Muriwai ride tonight (16 March)

[paddy]

I'd be keen for more "micro-advs". It's definitely easier for me to get out weekday evenings and I must say riding down Murawai beach at sunset looked great (as did those sand tracks). The more notice the better - things get a bit more tricky when you have two kids to organise and a wife to organise me. :-)

[3L4NS1R]

I'd be keen for more "micro-advs". It's definitely easier for me to get out weekday evenings and I must say riding down Murawai beach at sunset looked great (as did those sand tracks). The more notice the better - things get a bit more tricky when you have two kids to organise and a wife to organise me. :-)

Yeap! Will be trying to do more of these over the next few weeks, until it becomes too dark in the evenings.

Anyone keen to give Muriwai another go next week?

[.chris]

Yeap! Will be trying to do more of these over the next few weeks, until it becomes too dark in the evenings.

Anyone keen to give Muriwai another go next week?

Yes I am keen again.

Can we call it MWMR (Mid Week Muriwai Ride)?

[3L4NS1R]

Yes I am keen again.

Can we call it MWMR (Mid Week Muriwai Ride)?

Consider it done. How long before we can get it made a sticky!?

[paddy]

We could even have a MWMRFBD (followed by dinner). Or perhaps a MWMRPBD (preceeded by dinner - the government likes me to be off the road by 2200, it obviously is a lot darker at 2200 than at 2155).

If it were reasonably regular, even if it were fortnightly or something like that, it would be a whole lot easier for me to plan to get out of the house.

We might need a better plan as the days get darker though...I don't know how practical Muriwai is with headlights. :-)

[3L4NS1R]

I don't know how practical Muriwai is with headlights. :-)

Yeah, nah, the beams on the KLX are a joke... even on dip with the light adjusted so low it's hitting the front fender, you can't see anything closer than 4 meters away... then on highbeam all you get to see are the branches flying towards you.

Sounds good! Possibly if we decide on a day (monday is good for me) and if we've got people keen we'll go? Reassess every week. That we we have predictability WITH flexibility, and we're all happy!

[paddy]

Sounds good to me. My vote would be (in order of preference): Wednesday, Thursday, Monday, Friday, Tuesday.

[3L4NS1R]

Sounds good to me. My vote would be (in order of preference): Wednesday, Thursday, Monday, Friday, Tuesday.

Weds night is out due to NASS (a really good thing to go to for riders of beginning/novice levels) Thursday could be a goer though... Oh but Thursday night rides are on.. and we all know the police attention that gets.

That leaves us... MONDAY! woot!

[paddy]

NASS sounds good - I might have to try and get to that. I am in trial by fire mode at the moment commuting around 500 km per week. :-)

[3L4NS1R]

Haha, I know what you mean! I was house sitting for a month in Whangaparoa, commuting into Auckland everyday... Twas fun. Far better than sitting in the car for an extra hour each way.

[Crisis management]

I might be in for this if you don't mind a fat, slow, tractor trying to keep up...let me know if fat pigs are allowed. I've not tried digging it out of sand yet, can one of you bring an entrenching tool?

[paddy]

I might be in for this if you don't mind a fat, slow, tractor trying to keep up...let me know if fat pigs are allowed. I've not tried digging it out of sand yet, can one of you bring an entrenching tool?

I somehow doubt you'd be holding me up. I haven't tried sand yet but I suspect (based on a few youtube videos) that it's a wee bit harder than it appears. Either that or the experts just aren't as expert as they appear. (My vote goes for the second, I mean really - how hard can it be.)

[3L4NS1R]

I might be in for this if you don't mind a fat, slow, tractor trying to keep up...let me know if fat pigs are allowed. I've not tried digging it out of sand yet, can one of you bring an entrenching tool?

I keep my e-tool sharpened and oiled. Dunno if I wanna use it digging you out... might get dirty.

Seriously though, even if you fall behind, it just means we're at the top of the next hill with the camera pointing at you (thanks chris!)

[3L4NS1R]

I somehow doubt you'd be holding me up. I haven't tried sand yet but I suspect (based on a few youtube videos) that it's a wee bit harder than it appears. Either that or the experts just aren't as expert as they appear. (My vote goes for the second, I mean really - how hard can it be.)

Nah its impossible.

Just give up now.

I'm a pro.

I've been doing it for decades.

I was making it look easy.

Don't even try it.

[Bass]

I am no expert - believe me - but in my limited experience it works like this: -
Firstly, the drier the sand is, the more difficult it is. For the first time in history the Simpson desert is closed because it has been so dry that the sand is like talcum powder and just too difficult for safety. Normally, it gets enough condensation overnight to keep it rideable, but that hasn't been happening.
Secondly, if it is rideable, there are 2 common ways to deal with it. The most common way for dropkicks like me is to paddle your way through at low speed with the engine doing just enough to keep you moving at a manageable speed. The advantage of this method is that when you have an off (and you will have lots) it is at low speed in soft going and unlikely to result in damage or injury. The disadvantage is that it is really tiring and just generally hard work.
The second most common way is to get your weight as far back as you can and gas it. I was once told that 80 k is good, 100 k is better and I think that's probably about right. The more experienced/skilled here should feel free to correct me. The advantage of this method is that it is MUCH less tiring than the first and obviously much faster. The disadvantage is that it is MUCH more risky. Far better riders than I, have injured themselves riding sand this way - usually broken upper body parts - collar bones, ribs, shoulder blades etc. The problem is largely controlling the front wheel in uneven going. If it is in a rut, the sides of the rut want to pull the front offline and chuck the bike sideways and it happens way to fast to react to. This is where steering dampers help. I am told (I have no personal experience of using a steering damper in sand) that it is normal to wind the damper as tight as it will go and steer by weight shift.

Guys who know what they are doing can perform wonders here. I believe (don't quote me) the record for crossing the Simpson on a bike, is 10 hours. This is astounding.

As I said, this is mostly (but not entirely) hearsay. I have ridden fast in rough, soft sand, but stupidly, only when I was so tired that I had to, if I was to continue at all.

Generally speaking, in sand, the more agressive your tyres, the better.