The Sandpit...a day of firsts

[Voltaire]

Went up to the Sandpit for the first time, first time on a dirt bike ( round the field doesn't count) and first time on a stroker KDX 200)
After about 5 laps of the learners it was off to the world of yellow arrows.
The sand was very dry and it was on the throttle, off the brakes and standing on the pegs as otherwise go all out of shape and the bike sank in.
Best buzz I have had since going to the top t bar and scaring myself witless.
I'm only really doing it so as I can take the boys out on their Honda 100 and 80.
I'm not sure how they will handle the soft sand, mind you they are not 46 and 95 KG.
Had a go on a blue bit but went down the hill too slow to get up the other side and had to dismount and push it.
Well pleased with the bike, powerful, torquey and light.
All in all a great morning and met some oldies who gave me some encouragement.
What I imagine a workout at the gym would be like but more fun.....see if I can walk tomorrow.

[sAsLEX]

What I imagine a workout at the gym would be like but more fun.....see if I can walk tomorrow.

Legs handle it alot better than the arms, my forearms used to suffer from a day out there!

[FROSTY:Me]

theyll have a ball on the kids tracks --my lads do

[motorbyclist]

are they open on monday?

[Ktmboy]

are they open on monday?

Yep!! Any public holidays. But keep an eye on the web site as we could close after this week until the gods give us rain. Most forests are already closed.

Shit, I never thought I'd be asking for rain.

[Leong]

Well Done Voltaire... have to do the same myself sometime.

[FROSTY:Me]

leong. Mate as I found out sand riding is whole new adventure.-All good fun

[grantman]

Hi Frosty
Check out some of the Honda riders club Family days
they are in a different part of the forest so not so sandy.

WMC also do family days

HRC camp outs are great!
your boys would love them

I have alot of fun riding with my son
Dont think it will be too long before I cant keep up !

Cheers
Grant

[humai]

Voltaire, nice report.

I must say, as a long time Woodhill Bikepark supporter, having endured three ownership regimes now, the Sandpit guys have done an amazing job in the last few months of laying new trails and grooming the main routes.

If any of you were put off by whoops and sandwashes in the bad old days, give it another shot now - you won't recognise the place. Whoops? A thing of the past!

You can easily do a loop of 30-40km without retracing your steps or seeing a single whooped out trail.

My riding mates and I try to get up there at least once a fornight. If you see a group of old trail hacks hanging around the hillclimbs out beyond the "Big Dipper", be sure to come over and say gidday.

Congrats to Tony and Steve and their team plus the many volunteers (are you there Mick?) who help out. Keep up the good work!

[Voltaire]

Shoulders are a bit sore today, legs ok, even kicked the ol Beemer into life this morning to get the crossies from the bakery.
Had a look at some links to trial rides and the Port Waikato one looks interesting.
Have to give the kids some more lessons at the local stock car parking area.
For the 11 year old its " the other 4 gears"
For the 13 years old its " round the cones"

[jimmy 2006]

Voltaire, nice report.

I must say, as a long time Woodhill Bikepark supporter, having endured three ownership regimes now, the Sandpit guys have done an amazing job in the last few months of laying new trails and grooming the main routes.

If any of you were put off by whoops and sandwashes in the bad old days, give it another shot now - you won't recognise the place. Whoops? A thing of the past!

You can easily do a loop of 30-40km without retracing your steps or seeing a single whooped out trail.

My riding mates and I try to get up there at least once a fornight. If you see a group of old trail hacks hanging around the hillclimbs out beyond the "Big Dipper", be sure to come over and say gidday.

Congrats to Tony and Steve and their team plus the many volunteers (are you there Mick?) who help out. Keep up the good work!

out beyond the big dipper? do you drop in the big dipper then go straight up the fence line? or is there somewhere else out there that your speaking of?
or do you mean the hill climbs that come off the gravel road near the big dipper? to the right? would really like to find some more hill climbs out there.

[humai]

Go down the big dipper, follow the fenceline up the other side of the big dipper, ride along a bit of a ridge, again, right on the fenceline, then drop down the hill into what is basically the very northeast corner of the park. If you follow the fenceline it's easy to miss them but if you look to your right as you approach the northeast corner of the park, you will see the general area where the hillclimbs are.

There are 4 or 5 hillclimbs - some of them are quite established now and are not as steep as they once were but they are still a nice challenge, especially if you impose a short run-up rule.