Wellington MX N00B here

[pete.ktm]

cheers kezza

just sent your report to my mate, i told him if masterton turned out all good i'd be going over and repo'ing our trailor back into my garage!

you guys all going to otaki next weekend? theres another ride in masterton as well. can't beat the local rides (otaki is about as local as it gets) but i like the masterton hills. had a look at my ride log and in all the years i don't think i've ever done waiawa gorge, anyone got any pics from previous rides?

[crfchick]

I wish I had gone to the Masterton ride (apart from that hardout sounding hill climb!) oh well, theres always otaki next weekend. Did you seriously get sunburnt Kezza?! That is hard to believe considering the pouring rain we had in Welly. Thanks for the offer off the lift over too (didnt log on till just now).
What was the wind turbine like C1? Did you ride the mx track or the trails? I'd be keen to check that place out, have heard some good things about it!
We went round Red Rocks Sat and boy was it BUSY! And good fun (although some of you guys would find it boring compared to Karapoti wouldnt you?)

[kezzafish]

yeah pete saw that one in masterton but i've never done waiawa gorge either so i'll be heading up there, the olds live up there too so we'll pay em a visit and jump in their spa to clean our gear and sooth our weary bods lol.

Yeah cfrchick it was a cracker day honest, hot as hell. Red rocks is pretty straight forward huh but still good fun... 4WD dodging keeps things interesting! and you can go round really far (well past "hells gate") then you come across this cool stream which you can ride up. The track kinda zig zags across the stream. Did you find this? it's good fun

May see ya's up otaki

[crfchick]

Yep I think I know the stream you mean, you go almost as far round as you can (at high tide at least, something or other cove?) past what would normally be a couple of deep mud bogs off to the side of the hill, you end up in the farmers land I think(?), we mucked around there for a bit, was fun but the wairarapa ride sounds way more fun! Especially given the weather!!
Yep hopefully see y'all up Otaki!

[ruphus]

Waiawa gorge was the first ever trail ride I did. They didn't have it last year cause of a drought risk so they postponed it. The week before the new date there was the huge storms in the area and heaps of trees fell across the tracks and they wouldn't have them cleared in time.

I'd like to do this ride again but I think we're heading over to masterton for the pony express which is on the same weekend. Looks like it could be fun. 2 riders, 1 fast and 1 slow. If I find the email, I'll post it up.

[ruphus]

Found it.

Hi all

As you know we are running a SOCIAL PONY EXPRESS at Fish’s property in Masterton. A few pointers to follow:

NO ENTRY FEE
Sunday May 3rd sign on time from 9 am, riders briefing at 10 am, start as soon as look lap complete.
Race duration approx 2 hours
Two riders. A fast and slow rider will be paired together to make up teams on the day.
Free BBQ
Free trailride for those that want to

We are aiming to make this a family/ fun day so bring all and everyone. Race should be finished in time for lunch.

[kezzafish]

cheers for posting that Ruphus. Was aware of that event and the freeness is attractive but i've wanted to know where this otaki ride is for a long time now and it's soo close and easy. Horophenua MCC deserve the support too cos they put a lot into these rides and are getting a good regular "series" going.

Didn't realise it was canned last year. I thought i'd missed it

[ruphus]

Looks like I'll be doing the Otaki ride after all due to the easyness of getting to it. Is down the end of Otaki Gorge road which is lucky for me cause my inlaws live on that road.

I try to get along to all of the Horowhenua rides as imo they are the best organised and best marked rides.

I've been wanting to do this ride for the last 2 years since it was first ever trail ride that I had done. From memory, it was one of the best too. At the start of the ride there was a small hill that for the life of me, I couldn't ride up and had to walk up it. That's how noob I was, never ridden a dirt bike before and I was put onto my mates CRF250R rocket ship. So now I want to wheelie up the damn thing.

I was told that the A loops double back onto the main loop which means that you can do the A loop as many times as you want before continuing.

[secondfield]

Wish I could join you guy's there, its just up the road from where we live.

But....

Im off home to Gisborne to collect a gifted ford transit van and a rebuilt 06 rmz250 from a mate whos decided to live in aussie. Dang, what bad luck.

Cher Bo'

[thecharmed01]

Sounds like fun was had by all on the weekend!!!

