Ashhurst to Akitio 29 12 07

[Monamie]

Just want to say that I thought the girls I followed at the back from Ashurst rode really well. You looked like you had much more experience than you have.
And when we missed the turnoff, I ended up following the lady on the black CB250 with the L plate.
Was impressed, rode well, good lines, and had a good pace.
Well done.

Bloody hot here today in the bay.
Robertydog called in with his partner and we went for a blast to Patangata.
Took my Duc, amazing the lines I can take on that and the faster corner speed etc than an upright naked like the Triumph. Was like chalk and cheese from yesterday.
First time ever saw a bacon car at Patangata. Fortunately he turned onto the long drag strip straight there as we came down the end and I think he got a shock to see us.
Had time to throttle off!
Think he was looking for quota as there were lots of bikes at the Patangata pub this arvo.

Once again, cheers for yesterday, will make an effort another time.
Anyone on HW50 riding, need gas, or a pitstop, PM me, I'm about 20 mins from Hastings, down the road from the bar/cafe at Maraekakaho.

Great to meet you too. It would be fantastic to see you out with us again- very nice bike too.
That sure was funny when you guys missed the turn off...I got to be in the middle again!! Well it does get lonely out there on ya own sometimes

[STUPY]

[QUOTE=chanceyy;1359882]
cheers chick

my riding isn't that bad!!!!!

[chanceyy]

my riding isn't that bad!!!!!

.. sorry I must be tired .. .. thanks dude .. is that better

[STUPY]

so much better

[Meanie]

the first aid kit will be replenished tomorrow (with a few more useful items) & always sits in my tail kit bag .. for that reason I will now ride at the rear of any group rides so its accessible .. & hope it is never required again

Always a first aid kit in my panniers as well if they are on the side of my bike

speaking of which .. I have been meaning to finish but given the reg manawatu riders which is increasing .. I still have the phone list to hand out ... but before I do the newbies are you happy to have your names phone numbers added to the list .. home numbers as well???

I will reprint & laminate so it can fit into tank bags etc without fear of getting wet .

guess there are a number of lessons to take away fr yesterdays ride ..

if you want your details added to my list can you please PM me your phone numbers, (home, cell etc) I have the master list as an excel file & can add or update as needed ..

I will have it completed as soon as i get back to work & hand out as I see you all .

Not sure if i told you already but no probs with my nos on the list
I have a bike trailer as well, at the moment anyway

[QUOTE=STUPY;1359888]

cheers chick

my riding isn't that bad!!!!!

Followed you for a bit yesterday, wont be long and youll be snappin at our heals. Nice lines, you looked very confident

[chanceyy]

Always a first aid kit in my panniers as well if they are on the side of my bike

Not sure if i told you already but no probs with my nos on the list
I have a bike trailer as well, at the moment anyway

Followed you for a bit yesterday, wont be long and youll be snappin at our heals. Nice lines, you looked very confident

good to know who has first aid kits ..

I have your cellie on the list already meanie .. (dunno your home one)

thanks meanie,
learning how to weight the pegs has made a huge difference to betsy's stability & therefore my confidence .. still have to think about the corner & weighting pegs & counter steering, its not a memory muscle yet .. & still need to improve on the tighter twistie stuff, but its getting there & practice practice practice is the key .. got some more in today

[STUPY]

Followed you for a bit yesterday, wont be long and youll be snappin at our heals. Nice lines, you looked very confident

if your meaning me then thanks???

[Horse]

Well this thread certainly got interesting.

Thanks to the people that did the work for organising the ride and herding the cats. I enjoyed the riding, and meeting all the locals. I'll be definitely up for some future rides when work etc allows me.

I've spent the day (well, a bit of it) washing the bike - my pre-xmas hints to family members had paid off: "what do I want for christmas? Well, I've just bought a shiny new _motorbike_ with lots of chrome and paint that's going to need washing and polishing...."! I guess that'll learn me to develop a fondness for cruisers - there really is an acre or two of chrome on the bike.

Speaking of which - we'll definitely have to lure some more local cruiser riders out of the woodwork.

