2007 Grand Challenge - Tips

**banditrider** · 23rd September 2007, 20:07

Only a few weeks to go now...

**Plugz 4 Lugz** · 23rd September 2007, 20:21

........ I've been so busy confirming events to attend over the summer I forgot we're not in October yet. $65, for sure. I'm planning to be there Friday night, right through til the ride starts on Saturday. Cheers Sue

Originally Posted by banditrider

Cool, will probably be lining up for some. Thought that the price was $65 until Nov?

**Zapf** · 23rd September 2007, 22:15

Originally Posted by xgnr

Not a bad route with a number of winding roads,(43 is a great road eh) gravel and showers/rain... not enough in the dark tho' so this will be great to get the head around riding for long hours at night.

CheersStu

How was SH43? I hate gravel...

**xgnr** · 24th September 2007, 11:31

Originally Posted by Zapf

How was SH43? I hate gravel...

Gravel was the sort where its hard packed with a few potholes, can easily average 60km/hr or so with no problems but it is narrow so you gotta ride so you can take avoiding action for cages coming the other way without losing the plot.

Road on the Stratford side of Whangamomona is tarseal and a pleasure to ride with tight curves.

Cheers

Stu

**Taz** · 24th September 2007, 14:58

Originally Posted by Zapf

I hate gravel...

Dude..... You have to get over this unsubstantiated fear of gravel. Gravel is good (even on a road bike) as it takes you to the most beautiful and least populated parts of the country. I've ridden all my road bikes on gravel and seen some wonderful scenery, met some real nice people and had the most awesome rides. Definitely better than the coro loop for the 1000th time IMO. Go get your self some.......

Andy.

**KoroJ** · 24th September 2007, 15:10

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Dude..... You have to get over this unsubstantiated fear of gravel. Gravel is good (even on a road bike) as it takes you to the most beautiful and least populated parts of the country. I've ridden all my road bikes on gravel and seen some wonderful scenery, met some real nice people and had the most awesome rides. Definitely better than the coro loop for the 1000th time IMO. Go get your self some.......

Andy.

Yes gravel is good.....but not on the likes of a big tall heavy ST with big fat radial tyres. Yuckey-Poos!!

**Zapf** · 24th September 2007, 22:47

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Dude..... You have to get over this unsubstantiated fear of gravel. Gravel is good (even on a road bike) as it takes you to the most beautiful and least populated parts of the country. I've ridden all my road bikes on gravel and seen some wonderful scenery, met some real nice people and had the most awesome rides. Definitely better than the coro loop for the 1000th time IMO. Go get your self some.......

Andy.

think I need to get a little farm bike to pratice on that 1st. I have dropped my bike twice on gravel.... not fun.

**Rain Off** · 26th September 2007, 13:23

Sounds like you guys need some Rain-Off Overgloves. They are designed to fit over your normal riding gloves, and because they are heat welded, they don't let ANY rain/wind etc in. You won't need to take extra pairs of gloves as these will see you right. You can check them out on the website www.rain-off.com
Brilliant bit of kit.

**Hitcher** · 26th September 2007, 15:09

Originally Posted by Rain Off

Brilliant bit of kit.

Apart from folks with GoreTex-lined jackets who need to wear their jacket sleeves over their gloves, instead of their gloves over their jacket sleeves.

**The Pastor** · 27th September 2007, 15:12

what do you guys think, would a 250cc sports bike be able to do the gc?

**Blackbird** · 27th September 2007, 15:28

If a Suzuki RG 50 can do the Southern Cross, a 250 can easily do the GC. However, the bike is only part of it. The rider's mental toughness and preparation counts for a big percentage of the success.

**Hitcher** · 27th September 2007, 16:03

Originally Posted by renegade master

what do you guys think, would a 250cc sports bike be able to do the gc?

Do the maths. 1,600km divided by 24 hours is a rolling average of 67kmh (to the nearest whole number). In theory a Grand Challenge can be completed without exceeding the legal speed limit. We did our first one in 23 hours 59 minutes (long story), with the last stretch from Taumarunui to Turangi being completed in just over 35 minutes which, apparently, required the legal speed limit to be exceeded by just a tad.

**banditrider** · 27th September 2007, 19:37

Originally Posted by Blackbird

If a Suzuki RG 50 can do the Southern Cross, a 250 can easily do the GC. However, the bike is only part of it. The rider's mental toughness and preparation counts for a big percentage of the success.

Think the same dude did a GC on his RG50 too. Unless it was another madman!

**shafty** · 27th September 2007, 19:59

Originally Posted by banditrider

Only a few weeks to go now...

I guess you'd be shampoo'ing that Mohawk by now BR? lol

Yeah, should be a goodie. Another training ride this weekend, night vision goggles at the ready (Geez the eBay is handy) lol