13th Jan - A little newbie ride

[sexy beast]

well its quite a generous offer by kittyhawk to organise this. good on you. yea i guess its definitely upto the rider. if you feel you can last the ride by all means go for it but if not then dont push it. every ride is a different experience whether a 5 min fling around the block or a 5 hour cruise. ofcourse like she said there will be stops and its not goin to be a fast ride. every person has a mind of their own and can think for themselves you dont have to depend on others to make a decision for you or be led by their decision. you decide what you want to do and thats whats most important.

[Big Dog]

Sorry to pour water...That seems a very long way for a newbie ride!! Sorry I won't be ready to go that far just yet. It takes 2.5 hours to get to Tauranga in the car!! Then you have to come back!

If your going to book a rookie ride that far I suggest you also orgainise some beds in advance that anyone who finds it too far when it is too late to turn back has some where to stay.

Many has been the ride where I felt fresh at one stop then deathly at the next. There has also been many a day that I pushed on because of expectation then made really dumb decisions.

Those days are fewer as I age because I care less what others think but you kind of have to kill a few KM's before you know the difference between pushing a bit and taking a risk.

I will not be able to make it due to my next exam being scheduled for that day.

A longer ride is a great idea for learning what works, just take care to provide for those not as fit as they think.

Anyone in Tauranga able to offer a bed / floor / couch if needed?

Tips for those who have never ridden that far.
- If you don't normally ride with a pack rack get some kms down before you load one.
- Keep as little weight as possible on your back.
- Bungy your back pack to your pillion seat if you can.
- Take a hot drink if you will be out after dark, the heat and sugar help a lot in the sudden drop of temp.
- Start out taking a break every 45 mins and stretch that out by 10 mins at a time until you find your fitness.
- Fill up at your first stop / the start.
- Fill up 10% earlier than you think you need to, out of Auckland many gas stations close at odd hours some as early as 4:30.
- Stretch at the beginning and at every stop.
- Take on water and low GI food at every stop ( a mouth full of food eg 1/4 of an apple, and at least 250ml of water.)
- Adjust all your controls that bug you before you leave, if it is annoying on a short trip it is a pain in the **** at long distance.
- Get a good nights sleep - lay off the alcohol and caffeine.
- Earplugs - best 50c you will spend on a long trip.

Before you leave, have you got / done:
- Enough gas money? More than you think you need?
- Numbers to call if you get laid over for the night?
- More water than you think you can drink or the means to buy more?
- WOF and REG?
- A bike likely to last the distance?
- The tool kit that came with the bike or similar?
- Checked your cold tyre pressure within 24 hours of departure?
- Checked your fluids?
- Battery in good order?
- Bulbs all going?
- Someone who knows where you are going and when you are likely to get back?
- Your drivers license?

Think this is too much, perhaps it is. Most of us can counter for one less than perfect situation for 250kms, but no one wants to.

If the objective is to learn from your ride team up with someone of similar skill and someone of higher skill and debrief after each stage.

[duckaddict]

Most informative post for this thread yet, thanks Big Doggy

[Zapf]

Good call guys.

Quasi, good call too.
FYI on my 1st KB ride and I had only done 50km on my 250. And I was lead all the way thru the backroads from AB to Kopu and to Waihi and back in pouring rain.

But yes being well prep for something like this is important.

[Toaster]

Tips for those who have never ridden that far.
...
Think this is too much, perhaps it is. Most of us can counter for one less than perfect situation for 250kms, but no one wants to.

If the objective is to learn from your ride team up with someone of similar skill and someone of higher skill and debrief after each stage.

Great post dude. Excellent to see this being said. Good luck with a safe ride people.

[Quasievil]

ooops just read my posts it may seem a bit edgy, not intended to be sorry.
late at night and tired

[Big Dog]

If people really want to go for a ride nothing we say is going to stop them.
As has been said many times on this site you cannot reason a man out of what he was not reasoned into in the first place.

Best we can hope for is that their planning will be thourough.

For a ride of this length fail to plan and you plan to fail.

I may have missed stuff, if so can the more experienced riders please put your recommenations in here.

If you have never done 200+kms in the same day have a back up plan..
Even if you have, wear all of your gear!
Better a little thirsty than cold or gravel rashed.

[Ixion]

It depends of course on what is meant by "newbie". But for a novice, a 500km may be ambitious.

500km on a GN250 is certainly doable, but could prove taxing as a first long trip, in one day.

