Saturday's ride rocked

[Toast]

I was part of this ride up north last weekend, and i'd be happy to show you the roads one Saturday in the near future if you're keen Mr Toast. Maybe i'll start a ride thread sometime in the next few weeks, it'll be a *full day* ride though...can you handle it! :spudbn:

Haha, can I handle it? After 3 months no riding, a 700km trip from Welli to Akl, and a 500km Akl to Hami to Coro and back trip the following weekend. Can I handle it? Well, actually, my wrists were screaming and I was complaining like a beach under my helmet for the second half of each ride...but in a couple of weeks I should be hardened up

Probably gonna do a Coro loop this weekend for some more practice (I'm thinking Sunday, was gonna do it myself, but happy for any company really). May or may not have the new Pilot Powers on. Quite keen to get back to something I truly trust. I'm having a bit of trouble trusting the front Diablo on long corners (just tested it out on that super long Pt Chev onramp to the North-Western). Exiting corners is fine though, having a ball with that

[buellbabe]

I second the Coro loop anti clockwise. It's seems to be faster and quicker through the corners when you are going uphill through them rather than down. The twisties seem more predominant uphill when you go anti clockwise.

Have only done it anti once... and that was with an overnite party stop in Kuotunu (think thats how ya spell it?) Over the hill to Coro and back to Auck was done with a hangover :-(

Although the 54kms between Coro and Thames is best done South to North (clockwise) though, in my opinion , 'cos you're less likely to hit shit that's fallen from the cliffs on to the road. Better visibility through the corners on average too I think. Ah, why debate the finer points, what a dick I am, it rocks either way

Yeah I agree and have done this stretch quite a few times but haven't done the full loop clockwise for ages so me tinks the next day ride is gonna be south!

[oldguy]

Hey buellbabe glad you had a great ride, there are some real good back roads up there, if you went from Maungatapere to Kaikohe via the back roads you prob. went via Mangakahia Rd, my dad lives up that way so have travelled that road quite abit sadly not as much on the bike as I would like, can't fit all the kids,
would love to have been on that ride, depending on the time of day you have to watch out for cows heading to or from the milking shed all part of the challenge of riding.

[buellbabe]

would love to have been on that ride, depending on the time of day you have to watch out for cows heading to or from the milking shed all part of the challenge of riding.

Yr not wrong! Many years ago I came thru there with the Ruawai Riders. Now those guys know the roads and they don't muck around. We had a big group of bikes and came flying round a blind corner to find 2 rogue cows and a dog on the road. Its a miracle no-one binned! That was a valuable lesson learned and I'm always on the lookout for stray farm animals when riding back roads!!! Like ya say Oldguy, its all part of the experience!