Winter Solstice Sunday Ride 24 June

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Back over the easter rides I mentioned at the Short Straw Cafe a winter solstice ride and perhaps Staglands. Well flag Staglands the Akatarawa road heading out there, though only 16km or so is too winding, narrow and slippery this time of year.

Meanwhile, here is a suggestion for Sunday Ride 24 June:

Rimutex - Martinborough (coffee/food) - Greytown - Carterton - Masterton (through town)- Alfredton - Eketahuna - Masterton (bypass road) - Carterton - (coffee/food) - Rimutex.

I have not done the Masterton - Alfredton - Eketahuna - Masterton loop...what is the road like out there this time of year? I may try and get up there before the solstice weekend.

Allowing for the two stops I think we would be looking at 4 to 5 hours Rimutex out and back.

I have noticed the Rimutaka Hill this week is getting quite a bit of low cloud and twice I have only gone up as far as 13km winding road sign as the road had that wet and slippery appearance, needless to say numerous stock trucks too.

So for the shortest day winter solstice a [corrected time to 10.45am]10.45am departure from Rimutex getting back around 3.30 - 4pm may be about right.

This will be purely a social cruisie ride. (I will post a link over at the TCSMR to this thread.)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=48572&page=10

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Kinje]

I have not done the Masterton - Alfredton - Eketahuna - Masterton loop...what is the road like out there this time of year? I may try and get up there before the solstice weekend.

Hey Buckbuck

I shot up this road yesterday. I think you were talking about it if dryish but not sure if you would have come over or not as it was dampish.

Road is a nice one. Nice and twisty all the way. I took it a bit easier as it was damp but still felt like I had plenty of grip. There are sections where it is a bit tighter, and there are some sections where it opens up a bit and you can see right through the corners and give it a bit more.

They have resealed parts of it, and there were a few bits that had a small bit of gravel left in the center of the lane. Like any small country back road, beware of driveways, stock on the side of the road and places where stock have crossed the road.

I went right through from Masterton to Pahiatua which was about 75km and took 45 min. To Eke you turn left at Alfredton rather than right, and the distance from Mstn to Eke is probably 65ish km so maybe 35-40ish mins

I might come on the ride next week, will see what I'm doing

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Road is a nice one. Nice and twisty all the way. I took it a bit easier as it was damp but still felt like I had plenty of grip. There are sections where it is a bit tighter, and there are some sections where it opens up a bit and you can see right through the corners and give it a bit more.

They have resealed parts of it, and there were a few bits that had a small bit of gravel left in the center of the lane. Like any small country back road, beware of driveways, stock on the side of the road and places where stock have crossed the road.

I might come on the ride next week, will see what I'm doing

Thank you Kinje for the feedback. I am actually thinking that perhaps the direct route: Rimutex (rather than out to Martinborough on the way) make a coffee stop at Carterton - Wild Oats then onto Masterton - Alfredton - Eketahuna - returning back to Rimutex (with a detour on the way back Masterton to Martinborough for those who may want a longer ride.)

Reckon may have to nominate you as ride captain out of Carterton.

Good weather please.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Lissa]

I will be there. About what time will you be at Carterton? I'm probably meet you all at Wild Oats... warming myself up with a coffee

[Dodger]

Would like to be there, but doubt I will.
have quite a busy weekend coming up with work functions etc.

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TCSMR meet for 10am departure, but as this weekend is near the shortest day, I was thinking of around a 10.45 for 11.00 departure, or perhaps 10.30 for 10.45, see what the consensus is later in the week.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[KoroJ]

I am actually thinking that perhaps the direct route: Rimutex (rather than out to Martinborough on the way) make a coffee stop at Carterton - Wild Oats then onto Masterton - Alfredton - Eketahuna - returning back to Rimutex (with a detour on the way back Masterton to Martinborough for those who may want a longer ride.)

