If it rains, you get wet. If it's dry, you don't get wet. If it's windy you get blown around. Good gear is absolutely important as it stops you shedding warmth. You can come back from a 200km ride shivering and warm up. Under the same conditions... you won't make 1000km (or less perhaps). You can't get wet near the start and stay wet for hours on end as you'll risk hyperthermia.

Plus, because we live on a small island, the routes are usually in circles (or several circles). One ride, I think I rode through the same front 4 times in different parts of the island...

It's not just weather you need to consider ... it's altitude too ... a few south island passes (Arthurs pass at 1 am can get a tad cool) are over 900 metres ... the cold does creep in if you don't allow for it. (Even in summer riding)

[eldog]

Realistically on long distance rides, especially ones where the route is pre-determined, you remove weather from the equation. If it rains, you get wet. If it's dry, you don't get wet. If it's windy you get blown around. Good gear is absolutely important as it stops you shedding warmth. You can come back from a 200km ride shivering and warm up. Under the same conditions... you won't make 1000km (or less perhaps). You can't get wet near the start and stay wet for hours on end as you'll risk hyperthermia.

Plus, because we live on a small island, the routes are usually in circles (or several circles). One ride, I think I rode through the same front 4 times in different parts of the island...

Got reasonably good gear, just a few pieces missing.
getting the bike sorted.
doing this all by myself with Google and KB for help thanks guys and gals.

all the helpful hints are great, sometimes I miss the obvious directly in front of me.

got no worries about circles, and it will be a while before I get back to the Sth island, really liked the west coast the last time I went there, constant rain.

[Racing Dave]

[QUOTE=Gremlin;1130877509] You can't get wet near the start and stay wet for hours on end as you'll risk hyperthermia.QUOTE]

More likely, hypothermia...

[Gremlin]

You can't get wet near the start and stay wet for hours on end as you'll risk hyperthermia.

More likely, hypothermia...

Uh... yes... buggrit

[FJRider]

... More likely, hypothermia...

How many times did you risk it ... to be first home on (any) one of the Chatto Creek 1000 miler's .. ??

[FJRider]

Eventually you'll realise our island is a little small tho

NZ is more than ONE island ... as you may recall ....

[Gremlin]

NZ is more than ONE island ... as you may recall ....

Yes, but a tad expensive when you're out for a little ride... and a bit of a time sink.

[FJRider]

Yes, but a tad expensive when you're out for a little ride... and a bit of a time sink.

I left home once for a "Tank of gas ride" ... 1800 km's later I was home.


I'm still not sure what happened ... but it was a good ride.


"Time sinks" are the true definition of a motorcycle ride ...

[98tls]

I left home once for a "Tank of gas ride" ... 1800 km's later I was home.


I'm still not sure what happened ... but it was a good ride.


"Time sinks" are the true definition of a motorcycle ride ...

There the best,set off for the Winchester rally once but ended up in Karamea.

[FJRider]

There the best,set off for the Winchester rally once but ended up in Karamea.

And ... has "SHE" forgiven you yet ... ???

[Racing Dave]

How many times did you risk it ... to be first home on (any) one of the Chatto Creek 1000 miler's .. ??

I particularly remember one Chatto Creek ride that ended with a run back to the finish over the Lindis Pass, and there'd been a southerly front go through which then cleared, and the snow on the roadside was gleaming in the moonlight. That was a cold one! End of November should be summery, but often isn't.

[FJRider]

I particularly remember one Chatto Creek ride that ended with a run back to the finish over the Lindis Pass, and there'd been a southerly front go through which then cleared, and the snow on the roadside was gleaming in the moonlight. That was a cold one! End of November should be summery, but often isn't.

Translation ... it is risked on occasion ...


But it can be a trap for the unwary .. or the inexperienced ... and you are neither ...


End of November in Otago you CAN get snow ... nothing new there ... but you made it. (not first home though as I recall ... or am I wrong .. ??)