Rusty Nuts GC - Practice Rides

[ajturbo]

I will reserve judgement. I don't mind a bit of wet and wind but I'm not going to be silly about this!

OK.. but what time you due past foxton area???
i to will decide on the night wether the weather is "ok"..

[XP@]

9:15 ish

It looks like it may be a tad chilly... wear thermals

[ajturbo]

ice and me are not good mates... in fact i will go out of my to avoid them...
but then again it will only ice up at 0 deg....

please don't wait for me, if i am NOT at the Mobil garage waiting for you ... just ride on by...

[XP@]

Are we on for tonight?

I am at about 80% for a ride ...

[Hitcher]

I have had a rough week at work and am not currently mentally in the "zone" for a ride tonight, but may well be by 8:00pm! How's that for a vague and inconclusive response?

And this just to hand...

Severe Weather Warning

Press Release by MetService at 10:53 am, 25 Aug 2006

SOME HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED OVERNIGHT AND ON SATURDAY ABOUT MT TARANAKI AND THE TARARUAS

MetService is warning of a burst of heavy rain from Friday night through to about the middle of Saturday about Mount Taranaki and the Tararuas.

A fast-moving low is expected to move southeastwards over central New Zealand overnight, with its associated cold front crossing the southern North Island during Saturday morning. A moist northwest flow ahead of this front is expected to bring the heavy rain. Up to 120mm could fall about higher slopes of Mount Taranaki and the Tararuas in the 12 hours from midnight to midday Saturday, with 50-70mm about lower slopes.

The amount forecast is not excessively high for these areas, but people potentially affected, particularly recreational users, should watch out for rapidly rising rivers and streams.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO http://metservicecom/default/index.p...ndobservations

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS:

[XP@]

Risk management...

Back tyre is being replaced next week.
Severe rain warning
Hitcher not quite in the zone
XP@ not sure

Too many neg's therefore suggest postpone until next week?

Ok with you guys?

[Hitcher]

Sounds like a plan.

[ajturbo]

yer..
that would suit me better also...
last night i had to go and pick up luke from a school "dance" at 11.30pm.. got home and couldn't get back to sleep, for hrs... i am a bit sleepy...
getting old...

[XP@]

The ride happened!

Friday afternoon, called up Hitcher and made plans for 8:00 to 8:15 at the servo. I put the little one to bed at 7:55, gear on, good-byes and out the out the house at 8:07. Aggived at Shell Mana at 8:15, exact.

Down to business and up SH1, la de da de dum... I was just gettin restless when we turned off towards Shannon. Not much better, but less trucks and a few bends to wet the appitite. Why is Wellington so boring to exit? Mental note, find a fun route out.

A visor wipe in Ashurst and on to Vinagar Hill. Last time I ran this road was at night on the spider 1000 miler and I was not in a happy place. Not so last night, I found my place, the fire was lit! I was a bit disapointed, I remembered a bit more of a challenge from the road.

Back on to SH1 and back to the speed limit, well, speed limit ish. The weather could not be better, bright moon shine and not cold not too many others on the road. Just nice and quiet. I had a bit of an ooops moment coming on from passing a car and a big rig when I was trying to negotiate a bend and mixed up my hazzard lights with main beam, disco lights ain't that effective at illuminating the road. Passed Taihape and on to Waioru, quietly happy that my tank has lasted so far. A road work sign, some potholes and ... bugger who stole my corners? RIP to that set of bends, the comic relief just before the middle of nowhere.

Cold kiwi... ah, it is this weekend, forgot about that. The late arrival on the CB750 asks "are you off round the corner for the 'Kiwi'?" what a silly question, what else would I be doing in Waioru at 11:30pm? "Yup, but i urr forgot my pack so I'm off back to wellington to get it."

Ohakune and then the Para Paras, sweet road, but I need another cog, on second thoughts I think I am going fast enough. The sign said bendy 50+ km's the next sign 50+km's severe weather damage and roadworks. A pattern started to emerge, the big rocks on the left, washouts on the right, the middle ok, mostly and a 30 sign if things got really bad. Then there was the break in the pattern. No sign, down hill, right hand bend, in to gravel. Now awake, I looked back to make sure Mr Hitcher was still rubber side down, no worries on that score. A few km's later and no sooner had the gravel ended there was an extended family of sheep, complete with young'uns going for a stroll. As if that wasn't enough excitement for the minute, the second car in about 50km's decided to make it's appearence. Another fumbled moment with the switch gear and I managed to let out a warning peep on the horn.

A quick txt stop in Wanganui, rain from Levin to Otaki (including a small sideways moment on an 85k corner) and home at 3:10am.

total 557km's
6 hours 50mins
3 Petrol stops
2 minor stops
Overall average approx 80kph, not bad but could be better...

[ajturbo]

great write up !!!

thanks to Hitcher for the ph call....
am realy sorry now that i didn't go....but $$$ don't grow on the tree's around here.

would like to know when the next one is...(checking bank balance.. )

[Hitcher]

Hitcher has posted separately. He's funny like that...

[XP@]

Only a short while to go, time to rev up for the final shake down beofre the 1000 miler.

I was thinking about an 900 - 1100 km ride on fsaturday pm / night. Any one up for the challenge? if not then I will (hopefully) do it solo.

Perhaps this is a good one for a giggle

It should be about 800km. The WLG-New Plymouth-Taupo-Napier-WLG loop is just over 1,000km.

It is actually 1056Km (or 973 directly back from Taupo)
Aiming to up the ante a tad and make an 85km/h average (I don't want to be spending much more than 19 hours on the road on the 1000miler) Setting off at 1pm sat will see a return at 2am.

Mana - New Plymouth = 327
New Plymouth - Piopio = 140 (467)
Piopio - Taupo = 161 (628)
Then
Taupo - Napier = 140 (768)
Napier - Mana = 288 (1056)

Or
Taupo - Mana = 345 (973)

[Hitcher]

My weekends are now pretty stuffed between now and The Challenge. Otherwise most keen I would be.

A 80kmh rolling average for the Challenge is ambitious (completed in 20 hours), without wanting to step it up a notch to 85kmh. It is after all, not a race.

[Zapf]

I am coming to Wellington this weekend to get some riding fitness in and also to do with Great KB ride on the 1st Oct, so would been keen to meet up with you guys during the weekend. I will arrive in Wellington around Sat avo.

Let me know if you guys are keen to meet up and maybe T up a plan.

Cheers
Zapf

[Zapf]

Only a short while to go, time to rev up for the final shake down beofre the 1000 miler.

I was thinking about an 900 - 1100 km ride on fsaturday pm / night. Any one up for the challenge? if not then I will (hopefully) do it solo.

Perhaps this is a good one for a giggle


It is actually 1056Km (or 973 directly back from Taupo)
Aiming to up the ante a tad and make an 85km/h average (I don't want to be spending much more than 19 hours on the road on the 1000miler) Setting off at 1pm sat will see a return at 2am.

Mana - New Plymouth = 327
New Plymouth - Piopio = 140 (467)
Piopio - Taupo = 161 (628)
Then
Taupo - Napier = 140 (768)
Napier - Mana = 288 (1056)

Or
Taupo - Mana = 345 (973)

I would be keen to join you on a night ride on the weekend before GC as a final shake down on the weekend on the 7th, Oct. Can meet you at Te Kuiti, and ride along to Napier, before doubling back Napier to Taupo and back to Auckland.

Let me know if you are keen, and if anyone else is reading this I would say you are more than welcome to join in.

Cheers
Zapf