Wednesday Night Ride

[jimichelle]

Or for some more adventure there is Western Valley Road through to Little River. I'm sure it hasn't changed much since it was done 2 up on an ES2 Norton in the early 70's.

or a triumph bonnie in the 80s

[Dave-]

I wouldn't take my old honda over those roads, so I couldn't expect anyone else to take their bikes over them could I !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would you like to go to Greta next week and come to the Taitap this week??????

but taitap is 10 seconds away, and we did that ride 2 weeks ago and greta 4? weeks ago so it's greta's turn and we can do taitap next week?

[CeeJay]

I wouldn't take my old honda over those roads, so I couldn't expect anyone else to take their bikes over them could I !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No offence Gloplg but I don't think that is a valid criterion for deciding on a route that everyone (nearly 40 bikes) ought to follow. I mean, I wouldn't use my bike to jump the Grand Canyon but don't think I ought to tell Evil Knievil that he shouldn't try...

[Spuds1234]

If your all going to wind up at the same place anyway, why cant the off road riders take a different route to people that dont have off road bikes?

Might take some jigging of the routes or leaving times to make sure that everyone gets to the pub at a similar time but Im sure it could be done.

[SpeedMonger]

The bikers theory that the journey ... is not as important as the destination ... holds no weight with you then

That is a very cryptic question... that I cannot possibly answer...

[SpeedMonger]

If you get it spectactularly wrong at turn one you can make it to the prison.
No beer but plenty of sex and drugs so they say...

I only ever go east down the main straight, so might be safe...

[Flip]

I took a longer and diferent route last Wednesday from the bulk of the group and had a lovely ride. I probably got there 15 min after the big group, it was no big deal and it was nice to set my own pace for a while.

If you do the Purau-Taitap run I am thinking about doing the slow way over the westarn valley road on the old bike. I am going to be very slow as my old bike boils its carbs on long slow uphill runs and has 30's technology brakes to deal with the bottom of the little river side.

[gloplg]

WNR destination this week, TaiTap pub.

WNR destination next week, Greta Valley Bar and Cafe.

This weeks route, BK, Dyers Pass, round the bays to Diamond Harbour, those riders who want a shorter ride may turn around there, those who want a longer ride may continue to Purau or further to Port Levy.

There has been a suggestion of some of our group, the offroaders, going further on the gravel roads around Port Levy. I think if you want to, then go for it. I do not have a problem with this!!!!

[Peeteey]

There has been a suggestion of some of our group, the offroaders, going further on the gravel roads around Port Levy. I think if you want to, then go for it. I do not have a problem with this!!!!

I might be keen for that, tried out the softer suspension on the DR tonight and loved it (bet my neighbours didn't!) If I took the DR I'd be slower than slow, it struggles to go 100 and vibrates like mad so my top speed will be about 80.
So long as she passes her WOF before hand ...

I mean, I wouldn't use my bike to jump the Grand Canyon but don't think I ought to tell Evil Knievil that he shouldn't try...

Hee hee, and look what happened to him! And, would you have followed him? I think the only people that did were the emergency crews, right?

[Dave-]

WNR destination this week, TaiTap pub.

WNR destination next week, Greta Valley Bar and Cafe.

This weeks route, BK, Dyers Pass, round the bays to Diamond Harbour, those riders who want a shorter ride may turn around there, those who want a longer ride may continue to Purau or further to Port Levy.

There has been a suggestion of some of our group, the offroaders, going further on the gravel roads around Port Levy. I think if you want to, then go for it. I do not have a problem with this!!!!

with all due respect gloplug that sounds like the ride you tried running only 2 weeks ago sans summit road, why are we riding to the same place so close together when I believe greta was run 4 weeks ago?

In the past we've drawn up the common favourite rides and rotated them, I'm going to draw up some new ones (given the earthquake) and I'll post them, then people can add rides and comment on them and things.

sound good? yeah i thought so.

[gloplg]

If you do the Purau-Taitap run I am thinking about doing the slow way over the westarn valley road on the old bike. I am going to be very slow as my old bike boils its carbs on long slow uphill runs and has 30's technology brakes to deal with the bottom of the little river side.

I might be keen for that, tried out the softer suspension on the DR tonight and loved it (bet my neighbours didn't!) If I took the DR I'd be slower than slow, it struggles to go 100 and vibrates like mad so my top speed will be about 80.
So long as she passes her WOF before hand ...

