South Auckland Thursday Night Ride

[idleidolidyll]

8.20am:

I'll be leaving home for the autobahn in 15 mins.

[idleidolidyll]

Well it aint raining in the autobahn cafe and the mocha is great.
I'll bugger off about 10

[scottjpalmer]

Well it aint raining in the autobahn cafe and the mocha is great.
I'll bugger off about 10

Have a good ride, I'm going to pike for now but will probably head out later if anyone is keen.

Clearing to the south-west of Puke, still pretty crappy south-east.

[idleidolidyll]

Choice!
Damp roads when we left but barely any rain all the way.
Sitting at the Coroglen in glorious sunshine.

You slack bastards done your chores yet?

[caseye]

Choice!
Damp roads when we left but barely any rain all the way.
Sitting at the Coroglen in glorious sunshine.

You slack bastards done your chores yet?

Slack , isn't the word!.

Roads super slippery where we went today, being in the heart of the Meremere swamps was no fun today, rain squalls everywhere.
Rangiriri pub couldn't do eftpos and had a full house of hot rodders so we bailed from there up to the Muddy,lunched here then off to Tuakau and then home, not an ideal days riding but better than sitting at home.
C u an Stu on Thursday night then.
That road between Maungatauwheri and mercer is not too bad in the wet,great the otehr day when it was dry.
One for a Thursday nighter I reckon.

[idleidolidyll]

We went thru the hunuas, then across the lake waikare rd, back up toward tahuna but with a gravel road detour just because we had a rubber band drive rider. tahuna to paeroa, over to waihi with a detour on the other side of the river, up to whangamata, to hikuai and stopped at coroglen for food. Round the top of the coro and back home via kaiaua and kawakawa bay.

just under 500km.

a little rain, didn't actually get wet.
both had a few rear wheel spin ups, stu had a front go zip but no scars and no real drama.

a good day riding beats doing the chores anyday

[Lula]

I rode north through the Kaiawa windees in the rain this evening. Looked like a tractor had been through leaving a trail of oil. Not ideal in the dark!

[scottjpalmer]

Good stuff idol n Stu, glad I left you to it though sounds like a good ride.

[idleidolidyll]

I rode north through the Kaiawa windees in the rain this evening. Looked like a tractor had been through leaving a trail of oil. Not ideal in the dark!

was pretty greasy when we went through too. It was also around 5pm and the road was cold and wet.

[caseye]

Obviuosly you weren't travelling too fast then aye Lula, lol sorry couldn't resist.A great road in summertime with a bit of temp in it but come winter shes a right Biatch! Especially if some nice person has laid oil all over it, pleased to hear you got home safe.
We nearly went that way this arvo. glad now that we didn't, anyone travelling the Mercer to Onewhero roads take care at the top of the first major hill road works and loose metal on the road sides everywhere, some of it out in the roadway, c u guys and gals, on Thursday night.

[Lula]

Obviuosly you weren't travelling too fast then aye Lula, lol sorry couldn't resist.

Hehe, I'll be honest it was hard while doing a wheelie at a 100km in the rain

[sharper_XB]

Thanks Idle was an epic jaunt yesterday, but must admit was pretty knackered at the end of it as you could probably tell with me lagging well back along the coast through Kaiaua to Clevedon, we traveled some good roads when it dried out a bit. Yeah 5 k's into it and my front wheel decided to head south and my balls shrunk to peanuts, was a timely reminder that I'm not as brave as I used to be, was good times watching Idle's rear end drifting around corners on numerous occasions. The XBr's rubber band isn't the best thing to take adventure riding, reminded me of an appropriate picture (see attached)... and my wife saying yeah sure go for a ride Sunday didn't quite equate to a "Day Pass" as I found out when I got home, oh well the dog has some company in his kennel again.

[prettybillie]

What the bloody hell are you guys and girls playing at?
No one is ever expected to ride as hard or as fast as the lead bikes.
The lead bikes have and always will, stop and wait at major intersections if required.
Speed is not the reason they're the lead bikes, their skills and proficency mean they' are simply quicker and as safe as they can be doing it, than new riders with no experience.
Night riding is a skill that needs to be practiced, how fast is entirely up to the individual riders concerened.
If SATNR has a or any rule , it's essentially that!
"Individuals ride at their own pace and no one is left behind".
I've ridden behind the main bunch for almost a year now and never had any problems with how fast or slow the riders in front were going.As the last one to the next major intersection, when I roll in it's usually taken as read that everyone is present.
The system (loose as it is) works, it has as long as I've ridden with SATNR.
The bins that have happened lately are reminders that inattention and inexperience will get you, so watch what you are doing,(this includes speed if it worries you) watch the road in front, the oncoming cars and look! hard for centre lines wet bits etc.
This is probably one of the more important reasons why we still ride at the same time on a Thursday night.
So those who feel they want to get better and more proficient at night riding can, in as safe an environment as possible.
Certainly it's why I'm never worried about taking the tail end charlie role, to see the newbies who arrive and ride and do it thier way and improve outa sight is awesome.
We ride together, we foster the youngsters and the newbies and if advice is sought we offer it to the best of our abilities.
So come on you lot, lets try and make sure that the riding experience is good for all and that as we always try to achive, we all get home safe and sound with some more experience and after having a damn fine time riding/socialising with our friends.

Thanks Caseye! I am concerned that we have riders saying - the speed needs to be at least 140k's. Joke or not - that is a really stupid thing to say and totally against what I thought this ride was all about.

As a relatively new rider I've really appreciated the likes of Caseye, Crazy Steve and Jafar who have looked after me, made fun of me (but never offended me) and have been instrumental in improving my riding skills. These guys are mondo experienced riders and have never had an issue with being TEC or waiting for us at major intersections!

If the attitude of we need a fast group and a slow group and the rides suck cause they are too slow, simply means that riders such as myself won't want to be involved anymore as one of the ways you learn is being with more experienced riders and mimiking their skills.

If you riders want to be mega fast and do stupid things - go and do it on your own ride - don't take the enjoyment and socialness out of the SATNR who really like it the way it is!

[Lula]

I am concerned that we have riders saying - the speed needs to be at least 140k's. Joke or not - that is a really stupid thing to say and totally against what I thought this ride was all about.

If the attitude of we need a fast group and a slow group and the rides suck cause they are too slow, simply means that riders such as myself won't want to be involved anymore as one of the ways you learn is being with more experienced riders and mimiking their skills.

If you riders want to be mega fast and do stupid things - go and do it on your own ride - don't take the enjoyment and socialness out of the SATNR who really like it the way it is!

WTF? This is hillarious, now there is mention of speeds at 140km. It has been very entertaining watching this post and watching how peoples perception of speeds evolve over the hours, sentences and days.

And who said anything about taking the enjoyment and socialness out of the SATNR?

My winge was that I hate being stuck up someones arse when it is slow, slippery and wet

[Ragingrob]

Pass them then lol?