Ride this saturday

[Andrew]

Just checked the weather, and it looks like a primo day tomorrow! Any overnight rain should clear by dawn. It will be sunny and light winds.

[bane]

Hi guys

would love to come, but i'm heading to Napier to inspect what will hopefully be my new bike - a 2000 GSX750F
Have a great day all, hopefully catch u next time

[Goddess of Goof]

Can someone please give me def of riding slowly ?

Hhahahahhah that's a good question...!

If you can see the backs of their helmets, they're riding slowly.

If you can't see them at all, but you know they're ahead somewhere - their riding at their usual pace.

If you can't see them - smell them - hear them, or find them waiting for you at any intersections, they are riding quite fast.

They will be finishing their lattes and hot chips at an obscure Cafe around a corner (where you won't spot their parked bikes until you pass) before you've done the twisties and started the long straight into Town.

:spudbooge Enjoy your day !

[Marmoot]

Hi.....Just to let you know the time now is 12:36 on a beautiful sunny Saturday 3 April 2004....

Just a little message from somebody stuck at work here....

(clearly, posting at 12pm Saturday is a sign of lack of life....*grumble* *grumble*.....12.35pm now......only a few hours to go.....zzz....hmmm.....wish I can go out riding.....SH22......grrrmm......*peep*......*peep *.....*peep*.....*peep*.....*peep*......quit cutting out my expletives you *peep*......hmmppffft....)

[erik]

Well, it was a short first kiwibiker ride for me.

I turned up at about 8:35am at the Autobahn Cafe but went and filled the bike up at the gas station before going in to the cafe. There was a group of riders outside the cafe already, I asked if they were from kiwibiker, and they said "nope, I think they're in there" pointing in the cafe.
I hadn't had breakfast, so I had a look in the cafe to see what they had, but I didn't feel like eating much. I ended up going to the gas station again and buying a bag of biscuits, eating a couple outside the cafe, and then going in to see who was there.
There were a bunch of kiwibikers there: sAsLEX, MadDuck, Yarg, Chris, Firefight, Andrew, and a bunch of other guys (sorry, I didn't introduce myself or get your names). I sat in the corner and talked a bit with Yarg.
Firefight came and explained where we were going to go, he said something about turning off somewhere, and then going down a bit of motorway, and then there would be this nice bit of road with twisties and no cops (as you can see, I didn't really understand it... ). I'm not really familiar with the area, so I just figured I'd follow the guy in front, and since there would be people waiting at the intersections, I thought it would be ok.

So we all get on the bikes and get onto the motorway.

The first thing I noticed is that I was having trouble accelerating as fast as the guys in front of me .
So I followed them a bit behind. Most people were in the fast lane, then some people changed into the left lane and went off the Drury (I think) exit, but I noticed one guy kept going straight (it could have been that there were tons more people going ahead of him that I just didn't see). There was a guy stopped by the exit on a silver bike that I thought was someone from kiwibiker, and the guys ahead had turned right and kept going. So I tried to follow them, but the bike seemed to be really gutless, I was doing around 100 in 6th gear at about 8k revs and had the throttle wide open and it didn't seem to be doing anything. So paranoid me was worrying something was wrong. Someone rode past me at warp speed which kinda surprised me because I hadn't seen them coming. It was pretty cool though.
Anyway, up ahead was another intersection and some guys were stopped there, so I stopped too and tried to listen to my bike to see if I could hear anything wrong. I had earplugs in, which I don't normally use, so I couldn't hear much. The other guys took off (I don't know if they were guys from kiwibiker or not...), and I sat there for a bit, before deciding that there probably wasn't anything wrong with it and to just keep going. If I'm remembering things in the right order, I think I caught up with some bikers at a roundabout, one went right and the others (2 or three) went straight ahead. I went right and sat at the side of the road again, thinking "what the heck am I doing?". I turned around and followed where the other riders went, but they were long gone. I kept going for a while, on the off chance that they were the people that I was supposed to be following and that there would be someone waiting up ahead, but after not seeing anyone for ages, and then ending up in Mercer, I decided I was lost. I turned off at the gas station, and that was as far as I went on this ride. I txted Firefight to let him know what I'd done. Hopefully I didn't cause any worry/trouble.

Everyone else is still out on the ride as far as I know. They've got a beautiful day for it.

I might go for a ride along Scenic drive later today with my brother.

I'm a bit annoyed with myself about this, and kinda embarrassed. And I'm wondering where I went wrong, if it was that first turn off, or if maybe I just got to far behind.

Oh well. Hopefully there will be a next time and it'll go better.

[XRNR]

Hey Eric,
Pity about your ride,
Lots of riders lots of wrong turns for lots of people, A bit bigger group than usual.
Best to team up with someone next time & stick with them, then if you get lost together what the hell. It will be a good days ride anyway ! (its a bummer when you go out expecting a group ride & end up on your own, done that one before)

Sorry Madduck, I feel a bit guilty but I had a rather slow ride down & didn't want another one back up.
Try pairing up with Eric for a Ride

Anyway, Magic day! I am sure the main group will be well pleased with their day out.

Anyone for Wild Pine tomorrow ??

[SPman]

,Lots of riders lots of wrong turns for lots of people, A bit bigger group than usual.

Yep, probably the biggest group since the ill fated Paeroa of last year!
Almost missed the first turn off the motorway misself!

Kept up to Ngaruawahia, kept up to Raglan, kept up back to Ngaruawahia. Leaving Ngaruawahia got caught in traffic and when I got past ----they had vanished - heading for Morrinsville with all speed! So after a very pleasant meander through the back roads of NW Waikato, emerged at Ohinewai and trundled (and vibrated and gasped) back home.
Enjoyable ride and putting more faces to names - only 1 ticket (that I know of) and that was rather unfortunate. Outside Ngaruawahia on the return Mr Plod had a stream of bikes go past and (sorry, forgot name, new guy on Yellow VTR) who is ambling along at the rear gets pinged for 115k! There aint no justice out there!

