Island Saddle (Rainbow Road) mid-winter adv ride

**NordieBoy** · 20th July 2007, 09:14

Originally Posted by Skinny_Birdman

Yeah, you know. Ba-ding-ding-ding and so on. Go two strokes! Go the TF!!

Just wondering what TF stood for?

**Skinny_Birdman** · 20th July 2007, 12:32

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Just wondering what TF stood for?

Suzuki TF (125 isn't it Lugzy?)
'Too Fast' perhaps, or 'Twenty Flatout'.....

**cooneyr** · 20th July 2007, 14:00

Well it looks like the WX is going to be wet in the morning and clearing over the day. Sounds like it should be snowing higher up though (still clearing over the day) so would probably be snow from Jollies Saddle on.

I'm still keen to go and I think TA is keen. We will make another call on Sat arvo but I dont think things will change much now.

Make sure you dress to stay dry. The cold is much easier to handle if you are dry so good waterproofs including gloves and feet are kinda important. Plastic bags in boots may be the way to go. Also bring lots of food and water cause its important to keep eating and drinking. It may be cold enough that drinking bladder hoses freeze so would suggest a plain old bottle.

Any questions feel free to ask. I spent my years at Uni mountain climbing so have a reasonable idea how to deal with this sort of conditions.

Cheers R

**Lugzy23** · 20th July 2007, 17:28

Twenty flattack and maybe a weebit more if you fart. Na shes good offroad, and theres plenty of snow around it will be good fun, and I couldnt care less if I drop it

**Skinny_Birdman** · 20th July 2007, 17:49

Originally Posted by cooneyr

I'm still keen to go and I think TA is keen. We will make another call on Sat arvo but I dont think things will change much now.

Bring it awn!!

**far queue** · 20th July 2007, 22:58

Originally Posted by cooneyr

It may be cold enough that drinking bladder hoses freeze so would suggest a plain old bottle.

I think it unlikely that you'll have a problem with that. It's Hanmer you're going to not Siberia. I would expect you'll probably get cold hands and feet, but the body should stay warm 'cos your work rate will be fairly high. As you say eat and drink lots, keep the energy and hydration levels up. It's hot work picking bikes up out of the snow all day

**cooneyr** · 21st July 2007, 19:04

Game on I recon fullas. Going to be a bit damp getting to Hanmer but should be good from Hanmer up - may be a little snow but thats part of the experience.

Cheers R

**young1** · 21st July 2007, 22:19

Originally Posted by Skinny_Birdman

Suzuki TF (125 isn't it Lugzy?)
'Too Fast' perhaps, or 'Twenty Flatout'.....

isnt it Trail and Farm, the TC was Trail and Country and TS Trail and Street?

From memory doesnt the TF (or was it the TC) have something (and I cant remember what it is down by the front sprocket) that you moved(?) and it lowered the gearing of the bike, a bit like low ratio in a 4WD

**far queue** · 21st July 2007, 22:30

Originally Posted by young1

From memory doesnt the TF (or was it the TC) have something (and I cant remember what it is down by the front sprocket) that you moved(?) and it lowered the gearing of the bike, a bit like low ratio in a 4WD

Yep, that was the TC that had a lever that selected high/low ratio. I used to have a TS185 and a mate had a TC125 - it was a mid '70's model.

**Transalper** · 22nd July 2007, 19:13

Thank goodness that's over.
It was a big day out requiring a lot of effort in places, quite a lot of push and shove. Whose stupid idea was it anyway. Next time someone says snow remind me i own a CRF230 too.

As always glad i did it and had a great run home through the Pyramid Valley thanks cooneyr.

**far queue** · 22nd July 2007, 22:20

So, where's everyone else? Did you leave them up there in the snow? and the pics ?

**cooneyr** · 23rd July 2007, 08:25

Well I told you all you'd have to be nutty but I wasnt expecting quite that nutty. All the snow had been compressed by vehicles and then frozen. About 1/2 way up Jollies we struck it and most of us managed to ride to within about 500m of the top then the fun began. Lots of pushing cause we couldn't get any traction. Despite the ribbing it got before hand the TF with its low gearing, light weight, low seat height and big knobbs was the machine to have. Rode to the top no worries while the rest of us sweated our way up the hill. The worst bit was that it was hard enough to walk let along push. The crampons would have been worth the effort of carrying.

Once over the top the ride down the other side proved to be interesting - riding in ruts but if you get it wrong your going sideways till you manage to get the front wheel back in line. Cause there was so little traction that could be a while it you didn't completely loose it and end up at 90 degrees to the track or on your arse. Lots of tripoding.

We got to the first gate north of the Amuri Skifield turn off and decided to have some fun in the fresh snow. This was about 30kms short of Island saddle or about 10km from Hanmer. We possibly could have got to the saddle but at 30kph it would have taken a while and there would have been more than one drop. The fresh snow was fun until you hit a drift and bellied on the skid plates. The might TF did some ice dough nuts on a frozen creek (well tested first).

Got back to Hanmer soaking wet from all the sweating so changed as much clothing as possible. Put my waterproof overtrou on under my codura pants cause they were so wet. Pumped up the tyres and then back to chch via Pyramid Valley. Was one of those days you put down to experience but heaps of fun.

The track might look flat and easy in the pictures but don't be fooled. You could get the speed alright up bit if it went wrong it did so very fast so speed really wasn't a good idea if you valued your indicators etc.

Cheers R

**janno** · 23rd July 2007, 08:34

Ya mad buggers!

Sounds like you would have benefitted from outriggers with skis on the end . . .

Better than sitting at home though, that's for sure. Great photos!