20th Grand Challenge 15th -16th Oct 06

[XP@]

no, it's that I didn't know where Turangi was. But now I do.

Suggest you look at a north island map before you set off... having a rough idea of the geography of the island is helpful...
A couple of years ago someone did 2000+km's including the fabled Waikaremoana road (he had never ridden gravel before and was on a hired bike)
All that cos he mistook southbound for northbound... easy done ... well not if you know the basics...
Even with all those extra km's it was possible easier than the previous year when he did it on a Volty 250!

You really don't want to go through all that extra pain or maybee you do...

[bugjuice]

I have a vague idea where stuff is, and how to get places, plus I have a good map at home (which I'm gonna bury myself in tonight), it's just all these weird names that I can't remember, and where the hell they are.

If JSG said that little town at the bottom of Lake Taupo where the roads split to go round the lake, I would have known..

[XP@]

actually, you don't have to worry too much about getting lost. most do get lost at some point. it is the degree of lost you have to worry about.

As long as you know the area around Turangi, Rotorua, Wanganui, Napier, Taupo, New Plymouth, Bombay Hills, Tauranga, Parmeston North you should be ok. But there again who knows where this years route will lead...

[bugjuice]

great. I'm stuffed then.
hardly know my way to the bathroom half the time

[justsomeguy]

That's why I asked about forming a small group say about 4-5 of us. It makes it that much easier.

I don't think we should have too many problems if do our prep. We also have enough people here who've done it before to give us some pointers.

-- Past GC riders - what were the issues that affected your ride the most? Fatigue, orienteering, ......???

[Warr]

Dont sweat it and ride!!
I got cold early in the morning around 4pm so stopped in Taupo and put another layer on.
I had eaten some soaked muesli and drank only water all through the night.
Just before dawn Rotorua - Taupo - Turangi .. lots of yawning. Stopped at Turangi for gas and toilet. Had a cup of coffee. And sun was just starting to come up and I was rite till then end. Wide awake.

[Bonez]

Hey any fella that can keep up with Death_Inc and LooseBruce on a GSXR 750 and 1000 on a 1984 Yamaha 900 has my respect --- anyway.......

You planning on doing it this year??

I read about the chap who did it on a ZZR250 - my old bike. That must have taken a bit of flat out (max bike speed) 150kmph riding.

Me guy at the last cold kiwi who has done it on a GB400.

[RiderInBlack]

Ready last years GC (see http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...7&postcount=11 and Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge 2005 ). It's all there

[justsomeguy]

1st Practice Ride this Sun.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...043#post493043

[marty]

not making excuses, but i hope to have a different type of 24hr challenge that i will be doing around this time, and i'll be a little strapped for cash. this on my list of things to do though - anything like this is an excellent way to find out a lot about yourself/your machine

[XP@]

Anyone for a long ride out of wellington?

Perhaps wellington -> Taupo -> Napier -> wellington
or
Perhaps wellington -> Taupo -> New Plymouth -> wellington

Running at a steady pace (to avoid tickets) with minimal stops. and perhaps one or two interesting (non state highway) sections.

[justsomeguy]

OK people.

I'd like to go for a long ride sometime in March. With a target of 1000ks.

Any route suggestions??

Any of you keen to join in??