Difference (coming out on East Taratahi Road) is about 25km and about 28km difference via Gladstone. Not much difference time-wise because you're out of the SH2 traffic and avoid the long towns. It's also easier to keep a group together out of the traffic. Just need to watch it through those roads if it's wet, but that applies to the Alfredton road as well.

[Kinje]

Yeah, come through Martinborough, then go through the middle road to Carterton for a stop at Wild Oats (very good choice btw) and avoid SH2 until then. The time difference is sweet FA and the ride much nicer.

I prefer the more twisty riding earlier on when fresher and can concentrate better, then a cruisy ride back down SH2 on the way back.

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Yeah, come through Martinborough, then go through the middle road to Carterton for a stop at Wild Oats (very good choice btw) and avoid SH2 until then. The time difference is sweet FA and the ride much nicer.

I prefer the more twisty riding earlier on when fresher and can concentrate better, then a cruisy ride back down SH2 on the way back.

'Middle road to Carterton' not familiar with but hopefully on Sunday we will have a someone that is. [The middle road is that the turn off to the left as you are coming into Martinborough?]

Heads Up and Enjoy

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Difference (coming out on East Taratahi Road) is about 25km and about 28km difference via Gladstone. Not much difference time-wise because you're out of the SH2 traffic and avoid the long towns. It's also easier to keep a group together out of the traffic. Just need to watch it through those roads if it's wet, but that applies to the Alfredton road as well.

Google Mapped it;
Left into Ponatahi Road, Kokotau Road, then Moreton Road into Carterton.

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Difference (coming out on East Taratahi Road) is about 25km and about 28km difference via Gladstone. Not much difference time-wise because you're out of the SH2 traffic and avoid the long towns. It's also easier to keep a group together out of the traffic. Just need to watch it through those roads if it's wet, but that applies to the Alfredton road as well.

KoroJ, when you Sels1 and I came back down along the Masterton bypass and back onto SH2, that would be near the East Taratahi Road turn off to then loop back through Martinborough on the way back. Or proceed up to Greytown and do the small loop Bidwell Cuttings Road right back onto "53" and back into Featherston.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Kinje]

'Middle road to Carterton' not familiar with but hopefully on Sunday we will have a someone that is. [The middle road is that the turn off to the left as you are coming into Martinborough?]

Heads Up and Enjoy

Google Mapped it;
Left into Ponatahi Road, Kokotau Road, then Moreton Road into Carterton.

Yep, thats the one I'm talking about. You turn off to the left just as you enter the 50km/hr zone if entering from Fstn/Greytown direction. Some lovely sweeping bends More open and flowing than the back road from Mtb to Mstn with no narrow bits and much much more interesting than SH2

Yep, I should be there on Sunday. Prob won't make it to Rimutex but could meet perhaps in Fstn or at top of hill if I drag myself out of bed in time...I hate sunday mornings!

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Road is a nice one. Nice and twisty all the way. I took it a bit easier as it was damp but still felt like I had plenty of grip. There are sections where it is a bit tighter, and there are some sections where it opens up a bit and you can see right through the corners and give it a bit more.

Kinje, what would be the approx riding time Masterton Alfredton Eketahuna Masterton?

[Kinje]

KoroJ, when you Sels1 and I came back down along the Masterton bypass and back onto SH2, that would be near the East Taratahi Road turn off to then loop back through Martinborough on the way back. Or proceed up to Greytown and do the small loop Bidwell Cuttings Road right back onto "53" and back into Featherston.

Heads Up and Enjoy

After riding out of Mstn towards Wgtn, East Taratahi Rd is on the left at the end of the 1st passing lane. Takes you down along the long straights past the turn off to Gladdy and links onto Kokotau, Ponotahi (what I call the middle road), Mtb. There are quite a few roads linking between that middle rd and SH2 between Mstn and Ctn.

Confused you yet?

[Madness]

BB, could I suggest you add it to the Events Calendar?

Got a $900 TSS bill today, now for a rego & some gas money..............