Bendiest road in NZ

[XP@]

Continental have done a study in the UK, to find the bendiest road in the UK.
http://www.conti-online.com/generato...troads_en.html

This got me thinking... I'm sure we can match, if not beat their offerings...
Their #1 road looks like this: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=...mmon&cid=&om=1

Makara to Johnsonville is my offering, but I'm sure there is better than that

Your suggestions please...

[Jantar]

I can think of lots of possible roads, but what is the measurement criteria. Is it simply the number of bends over a set distance? Or is it the degrees of turn in a set distance? Do two consecutive 45 degree turns count as bendier if they are in opposite directions.

Does one turn of 90 degrees count as being bendier than two 45 degree turns? And what length of road are we considering?

[Jeremy]

"Four runs, two in each direction, at a constant 30 mph, allowed the researchers to calculate the bendiest one mile section of the road, measured by the average lateral force impulse, calculated in kiloNewton seconds (kNs). "

[sugilite:Me]

My experience it is the Akatarawas between Upper hutt and Waikanae, in fact it was my favourite road and I did it over 200 times when I lived in Paraparaumu and was a Rimituka refugee! I tell you, when you went through that road, the takas were made to feel like a 6 lane highway!

[XP@]

I can think of lots of possible roads, but what is the measurement criteria. Is it simply the number of bends over a set distance? Or is it the degrees of turn in a set distance? Do two consecutive 45 degree turns count as bendier if they are in opposite directions.

Does one turn of 90 degrees count as being bendier than two 45 degree turns? And what length of road are we considering?

urrrr thats technical...

Researchers tested a shortlist of ten roads – nominated by the readers of a leading car magazine – the length and breadth of mainland Britain. A standard Vauxhall Astra 1.4 with Continental ContiSportContact2 tyres was fitted with state of the art measuring equipment and an on-board computer to record forward speed and lateral acceleration. Four runs, two in each direction, at a constant 30 mph, allowed the researchers to calculate the bendiest one mile section of the road, measured by the average lateral force impulse, calculated in kiloNewton seconds (kNs).

We just want BENDY roads... you know the one near you where as soon as you are out of one corner there are two more to take it's place.
I guess for it to be worth taking a look at:
* Min 2.5kms
* Not a street
* Sealed / Unsealed should be separate categories

Then if you really wanted to get technical you could work out a formula based on the length of the road, number of bends and the average degree of turn. But for now a good list of really hard core tiwsty roads would be interesting. (as long as Lee Rusty dosent see it before the next 1000 miler)

[Jantar]

"Four runs, two in each direction, at a constant 30 mph, allowed the researchers to calculate the bendiest one mile section of the road, measured by the average lateral force impulse, calculated in kiloNewton seconds (kNs). "

Yes, I saw that, but that is only a measure of average lateral force on the tyres at a constant 30 MPH. By that standard a road with a single very tight hairpin would rate as being bendier than a similar stretch with two 90 degree elbows.

I also note that the measurement is over a single mile. That hardly counts as a road. My vote would go to a stretch of road just south of Kaitaia. Aproximately 90 kms of continuous 55 kmh bends (and I think lee Rusty already knows of it).

[T.W.R]

Got these two pics of the ChCh favourite play roads; Akaroa GP & the Summit rd & Bays.

1) Akaroa Gp from Cooptown to Barry's Bay = continual 25kmh & 35kmh indicated corners blind corners etc, mix of uphill & downhill

2) Summit Rd & Bays mix of 25kmh & 35kmh corners, decreasing radius bends blind corners etc, uphill & downhill

[Karma]

I'm thinking the mountain road leaving coromandel heading to whitianga... that's a twisty bit of road.

[Jantar]

Around the East cape. All the way from Opotoki to Gisbourne.

[inlinefour]

my favourite is Stratford, well Douglas to Wangamomina(sp) and back. Anyone who says it aint a good ride is a wuss. Sure there are others out there just as good, just not in my back yard...

[Rashika]

2) Summit Rd & Bays mix of 25kmh & 35kmh corners, decreasing radius bends blind corners etc, uphill & downhill

This has 100% my vote, and not to mention damn good views just there to put you off at times.

[Insanity_rules]

My experience it is the Akatarawas between Upper hutt and Waikanae, in fact it was my favourite road and I did it over 200 times when I lived in Paraparaumu and was a Rimituka refugee! I tell you, when you went through that road, the takas were made to feel like a 6 lane highway!

Total agreement, the aka's have got to be the most twisty narrow lil goat track I have ever seen! Doesnt stop me riding it though, lots of fun.

[WildBoarMouse]

There's a spot down in the South Island... south west area, that had the bendy road squiggle sign with 85km under it. I took a photo at the time but it's not here at work... It might have been between the glaciers and coming through the central part of the Haast pass. Anyone else know the area?

[erik]

The bendiest road I know of is the section of SH12 that goes through Waipoua forest (north of Dargaville). I'm not sure how many k's it is, possibly around 10km based on the map. It's corner after corner after corner, all low speed stuff (like 15-35km/h if they were signposted I would guess).
Almost too twisty, but then I prefer slightly too twisty than more open sweepers and straights.
It's twistier than the coro loop, SH22, and Scenic Drive which are the other twistiest roads I know of.

[idb]

Queen Charlotte Sound is probably the longest bendy bit I can think of.
Would be brilliant on a two fiddy or five hundred.