Cruisy Night Rides

[nigelp]

It doesnt look promising at all now! Cloud is coming in over the hills! Will just have to man up and put the winter liners back in my gear!

[uNople]

I'll be at BK as well, just eating some tea so I don't spend half a tank of gas at BK.

[No FX]

woohoo the winds died down.....................oh hang on now its raining

[Fox Rider]

Anyone know if the ride is still on?... Clouds over the hills look nasty

[Spuds1234]

Well Im going so yea there will be atleast one.

Heading out the door now actually.

[Mikkel]

It's not looking too flash right now... the rain radar shows quite a big whopper of a rain system south of banks peninsula. Just had a slight drizzle here on the hill, but I reckon it might just be a passing shower.
Might see you at BK.

[phoenixgtr]

Anyone know if the ride is still on?... Clouds over the hills look nasty

Well we still heading down to the car park anyway. We'll decide there

[dangerous]

I've gotta agree. It's a really rough road and the suspension on my bike really doesn't handle it too well, but I figure we can try it once and if the group really doesn't like it it won't be a route we repeat.

I like your suggestion but there are people who don't feel too good about Dyers, but then again, if they don't like Dyers I can't imagine them liking Summit Rd.

Prop be a bloody nice view from up there tonight

fark me... (no that isnt an offer LLAMA) how the hell are you lot going to get the much needed experance if ya dont try interesting roads like the sumit... ya aint a gona improve anything by going over the same piece a tar.

And stop worring about the bloody weather, ya either ride or ya dont.

[cruza]

Kind of glad im having decided a evening in the garage instead ,giving my landcruiser a service , man what a thunderstorm, we had huge hailstones here, hope you guys were doing the sensible thing and parked inside a pub?? fark the weather hot one minute the next. arrrh never mind nelson rally next week dangerous ......... should be summer by then

[dangerous]

nelson rally next week dangerous ......... should be summer by then

I hope so, then us big boys can go and play

[Transalper]

Holly crap, I've got wet pants.
Well true to my signature I was late passing by Burger King and happy to see they are keeping a prompt departure time. No one should have to wait for em useless buggers that can't get their shit together in time and hold everyone up... I'd have been upset if they were waiting about in case anyone else turned up.
Any how I continued along the direction I was heading and out to Sumner where I climbed Evans Pass and turned right on to the Summit Rd. There were a fair few cyclists up at that end and the weather was great, although their was that big cloud looming. Bugger, left the wet weather pants at home in my last minute rush. Oh well what the heck, and on we go.
No one to wave at on the gondola, in fact I think they weren't running.
I got struck by the pea sized hail passing the Sugarloaf driveway, passed another cyclist sheltering under a tree. The hail was funny, just bouncing off but not getting me wet.
On over the Dyers Pass intersection and a few more bends had a spectacular view of the rain front closing on the city. Dumb ass, left the camera behind too. Hmm wonder which cloud sent the hail as the one coming was much bigger and darker than anything above me at the time.
Nearing Gebbies and I'm in the cloud, wind picking up too.
Down Gebbies and no one at the Weatchef so on to Diamond harbor to see if they went there.
Got a little wet on the way and when I arrived there were a heap of bikes there.
So we chatted for a bit and ate wedges (thanks guys) and with the rain looking set in headed for home... most went through the Tunnel and some to the pub in Ferrymed.
Another ironic thing was on the Christchurch side going down Dyers Pass it was practically dry again.

[200BUSA]

Had a good ride tonight-that is until the weather turned crap and a slow ride home.
Was good to meet some new CHCH riders and catch up with some of the oldies.Roll on summer and nice warm nights for riding.

[JMemonic]

Well talk about 4 seasons in one day, nice and fine to start with then about the time we got to Diamond harbour we had a bit of wind, light rain and hail. The weather proceeded to go down hill from there with strong winds (a phone call to a weather station in Lyttelton revealed 20 knot winds gusting to 50 knots).

I split away on the ride back was going to meet you all at the pub but the weather and lack of a decent sleep today had caught up with me.

Was good to get out there with you all again.

[Deviant Esq]

I don't think I've ever been so cold and wet, for so long, at any other point in my life. I really got caught out, no weather protection whatsoever - a leaky (read: deluge) jacket, a regular pair of jeans that are about as much protection as a tent in the sea, totally waterlogged boots and gloves. I was beyond cold. In fact, on the way home I knew it was bad when I noticed it wasn't so bad any more - parts of me had stopped aching because all feeling had been lost.

Had a shower when I got home and tried to warm up... by god it hurt. My fingers and toes are still aching even now.

I really need to get some decent gear. My gloves just aren't up to scratch... and wearing shorts and a t-shirt on the way back probably would have been better at least weather protection wise - they wouldn't have held the cold water against my skin.

Other than that, great turnout, good to see some of the usual faces again and a few new ones too. I really enjoyed the ride over there - great fun honking along in the evening sunshine... noone predicted it'd turn to a hammering hailstorm, thunder, lightning, and sideways rain after the lovely day we had! One day I might thaw out.

[fireliv]

Great ride!!!

Was pretty nervous when we set out but I took on the advice of "it doesnt matter how fast you go, as long as you get there" and so thats what I did. Pitty we got stuck by the lights at the top of dyers, but much to everyones relief phoenix and I made it in the end. And we made it back which was even better! Figured if I can ride in that, then I aint doing to bad.

Great to meet some new people (was 17 of us there in total) not bad for crap weather!!!!

Thanks Tris for staying with me at the back (like you had a choice )