OK so that's 2 of you. Transalper might be interested, along with some others.

[Dave-]

Rides:

All rides can have summit road added in some way, but due to the quality of the road surface I wont run big rides over it, smaller groups are welcome to break off but please be careful.

Akaroa
Map

Length: 109km (161km return to Christchurch)

Description:
Since the earthquake damaged the Duvauchelle Pub the ride in 2010 was extended all the way to akaroa with a return to the little river hotel which has some great value food.
The Akaora highway took some damage due to the earthquake with extra potholes and bumps on the whole road, be cautious of gravel on the Akaroa side of hilltop.

Stops: Usually in Halswell and Little River and Akaroa, although should be kept brief due to length of the ride.

Variations:
Dyers pass (-1 km)
Only going to Little River (-56.9 km)
Lyttelton Tunnel (+7km) Removed until roadworks completed
Evans Pass (+21km) Removed until roadworks completed
DIRT BIKE RIDE GOES HERE! (I dunno the length difference)
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Greta Valley
Map

Length: 98.9km (180km return to Christchurch)

Description:
Although it starts and ends with some dull North Canterbury straights the gooey centre of this ride starts deliciously smooth around Weka Pass and tightens up after Waikari, be cautious at the end of Weka Pass, there's a tank slapper pothole at the top of the hill going into Waikari, after Waikari there's a left hand corner with a gravel drive way on the left hand side that often spills a wee bit of gravel onto the road, and later there's a sweeping right hander that often has grit.

Stops: Marshlands Road across from the ice cream place, meeting point at amberly for the northern riders is only a quick stop, then there's a stop at the turn off to weka pass and finally a stop at the Greta Valley Pub.

Variations:
Teviotdale (+32.1km) - It's by the ocean....breif stop
Suggestions? I know there's an alternative that goes from rangiora to amberly...
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Diamond Harbour
MAP

Length: 57.2 km (75.1km return to Christchurch)

Description:
Like the Duvauchelle Pub, Godly House was closed by the earthquake, so until it's restored or replaced we'll pay our respects then turn around and head to Taitapu Hotel which has been an excellent replacement with delicious food and an awesome beer garden, Caution on the road to Diamond Harbour, patch work to the road is patchy....and bumpy, and entering Charteris Bay there's a gnarly drop in the road, hold on cause your bike will probably ride it out but it'll make your tummy flip (personally I love it)

Stops:
There's a gravel pit place after the teddington straights, you cant miss it. There's another stop in Diamond Harbour and the final stop at the Taitapu Hotel.

Variations:
Port Levy (+34km)
Lyttelton Tunnel (+7km) Removed until roadworks completed
Evans Pass (+21km) Removed until roadworks completed
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Alright that'll do for now, there's more rides, and more variations, and more cautions and more stops and other descriptions, PM me your rides (try to keep the same format), variations, or changes and I'll add them to the list with due credit.

[brp]

If you get it spectactularly wrong at turn one you can make it to the prison.
No beer but plenty of sex and drugs so they say..

Not into dropping soap being part of foreplay


Was some loose shingle 1/2 way up the diamond harbour side of the hill to port levy couple of months ago - may have now been sweep clean. For those that have never ridden back from port levy back to diamond harbour - its worth doing - neat corners !

IMOO - The only road bike I'd be taken from Port Levy to Little River is - one I didn't care about. Single track in most parts, tight corners, braking ruts on corners, and Very steep coming down into little river.

[Transalper]

.... IMOO - The only road bike I'd be taken from Port Levy to Little River is - one I didn't care about. Single track in most parts, tight corners, braking ruts on corners, and Very steep coming down into little river.

It will certainly rattle ya fairings if you have them.
There is plenty of corrugation (not ruts) on the Little river side, most people prefer to ride up that and down in to Port Levy.
Corrugation is at normal levels, seen it a lot worse.

I'll continue to watch the thread and probably come along work permitting (should be able to arrange it).

[cruza]

Day off on wed so I'm keen for early trip to akar's , maybe halswell 5ish departure, prob fish n chips, and return to meet up with others at the taitapu pub for a cold ale or 2. Nice place to end a run . flick me a pm if your keen .