Intro to off-road 101. Riding mates wanted

[the vet]

Just finished 2 month motorbike tour of NZ on my 650 V-strom with TKC 80s (mostly the S. Island, see the link beginning this page for details, or start from the beginning if interested): http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=86074&page=7,
The adventure touring as been awesome, but my true passion is pure off road riding. I'm now situated in Wellington while I work for at least 6 months with most weekends and an odd weekday off. I'd like to get into local off road riding if possible, which would mean I would be shopping for used gear and a used bike. I was riding a KTM 300EXC back in Northern California and really miss getting out on the bike. I may be biting off more than I can chew because I currently have no gear, no dirt bike and no vehicle other than my V-strom. I am considering selling the wee-strom to fund a dirt bike and transport vehicle, but really don't want to do that, as I have a lot of adventure touring I'd like to do yet in the North Island. I can afford a used bike and some gear without selling my strom....so I am trying to find potential riding mates for whom I can buy lunch and beer and split petrol costs in exchange for hauling my ass around to ride..............any one out there looking for a Wellington region riding mate? I've been riding off road in Northern California semi-regularly for the last 9 years including a couple of enduros and extended trips in Nevada, Colorado and Utah---I guess I'd rank my skill as upper level intermediate, I'm 43 yrs old....a 71 mile full day ride outside of Queenstown a few weeks ago was no problem, but not too highly technical.
Cheers, Pete

[Ride it till the red]

No problem taking you a few places mate. I'm often alone due to mates with terrible lack of motivation!

Try to do as many of the local organised rides as possible and get up in the forest for a blat reasonably often too (finishing work at midday helps with this!)

I come with less experience (at just under half your age) but limited fear, lots of throttle and some good luck usually gets me round ok

Flick a PM when you've sorted a bike and I'll let you know where I'm at with riding plans.

James

[Nasty]

Flick Merv a PM .. he is not often on line .. but loves getting out for rides ...

[kezzafish]

yeah mate, always keen. I have a van and am in central wellington so get a bike and come to the next 3 rounds of the lower north island enduro with us. I'd classify myself about the same as "ride it to the red" and around the same age. Most of my riding buddies are around their 40s 'cos as "red" said: most young people are useless! (me included) but we ride every week and could show you round the local spots. There is a heap of awesome technical riding in Karapoti (40 mins from CBD)

P.S. "Ride it till the red" we should hook up too?

[the vet]

Awesome, that's the 'green light' I needed....time to shop TradeMe! Got my eye on a few already!