When an adventure ride turned trail

[Transalper]

Hi there, well on Saturday 9th December some of us hooked up with some non KBers (we are working on converting them) for an Adventure in the Canterbury foot hills.
As you may or may not know, the weather on this fateful day was not the best. It rained some, looked like it was going to clear, heck I swear I even saw sun for a short time and blew, rained, sleeted and snowed (not necessarily in that order) on us the rest of the day.
The fun began as i heard it with several people (both inexperienced and experienced) nipping off to get wet weather gear from such shops as the Warehouse. Next after collecting me (being that i was on Trail bike, lucky chioce IMO) our own GL soaked himself by entering a ford with a little too much enthusiasm also causing the mighty CRM to die on exit.
Next issue several km's latter saw a scrounge about toolkits for several chain joining links to repair the same CRM after it spat it's chain.
Back on the road again and no more drama for a while. Once we reached the base of operation for the day (the shearing shed, see photo), we unloaded spare fuel, had a snack and started up the first track.
Our 'Adventure Ride' quickly become quite a challenge for the bigger adventure bikes, tyres and weight were big defining things on the track which as expected with all the rain were very slippery. The ride itself reminded me very much of the actual Trail rides held around the country, an so i was greatful i was on the smallest, lightest bike with the best mud tyres of us all.
In videos to come there will be lots of wheels spinning, bikes slipping, mud and water and snow, but for now I give you PLUG's photos and an almost 3 minute video of how river crossings can go a bit wrong when you're thinking more about better positioning for videoing the next guy crossing. With out a thought as to actually crossing safely, I just dive on in... literally.
BTW. Farmer Brown so I understand doesn't want his details spread all over the net so we have been told a little descretion is needed as to where we actually went... sorry.

[Transalper]

The spread of bikes went something like... 3 F650 Dakars, 1 F650 Funduro, 1 CRM250, 1 CRF230, 1 XR650, 1 DR650, 1 WR450, 1 XRV750 Africa Twin, most impressed at his (The Tourists) effort on that terrain. Also a TT250, an old TT500 and i feel like i've forgotton some.

[Transalper]

So for the first video, there is a low quality attachment or the YouTube Way... (either way can be played in full screen, Youtube is the better picture this time)


For those new to YouTube...To zoom Youtube to full screen you click to the YouTube logo in the bottom right corner of the player above, that takes you to the YouTube page and then you use the button in the bottom right of the player on that page to zoom to full screen and another window pops up to play it big. As always it takes a while if you're not on Broadband to load YouTube videos. (and that's why i attached the 5mb DivX version below)

[MyGSXF:Me]

woops ......

[xwhatsit]

Wow, that is really cool! I've never really felt any urge to get offroad before, but after seeing those photos, and watching that video, I want a trail bike! Beautiful scenery as well... I'm an Auckland boy, but I've always thought the South Island is the real New Zealand.

I laughed out loud at that last biker... I think it's the XRV750 Africa. Poor bastard! I can easily see myself doing something like that ^_^.

[paulj]

Great Stuff Trans ... luuuuve the helmet cam - this is what it's all about - your vid has gone into my archives and I'm ordering myself a helmet cam!! (LOL).

What we need now is engine data feedback, wetsuits and a couple of air tanks!

Wish I'd been there with you all ... more more

[Crisis management]

Great write up and pics! Not the sort of action we can easily get around Auckland, I'm moving down your way!

[upshift]

Many thanks for sharing Trans, that's a trail ride in my books so well done to all, especially the big bikes. Excellent vid and top marks for the way you have done it. Jeez, I bet that water was friggen cold.
ride on ......

[cooneyr]

Awsome TA,

I think the pics and vid captured the day well. Seems I was close to running on water to get to you LOL. Thats a classic vid. Looking forward to the full version hint hint.

Only one thing you forgot - the hail - we got every type of precipitation!

It was a WR450 and a TT500 and that was all of us.

Cheers
R

[Transalper]

lol, cheers guys, this is one of my favourate short clips so far.
There definately will be another video here to follow, a more general overview of the rest of our trip, so stay tuned. Maybe in late January by the time i get it done.

[XP@]

Great effort, thanks for sharing Transalper! I've done the same, but without the cam ;-)

Dear Santa,

Please put a helmet cam in my stocking this year.


Many thanks

XP@

P.S. I would like one like the one used in this really cool video
P.P.S. I think Transalper could do with some dry undies & socks to go with his camera ;-)

[cooneyr]

P.P.S. I think Transalper could do with some dry undies & socks to go with his camera ;-)

I think he needed more dry stuff than that! Was bloody lucky the camera didn't get dunked so we still have the footage to prove the incident is real.

R

[Ghost Lemur]

I'll post the couple of pics tonight but here's my writeup from my first true adventure ride.

Started off at the crack-o-dawn slightly hungover from getting home at 1:45am from a work dinner. Got soaked on the way to the meeting point. So at the last moment made a dash to the warehouse to get some overpants (spot the bright yellow in the pics). I had been planning on getting wet weather pants but figured being summer it could be lower down on my list.

