Round the Lake

**_intense_** · 27th July 2009, 20:33

Originally Posted by slofox

cold as hell down towards Whakamaru .

good fun.
cold is winter riding in central otago. imo

**dino3310** · 27th July 2009, 20:52

nice one matey, i had the day aswell but i started like a nana and waited for the frost to clear, did some visiting around pukeatua ways -absolutely cracker of a day.

**Muppet** · 27th July 2009, 21:11

Originally Posted by slofox

Went round Lake Taupo today. 465km. Took about 6.5 hours with two coffee stops of about half hour each. Fabulous day - clear as - bit frosty, bit icy in places (see pic 5) - cold as hell down towards Whakamaru through the forest.
Little bike buzzed away happily all day and does not seem to have consumed excessive amounts of petroleum distillates. +1 for the SVS. Pics attached.

I hate you and for that reason alone, I'm out!

465 km round? I never knew that, have done all of those roads, but not at once.

**ynot slow** · 27th July 2009, 22:06

Nice pics Marty,the bride gets more beautiful each day,as for you well we age gracefully I suppose.

Never thought of going to Ruapehu via Forgotten Highway,always went Wanganui way when in the South Naki.Mountain is good on a beaut day,looked good last Weds.

**oldrider** · 27th July 2009, 23:12

Originally Posted by _intense_

good fun.
cold is winter riding in central otago. imo

Cold is relative to where you are at, 10 degrees less than yesterday is "cold" wherever you are!

It was minus 8C here yesterday morning and cold, this morning was minus 7C and it felt warmer.

I have been cold on the equator!

Nice story and pics slofox, (and others) glad you had a nice day!

**Renegade** · 27th July 2009, 23:18

i live around the lake and its a great ride but you are a brave man in winter especially with the ice.

SH41 turangi to Taumaranui is nice and twisty with little traffic.

SH47 of SH41 over the saddle up to whakapapa during the summer is great, most wouldnt know it but its actually a quality road surface, shoot back down over to national park, on to ohakune then to waiouru and back down toward turangi through the three sisters.

SH32, 41, 46, 47, around lake Taupo are great with much less traffic flow and less Police.

I recommend a blast in late spring.

**pjpnz** · 28th July 2009, 07:09

On which roads was the ice worst? Does the ice clear in the afternoon? Ice makes me very nervous - but I love the Kihikihi-Whakamaru-Taupo ride!

**CookMySock** · 28th July 2009, 07:56

Originally Posted by slofox

Today is the first day I have had totally to myself in four years...

Shee-it, you should do something about that. Sounds like an epic day out.

in four years, blardy hell..

Steve

**slofox** · 28th July 2009, 08:13

Originally Posted by pjpnz

On which roads was the ice worst? Does the ice clear in the afternoon? Ice makes me very nervous - but I love the Kihikihi-Whakamaru-Taupo ride!

Probably worst on 41 although there was ice on Whakamaru Road in the forest as well and a fairly major patch on SH1 heading from Taupo to Turangi. Even heading north from Taumarunui there was the odd little patch.
The photo I have posted of the ice on 41 was taken at 1.30pm. So it hangs about quite late. But it was very visible and there were plenty of warning signs and most had been laid with grit - which is very visible as well albeit just adding to the slip factor.
I saw stuff that I did not expect to thaw at all - it was thick as a biker's brain and totally shaded. Care was the order of the day - just quietly through, no brakes, engine control only...no acceleration minimum engine braking. Didn't even skid once.

**martybabe** · 28th July 2009, 08:52

Originally Posted by ynot slow

Never thought of going to Ruapehu via Forgotten Highway,always went Wanganui way when in the South Naki.Mountain is good on a beaut day,looked good last Weds.

We did a big loop T, up the Chocolate river from Wanganui to Ohakune?, desert road to Turangi, then across to the forgotten highway and home, glorious trip, glorious country, always takes longer to get places than I think it will though, she's a big country, there's always something to stop for and I haven't quite worked out those Kilometre things yet

Originally Posted by pjpnz

On which roads was the ice worst? Does the ice clear in the afternoon? Ice makes me very nervous - but I love the Kihikihi-Whakamaru-Taupo ride!

You're quite right to be Nervous, well cautious at least. It can be any section of any road but especially the dark shady places that don't see the sun for the best part of the day. Anything that looks damp, glazed, frosty or wet should be suspected, even sections that appear to be dry can catch you out. Look for signs along the way, frosty grass, icy culverts etc.

Afternoons should be better as the sun is higher and will have had a chance to thaw out more road but some sections will stay icy/frosty all day. Try going for a ride with an experienced fella like Slowfox and pick up some valuable insight into winter riding.

**slofox** · 28th July 2009, 11:33

Originally Posted by martybabe

You're quite right to be Nervous, well cautious at least. It can be any section of any road but especially the dark shady places that don't see the sun for the best part of the day. Anything that looks damp, glazed, frosty or wet should be suspected, even sections that appear to be dry can catch you out. Look for signs along the way, frosty grass, icy culverts etc.

You need to look out for the icy bits as per Martybabe's post. Then it's a matter of relaxing, taking it easy, not trying to fight it; just letting the bike do its thing. As long as you don't hit it at speed, or tipped over, or have anything unexpected happen that requires rapid change of pace, you should be OK. I go pretty slow through icy bits - try to keep the bike as upright as possible, no sudden changes to power or braking...if I ever need to brake I keep a little throttle on and gently use the rear brake - trail braking if you like. As long as there is some power on, the rear wheel won't lock up and tip you on your arse..well not so far anyway. Sorta like in the wet but more so.

Funny thing though, I have ridden through more ice this winter in the Waikato than I ever did in eight years riding in Canterbury...how do you figure that?

Yesterday wasn't that bad because it had been dry the day before. A frosty morning following rain on the previous day is another crock of poo altogether...

**vifferman** · 28th July 2009, 12:47

Originally Posted by slofox

Funny thing though, I have ridden through more ice this winter in the Waikato than I ever did in eight years riding in Canterbury...how do you figure that?

Eeh... it's Globular Yawning, y'know.

Coldest winter since 1972, apparently.