Just starting to get a Dusty Butt

[NordieBoy]

Just went for a quick run up Black Birch Track with Transalper yesterday.
Via the Maungatapu, Onamalutu, Kaituna-Tuamarina and Taylors.

Anyone recognise those names?

Brilliant sunshine almost all day with very strong winds everywhere except Nelson.

The Maungatapu was full of mountain bikers and was a nice run without much wind.
Stopped in Havlock for fuel and on to North Bank Road and over Onamalutu.
There's been a fair bit of wind through there with some big trees across the track which would have made for good video footage.
On the other end there was fresh gravel...
Not your ordinary fresh gravel, this was fresh gravel from Hell, 3 feet deep and still smoking from the fire pits.
Kaituna-Tuamarina was very nice. Good gravel and very nice heavily cambered sealed twisties.
Taylors Pass was a bit rutted up but the gravel was light and there was one ford that was sweet.
The sign at the start of Black Birch Track says "Private Road, access by authorisation only" or some such.
It had started spitting and it looked a bit dark up there so we put on the wet weathers and headed off.
Lots more water ruts than last time but nothing to cause concern.
The wind up top was wicked and was pushing the bike sideways which felt like it had flat tyres.
We got to within about 5km or so (will check on the GPS) of the top before wimping out and heading back down to bright sunshine at the bottom again...
My camera dosn't like the wet but I had to take some pics...
Back over Taylors, through Blenheim, Kaituna-Tuamarina, Havlock and the Maungatapu to finish it all off.

Great fun

375km in 6hrs 22min of riding.

Now to get ready for todays Classic MX race over in Havlock

My first time riding in the snow




It's sleeting/hailing on us here.


Has Carl put on some weight?


We gave up here...


A 3 shot panorama...


Back to the sunshine (Carl lost weight on the ride back)...

[QMOTO]

Oh man Lucky !!!!!

love to have been there, maybe feb I will come down for a week and con you SI boys in showing me some rides

[GaZBur]

Wow Nordie that looks fantastic. You have started me seriously thinking about getting into the adventure riding scene myself. I will start reading the "How to set up for Adventure" threads. Keep the pics and stories coming please!!!

[merv]

Wow Nordie that looks fantastic. You have started me seriously thinking about getting into the adventure riding scene myself. I will start reading the "How to set up for Adventure" threads. Keep the pics and stories coming please!!!

Mate you've got the bike, just do it!

[marks]

way cool pics - wish I was there with you

[NordieBoy]

It gets better.
TransAlper has audio footage of most of the ride

[cooneyr]

Awesome guys - wish I was there. Sounds like you had a good ride but dont get those butts to dusty without me

You guys weren't the only ones riding in the snow recently though. I met Norrland from the Adv rider site yesterday. Rode 110km in about -3 to meet me then back home again. Really cool guy. Check out the thread here.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

Looks like we got to within 2.5km of the summit

Going to carry a small shovel next time...

[tri boy]

Top effort NB.
The last 500mtrs to the summit would of been a heart breaker though.
Sorry, but you can keep your snow. Bloody White Cold Mud. I'd wait till late summer.

[NordieBoy]

But you don't need to hose it off

[Lugzy23]

Whats the story with the sign on the gate, I was up that way for work the other day and noticed that sign saying "private no access" there. I understood that the Black Birch track was always public access. Did you end up having to ask permission???

[cooneyr]

Whats the story with the sign on the gate, I was up that way for work the other day and noticed that sign saying "private no access" there. I understood that the Black Birch track was always public access. Did you end up having to ask permission???

Last time I was there (march 07) there was nobody at the house just up the hill to ask. Where else you go to ask I have no idea.

If ken siblys books are to be trusted (and I believe they are) then he mentions if permission is needed and he doesnt mention it for this road. Doc South Marlborough may be a worthwhile starting point for asking questions, failing that contact Marlborough District Council.

It may be just that the "landowners" are trying to keep people out when they have no right too.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

Time comparisons with the Dusty Part 1.

Nelson to Pelorus 1:00 vs 1:12 (dark/fog etc)
Onamalutu Loop 1:00 vs 1:50 (puncture)
Blenheim to start of Black Birch Track 0:35 vs 0:35
Black Birch Track to (almost) top 0:30 (snow) vs 0:18 (same point)

Time from Nelson to top(ish) of Black Birch Track...
4:25 vs 5:45

Time from top(ish) to bottom of Black Birch Track...
0:25 vs 2:00 (big puncture)

Looks like the actual travel times were pretty close allowing for the conditions.

I want to see how the Molesworth would compare now I have less fear of the gravelly stuff.