Wellington - The Cruisy Wednesday Night Ride.

**Dafe** · 1st March 2006, 21:29

Thanks everybody. Another windy night but at least those gusts weren't as bad as last week. A more consistent wind this week.
The Featherston Pub is becoming quite a nice regular spot. Good service, good food and a nice relaxed atmosphere.
Bugger trying to hoon the takas in the dark - some scary shit!

See ya all next week for the windy wednesday ride, if not before.

**Uncle B** · 1st March 2006, 22:00

Originally Posted by Dafe

Bugger trying to hoon the takas in the dark - some scary shit!

Your not wrong, some real wobbly lines taken....next time don't follow my lead.
Good turnout for those who braved the blustery conditions.
Well done Dreamer for comming along to show off her new steed.

**Velox** · 1st March 2006, 22:15

Originally Posted by Dafe

Bugger trying to hoon the takas in the dark - some scary shit!

Yep - I know what you mean - last weekend I went over four times in the dark with my visor up and wind in the eyes!

**Charlie** · 2nd March 2006, 07:20

Well I learnt 2 things last night; Mother Nature the bitch lives in Wellington, and apparently the faster you go in the corners the less the wind throws you off - so I was totally screwed!
Was a blustery start and me and the wee 250 were all over the show. But got to Featherston in the end. Thanks James and I think it was UncleB for taking it easy with me at the back on the way over; and cheers to Freak for leading me home...
Wind + Dark +Tuckas = CRAZY!

Great to finally meet some of the crew. See you all next Wednesday hopefully.

**Jonty** · 2nd March 2006, 07:23

Sorry all - twas a bit windy for me and my steed also. I nearly got blown off the Kenndy-Good bridge!! Bloody Wellington

**skelstar** · 2nd March 2006, 07:28

Yeah its no Tapanui eh Jonty?

I think you 'fast boys' need to harden up and stop being a bunch of soft c0cks. Riding over the Takas at night is a blast!

**Fatjim** · 2nd March 2006, 07:46

Phew, that was close. That wind was a pisser.

Apols to Flame if my hibeam pissed you off. But you couldn't see anything anyway. I think this says it all.

**Jonty** · 2nd March 2006, 07:52

Originally Posted by skelstar

Yeah its no Tapanui eh Jonty?

I think you 'fast boys' need to harden up and stop being a bunch of soft c0cks. Riding over the Takas at night is a blast!

Not as cultured

Not soft, just didn't want you to take me to school

**phoenixgtr** · 2nd March 2006, 08:01

Originally Posted by Dafe

at least those gusts weren't as bad as last week.

Not as bad as last week??

Last week I wasn't shitting myself on the motorway!!

I decided to turn around and head back after meeting at Avalon and I had the scariest ride I've ever had on the way back. Seriously, I don't know how I survived 1 of those gusts. I got pushed into the other lane.

Anyway, it's ok. I just need to put on some weight, my bike included.

Might see you guys next week

**Charlie** · 2nd March 2006, 09:21

Yeah the motorway was scary - wide open spaces and huge sideways wind! Had to slow down to 60k at one stage cause I couldnt keep it straight and almost ended up off the road. So got used to riding with a constant left lean going on; killer on the arms and shoulders. Good learning experience though I guess.

**skelstar** · 2nd March 2006, 09:24

Motorway side winds is just something you get used to. Ya just let the bike move around underneath you. Doesnt pay to slow too much though. The bike gets relatively unstable the slower you go. It helps to follow someone sometimes and see when they get blown around first.

**phoenixgtr** · 2nd March 2006, 09:26

I dont have a problem with constant side winds, it's the sudden gusts which cause me trouble

**Str8 Jacket** · 2nd March 2006, 09:44

Originally Posted by phoenixgtr

I dont have a problem with constant side winds, it's the sudden gusts which cause me trouble

Yeah, im the same. I can fight the wind not a prob, its when a strong gust all of a sudden comes from the side and moves you and your bike with it no matter how relaxed I am and how hard im hugging the tank with my knees! Yesterday was a prime example, I was riding in a straight line at least 50kph along a straight road when a strong gust came along and just took me with it over into the next lane, I can correct myself not a prob but if there's ever a car coming the other way then i'd be stuffed!

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd March 2006, 09:48

Originally Posted by skelstar

Motorway side winds is just something you get used to. Ya just let the bike move around underneath you. Doesnt pay to slow too much though. The bike gets relatively unstable the slower you go. It helps to follow someone sometimes and see when they get blown around first.

Right up until it gets really really windy and then it's just a lottery...

I was riding on a day when the highest gust was recorded at something like 183kph or summat ridiculous and if I was in that situation again, I would have zero hesitation in pulling off the road and camping up at the closest motel until it calmed down.... On several occasions I had NO control of the bike and was leaning / push as hard as I could and it still was going in the opposite direction...

The stuff yesterday is just part of life here in wellie but I'm talking about when it's REALLy hairy!

FYI

• Wellington is located in a River of Wind - a wind corridor between the South Island and the North Island.

• Wellington is the windiest main centre in New Zealand with a mean annual wind speed of 22 km/h.

• Wellington also has an average of 22 days per year with mean wind speeds over 63 km/h (40 knots).

• Wellington averages 173 days a year with wind gusts greater than about 60 km/h or 32 knots.

• October is generally the windiest month of the year with a mean of 27 days with wind speeds over 15 knots, 19 of those days are over 20 knots.

• North is by far the most common wind direction, blowing from this direction (0 degrees) a massive 37.6% of the time.

• Wellington is one of the windiest cities in the world (possibly the windiest) and is windier than other southern windy cities including Cape Town, Perth, and Geraldton.

• The strongest wind speeds where recorded at Hawkins Hill of 248km/h (134 knots) on the 6 November 1959 and 4 July 1962.