Central Otago Trails - the best?

[reverend]

So where in CO are you. I will be in Naesby on Dec 27, and alex the 28th. also heading back down the next week. Maybe we can go for a ride together.

cheers
paul

[Winston001]

So where in CO are you. I will be in Naesby on Dec 27, and alex the 28th. also heading back down the next week. Maybe we can go for a ride together.

cheers
paul

I'm at Arrowtown - send me a pm if you are about. I'll be a bit tied up with my children but a ride would be fun.

[RedKLR650]

where was the picture in your signature taken? it's incredible.

That was the Pylon Road between Black Forest Station at the north end to Benmore Dam at the south end

On the run the Chch Adv boys did on the way to the Brass back in June :-)

Cheers, Stu

[RedKLR650]

You make that look pretty easy! That one looks nearly as deep as the one that got the best of the Domi.
Thanks for all the comments on the video! I'll try to document more of my rides that way to share with everyone.

There was a short story on the Macetown trip from a 4WD drivers perspective on the TV3 news last night

See link below for Video of story, shows river levels etc and what to expect at the end

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/Journeytod...rticleID=42754

Hope it's useful

Cheers, Stu

[Zukin]

There was a short story on the Macetown trip from a 4WD drivers perspective on the TV3 news last night

See link below for Video of story, shows river levels etc and what to expect at the end

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/Journeytod...rticleID=42754

Hope it's useful

Cheers, Stu

I have done that trip and it isn't too bad
The worst part I recall was crossing the river right at Arrowtown, most of it was shallow and hardly wet the tyres.

A nice trip

[Winston001]

I have done that trip and it isn't too bad
The worst part I recall was crossing the river right at Arrowtown, most of it was shallow and hardly wet the tyres.

A nice trip

Yep, haven't been up to Macetown these holidays but the river is low alright and it should be easy. As you say the first two crossings are the deepest normally.

[necrolyte]

Went up again yesterday, river is average level. Shitloads of people about up there and heaps of pushbikes going in and out of macetown, too much like hard work!

[paulj]

Poked my nose up onto Duffers/Carrick/Old Woman this morning – dry and very nice.

Anyone interested in a one day trip this week/next weekend? … say Bannockburn > Carrick>Duffers>Old Woman>Obelisk>Potters>Return (there are a number of 'bail-out' or 'join-up' tracks to the main road along this route).

If so I’ll get my GPS tracking notes out and sort out distances for fuel range. Should be OK with Cromwell/Alexandra petrol.

If there is significant rain before then, I’m staying home – otherwise a reasonable degree of technical riding and some fantastic country. Side trips into the Fraser, Fruitlands or if you’re a complete nutter, Waikaia Bush road.

So – squirt some Loctite onto your nuts, torque them up tight and come ride.

[greerADV]

Anyone interested in a one day trip this week/next weekend? … say Bannockburn > Carrick>Duffers>Old Woman>Obelisk>Potters>Return (there are a number of 'bail-out' or 'join-up' tracks to the main road along this route).

I'm definitely interested. I have tomorrow and Monday off, and the same for next weekend. But I could probably swing a day off in the week if that works better for anyone else.

How technical is the riding on that route? I'm still a bit of a n00b. I've riden the Nevis and Macetown (managed to only try swimming with the bike once .. ask Necrolyte about that one ,) so that'd be my guage for how technical a ride is.

Cheers
Andrew

[paulj]

How technical is the riding on that route? I'm still a bit of a n00b. I've riden the Nevis and Macetown (managed to only try swimming with the bike once .. ask Necrolyte about that one ,) so that'd be my guage for how technical a ride is.

Cheers
Andrew

Thanks for the reply Andrew - I'm not sure how these things are judged - however, there are some slow speed gnarly bits which require one to be up on the pegs and finely balanced for a few hundred meters or so, some steep boulder sections and sections of bedrock reefs to ride up - if everything is in control then you're OK - it's when things start to go wrong that the brown stuff fills the pants as there is nowhere to go and get balanced up again.

The Nevis would be fairly tame by comparison.

If you wish to try a section out first - PM me and we can meet up at home here and go check it out during the week - I'll even make the sandwiches!

[Winston001]

I'd love to come along too but have to look after the children as my wife is going back to work. I've done the Carricktown - Duffers track plenty of times but never crossed over to the Oblelisk/Old Woman Range side.

Is it fairly simple going? I'm probably a bit long in the tooth for gnarly bits these days. Looks like quite a long way from Duffers to Obelisk, and then on to Potters.

4wded over the Whitcombe (Snowpole, or Waikiaia Bush Road) to Potters and Shingle Creek but never on a bike.

[paulj]

Is it fairly simple going? I'm probably a bit long in the tooth for gnarly bits these days. Looks like quite a long way from Duffers to Obelisk, and then on to Potters.

Hi Winston - pity you can't come along - I am of the 'long in the tooth' types too!

Duffers <> Obelisk is about 40+K one way. Rutted (routed?) track and for me anyway, only a dry dry weather route.

[necrolyte]

I would love to come, but i'm back to work and reality again on monday. I need to get me a road legal dual purpose bike i think so i can come on these kind of trips.

[Delphinus]

I've only been riding my XT600 for a few months, but would like to spend more time on it. Steep boulder sections sound like a wee bit out of my skill range at this stage.
If anyone is keen to do a few easier roads let me know

[paulj]

I've only been riding my XT600 for a few months, but would like to spend more time on it. Steep boulder sections sound like a wee bit out of my skill range at this stage.
If anyone is keen to do a few easier roads let me know

Sure - Onslow, Old Dunstan Rd are great trips with fairly straightforward gravel roads.

The trip out of Dunedin through Outram>Clarks Junction ... is a great ride to the ODR.

Let me know if you're interested or heading this way.