Perhaps the group could split at , say, Paeroa, with the less ambitious part returning via (say) Thames, while the more hardy souls press on to Tauranga.

Werk commitments allowing I would be happy to volunteer my assistance, such little as it may be.

[crashe]

I understand where Scorpygirl is coming from.

She is a newbie rider........and she saw this thread and thought NO WAY!
And yes it is NO WAY for her to do this ride.
I am helping her learn to ride and she is only just getting out an about around some back streets near her home.

I would also say that Blondini isnt up to doing this ride either......
Reason she isnt even up to doing 100km per hour yet. She is only just getting a handle on doing 70km per hour. (Yep I am helping her as well)

So you have your novice riders (Scorpygirl, Blondini and others) to the newbie riders, who have maybe 3 to 6 months riding under their belt...... who can sit on a bike for up to 5 hours (including rests in between)

So I think when people start up "Newbie" rides say whether it is really suitable for the novice riders.....

Yep the novice riders will eventually get out there and do some newbie rides..... but they have to get the experience under their belt first doing short rides out there.


I have been back riding for 7 years and I am happy to do "Newbie" rides as I always ride slow (Queen of slow rider) and will never be up with the real fast riders...... cos I just love to cruise out there.

[MattRSK]

A fit newbie could ride all day and night.

[Zapf]

So you have your novice riders (Scorpygirl, Blondini and others) to the newbie riders, who have maybe 3 to 6 months riding under their belt...... who can sit on a bike for up to 5 hours (including rests in between)

So I think when people start up "Newbie" rides say whether it is really suitable for the novice riders.....

Well said. In this case it is a ride for Newbie / Novice long distance riders.

It is considered a long day trip. Usually if the person has the will to ride, then there is a way. We stop every hour and a bit or two and have a lie down if people get tired, as long as they are well feed and watered there is nothing wrong.

Of course, I expect there bike and riding gear to be up to certian standard. Perhaps an inspection at the start of the ride to be suitable.

note with riders getting tired, they'll learn to corner the bike with lesser but more effective input. It teachs them long distance riding..

[Kittyhawk]

Great feed back guys!!

Yes for a novice rider a trip to Tauranga is something I wouldn't reccomend. Going one way on a Suzuki FXR 150 was to much for the bike, rider and her ass!! *back in the day*

However, If the novice riders would like to come along and go part of the way just to Matarangi Bay then Kawakawa bay and back that'll be fine. It's a short distance, and there is a takeaway shop in Kawakawa bay for refreshments.

Nothing a novice rider couldnt handle traveling to Kawakawa bay and back.

And yes for the more passionate newbie rider who likes a bit of a challenge then just ride down with us.

We will stop at most towns, to see how everyone is and if there are any who want to turn back. Shesh - I turned around and came back to Akl while on the northland ride on Thursday as I was knackered!! (so we all do it at some stage )

Just enjoy the ride no matter how far ya go! But always ride within your limits.

[skidMark]

good info big dog

but if your lazy like me...have just enough gas money if your poor save for the whole week like i used to to just go on the thursday night ride.....

or ride with rich people lol jokes

and take a cellphone......preferably with IOU still remaining cus i was always too poor for credit and used the IOU.....

then again i ride kawasakis and they have never ever ever let me down...well not to a state that i had to push them home or anything always got them running eventually..... **mumbles ....f***king gpx** mumble mumble sumthin derogatory **

BUT ZXR'S ARE OUR FRIENDS

and before youy ask....

i have not even had one drop of alcohol tonight.....

nor any illegal substance

i'm just a socially outkast retard....wtf would i know...

take big dogs advice.....

but knowing my luck i would do all that and forget my helmet.

[Kittyhawk]

Oops stuffed up!

[Kittyhawk]

And dont forget to check to make sure your chain is lubed up.

Last thing you need is a link giving out, and causing trouble in the middle of no where and then you have no chain.

Even if it means making yourself a check list, and going through things the day before.

I'll have my pack rack on if anyone runs out of space in their bags etc. Also I'll be carrying the first aid kit for the bike (co2 bottles, puncture repair kit, water, chain lube, chocolate, water, and cellphones)

If someone has a medical first aid kit (for humans) feel free to bring it along as I dont have one.

One other thing, if you have wet weather gear, and the weather looks doubtful, bring it. You can never predict this one and it's always good to be prepared.

Should be a good day