As for the ride - definitely a nice bit of road, I haven't driven it so it was interesting on the bike. I quickly adopted Cowboyz suggestion of "riding your own ride" and adopted a comfortable pace. I've had my learners for a month now and (after Saturday) I've done about 1400km. I'm finding that the primary determination of my cornering speed are my instincts as a car driver - I'm not having any trouble with lines or exits or anything, I'm just entering the corners a lot slower that you experienced riders because I'm not comfortable going faster yet. I figure that will develop with time so I'm not worried about pushing it for now.

One particular corner following Chanceyy on the final section into Akitio was revealing - she'd been riding fairly sedately for the benefit of us n00bs but was just a little bit faster on this one. As I followed her into this left-hander I went "whoa, this feels fast" but it was too late to brake so I just pushed the left bar a bit to keep the line right and hung on.... and the bike just went sedately round the corner. No dramas. I grinned to myself on the exit and thought "hmmm, definitely more learning to be done."

Mind you, a big thank you to whoever it was at one of the stops who suggested that I was probably slower than the main group as I was only riding a 250 cruiser. Thanks for the encouragement, but it's definitely all me - I don't think I'm anywhere near the bike's limits yet.

As for being followed and letting bikes past - I find everybody's natural following distance is closer than I feel comfortable with at the moment, so I'm happy to let people past me if the opportunity presents. I think this is partly due to my inexperience with group riding, and also partly because I'm a paranoid freak - I hate people watching over my shoulder when I work as well.

I took a few photos as well - now that I've got my laptop whipped into shape I should have them online fairly shortly.

Apologies to Banditrider about not passing that car before we got into the gorge on the way home. I did warn you I read your blog! I had a hunch it was going to be a slow PITA but I was feeling a bit tired so I took a more conservative approach to overtaking opportunities. Probably the right call at the time on the little 250, but frustrating all the same.

And true story - at one point I glanced in my mirrors and thought "bugger, I must be going too slow, there's a car right up bandit's arse!". Then I had a proper look and realised it was just his panniers. Man that bike has some width!

Sarge, don't let them give the statesman any stick - that thing purrs. Boodiful!

Finally, no-one has yet mentioned the mystery of the suddenly appearing xmas decoration......

Anyway, great to meet everyone, I'm looking forward to future rides.

[chanceyy]

if your meaning me then thanks???

.......

[cowboyz]

Finally, no-one has yet mentioned the mystery of the suddenly appearing xmas decoration......

Anyway, great to meet everyone, I'm looking forward to future rides.

ah yes. I actually forgot about that even though it is still on the bike. Looks quite good there. Whipped into town to do a little shopping yesterday and in the supermarket car park people were pointing at my bike. Took a little while to figure out what was going on. Suits it though. Check out my pics in my sig.

[GSVR]

ah yes. I actually forgot about that even though it is still on the bike. Looks quite good there. Whipped into town to do a little shopping yesterday and in the supermarket car park people were pointing at my bike. Took a little while to figure out what was going on. Suits it though. Check out my pics in my sig.

What do they usually ignore it or turn the other way in disgust?

You missed the jokes about Cowboys only having One Ball but I suppose its better than before that when you had no balls!

Thought I'd edit this in as I remember sing it at school many years ago:

Hitler had only one big ball!
Goering had two and they were small!
Himmler had something sim'ler,
and poor old Geobbels had no balls at all!

I could do one like:

Cowboyz ....
Meanie...
Gets a bit cloudy here

I'm going to get injured on one of these rides but it wont be while riding

[chanceyy]

Well this thread certainly got interesting.

Thanks to the people that did the work for organising the ride and herding the cats. I enjoyed the riding, and meeting all the locals. I'll be definitely up for some future rides when work etc allows me.

be good to see you on some more rides horse, riding in a group certainly develops your skills

Speaking of which - we'll definitely have to lure some more local cruiser riders out of the woodwork.

yeah now where are they all hiding ????

