250cc Coromandel Ride - 29th April 2006

**Kornholio** · 29th April 2006, 23:50

Originally Posted by swanny

Once we were on the road to Coro the weather cleared up and I got a sweet picture of a storm to one side and clear(ish) skies to the other.

EDIT: More useless bullshit:

Mark had his first birdstrike. We turned back and found the bird mushed up. Had his first front end wash out too I hear.

And for the record:

No bins.

Well done guys... the Coromandel puts out again

**Gremlin** · 29th April 2006, 23:57

Originally Posted by swanny

Despite the rain, chilly wind and lack of a decent bike, he ventured out in JEANS. After we reached the Coro Township he was visably shaking from the cold and soaked. That is what I call a rider.

Nope swanny, thats how people crash. When you are so cold that you are shivering, you will never have the alertness that you would have when in warm dry gear.

You also run the risk of the body shutting down, or falling asleep. When riding on soaked roads, you need every bit of concentration you have.

Mark, please get some wet weather gear if you want to go riding on long rides in the rain. Warehouse yellow pants are only $9 or something.

**Toast** · 29th April 2006, 23:58

Good on you Swanny and MA for just going out regardless of what other dumb bastards told ya.

Reminds me of the time that me n some mates did the Tongariro crossing in shorts and t-shirts...bit of hail n rain...fuck, so long as you've had a good feed for breakfast, just run, that keeps you warm enough...

Same thing here, just ride...it's wet, you'll be better for it when it's dry. Hope you fullas found some passionfruit too

Lots up them ways.

**SwanTiger** · 30th April 2006, 00:02

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Nope swanny, thats how people crash. When you are so cold that you are shivering, you will never have the alertness that you would have when in warm dry gear.

It is ammusing that people will always find something to bitch about with Mark, weather it be personal, political (such as this case) or just plain bullshit.

We aren't idiots. As mentioned. When we stopped at Coro Mark was visably shaking.

He filled up on Hot food and we were set. On the way back with the lack of rain I noticed his jeans had air dried.

**Gremlin** · 30th April 2006, 00:06

Originally Posted by swanny

It is ammusing that people will always find something to bitch about with Mark, weather it be personal, political (such as this case) or just plain bullshit.

I am not bitching at Mark. The fact is, riding is like camping. You ride prepared. Doing otherwise places you in more danger than necessary. We, as riders, have enough on our plate without adding more.

He was fine this time, but odds are, if he keeps doing that, he runs the risk of crashing (and ANY rider for that matter).

**SwanTiger** · 30th April 2006, 00:29

[QUOTE=Gremlin]The fact is, riding is like camping. You ride prepared.QUOTE]

Well because you made such a big deal.

Point 1 - Mark was offered wet weather gear by myself, however once we were out of Auckland he did not need it (as no rain). He refused in the first place and obviously knew he'd be alright.

Point 2 - "You ride prepared." That is kind of stupid to suggest we didn't ride prepared.

We both had bags. We had tools, brand new spare spark plugs, hi viz vest, cellphone, camera, thermal beanie and gloves plus both had riding gloves, money for gas/food.

Safety - stopped often and talked. If I got ahead I'd slow down and wait for Mark. Very rarely were we a few hundred meters apart. Took it easy and ENJOYED THE RIDE.

Just because the nitty gritty details arn't mentioned in a previous posts does not mean they didn't happen. No one wants to read that crap.

Start a new thread if you want to moan about motorcycle safety. Please.

**SwanTiger** · 30th April 2006, 00:38

A few of these illustrate the good(ish) weather we encounted.

Sorry the quality is poor, I took one of my old digital camera's incase it got wet and damaged (I believe this is defined as "Prepared") however the draw card is a lack of quality.

**motobull** · 30th April 2006, 00:44

Good on ya guys.
Did the Corro loop on the Hyosung a couple of weeks ago good ride.
Glad you got out there and enjoyed it..should hook up for a ride some time

**Gremlin** · 30th April 2006, 01:00

Originally Posted by swanny

We both had bags. We had tools, brand new spare spark plugs, hi viz vest, cellphone, camera, thermal beanie and gloves plus both had riding gloves, money for gas/food.

well, that is pretty damn prepared, more than I use, but then it begs the question why you didn't have wet weather gear...

The issue I have is that you looked at the shivering as "being a rider". That is bullshit. It is not a question of being man enough to do it.

**SwanTiger** · 30th April 2006, 01:31

Originally Posted by Gremlin

well, that is pretty damn prepared, more than I use, but then it begs the question why you didn't have wet weather gear...

Mark was offered wet weather gear by myself, however once we were out of Auckland he did not need it (as no rain). He refused in the first place and obviously knew he'd be alright.

