Grand Challenge excitement builds

**trevf** · 19th September 2004, 21:43

Yes Choice-just got my leave approved for the weekend of the grand challenge. This will be my second one. Will see you all there I will be on the gsx750f

**RiderInBlack** · 21st September 2004, 15:20

Have been wanting a crack at this for a while now. Have sent my entry form and made sure I have no work that Friday through to and encluding the Monday. So watch out RIB and The Heavy Hamster are on their way

**RiderInBlack** · 28th September 2004, 09:11

Originally Posted by RiderInBlack

Have been wanting a crack at this for a while now. Have sent my entry form and made sure I have no work that Friday through to and encluding the Monday. So watch out RIB and The Heavy Hamster are on their way

Got my starting time

4:02pm. Riding number 63. The Heavy Hamster is booked into the bike shop for Mon 4th. Getting new brake pads front and rear, and having them check the bearings. With probably pick up new P.Diab's at Cycletreads on my way down to Turangi for the GC on Friday 15th

.
Must kill a sheep for the seat. Has anyone tried possium skin on their bike seat (thought it would be as good as if not better than sheep skin)?

**Blackbird** · 28th September 2004, 17:20

Never tried possum skin but on the way down, stop at the country pottery shop on SH1 between Putaruru and Tokoroa. They sell sheepskin offcuts and also make custom seat covers. It cost me about $100 for the Blackbird for a custom cover and it's superb. The shop owner was the service manager for Love Yamaha in Hamilton, so he and his wife are very biker-friendly.

Best of luck!

Geoff

**RiderInBlack** · 28th September 2004, 18:11

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Never tried possum skin but on the way down, stop at the country pottery shop on SH1 between Putaruru and Tokoroa. They sell sheepskin offcuts and also make custom seat covers.......
Best of luck!

Geoff

Na, I thought I try running a possium down for the seat cover on me test runs over the next two weekends (Just kidding)

. I should have some sheep skin (and or some tanned possum skins) lying around the place some where (Brother might still have a possum skin spare or 2 as well).
I will be giving the bike a good going over myself this weekend. I take the fairrings of and see if I need to do any plastic welding on them (I've got fairly good at this now and have the right plastic rods for it). Have the brake pads and will be doing this myself (I'm very good at this job). While I'm replacing the brake pads and brake fluid, I will also o the clutch fluid (the CBR1000FL has a hydrolic clutch link).
biggest thing I'm worried about is getting conned in to a drunking sesion on the Friday night

, on the bases that I will not be starting my ride until Sat 4:02pm. Start this ride with a hang-over

would not be a smart move

(maybe next year

).

Thank Geoff for advice and best wishs. Will you be entering this year, if so I'll see you there.
Doug (RIB)

**Blackbird** · 28th September 2004, 19:39

Drink anything that helps you to sleep! I normally ride down on the Saturday morning then do the ride. Last year, I stayed at the cabins on the Friday night for the first time. I was a bit cold and didn't sleep that well out of my own bed at home so was stuffed in the morning anyway!

Nope, giving it a miss this year as I've covered less than 1000k's since last Xmas - how sad is that! Opting for a softer weekend riding in Coromandel. I'm on for the Southern Cross though as I haven't done that yet.

Take good care - you'll have a huge sense of pride when you finish, not to mention being stuffed, hurting and maybe waking up with screaming cramp in the middle of the night, hehe.

Geoff

**pete376403** · 28th September 2004, 20:12

A mate has a possum skin cover for the seat on his F650. Really really nice. H'es also got a possum skin neck warmer (his brothers partner was a costune maker for LoTR - they used lots of possums making furry bits and she had a fair bit left over).
Anyway the seat cover seems to take bad wether better than a sheepskin - doesn't get all ratty and stinky and end up like something the dog sleeps on.

**RiderInBlack** · 1st October 2004, 13:43

I have been running my tyres at 38psi front/42psi rear hot (about 36 front/40 rear cold) for day to day running. With the Grand Challange, I am planning to set an easier pace than my normal and not taking the corners too hard (so that I don't wear myself out trying to throw the Heavy Hamster about). Should I set my tyre pressure harder to take this in to account (for example 40psi front/44psi rear hot or about 38psi front/ 42psi rear cold)? I run P.Diab's and Honda's recommend psi for the CBR1000FL is 36psi front/ 42psi rear cold.

**RiderInBlack** · 7th October 2004, 09:11

Another rainy day:sneaky2: There goes my practice ride Sat (today's horses have had to be rebooked for Sat

). I was palnning to do Whangarei - Taupo and return (around 900Km or 560Miles), which is about half the distance

, on Sat. Well still have Sun

The Heavy Hamster is still in the shop (getting the big looking over). I had put it in on Mon, but they still had not started on it by Wed. They have had a new PC job sheet programme instilled, and it is giving them problems. So much for f*cken labour saving devices

Not getting the bike done is it

**Blackbird** · 7th October 2004, 14:41

I don’t know whether the attached chart example would be useful for any of the first-timers, but I used one on my first 1000-miler and it gave me some comfort that I was keeping on schedule. It’s amazing when you’re tired, a bit apprehensive and hurting how even simple maths gets hard and a picture makes it much easier. I didn’t use it on subsequent 1000 milers but it was handy for the first one.

The attached jpeg shows a 4pm start and two lines which represent schedules of 24 hours and 18 hours. The bottom axis is clock hours. If you look at midnight, you can see that you should have covered a bit over 500 k’s (533) for a 24 hour schedule and just over 700 (711) for an 18 hour schedule. Check it at every gas stop and as long as you keep above the 24 hour line, you’re fine!

Best of luck everyone – hope to see you on the Southern Cross.

Geoff

**trevf** · 7th October 2004, 18:49

Hi Rider in Black-dont worry about a practise ride. I was going to do one last year but the weather held me back. Just treat it as a series of long rides between checkpoints and enjoy the new friends you will meet. They are all a bloody good bunch of people-see you there-Trevor.

**matthewt** · 7th October 2004, 22:47

Originally Posted by Hitcher

At this stage the plan is to head off late morning/lunchtime-ish. We tend to eat in transit, if that makes sense. You're most welcome to ride up with us, should you wish. We'll probably go via Palmerston North/Vinegar Hill.

Hitcher,

I'm looking at leaving Wgtn around 2pm (need to work that day) so I'll see you up there.

Just got a new rear tire fitted in preparation for the GC. It'll be my first decent ride since Christmas so as you say the excitement is building!

LB · 8th October 2004, 05:11

Originally Posted by matthewt

Just got a new rear tire fitted in preparation for the GC. It'll be my first decent ride since Christmas so as you say the excitement is building!

.
New GTS duly noted yesterday at the bike park.
.

**Hitcher** · 8th October 2004, 08:52

Mrs H and I are yet to set a departure time, but we'd like to be in Turangi late afternoonish so that we can get the scrutineering done that night in readiness for a leisurely Saturday.

**RiderInBlack** · 14th October 2004, 19:10

Working on the bike this evening and what do I find:spudwhat: F**ken Fairing broken around the retaining bolts. The Bike shop must have got the Appentince to put them on. Looks like the bolts have been tightened too much

Guess who is doing some plastic welding tomorrow morning

Just as well I am not too bad at it, but it will be time wasted tomorrow that I was using to get down to Turangi. F**K F**K F**K. Well if that is all that goes wrong the GC will be a breeze (NOT).