Slow/Medium Ride up North (Wellsford) - Sunday 11th September

[Right Charlie]

On my Road Cycle (Yes two legs not 4 cylinder power...)

I take a nice ride that starts at westgate, goes through;

Kumeu
Woodhill
Hellensville
Dairyflat

Then hang a right onto coatsville highway, down past Coatsville, Riverhead, and back through Kumeu, to westgate, its just shy of 90km though, so a little short perhaps for an outing of the 4 cylinder kind...

Not hard to extend it to Wellsford though...

[vifferman]

SH16 from Westgate to Helensville is a nice route....

Old North Road etc has more twisties in it.

If I had my Motorcycling Atlas here, I'd consult it and see what the oracle says. Assuming it says anything at all.

It is a road, with gravelly bits, passing through a veritable pastoral cacophany of cows and sheeps, and the occasional traffic oroficer / voluntary Gubmint revenue agent. Best travelled in inclement weather, otherwise tends to be overly festooned with sprotsbikes and crusiers.

[R6_kid:Me]

i can 'lead' the way. My pace is medium - fast and i absolutely love that road.

We just have to make sure that a person stops at each major intersection and that we ALL know where we are stopping. I suggest Kaukapakapa gasser then one of the lookouts (same as last time) then wellsford for lunch... from there people can decide where to go.

[Yokai]

My mate here at work tells me there are still 4 plain wrappers on SH16 - all his friends have been done...

:-(

[Krayy]

Since this seems to be turning out to be somewhat of a newbie ride, do you think we should set aside a few minutes at each stop to go through some group riding pointers and useful hand signals? Might even do a bit on safety gear, bring along a tyre pressure guage etc.

As I said before, I'm happy to take the lead if you want.

FWIW, I reckon we should stick with the original plan and go up through Helensville as it's fairly open (not a lot of twisties - those will come after Kaukapakapa) and will give the noobs a feel for group riding before people go balls out. For those who want to go through Old North Rd, fair enough, but it's a bit much for some noobies first group ride.

[bugjuice]

large groups often benefit from being split into smaller groups, with someone who has a clue leading each. It's then down to those smaller groups if they want to cover any tips/tutoring on that, and to make it to each point. Each leader should also be clear on where they're stopping. Then at each stop, make sure the big-boss-dude knows that they made it there before continuing (to cover breakdowns etc, but I'm not organising this one, so no one will break down).

By splitting, it just makes it easier to arrange and stick together. Doesn't mean each group leaves minutes between, just means when the pace picks up, no one feels they have to race ahead to make sure they aren't left behind.

Those who don't need to be led, are free to go at their pace, as long as they know where they're going. It just helps the newbs, and slower riders, if there's someone there, just for some reassurance.

[aff-man]

Well i dunno what the roads are called but i'll be going the way i did last time. Not to many main roads so less disco-mobiles.

[Stroker Girl]

Put me down as a maybe too! Going to try and drag along my bf and a few other lurkers. Anyone heading up from South Auckland end? Would be good to have some company up the motorway if the others don't come plus I'm not too sure where the meeting place is

[RiderInBlack]

From the Massey Roundabout, Old North Rd is the Next Right Hand Turn after the Coatsville/Riverhead Turn-off heading to Kumeu on SH16. Turn Right down Old North Rd (as soon as I pass the Caotsville/Riverhead Turn-off, I am usually pulling-over to the centre line and getting ready to turn down Old North as it comes up fairly fast).

At the first stop sign go straight accross so that you stay on Old North Rd. Don't turn off this road. Going right to and end of Old North Rd and turn Right again at the T-intersection onto Peak Rd.

Go to the end of Peak Rd. Turn Right again at the Peak Rd/SH16 T-intersection. This takes you to Kaukapakapa Via SH16.

Stay on SH16 until you get to Wellsford. This should take you around an hour even at a road legal speeds

[placidfemme]

I'm so confused now...

SH16 Vs. Old North Road
1 group Vs. 2 groups
Tutoring Vs. Non-Tutoring...

I don't know either route... Never been up SH16 or Old North Rd on a bike, possibly in a car, but when you not driving you don't pay much attention to where you are and the such...

[GR81]

just play follow the leader, we are bound to end up somewhere of interest!

and shit... i dont even know where wellsford is! haha

GR81 = south islander

[justsomeguy]

Gareth oh guru I hope you're coming.

[InDeSkyz]

Weather is not looking good at all

[justsomeguy]

Weather is not looking good at all

You made of salt?

[Right Charlie]

just play follow the leader, we are bound to end up somewhere of interest!

and shit... i dont even know where wellsford is! haha

GR81 = south islander

Im a fellow southerner, but have lived out west for a coupla years, how far south be ye from? Far enough to cause giggles by saying the following;

Purple Work Shirt
Bourbon

...the rest elude me.