03/01/2008 - First 250 ride of the year

[TOTO]

Thanks for all the props everyone.

Contrary to what some might expect from someone riding a bike like mine I had a great time taking a more lesurely pace up there.

I struggled at first to pick a pace that was fast enough to give a little challenge but slow enough to be safe but I think it wasn't too far off. Really keen to hear if you found it too slow, too fast, too long, too short etc.

I could only really see the 5 or so riders directly behind me but from what I saw everyone was giving eachother room and riding their own pace. From what I heard it was the same the whole way through the pack.

I think having a few more experienced riders who were happy to cruise really helped settle things down. Was great to have you lot on bigger bikes along and helping with marking turns etc.

Big thanks to gunnyrob for being our last minute TEC and obstacle for taking the other way home.

I'll try to get something up mid week if I can do another one next weekend. If it's saturday it might be an afternoon ride as I have somewhere to be at lunchtime. More info to come.

Ride was perfect disco. I dunno abouth the others but I sure can do a longer one maybe twice the lenght with the nice stops for rest. can't wait

[erix]

Ride was perfect disco. I dunno abouth the others but I sure can do a longer one maybe twice the lenght with the nice stops for rest. can't wait

same here

[WarlockNZ]

Sorry I couldn't make it ..

but let me get this straight ??? you had a bin and someone was doing wheelies ???

hmmmmmmmm ... glad everyone made it back ok

[trump-lady]

The bin was small and not due to excessive speed. The wheelie was safe and as appropriate and safe as can be expected and was a real good one
The ride was newbie, was conducted as such and very well organized. We all stayed together throughout the ride which indicates the pace was great, not one car was passed and even the experienced riders hung out at the back. The ride was always under speed limit. Everyone follwed safe distance rules and I just wish I had started out on something like this. I would offer anytime to help Dan on his newbie rides, this was by far the best one Ive ever been on/seen here or in the states.

[gunnyrob]

Seconded. Everyone had a great attitude & I'd happily help out again.

[MGST]

Thanks Discotex and the other experienced guys and girl I think the pace was spot on, and the length was good too. Quite a lot of rides turn out to be quite long, what with regroups and then stopping for lunch and petrol etc etc, so it was really nice to go on a slightly shorter ride, but not feel it was too short to be a waste of time. I've been on rides and got to the lunch point and felt knackered and really want it to be the finish, not halfway!! So for me, that was the ideal length of ride, got home after it and still managed to get some odd jobs done around the house and yard. And a really nice spot you picked out for lunch I will certainly be watching out for future Discotex rides. Thanks to everyone for a nice day out.

[doozy]

I'd just like to re-thank Matt again for organising this ride, and also thanks to all who attended and help out when I fellded off ...

I'm pretty darn terrible with names so whoever it was that followed me back to Westgate via sh16, thanks heaps, needless to say I was a little hesitant getting back on ... let alone open road riding.

A quick update on the bike ... no major dmg, I am very lucky in that Holeshot had just wrecked a GN so was able to pick up parts at a reasonable price should be all sorted by the 18th (seems like an eternity to have the thing just sitting there but oh well )

I think one (of the many) things I learnt from this is the factory tires on a gn250 are really shit ... I'm replacing them asap ... especially that front one ... doesnt seem to need much encouragement at all to go for a slide ...

looking forward to more rides!

[discotex]

Sorry I couldn't make it ..

but let me get this straight ??? you had a bin and someone was doing wheelies ???

hmmmmmmmm ... glad everyone made it back ok

Well it wouldn't be a KB ride (250 or otherwise) without someone doing a a wheelie would it

I think trump_lady summed it up pretty well though. The bin was pretty minor. I don't think I cracked 100 more than once the whole ride and sat on 90-95 for most of it. 10-15km/h over the posted speeds on the open road corners. I set the pace in the technical parts up to Shelly Beach pretty slow but maybe not slow enough.

Most importantly there was no unsafe passing and no tailgating. The riders I could see in my mirrors had a good 2-4 second gap as I'd asked for at the pre-ride briefing.

To be honest things went smoother than I could have imagined. I think if you were there you'd agree.

I would offer anytime to help Dan on his newbie rides, this was by far the best one Ive ever been on/seen here or in the states.

Dan? Matt more like

Dan (obstacle) did help me out and especially by offering to shepherd doozy back down 16.

Given you've had a bit of experience that's a great compliment so I'll let you off on the name thing

[discotex]

So for me, that was the ideal length of ride, got home after it and still managed to get some odd jobs done around the house and yard. And a really nice spot you picked out for lunch I will certainly be watching out for future Discotex rides. Thanks to everyone for a nice day out.

Good stuff. Sometimes a quick tootle is easier for people so I will try to mix it up. Will be hard to know ahead of time but I'll try to give a *rough* idea of length.

I'm pretty darn terrible with names so whoever it was that followed me back to Westgate via sh16, thanks heaps, needless to say I was a little hesitant getting back on ... let alone open road riding.

That would be Dan (obstacle). We just wanted to make sure you got home safely. You never know if the bike is damaged or your are concussed so it's not safe to let someone head off alone after a crash.

A quick update on the bike ... no major dmg, I am very lucky in that Holeshot had just wrecked a GN so was able to pick up parts at a reasonable price should be all sorted by the 18th (seems like an eternity to have the thing just sitting there but oh well )

That's good news. Could be a lot worse. Ask EJ about his Scorpio...

I think one (of the many) things I learnt from this is the factory tires on a gn250 are really shit ... I'm replacing them asap ... especially that front one ... doesnt seem to need much encouragement at all to go for a slide ...

Yeah they are a bit dodgy but should have coped with that corner. Would like to chat to you about what you remember happening etc when I'm back in Auckland and see if we can piece it all together.

[obstacle]

Dan? Matt more like

Dan (obstacle) did help me out and especially by offering to shepherd doozy back down 16.

Given you've had a bit of experience that's a great compliment so I'll let you off on the name thing

Nah, she thanked me : you were just the guy organising it, i was clearly the personality.

Thanks to everybody who came on this ride. Glad the GN got home safely and can be repaired. It was great to meet you all and I look forward to riding with you again soon.

Choice!

[trump-lady]

Nah, she thanked me : you were just the guy organising it, i was clearly the personality.

Thanks to everybody who came on this ride. Glad the GN got home safely and can be repaired. It was great to meet you all and I look forward to riding with you again soon.

Choice!

ummm yeah lol
My bad I dunno why I had Dan on my brain....perhaps Disco Dan has sent voodoo my way.....

anyway Um yeah THANKS TO THE ORGANISER
and ummm dan too LOL