September 25-27th - Auckland - Owhango/42nd/Fishers

**.chris** · 11th August 2009, 12:33

I am planning to head down to join MarkS' organised ride of the 42nd/Fishers tracks.

Planning to leave Auckland City early (read 9amish) on the friday and take the very not main road down, even covering a chunk of the Kawhia/Raglan ride
Something like this google maps link
Will be slow paced, plenty of rest stops to check out the views.
Will most probably get lost a few times.
Plenty of options to bail out to short-cuts/main roads if things are taking longer than expected.

Plan to stay at the pub at Owhango on friday night.
Joining the group Saturday 9am at National Park for the Fishers/42nd traverse tracks.

I then plan to see how I feel with heading back up, might stay somewhere local, even maybe the Owhango hotel again, or make my way back up to visit relatives near Hamilton. Or even back to up to Auckland.

Anyone keen to join me?

**Crisis management** · 11th August 2009, 20:16

Ummm, maybe, I'm still trying to work out how much time I have available for this ride, I may just do the long day on saturday at this stage. I'll keep you in mind.

**.chris** · 11th August 2009, 20:50

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Ummm, maybe, I'm still trying to work out how much time I have available for this ride, I may just do the long day on saturday at this stage. I'll keep you in mind.

Casual as, no problems if you just turn up on the day.

**johannvr** · 11th August 2009, 21:14

Looks like I may have to bail out of the Naki ride. Would be keen to join you on the ride down on the Fri, may do Saturday Fisher's & 42nd, or may retrace Friday's steps back northwards on Sat ...

Will confirm soon.

**dino3310** · 12th August 2009, 19:59

keen as matey but will have to work on some leave with the whanau, will let you know closer to the trip

**.chris** · 13th August 2009, 09:05

Originally Posted by dino3310

keen as matey but will have to work on some leave with the whanau, will let you know closer to the trip

Will be great to have you along dino, and you too johannvr.

I have never been down this particular route, so I am not even sure what most of the roads are going to be like, from what I can tell on google earth a fair portion of it will be gravel based, but for me it is just as much about avoiding the main roads as any gravel based off-roading.

I think the route is about 420km, so given it could be a pretty slow going my plan is to leave pretty early from auckland (about 9amish), maybe meet at the autobahn at about 9:30/9:45. That way we have plenty of time to enjoy the view's have a decent lunch somewhere and get to Owhango before dark.

**Crisis management** · 13th August 2009, 09:25

Chris, if you use as much gravel as possible ie. towards port waikato, raglan, kawhia, piopio, ohura, otunui, hikimutu and to Owhango it will need a decent bit of time, I figure 50km/hr on gravel so that 8 -9 hours riding time plus stops.
I would plan on leaving the Autobahn at 8.00am to get the most out of the day.
Always plan to have spare time, it always takes longer than you think and some of those roads are very tight & slow.

Brilliant ride tho!

**Bass** · 13th August 2009, 10:20

I can't make Mike and Phil's ride the following weekend, so it looks like I'm in for this one.
Having done most of it before, I have to say that Crisis is right about the both the quality of the route and the time it will take.

Last time on the 42, I fell off twice (one off in a shallow ford) and stalled it in another ford. I have to do better than that. Plan to bring the 13 T front sprocket along this time and slip it on Friday night. That's gotta help. Please.

**.chris** · 13th August 2009, 10:29

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Chris, if you use as much gravel as possible ie. towards port waikato, raglan, kawhia, piopio, ohura, otunui, hikimutu and to Owhango it will need a decent bit of time, I figure 50km/hr on gravel so that 8 -9 hours riding time plus stops.
I would plan on leaving the Autobahn at 8.00am to get the most out of the day.
Always plan to have spare time, it always takes longer than you think and some of those roads are very tight & slow.

Brilliant ride tho!

Thanks for the advise.

Problem is with 8am, I have to fight my way through rush hour traffic, at least at about 9am it will be a bit lighter.

Was going to skip around the Port Waikato gravel roads, and just rip down SH22 (since I have done the Port Waikato roads a few times,and will be doing again on the 30th with gravel bash v2).

Yeah I agree, that it will take a fair while to get down, hence me admitting that a bail out (to main roads) at some stage further south is quite likely.

**johannvr** · 13th August 2009, 14:15

I'm good with either time, etc., so will watch this thread for final calls.

Juts gotta remember now to call & book accomm for the Fri nite - you reckon Owhango pub's gonna be the place to be ...

**johannvr** · 13th August 2009, 14:17

Originally Posted by Bass

I can't make Mike and Phil's ride the following weekend, so it looks like I'm in for this one.
Having done most of it before, I have to say that Crisis is right about the both the quality of the route and the time it will take.

Last time on the 42, I fell off twice (one off in a shallow ford) and stalled it in another ford. I have to do better than that. Plan to bring the 13 T front sprocket along this time and slip it on Friday night. That's gotta help. Please.

I don't even have a 14t front - better scout around & see if I can unearth one, as I suspect that the 15's going to slap me on the wrist ... or such ...

**Bass** · 13th August 2009, 14:56

Originally Posted by johannvr

I don't even have a 14t front - better scout around & see if I can unearth one, as I suspect that the 15's going to slap me on the wrist ... or such ...

I wouldn't worry too much. Me falling off etc has more to do with a basic lack of skill, than the size of the front sprocket. I'm just trying to stack the odds in my favour.