I am looking forward to Otaki, am getting my seat rebuilt this week so will hopefully have a slightly lower, grippier black seat to hang onto for the weekend......
Wll be good to meet some of you guys so make sure you find us!!!!!
We're a bit easy to find seeing as there arent too many kids under 2 hanging out LOL

Went up to the MX Track only on Saturday. Spent the time wombling my way round the track and trying to get used to riding in boots.
To be honest, although it was still fun it was a very frustrating ride as I felt like I was learning all over again... I had to shift my gear lever so it was a bit easier with boots not sneakers and I had to learn how to move my foot differently so that I could get the gears to change up and down.
Boots suck LOL
Felt like I wearing snowboard boots - without the snow!!!!!
Took a bit for them to start softening up so I could get my ankle to bend LOL
Towards the end of the time up there though they were much better. I was able to kick the bike over with less trouble - at the start I felt like a munter!! My ankle wouldnt bend so I had so much trouble just starting the bike LOL

[kezzafish]

ha haa, yeah C1. Boots are a bit different but keep it up and they'll just become an extension of your leg. I just got new boots and the change has taken me a few rides to get used to. My new ones are much better protection but this means they're stiffer and i have less feel with them on. I have been finding myself riding along with the rear brake on LOL

What'd ya think of the track? did ya do the little trail loop down the valley from the middle of the MX track?

[crfchick]

Wish I could join you guy's there, its just up the road from where we live.

But....

Im off home to Gisborne to collect a gifted ford transit van and a rebuilt 06 rmz250 from a mate whos decided to live in aussie. Dang, what bad luck.

Cher Bo'

That's a score about the van humps and bike Humps! Woohoo! Shame you cant make the Otaki ride though.
And C1 you will get used to those boots real quick, I felt the shame when I 1st got mine, they felt so bulky and cumbersome but now I wouldnt ride without them!

[thecharmed01]

Hehe, well seeing as I felt like I was starting from scratch again it was a bit rough LOL
I did okay, I only rode the little loop a bunch of times and the bigger loop the once. Didnt go anywhere else as I was quite enjoying playing round learning different things on that track that I hadnt encountered before. Weird as it sounds, I hadnt ever gone round a berm on a motorbike, so that took me 2-3 goes to really get my head around, but I sessioned it for a while and have started getting it, am still leaning out too much, but am right up round the top and I have my foot down on the inside, just need a bit more confidence to really get the angle right.

I also was having a bit of a fight with the ruts LOL
Not so much on uphills, but that little bumpy floaty part, where I was coming down into the ruts was just about chucking me over the bars LOL
Need more practise at those LOL
But I was up on my feet.....so thats a good thing right?

Getting myself on the right place over the bike is a bit of a problem.
Riding DH has taught me that without even thinking, when I approach a steep downhill section I automatically try to get my weight over the back of the bike, which I am told is bad on a MX bike??
I keep getting told to get over the middle/front but my brain is so trained I move back without thinking so am having to re-think and force myself toward the front. It will happen.....

I have to keep reminding myself that I have ridden my bike twice LOL

Oooooh and I sent my seat in to be recovered in that grippy stuff LOL
That should be fun when I get it back......

[SpikedPunch]

Getting myself on the right place over the bike is a bit of a problem.
Riding DH has taught me that without even thinking, when I approach a steep downhill section I automatically try to get my weight over the back of the bike, which I am told is bad on a MX bike??
I keep getting told to get over the middle/front but my brain is so trained I move back without thinking so am having to re-think and force myself toward the front. It will happen.....

I have to keep reminding myself that I have ridden my bike twice LOL

Oooooh and I sent my seat in to be recovered in that grippy stuff LOL
That should be fun when I get it back......

Everyone I've talked to has said to stand and keep your weight back downhill and forward uphill...Hope that's the right way, it's what I've been doing anyhow
gripper seats are awesome, just put one on m'self! Slidey one was driving me nuts.

[L Rider]

Everyone I've talked to has said to stand and keep your weight back downhill and forward uphill...Hope that's the right way, it's what I've been doing anyhow
gripper seats are awesome, just put one on m'self! Slidey one was driving me nuts.

yeah you've got it the right way, thats what i've been told too. Actually feels better too.
Interesting re the gripper seat. Mine currently is the slidey one but over xmas i rode a RM which had the gripper. I preferred mine as could move so much more easier by sliding rather than lifting. In saying that though, i just got a graphics kit for my bike which has a gripper seat. Haven't had good look but dont think its as grippy as the RM one so hopefully will be all good. My riding has also improved alot since xmas too which prob will make a difference.