The Great Auckland L-Plate Sunday Ride (28 January)

[Karma]

Someone suggest a way to get rid of a sore/tickly throat STAT. Because I do NOT want to ruin a day of riding with a bad cold that I feel coming on

How about a nice fresh glass of harden the fuck up? Bikers these days...

CC rating is limited to 250 as per L plate conditions, however do feel free to remove a plug lead if this will bring you within the required rating.

I was going to come out to play, but I'd have to remove three...

[Mamba]

As we are trying to promote the joys and splendour of riding with the L plate on, then your question is answered.

CC rating is limited to 250 as per L plate conditions, however do feel free to remove a plug lead if this will bring you within the required rating.

(Of course, our esteemed Guest riders will have an exemption from these conditions...)

I'd love 2 come 4 a ride, but I have my restricted, and dont feel like buying an L plate again. Is that cool, or should I skip this one?

[Folcan]

Well Im not on my learners anymore (got my full) however I still have a 250 :P... as its pretty close to where I stay I would like to join

[Chisanga]

We had a nice ride today. Just the three of us; Donor, Minnie and I, although as we were talking who should turn up to say "Hi" but McJim

We cruised out through Maraetai too Clevedon and ran into McJim and Chickadee again who joined our group through the HUnua Gorge and on to Waiuku for lunch at the Kentish.

On the way home at the lights outside the Village 8 Manakau (Gt Sth Rd) I was behind a black WRX that went straight through a red light and collected a young chap driving his daughter home after the movies. Luckily everybody was ok and I gave him my number as a witness. Unfortunately though he must have been very shaken up because as he was going to leave he reversed into my bike at what seemed 100km/h but most have been quite slow.

No visible damage but I stopped off at Mcjim's on the way home and he took my bike out for a test drive and ascertained their was no major problem. Thank god!!

So an exciting end to a good day. Thanks to Donor and Minnie, McJIm and Chickadee and Zeocen for riding out to Waiuku to ride back with us.

Will think about organising a more general 250 ride on one of the weekends of my holiday in a few weeks, so stay tuned.

[zeocen]

I must apologise for not turning up at the right time, had some issues last night and only managed to get to bed around 4:30am, I then texted Donor to see if everyone was still riding and sure enough you were, so I thought bugger it! It's a good day, a few hours sleep and a cold won't keep me away from a good ride (although wtf@some of the roads out waiuku, almost ice skating on the shineys).

Just as I got into waiuku I saw McJim and Chickadee head off home, he gave me a hearty wave and I pointed to him and waved back then met up with Donor and crew at the pub.

Wasn't very talkative due to the echo of my own voice from blocked nose and ears hehe, but still a good ride nevertheless!

Sucks to hear about your close call Chisanga, glad there was no damage!

[Minnie]

Blimin heck Chisanga that was an interesting end to the ride today, glad to hear you and your bike wern't hurt.......

Thanks again to Donor for organising this ride, nice to meet you all and catch up with Chickadee and McJim again, i certainly enjoyed the tickytouring about thank goodness you knew where you were going Donor as i was lost quite a bit of the time..not that that is actually anything new with me when i go riding, hubby reckons i should put a GPS on the bike ( he likes buying new toys), till next time, take care and ride safe

[Disco Dan]

Hiya all, sounds like you had a great ride! I saw so many bikes out today! mostly 2-3 in a group all over auckland! Could not make it as I was picking up my new beast this afternoon.

[zeocen]

I would give bling to both Donor for his organisation and Jim for his ultra-wave but it seems I'm out of greens to give Sorry guys.

Although I'm fairly recluse at bike meets and whathaveyou, please don't mistake it as arrogance, I'm just a very shy person so I hope no one takes it the wrong way when I sit there and become a fly on the wall to other peoples conversations

[gijoe1313]

Wah! I'm missing so many rides - damn holidays, I do less riding than when I'm working (long story, suffice to say it's due to my inner ricer)

Crikey! That story of reversing into you resonates with me...'cept it was when I was in Wellywood attending the funerals of UncleB and LooseBruce, I was about to turn left and fark me if a boy racer hooned around a corner. I braked ... and the dippy lady behind me "bumped" into me.

Pull off to the side of the road, and to her credit, she did too - I gave it the old Mk I eyeball and pushy-bouncey test and all was good. Her explanation? "Oh, I just thought you were going to take off - I didn't see the oncoming car and thought you were gone already" A classic "I didn't see you" response?

Big ups to all and sounds like Mav is going to be out of a job soon!

[Donor]

Hey everyone, thank to those that rode yesterday.

After being *ahem* fashionably late to pick Minnie up, we enjoyed a nice pootle from Drury to the BP, but not before encountering a longish stretch of the most god awful road works on a suburban Papakura rd.

Finally made our way to BP and saw a Chisanga shaped biker checking tire pressures, so topped up with liquid go fast, and headed to the parking area.

Chewed the fat for a bit (don't worry, I have plenty left...) then watched as a leather clad tartan whirlwind appeared on the forecourt.

When it became apparent that it was the 3 of us, we departed toward Maraetai/Clevedon, with the thought that we might just happen across McJim and Chickadee somewhere in our pootlings.

Anyhoo, pulled up at the Shell in Clevedon, and lo! 26 seconds later we had increased to 4 L plates and a McJim.

In keeping with the spirit of biking, the (semi) planned route to Pukekohe via Papakura was biffed out the window rather un-ceremoniously, so we headed out toward the Hunua Gorge via Monument Rd, then onward, to Waiuku!

Other than a slight incident with McJim managing to ride fast enough that his wing mirror wound itself undone, and I managed to prove that dead possums are still vindictive little buggers when they deliberately die in a riding line, it was a good but somewhat slower than normal chug out to Waiuku, where we availed ourselves of the fine refreshments at the Kentish.

McJim and Chickadee were first to go, alas babysitters etc... I began fielding texts from Zeocen who had been unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances. Kudos to Zeocen, managed to gear up, and get to the Kentish in just on 45 minutes. Not bad going for a non-rocketer!

So a Coke or 2 later, and some more fat chewed, Minnie peeled off with a hiss and a roar, the might of the GN on power for all of Waiuku's citizenry to appreciate and be in awe of.

Shortly after, Chisanga, Zeocen and myself all saddled up and buggered off, going back via Kingseat.

Bloody good day, felt strange being so new and yet at the front of the pack. Very paranoid, and got a bit of a crick in my neck looking in my mirrors every 10 seconds, but most enjoyable day, and looking forward to the next ride!

See you all at the Westpac ride on the 11th of February!

Thanks to Minnie, Chisanga, McJim, Chickadee and Zeocen (belated, but good to ride at east halfway with you) for the day.