[SPman]

More....... Pix

[6Chris6]

Well, it was a short first kiwibiker ride for me.

Join the club brother, I did the same :- second stretch of motorway following bike in fast lane overtaking cages daydreaming a bit when guy in front swerves over to off ramp and i was too late but met up with guys at naruwahia bp (after ridin state highway 1 )and came back with xnrnr and mad duck as had to be back in town for 3.
Cheers xnxr for ridin with me.
Sorry mad duck but wanted to try and get used to bike.

Seem to have lost testicles (ridin like a granny on new 600 bit too much power for me at moment) if anyone finds said testicles can you clean them up for me and pm me so i can pick them up.
Cheers
Chris

Ps So come on guys who was leading the pack dying to know who was the quickest of the quickest!!

[SPman]

Ps So come on guys who was leading the pack dying to know who was the quickest of the quickest!!

Sure as hell weren't me! - although I did enjoy the Ngaruawahia to Raglan road!(except for a bit of brain fade mid corner on a couple - had sudden doubts just exactly which direction they went and how tight they were....dont you hate it when that happens!)
That sure is a Green powerful lookin GSX250 you got their Chris!

[MikeL]

Slow bike + new rear tyre + ultra-cautious rider with painful memories should = boring ride BUT I enjoyed every minute of it. Great day.

[Zed]

Well, it was a short first kiwibiker ride for me.

...and went off the Drury (I think) exit, but I noticed one guy kept going straight (it could have been that there were tons more people going ahead of him that I just didn't see). There was a guy stopped by the exit on a silver bike that I thought was someone from kiwibiker

Hi Erick, I was one of those other guys sitting down in the Autobahn.

A number of people missed the exit at Drury at the beginning, I suppose that we should have stuck together a bit more as one big group to start with, but for the first hour or so of the ride there were guys waiting at all major intersections just in case people went the wrong way- and there was someone waiting at the Drury motorway exit. That exit though is immediately after a bend and obviously the stopped KB rider was not seen by some until it was too late to turn off! Such is life.

I'm a bit annoyed with myself about this, and kinda embarrassed. And I'm wondering where I went wrong, if it was that first turn off, or if maybe I just got to far behind.

Oh well. Hopefully there will be a next time and it'll go better.

We live and learn, and as has been said, this group was larger than the normal 4-8 that turn up for these rides...next time I'm sure there will be a more clearer game plan for the newbies to KB rides! Don't feel too bad.


Zed

[MadDuck]

Hey now worries XRNR and 6Chris6
I knew there was no way in hell I would be able to keep up with you so best you just go. I got back to Whangaparaoa before 3pm I must add after many stops due to sore arms

Well was a great day and as the only chick there (oh and boy did I stand out!) I at least got the first turn off right. Having listened to FF briefing it was stowed my memory banks but I got caught in fast lane before Rama Rama and was not prepared to upset another truck driver.

So alas I was lost in the middle of an area I know freek all about. Followed some windy road and thought bugger this. Stopped just before Tuakau for a nicotine fix to soothe the nerves and blow me away another lost KBer turned up. Now MD has to remember exactly where FF told us we were going - yikes! I will not act blond was the first thing that came to mind Tried to txt FF but must have been busy actually riding....

We decided to try and catch the group up going via SH1...poo hoo! And after a bit of tiky touring wow we caught up at the Raglan turn off. Hope you guys had a great ride out as I decided to head for home.

As I was potting along quite happily taking in the view I thought of the visa ad on tv.....Just for KBers
Ride like a nana = 200 kmph
New bike so taking it easy = 200 kmph
Sticking to speed limit = 200 kmph
Finding the pack at the raglan turnoff (for my lost riding buddy) PRICELESS!!!!

Thanks for a great day ...damn 7 hours on the bike. But I doubt I will go on another KB ride as the speed is just way out there for me. Having said that it is always great to try new things.

By the way - funniest thing heading home. Stopped at BP Bombay and some stoopid women drives off without removing pump from car... Well it made me damn well laugh

[Zed]

or ride this saturday, open to all, 150cc, whatever

leaving Autobahn papakura at 09.00 hours, tx if your running late, Awhitu or 22, and beyond.. fast/slow riders all welcome.

Firefight

Thanks for a great ride all you KB's who were present today- good turn out, I counted an average of 15 bikes with up to 20 at one stage!

Bikes present (forgive me if I miss you out):
SV1000
GSXR1000
R1
VTR1000 X 2
TL1000R
MV AGUSTA F4 STRADA
ZX-9R
YZF750
R6
CBR600
GSXR600
ZX-6R
95 XR
HONDA CB1
CBR250RR
VTR250
FZR250

Great weather, awesome roads, an all-round brilliant ride.

Very happy with the performance of my new CBR600, riding with the 1000cc bikes gave me the perfect opportunity to open it up and see what she's made of...pretty humbling on the straights though

Good to put a face to many names. Thanks goes to Dave for organising this successful ride.


Zed

[Zed]

Thanks for a great ride all you KB's who were present today- good turn out, I counted an average of 16 bikes with up to 22 at one stage! Great weather, awesome roads, an all-round brilliant ride.

Very happy with the performance of my new CBR600, riding with the 1000cc bikes gave me the perfect opportunity to open it up and see what she's made of...pretty humbling on the straights though

Good to put a face to many names. Thanks goes to Dave for organising this successful ride.


Zed

More pics of Ngaruawahia & Raglan today.