Wellington - bike capitol of NZ?

[Pickle]

I use Pirellis because that is what I trust, I have raced on Pirellis, Metzeler's & Yokohamas & yes I have heard of Rennsports just never used them or other race tyres on the road as when I do a trip it could be 3000 to 5000kms I wouldnt want to stop & fit a tyre to complete a trip.

I know what you mean about getting out of Wellington it can be as bad as getting out of Auckland. Some of the best roads in the Wairarapa are out the back of Masterton with some good high speed roads to get there. The best ones have only been sealed in the last 2 to 3 years with a variety of high speed & low speed corners.

[wkid_one]

Yeah - I am lucky in that I live out in South East Auckland - so I can go to coromandel and ride 100+km of scratching road before I have to jump on a motorway - then back on to the scratching road.  Same with going south - we can avoid the motorway by going behind our house.

To me, it is the coming home on the motorway that sucks - you are all amped from the ride and tend to carry more speed on the way home.

If I had live in the Wairarapa I would have a different opinion, however even living in Upper Hutt meant it was too far to go for decent roads.  Played heaps on the Paekakariki Hill Rd - did the closed road dash once in a car so know it well.  Still it is only about 15km long.

The other thing with Wellington is that it tends to hold ice etc on the road longer in winter which makes for slower corner speeds through the scratching roads.

Have spent many a day out the back of Martinborough........there are just too many cops in the Caterton/Masterton/Greytown area - although heaps of areas to run.

 

[MikeL]

Re cops in the Wairarapa:
I can remember even back in the late sixties (not that I would want to give any hint of how old I am) there always seemed to be traffic cops (the MOT ones, not real cops) between Carterton and Greytown. Just like in Horowhenua - always one lurking outside Foxton - which is where I copped my first speeding ticket: all of $15. On the rare occasions I go back to Wellington other than by air (thank you, Qantas), I still see more cops between Bulls and Waikanae than anywhere else in the North Island. Haven't been to the Wairarapa for yonks - but I expect it would be the same - it's the long straight stretches I suppose.

[wkid_one]

Yeah - and around the Waiuru / Taihape stretch as well

[Marmoot]

It Might be the Bike Capital....if you're looking at the available choices.

But Hamilton, now, that is the bike heaven!
In the years I've lived there, I have found not less than 20 different combinations of short rides and long rides with hundreds of corners you simply can't memorize.

Or....maybe it's just me with short memory........