Welly Rides

**mdb** · 2nd May 2006, 20:22

I was in an extremely boring finance meeting today (all day) and began wondering what rides can be undertaken within an hour of Welly. Thought about up SH1 to either Paekakariki, then over the hill OR around the northern side of the Whitby inlet to Pauhatanui. Any where else close by (other than the Rimutaka's) with a few decent bends?

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 20:34

Head to Miramar, turn left after the wharf and enjoy. Just watch out for those corners in the dark though and late night push bikers. You can go right around until you pass the airport and then head back into town via Rongotai/Kilbirnie and thats a decent quick ride. Also watch out for road works everywhere. Not sure I would do the ride at any great speed at night but sure nice ride with all the city lit up and you have the sense of been miles away yet still very close. And can stop and get some good old fresh sea air. I like to take a quick burn out to the Shelly Bay base and then turn around and come back just for a bit of fun.

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 20:40

after years since I have been out there and thats the Makara Beach run.
And then you can turn off on the way back and instead of coming back to Karori/City you head up the North back road and end up in the back of Johnsonville. Been up Haywoods hill run several times last month. The road is a lot better than years ago when I last had a bike.

**sels1** · 2nd May 2006, 20:57

Originally Posted by Lord Derosso

after years since I have been out there and thats the Makara Beach run.
And then you can turn off on the way back and instead of coming back to Karori/City you head up the North back road and end up in the back of Johnsonville..

The TCWNR ride went round that loop a few weeks ago, it gets interesting at night. Narrow in some places but plenty of tight bends!

Another ride is over to Wainuiomata, and then out to the south coast

**mdb** · 2nd May 2006, 21:13

Is it true that there is a road from J'Ville through to Makara? .... That WOULD be the long way home ... out through Miramar, around the peninsula, out to Makara, through to J'Ville, up SH1 to the Paekak hill ... I'm almost giddy with excitement!

MD · 2nd May 2006, 21:17

If you haven't got time for the full Ohario valley from Johnsonville to Karori then the absolute best stretch of seal with the sexiest, tightest curves anywhere in greater Welly is the short Karori suburb to the cemetary road(nervous destination I know). I use this to scrub in new tyres. You can lean the bike until the cows come home. Then you can turn west to Makara beach or go on to J/ville. DON'T CUT ANY CORNERS - drunken golfers in SUVs and tractors galore on blind narrow hairpins don't mix well. Amazing how 1 minute from J/ville you find yourself in a beautiful farmland valley fit for the cover of a calendar.
Another, also mentioned is head to Island Bay then follow around the bays. This is another scenic run not fit for a fast pace.

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 21:29

Heading up to the Mt Victoria lookout via the turnoff at the Oriental Parade eastern end? If you want corners... cant beat them. Really stop and turn stuff in two places and then back down Alexander road either to Courtney Place or go the other way onto to Newtown - but watch out for some loosegravel !! - and even spend a few minutes at the summit for a night view unbeatable. Simple but still a goodie. Oh and watch out for those bloody buses too when on their route. One nearly wasted me some weeks ago because he was speeding around roadworks on a corner and came entirely on my side of the narrow road. I was nearly riding in the ditch!

**mdb** · 2nd May 2006, 21:40

Looks like I'll be searching out a few new pieces of road (to me anyway) in the next couple of weeks.

**Burger** · 2nd May 2006, 22:03

The town belt ride is short, but fast and twisty as.

Go into Newtown, and turn left at the lights towards Kilbirnie, keep going past the Shell until you almost get to the crest of the hill but turn left and take the road that runs round the side of the small hill. Then blast it.

Watch out for joggers and cyclists, but they are smart enough to not take the road usually.

And slow down when you get to the residential area, don't want to bowl some kid on a blind corner.

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 22:13

Until I realised you were going on about the reverse way to do the Mt Victoria summit run. Heading up to the top via Alexander Road from the Newtown end but you are darned right about watching out! Some of those corners are extremely blind going into them and there was one bad patch of loose gravel at the top end recently which caused me to slip a bit - luck I saw it in time. If you want a nice ride and have a friend to take along. Head up to the Mount Bruce wildlife reserve about 10 miles north of Masterton and after a visit and cuppa tea, head back via the gorge over to Palmerston North. I think its further north of the reverse ?? Only done it once with a spunky german lady tourist but the view as you come over the gorge and first see Palmie and the Manawatu is great.....

**Velox** · 2nd May 2006, 22:19

Originally Posted by Lord Derosso

Only done it once with a spunky german lady tourist but the view as you come over the gorge and first see Palmie and the Manawatu is great.....

Hmmm - black dreads on a pirate bike?

Btw - yep love that bit coming up Makara Hill - absolute beaut! Only 3km from my house too so if I don't have time to ride or have bugger all petrol I just quickly do the hill to get it out of my system.

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 22:28

Whats the ride like out to Makara now a days ? I havent been out there for years. I had to wait to get new rubber on the GSX600F so I havent been out much more than a few rides over 30kms and keep meaning to go back out that way before the weather gets worse. Use to enjoy going out there years ago on a sunday ride. Whats at the beach now? Still a tearoom? cheers

**Velox** · 2nd May 2006, 22:31

Originally Posted by Lord Derosso

Whats the ride like out to Makara now a days ? I havent been out there for years. I had to wait to get new rubber on the GSX600F so I havent been out much more than a few rides over 30kms and keep meaning to go back out that way before the weather gets worse. Use to enjoy going out there years ago on a sunday ride. Whats at the beach now? Still a tearoom? cheers

It's real good - there's a stretch that they ripped the trees out beside and resealed months and months back and the loose gravel stayed there for ages so I still watch out for that a bit though. As for the tea-rooms, evidently they've changed ownership again but I haven't been there since.

Did the German gal have black dreads though? Just wondering if it was my neighbour (prob not).

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 22:40

Did the German gal have black dreads though? Just wondering if it was my neighbour (prob not).[/QUOTE]

Gee that was a long long time ago and she was just visiting and crashed at my pad.. is your friend a rider too? I am looking forward to doing Castlepoint again as I did that trip several times in the mid 80's and several of my riding friends have since died so want to revisit the site and do some fishing. Theres been a number of local riders commenting on the road been very good now.

**Velox** · 2nd May 2006, 22:44

Originally Posted by Lord Derosso

Gee that was a long long time ago and she was just visiting and crashed at my pad.. is your friend a rider too? I am looking forward to doing Castlepoint again as I did that trip several times in the mid 80's and several of my riding friends have since died so want to revisit the site and do some fishing. Theres been a number of local riders commenting on the road been very good now.

Ok so I take that as a no. Yeah she's a German 'tourist' who's recently been for a bit of a trip around the island on her bike.

Yep, Castle Point's beeeeautiful!