As for the ride - definitely a nice bit of road, I haven't driven it so it was interesting on the bike. I quickly adopted Cowboyz suggestion of "riding your own ride" and adopted a comfortable pace. I've had my learners for a month now and (after Saturday) I've done about 1400km. I'm finding that the primary determination of my cornering speed are my instincts as a car driver - I'm not having any trouble with lines or exits or anything, I'm just entering the corners a lot slower that you experienced riders because I'm not comfortable going faster yet. I figure that will develop with time so I'm not worried about pushing it for now.

excellent paragraph .. always ride your own ride & do not get sucked into riding beyond your ability

One particular corner following Chanceyy on the final section into Akitio was revealing - she'd been riding fairly sedately for the benefit of us n00bs but was just a little bit faster on this one. As I followed her into this left-hander I went "whoa, this feels fast" but it was too late to brake so I just pushed the left bar a bit to keep the line right and hung on.... and the bike just went sedately round the corner. No dramas. I grinned to myself on the exit and thought "hmmm, definitely more learning to be done."

yes that corner suprised me as well .. but sometimes its good to have that whooooo & realise you can push it a wee bit more & get through it ... its a part of developing your skill & trusting the bike .. I know I do it now & again when I am riding faster sure makes the heart beat faster for a sec or two .. but if you do not panic & like you did push on the bar a bit more ... its all sweet

Mind you, a big thank you to whoever it was at one of the stops who suggested that I was probably slower than the main group as I was only riding a 250 cruiser. Thanks for the encouragement, but it's definitely all me - I don't think I'm anywhere near the bike's limits yet.

another good paragraph, even after I get my full I will stick to "Betsy" until I can can ride her with all confidence through the corner .. then i will be ready to upgrade to a slightly bigger bike & start the journey all over again

As for being followed and letting bikes past - I find everybody's natural following distance is closer than I feel comfortable with at the moment, so I'm happy to let people past me if the opportunity presents. I think this is partly due to my inexperience with group riding, and also partly because I'm a paranoid freak - I hate people watching over my shoulder when I work as well.

I took a few photos as well - now that I've got my laptop whipped into shape I should have them online fairly shortly.

we love photos

Finally, no-one has yet mentioned the mystery of the suddenly appearing xmas decoration......

ohhhh yeah that looked so pretty on cowboyz bike .. is it still there lance ??? but did anyone get a photo of it ??

Anyway, great to meet everyone, I'm looking forward to future rides.

always welcome Horse, was excellent putting a face to the name, & hope you do join us on some more rides

[GSVR]

always welcome Horse, was excellent putting a face to the name, & hope you do join us on some more rides

That was a huge post there Chanceyy.

I've really got to do something about my memory as when I get on here. Remember who Horse is now. Thats a cool little cruiser Horse and so low to the ground.

[chanceyy]

That was a huge post there Chanceyy.

I've really got to do something about my memory as when I get on here. Remember who Horse is now. Thats a cool little cruiser Horse and so low to the ground.

OMG Garry did you read it all wow now I am impressed

[Meanie]

if your meaning me then thanks???

Yea mate that was meant for you

I guess that'll learn me to develop a fondness for cruisers - there really is an acre or two of chrome on the bike.

Been there done that with the Meanstreak, man did that take some polishing and chrome dont look right unless it sparkles eh

I quickly adopted Cowboyz suggestion of "riding your own ride" and adopted a comfortable pace.

Good way to be Theres nothing better than getting home from a ride knowing you had no "Oh Shit" moments

I figure that will develop with time so I'm not worried about pushing it for now.

Youll find you get faster and smoother without even trying and you will enjoy the riding so much more when your not worried about how fast you are going to keep up with everyone

And true story - at one point I glanced in my mirrors and thought "bugger, I must be going too slow, there's a car right up bandit's arse!". Then I had a proper look and realised it was just his panniers. Man that bike has some width!

Yep thought the same when i had Bandit rider behind me, you wanna try lane splitting on them, very interesting to say the least

Finally, no-one has yet mentioned the mystery of the suddenly appearing xmas decoration......

I heard you were responsable for finding cowboyz ball

Anyway, great to meet everyone, I'm looking forward to future rides.

Be good to have you on some more, riding with friends rocks

You missed the jokes about Cowboys only having One Ball but I suppose its better than before that when you had no balls!



I could do one like:

Cowboyz ....
Meanie...
Gets a bit cloudy here

I'm going to get injured on one of these rides but it wont be while riding

Shoulda started with Gary