Bored at work

**Bend-it** · 23rd August 2006, 09:54

Man I'm bored... anyone keen for a ride this afternoon? Say about 2pm?

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd August 2006, 10:36

I *wish* I was bored at work.... Got a bit to catch up on unfortunately! Im finishing work at 3.30 and heading out to TSS to pick up a clutch lever otherwise I would have been keen. Taking the day off tomoro and hangover depending I may be keen for a blat, especially with weather like todays!

**Bend-it** · 23rd August 2006, 10:42

Could head out to TSS together... you pick up clutch lever, I drool at bikes, how 'bout that? Only thing is that I'll have to hang around ANOTHER hr and half... *mumble mumble*...

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd August 2006, 10:45

Originally Posted by Bend-it

Could head out to TSS together... you pick up clutch lever, I drool at bikes, how 'bout that? Only thing is that I'll have to hang around ANOTHER hr and half... *mumble mumble*...

Could do, however I wont be hanging around as I have a very important date with a pub.... If you want to come out with me meet me at my bike outside the KPMG building at 3.30

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd August 2006, 11:14

Sorry dude, change of plans.... I have to pop home first so it wont be worth meeting me. Get out for a blat anyway, you'll regret it if you dont its such a beautiful day!!

**Bend-it** · 23rd August 2006, 13:34

Yeah I was about to post and say thatg I'll be heading out earlier... up the akatarawas over to W'nae, then back in... Paekak hill? hmmm... it's tempting...

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd August 2006, 13:35

Originally Posted by Bend-it

Yeah I was about to post and say thatg I'll be heading out earlier... up the akatarawas over to W'nae, then back in... Paekak hill? hmmm... it's tempting...

Niiice, get out there! Theres only a breeze and lots of sunshine so you'd be mad not to! Enjoy

**MikeyG** · 23rd August 2006, 17:35

May as well get out there now guys. Weather is meant to pack in again by the weekend.

**Wasp** · 23rd August 2006, 18:18

dont say that mikey, its not true!

i just did pahatanui inlet

**Biff** · 23rd August 2006, 23:32

Yup - ok.

I'll meet you outside the Pie Bin in Christchurch at 2.

If you're quick you'll catch there ferry in time.

**Bend-it** · 24th August 2006, 11:25

And what a ride it was!! First time over the Akatarawas, and it was nuts!! If you've been over, you know what I'm talking about... Otherwise, it's one lane the whole way, 33kms, and in many parts too narrow for 2 cars to pass each other! Throw in generous numbers of blind corners and there, the Akatarawas. My gripe is that it's not so much a question of ability taking the corners, delightfully weaving them together into a series of S bends, playing with the gears (250) to keep in the powerband etc... It's more a case of I hope there's nothing around this corner, I hope there's nothing around this corner, I hope there's nothing around this corner, I hope there's nothing around this corner, I hope there's nothing around this corner... Basically you gotta keep to the far left the whole time, and so can't get the speed up or bike down at all! And I did meet 4 cagers coming in the other direction, all driving sensibly, but seeing me sure gave a couple of them a fright!

On the plus side, it was very nice bush and coming out over the tops and have the valley open up into the coast was magical! It's a nice scemic route, definitely not a blatting route.

Coming back over the Paekaks on eth other hand, was amazing!! Tight bends on the summit road, but just sensible enough for the jollies without the jeebers. Even saw another bike coming down, red, looked like a Hyo GT650R? Not sure, our closure rate was brisk and didn't have alot of time to spy out his bike. Of course, the Paekak lookout was magical (see photo below)!

Carried on back at a cruisy pace and soon found an Evo7 and Skyline something behind me. I'd saw them at Lindale Farm before and left before them, so pulled left at a straight and let them pass, even got friendly "thank you" waves, which is always nice.

I've driven that road in my own (ahem ahem) 2l turbo 4wd machine and knew it was faster than me on my bike... But nowhere near as fun!!

Exitted via the Pauatahanui inlet and motorway-ed the rest of the way home. Much better than sitting in the office replying emails, I must say!