SH22 is crap

[haydes55]

I avoided SH22 between tuakau and raglan all summer because it was pretty much a river the entire time it was that melted! Now it's a bit cooler, I decided to have a little fang up SH22. There was a sheep on the road..... The same place where I have encountered sheep on 3 other occasions (so I think the sheep or the farmer need a bullet). Then there were 3 separate sections on road of a couple hundred meter lengths that looked like mint road, but had a dusting of gravel over it, I found out it was covered in gravel about the time both wheels were sliding towards the ditch. Ass puckering over, what used to be small bumps, are now massive hills in the middle of the lane.


At least the one jogger I saw had a nice ass. I'm going Te Kauwhata way north from now on, that road is a fucking joke.

[DamianW]

Hmm, and I was thinking about heading down to Raglan on the 22 this weekend too.

I did a few good runs on it last year without any hazards but maybe I was just lucky.

Thanks for the heads-up.

[tigertim20]

so I think the sheep or the farmer need a bullet .

Id shoot the sheep - will probably taste better than a tough old farmer.

[dinosaur]

You could wrap yourself up in bubble wrap and cotton wool, stick to all the main roads, only ride on days when the temperature is not too hot that it melts tar and not wet or cold enough to be slippery ...... Actually I'd avoid roads with traffic on them as well: they can be awfully unpredictable and such a hazard.

One of my favourite rides is Kawhia Harbour, because its nearly always a mess of unmarked road works, loose crap on the road, shiny bits, wet bits, pot holes in unexpected places and the odd tourist coming at you in the middle of the road, the odd bit of diesel or oil dropped here and there ..... You just never know what you'll get
It teaches you how to ride and expect and cope with the unexpected
And that can be a lesson that will teach you how to ride safe - you just never know what's coming at you on even the best of roads

Just my view

[unstuck]

There was a sheep on the road..... The same place where I have encountered sheep on 3 other occasions (so I think the sheep or the farmer need a bullet).

Your the muppet that needs a bullet, any decent bloke would of gone and knocked on the farmers door and made him aware of his stock wandering. You sound like a whiney little boy today. Disappointed.

[haydes55]

Your the muppet that needs a bullet, any decent bloke would of gone and knocked on the farmers door and made him aware of his stock wandering. You sound like a whiney little boy today. Disappointed.

I have done that twice. But it was apparently the neighbours sheep (no idea) but he went and told the neighbour. The second time no one was home so I rang *555. The third and 4th times I've just given up. The sheep looks feral, like it's been wondering the road for months.

[slofox]

I rode various parts of SH22 this summer without finding anything untoward. Road was in pretty good condition and no loose stock - although I have met plenty at other times.

Perhaps I was riding at the times you were avoiding.

At any time, I treat that road with a mix of respect and suspicion. You never know what's 'round the corner.

[Gremlin]

I ran from Raglan up to Mercer on Easter Monday, and couldn't help but think the Waikato region needs to look at itself, when it keeps asking why there are so many crashes.

Two sections of new seal, unswept, unmarked. Multiple pieces broken up, unmarked. Sections that looked more like a patchwork quilt, and while I actually enjoyed the bumps (long travel suspension means I love that stuff) there was one piece that was quite gnarly. That said, SH22 has always been known as the goat track, and isn't often "in great nick". You just ride the road you're presented with, it ain't a race track.

The only thing that really pissed me off, was an older Ducati (MH sign thing on the side?) that almost tried to finish off my trip early (after I'd done more than 2000km during the preceding 5 days). Coming into a tight 35 left hander, I'm roughly middle of lane, and oncoming (right for him) his fucken wheels are in my lane, let alone his head which was close enough... fucken idiot.

[SPman]

You mean to say, it's got worse in the last 8 yrs.........

[haydes55]

You mean to say, it's got worse in the last 8 yrs.........

Yup, I used to go between pukekohe and Hamilton every couple of weekends down SH22. And yea there always were some dodgy patches. But it seems that lately, every single section of the road is just utter crap. They have road works in various places, replacing seal etc. That just make the road worse and worse. They almost would be better off ripping it up and leaving it entirely gravel.

[slofox]

They almost would be better off ripping it up and leaving it entirely gravel.

Or they could resurface it all with asphaltic concrete...

[MotoKuzzi]

I'm a regular rider on that road too and it's definitely worse this year, more vertical drops in the seal and a heap of loose gravel in unexpected places, pays to treat it with respect.

[swbarnett]

I just got back from a run down H22 and I'd have to agree with both sides. There are three sections of fresh seal with no signs and a lot of drops and tar snakes around the Nikau caves turnoff. Overall though I'd say it's still a good ride if you're not a Rossi wannabe. As has been said, ride to the conditions. If you see anything that looks like it might be new seal treat it with the utmost respect and you can't go wrong.

[skinman]

notice the green srips are beginning to make an appearance too, must be winter

[Eddieb]

You need the right tool for the job, something with knobbly wheels