I had wet weather gear on but didn't need it. Mark partially did (i.e. jacket).

This is getting pedandic now. We'll leave it at that.

**ZeroIndex** · 30th April 2006, 02:03

i didn't do the coro loop, but i went up to whangamata yesterday (saturday) at 3pm.. got very wet, and i found out something.. doesn't matter what wet weather gear you have..... if your gloves are leather, your fingers will go blue-ish and wrinkly, and all the water that doesn't get to your pants, will drip into your socks and sneakers *note to self: BUY BOOTS!!*

**justsomeguy** · 30th April 2006, 07:18

Originally Posted by swanny

Wow! what a ride.

I didn't think anyone would show up and guess what, I was right! However MAXIMUM RESPECT to Markauckland. He might be a dick online sometimes but no one can diss him. He RIDES!

Despite the rain, chilly wind and lack of a decent bike, he ventured out in JEANS. After we reached the Coro Township he was visably shaking from the cold and soaked. That is what I call a rider. Anyone who gives him shit deserves a beating.

COROMANDEL WAS FINE despite all the MEDIA HYPE and bullshit, I did my own research and by the time we left Coro Township the sun was out and you could see blue sky. Some of the roads had dried out and we had a good run back until a fuckup at the gas station - all sorted.

There were animals on the road or road side, fuckwitts in cars, debri on the road and the usual washouts - but whats new? Coro is like that on a Sunny Summer Day.

And to top it off --- THE ONLY FLOODING --- we encounted was in Mission Bay on Kepa Road. The Coromandel was a little damp, but beautiful as always.

Pictures to follow. Even got one of mark, so you know what GN 250 to run off the motorway.

Summary
Don't believe all the bullshit that the media puts up, read the weather maps for yourself and do your own research. Auckland was miserably, a bus tried to run me off a road, a car pulled out in front of me and another cut me off. Once we were on the road to Coro the weather cleared up and I got a sweet picture of a storm to one side and clear(ish) skies to the other.

EDIT: More useless bullshit:

Mark had his first birdstrike. We turned back and found the bird mushed up. Had his first front end wash out too I hear.

And for the record:

No bins.

Swanny

Mark

Ok :spudwave: - I'm off to catch the crew leaving for the Taupo elephant run.

**justsomeguy** · 30th April 2006, 07:27

I once rode to Tauranga at 3 in the morning in winter with full gear but somehow the cold made my feet go numb from the toes forward and the damn fog didn't help one bit

.

You just ride slower (or faster to get it over with

) and your body is already so amped up that you pay extra attention to the smallest things. Stop when it gets too bad jump up and down until you feel a bit warmer (yes literally jump up and down

) and carry on.

GOOD ON YOU!!!!! Mark

....and

Swanny.

And a big

to all you armchair critics.

**SwanTiger** · 30th April 2006, 08:15

Originally Posted by ZeroIndex

i didn't do the coro loop, but i went up to whangamata yesterday (saturday) at 3pm.. got very wet, and i found out something.. doesn't matter what wet weather gear you have..... if your gloves are leather, your fingers will go blue-ish and wrinkly, and all the water that doesn't get to your pants, will drip into your socks and sneakers *note to self: BUY BOOTS!!*

Whoo hoo.

We were going to join some hogs from Kopu and travel out to Whangamata but in the end decided not to and carried on up to Coro.

**beyond** · 30th April 2006, 11:12

Man, you guys are keen.

I don't mind riding in heavy rain with the right gear. Few months back I rode to Napier and back in one day and 90% of it was torrential rain. Through from Taupo to Napier, it was real greasy with all the sun dried tar that was wet and a car had shot straight off a corner ahead of me. Still managed it in 3 and a quarter hours from Drury. Great ride, but even with the gear, a little wet at the end of it.

I know what the other guys are talking about and I'm sure they are not having a dig. You both deserve a medal for going out in that crap and doing the Coro loop. I would have done it too, but the missus would not have let me out in that crap especially to do the loop.

Not being pedantic here at all, but Hypothermia is a very dangerous thing and very insidious. You did well to stop often to warm up. Once the shivering stage is over, if you keep going, you are in deep trouble. You can feel just fine but mental clarity and reactions slow down drastically and then you can start doing real psycho things and death can come on real fast once the core temperature drops below a certain level. Having done a lot of hunting, I learnt about this, the number one killer off the beaten track.

It sounds like you made sure Mark never got to this stage which is good. BUT, no offence and no digs intended here, please be careful okay. Kinda like to see our KB team stay a family with all members present.

Good shots and nice to hear you actually had a good time.