Who rode today in the wind?

[klingon]

We went riding in the wind - seven bikes, three with pillions. I was klinging on for my life! The good thing is you can use the bike in front of you as a wind-sock. You watch it come to a gap in the roadside planting and go WHOOSH! over the centre line and make a mental note to brace yourself when you get to that point on the road.

We rode from Rotorua to Auckland via some beautiful back roads and I was exhausted by the time I got home. I was on the back of an SV1000S where I sit almost a head higher than the rider on a teensy-weensy hard seat with my knees up round my ears and nothing much to brace against. But still fun!

I'm about to head out now into the wind on my Volty. weeeee!

[sunhuntin]

i rode from wanganui to turangi yesterday, and came back today. both times via the paraparas, shit weather both days, fuck doing more than than that in that weather... you rusty challenge riders sure are NUTS!
had one minor upset going over where both the car in front and myself got swept over the center line with no warning. thought the car was trying to overtake a van, so thought nothing of it, till the white lines were suddenly on the wrong side. totally amazed... the bike may as well have had the tyres spin sideways, it was that smooth.
and coming back today, bout 45 mins from home, saw a ewe with a bunch of lambs running like snot away from the fence, figured the bike aint that loud, and usually its only lambs that panic. took a 100k corner at about 70 and found myself face to face with a cloud of smoke. car had gone into the ditch, it seems. smoke smelled like burning rubber, but it was pushed out and moving just as i got to it, so dont know the full story.
normally, when i see sheep startle, i speed up a tad to scare em more, but today they at least saved the bike, cos had i taken that corner at 100k, there wouldnt have been much room to do anything.

must admit, im no fan of the paras, specially in the wet. between the trucks who are two wide for a road, stock wandering willy nilly and wet corners, i very nearly parked up and stayed put, lol.

been home over an hour, and im still shivering, but i gotta go out and get wet AGAIN to go to work. grrrr.

[clint640]

Did you finish? looks like a hard event. What speeds do most of the rally ride at?

Yep, we finished with no problems, out of the 100 or so starters only about 5 didn't make it, 1 or 2 accidents (nothing too serious thankfully) & 3 or 4 that piked because of the weather, apparently despite the conditions this was well ahead of the usual DNF rate of around 10%.

This was my first attempt & I didn't find it too bad, not something to be taken lightly though. Decent riding fitness & good warm dry gear helps. Speeds don't have to be high, keeping the stops quick & infrequent is more important.

Cheers
Clint

[FruitLooPs]

I nearly got taken out the other week on the RG in high winds on the way back from diamond harbour, coming along the straight before gov bay.

minding my business at a tad over 100 (according to the RG speedo, so probably 90-100km/hr in reality) head down and a huge gust sent me right onto the center line from the left 1/3rd of my lane with an oncoming van

gust stopped with me puckered up and nigh on eye shutting, I was leaning as hard as i could to the left if it didn't stop I would've been roadkill I was wowed at how strong and quickly it just dragged me across the road. Happened pretty quick - reduced speed super fast after that.


much respect to mother nature, and i live to see another day

[Taz]

Yep, we finished with no problems, out of the 100 or so starters only about 5 didn't make it, 1 or 2 accidents (nothing too serious thankfully) & 3 or 4 that piked because of the weather, apparently despite the conditions this was well ahead of the usual DNF rate of around 10%.

This was my first attempt & I didn't find it too bad, not something to be taken lightly though. Decent riding fitness & good warm dry gear helps. Speeds don't have to be high, keeping the stops quick & infrequent is more important.

Cheers
Clint

What Clint fails to tell you all is that he did the Challenge on a Kawasaki Sherpa 250! And still finished well within the 24 hours. Thought I was doing it hard on the BMW Well done clint. Maybe a scooter for next year eh?
Andy.

[Meanie]

What Clint fails to tell you all is that he did the Challenge on a Kawasaki Sherpa 250!
Andy.

That mans a bloody legend

[banditrider]

Did the guy on the 125 Aprilla make it?

[Cheeky]

Rode from Tauranga to New Plymouth on friday. Worst part of the trip was from Awakino to NP and came back Sunday. Had everything but snow. Riding two up. I enjoyed it but the co pilot was a little nervous.

[clint640]

Did the guy on the 125 Aprilla make it?

Yep he made it. People thought I was nuts on the Sherpa, but I reckon I'm a model of lucid sanity compared with that guy.

Cheers
Clint

[banditrider]

Yep he made it. People thought I was nuts on the Sherpa, but I reckon I'm a model of lucid sanity compared with that guy.

Cheers
Clint

Top effort the pair of ya! Must have been a bitch in the wind on that 125! Tough enough battling it in places on the 14.

Mind you I reckon it makes finishing the event even more of an achievement. Me & my mate both reckon that there was no way we were pulling out just cause of the weather - maybe we all need our heads read...

[Taz]

People thought I was nuts on the Sherpa

Cheers
Clint

I thought about you a few times around the course (not only when I passed you and thought you were going backwards) ...... and when I did I always had a little smile on my dial...... Dunno why? just thinking of the memories you'll take away from this one to keep forever.
Andy.