Wellington Rideouts - Where next?

**gav24** · 23rd August 2009, 18:50

Yes really good ride, and just challenging enough to make it an adventure - ey Paul?

Bit of time spent poking around at Otaki forks and over the suspension bridge, but nothing much happening so off to Otaki, as described by Stormtrooper Shane.

Some sticky going on some rarely used tracks, and a BIG shock off an electric fence for me

Then the Thompson track proper... Pretty tight, steep, wet, rocky and slippery near the start, some good splashes and then up the ridge line. Man were we sweaty when we finally stopped with Pauls poor little KLR hissing and spitting like a boiling kettle

Then it gradually opened up and the views once at the top were AMAZING! Trip back down made me glad we were doing it that way round as was pretty steep and rutty in places

Finally a great blast down the sawdust/chippings then on to the gravel in the cleared forest, over the river and out at the shelter on Manakau road, (Past a sign saying no vehicles - oops!)

Final blast down the beach to waikanae - wont be able to do this on a motorcycle after Sept 1 (even with a warrant & rego) - new local by-law - Bastards

Would be good to do again with a few more of us. Recomend good tyres - mine weren't- especially on a big bike! So no bald trail wings on a Africa Twin!

Enjoy the photos!

**gav24** · 23rd August 2009, 18:53

and some more

**Eddieb** · 23rd August 2009, 19:45

A short clip from Saturdays Sutherlands Hut ride. Joe and the guys playing around in a mud puddle at the beginning of the track proper.

**Eddieb** · 24th August 2009, 12:46

So on Friday night I bought a GoPro 5 Motorsport and stuck it on the front of the bike to record our trip into Sutherlands Hut.

I got the 54 degree lens version rather than the 170 degree widescreen. I felt it gave better depth and I didn't need the widescreen as we aren't in a racetrack situation with vehicles beside trying to pass that we want to capture.

For the first attempt the camera was mounted onto the front headlight using a suction cup fitting that came with the camera. I think Helmet mounted might be better for a number of reasons.

So in all it's glory here's the first installment of filming.

**Eddieb** · 24th August 2009, 18:00

And part 2. This is where the river crossings start I think.

**Eddieb** · 24th August 2009, 18:01

And part 3. More river crossings and the final run into the hut.

**bart** · 24th August 2009, 18:40

Awesome Eddie.

I can't get sound, but that may be just my poota.

**gav24** · 24th August 2009, 19:07

Great Eddie!
Now its like had 2 rides out over the weekend, instead of one

Cant wait to do it for real, and give the Cnut a good hammering. I ordered a new rear tyre today so gonna give it heaps up that bad-boy I keep hearing so much about

Make my pics on an ancient low res digi camera of Thompons look a bit rubbish...

**That looks like fun** · 24th August 2009, 20:00

I got sound but only if I adjust the loud button to really really big

Top filming eddie, I thought we fell off there once

**junkmanjoe** · 24th August 2009, 20:21

Originally Posted by gav24

Great Eddie!
Now its like had 2 rides out over the weekend, instead of one

Cant wait to do it for real, and give the Cnut a good hammering. I ordered a new rear tyre today so gonna give it heaps up that bad-boy I keep hearing so much about

:

cnut hill needs to be given respect... as she has taken two guys before...
thats why shes being such a bitch and not letting us ride all the way up..

JMJ

**Paladin** · 24th August 2009, 20:34

That's an awesome first attempt at video Eddie, well done mate! Picture quality is pretty damn good!!!

Certainly didn't seem to get vibration problems with the headlight mount, which was a wicked result first time out. I can see how if helmet mounted you would get the views around corners quicker as the rider would look around the turn before the bike turns. Maybe with helmet mount you might also get a better perspective of the angles too, eg when climbing up/down slips or entry/exits of river crossings - the headlight mount does seem to flatten everything out. BTW, I did manage to get sound but very low and only with the YouTube AND my laptop both turned up to max volume! i suppose helmet mount would also allow you to look around and capture some of the scenery as we pass it too. Decisions, decisions.....!

You're gonna have some great fun playing around with setups - good on ya mate for gettin going on video! Bloody brilliant!

**bart** · 24th August 2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

cnut hill needs to be given respect... as she has taken two guys before...
thats why shes being such a bitch and not letting us ride all the way up..

JMJ

That will change real soon. I'm kicking myself that I didn't have one more go.

Sulky sulk sulk.......at least I got to the bleeding top .........sulk sulk............didn't feel like cheating at the time............sulk sulk sulk.............I'd only owned the bike a week.........sulk sulk..........first time off road with it..........sulk sulk..........can't think of any more excuses........sulky sulk

**bart** · 24th August 2009, 20:36

Found that the little fella's been playing on the computer. Sound was turned off elsewhere. Cheers.

**marks** · 24th August 2009, 22:57

Originally Posted by bart

That will change real soon. I'm kicking myself that I didn't have one more go.

cmon Bart - we were all so totally fooked that none of us had the energy for another go

part of me was relieved that my clutch went south - knackered doesn't even come close to how tired I was feeling

I'm keen to try and take the KLR up the first nasty bit and to the foot of the 2nd nasty bit (but no further - I know my limits..)