Everyone else (except for PLUG) had gone by the time I got back, so I flung on the pants and PLUG and I took off in hot pursuit. Caught up with everyone at the start of the gravely stuff, and it wasn't long before I provided the first lot of entertainment. Thought I was alright for the water crossing, but went in with way too much speed and it was slightly deeper than I expected. So over the water came and I stalled right at the end. Managed to keep the bike upright, tested the waterproofness of my new Sidi Discovery's (will do a more substantial review on these puppies when I get a chance). Managed to kick it over and continue on my way, with the wise advice of "slow in, fast out".

Slightly embarrased and nervous I was easing along trying to find the groove and relax. Going up a slight gravel incline I heard that metal breaking sound no one likes to hear. All of a sudden I'm trying to continue and getting no response. My first thought was I had fuxed my gearbox, so I was despirately trying to find a working gear.

I was therefore quite releved when I was informed that I no longer had a chain. Stopped the bike and a huddle began to form, discussing options. PLUG the legend had a chain breaker, one of the other guys had some spare links. So I got to observe (and undo a few nuts) a true adventure roadside repair. I was initially going to turn tail and head home, but it was discussed some more and decided that it would be fine for me to continue.

So Continuing on slowly and nervously, finally made it to the Woolshed. Relieved I had a quick bite to eat and cigarette before we went on the first track.

Started to slowly put the morning entertainment behind me and enjoy where I was, what I was doing. Enjoyed following the WR up the muddy grass assent, started getting into the snow and things became a bit more difficult. A lot of hardwork and a ton of support later I was up where you see in the photos. Bit of rest, piss and a smoke later. TA flew past on up further (you have some serious skills).

It was time to head down. Although I'd been nervous etc up til now, this was the first time I was scared. Decents are not currently one of my strong points even on seal. I think it's because I don't yet have confidence in the bikes abilities (and even less in my own). So the decent on snowed, slippery grass and mud on the side of a hill was a worry. I used the advice I'd been given and managed to make it down unscathed to the grass section.

Paused there for a while, took a couple of pics and watched what was going on up in the snow. Then continued down towards the bottom. Had almost made it when the front went into a rut, lost my balance and went for a little tumble down the hill side. Thankfully due to being exhausted I was relaxed and so picked myself up unscathed and went and lifted the bike for what seemed like the hundredth time.

At the bottom it was suggested I should head back to the Woolshed, have a rest, maybe a bit of a play by myself, etc. I took this as sound advice rather than a big fuck-off. To be honest if the suggestion hadn't been made I'd a probably just perservered until I physically couldn't anymore (not considering the fact that I'd still have to get out and home again too).

So I meandered my way back to the Woolshed, enjoying the scenary, trying different things in order to let the bike do the work rather than me. Only dropped the bike once, and that was just a silly error. Had to open a few gates on the way, and this one in particular I came to on a decent and had issues getting netural. Gentally rested the front wheel against the gate as I was releasing the clutch. Got in into netural, put the sidestand down. Hoped off and opened the gate and heard the now familiar thud behind me. Of course being on a decent when I opened the gate that the front wheel was resting against, gravity took over and the bike rolled forward, kicking the sidestand up.

A bit of riding with cows later I was back to the relative warmth and comfort of the Woolshed. Changed into my spare thermals and jeans, had a bit of food, took some pics and looked around. When everyone else returned it was decided most were going to do a third track.

I decided to head home, although I would have loved to continue, I decided to err on the side of caution given the eventful day it had been.

I really enjoyed the ride out, and was able to notice the scenery a bit more than the way in. With hindsight I made the right decision as my clutch hand went not long after I got onto the seal. Stopped with the Tourist at the inital meeting point and had a coffee, chatted about the day.

Got home, hosed the bike and myself before having a nice hot shower.

Conclusion: A great day, with more challenges than I could have imagined (both mental and physical). A huge thanks to PLUG for organising the ride and inviting me. Big thanks to all those who helped with tools, parts, know-how in getting me going, not to mention the hand-holding and tons of great advice I was given throughout the day. This is why I wanted to get into group rides, I look forward to the day when I'm one of the experienced ones able to help others out.

Biggest thanks to my Wife who worked hard getting time off so I could go out and play, and still let me go even though she was sick.

Big thanks to cooneyr whos offered to come out to the waimak for an afterwork ride and help me work on my onbike fitness, technique, etc.

Bring on the next one.

Final word - well done to anyone whos read through this whole post.

[SDU]

Great write up guys. & Awesome pics & Movies.
TA have you been getting bike cleaning lessons of FQ.
Looks like you all had a awesome day, even if it was a bit bloody
Good on you GL for knowing when to call it quits, I know how hard it is to say no more, but it saves on a lot of bruising.
Hope to see more on the ride later.
Hey Plug thanks for taking the time to organise the ride even if we didn't make it.

[Flyingpony]

Sounds like you all had fun. Reminds me what I got up to as a young lad.

I trust your bikes all got washed clean for that river snot stuff between each river crossing. That fact is kind of putting me off from further out back adventures by bike or 4wd (excluding that fact that none of my rides are suitable/going for that terrain at the moment).