Wednesday Night Ride

**Spuds1234** · 16th December 2010, 23:21

Originally Posted by Peeteey

Oops, yea, for some reason I think of it as the first exit. I guess it's the first overpass maybe? dunno

Even taking it a bit further, going Oxford, Scenic hwy to Waddington then old west coast rd back. Going between the river and Darfield, Kirwee, west melton etc.

That would be a bloody long ride tho ... about 150k, close to 2 hours of fast(-ish for some like me!) riding

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...64923&t=h&z=10

Anyhoo, just bantering some sleep deprived ideas around

Actually its not that long. You will end up in town at the same time after the ride as you normally would, its just that the destination (if we go to a pub in town) is at the end of the ride not the middle.

EDIT: Its a similar distance as the usual Greta Valley ride.

**Buyasta** · 17th December 2010, 00:14

Taking the Old West Coast rd may be about 20km longer, but it really does take about the same length of time as taking Tram rd - I grew up in Oxford, so I've travelled back and forth both routes hundreds of times, and both routes average out to 40-50 minutes if you stick to the speed limit, although Tram rd feels a hell of a lot longer because of the ridiculously boring 25km straight.
Alternatively, if you wanted a route that's only marginally longer than Tram Rd, and takes about the same length of time as the other two routes, there's always South Eyre rd.. it's been many years since I've been that way, but if memory serves, it's a little less boring than Tram rd.

**Gareth123** · 17th December 2010, 02:09

Originally Posted by Buyasta

Alternatively, if you wanted a route that's only marginally longer than Tram Rd, and takes about the same length of time as the other two routes, there's always South Eyre rd.. it's been many years since I've been that way, but if memory serves, it's a little less boring than Tram rd.

Yeah, South Eyre Road has some corners at the start. Then only 20km of straight riding

**Buyasta** · 17th December 2010, 03:33

Originally Posted by Gareth123

Yeah, South Eyre Road has some corners at the start. Then only 20km of straight riding

I did say "a little less boring".. and a 20km straight still leaves it a full 5km less boring than Tram Rd.

As I said though, I'd really recommend going via the Old West Coast Rd - it's a much nicer drive than Tram Rd, although it's certainly still not a particularly exciting ride - certainly no real opportunities for faster riders to get their knees down.. just the least boring route to Oxford that won't take significantly longer than the alternatives.

**neels** · 17th December 2010, 08:13

Originally Posted by Buyasta

I did say "a little less boring".. and a 20km straight still leaves it a full 5km less boring than Tram Rd.

As I said though, I'd really recommend going via the Old West Coast Rd - it's a much nicer drive than Tram Rd, although it's certainly still not a particularly exciting ride - certainly no real opportunities for faster riders to get their knees down.. just the least boring route to Oxford that won't take significantly longer than the alternatives.

The last time I went for a ride out to Oxford, I decided the most interesting way home was the same way we went out.

**imdying** · 17th December 2010, 09:48

Originally Posted by helenoftroy

imdying has some awesome ride suggestions here
early in the new year we should just do it!

Windwhistle or Hanmer would be perfect...all the others are great rides too

One thing I didn't consider was fuel range. If some nice person could make up a Google Maps thingy with those routes and the service stations available...

**Peeteey** · 17th December 2010, 22:29

Originally Posted by imdying

One thing I didn't consider was fuel range. If some nice person could make up a Google Maps thingy with those routes and the service stations available...

Castle hill:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...=UTF8&t=h&z=10

Hanmer Springs:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...e=UTF8&t=h&z=9

Windwhistle > Mount Somers > Rakaia > BK

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...=UTF8&t=h&z=10

Jacksons:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...e=UTF8&t=h&z=9

Lake Tekapo

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour....90863&t=h&z=9

I have no idea about petrol stations along the way but there's enough towns scattered around ...

**Buyasta** · 18th December 2010, 00:06

Map of petrol stations all over NZ.
Or if you want one that's easier to see when zoomed in (And appears to be more accurate), go to Yellow Pages Maps, then select a region, and you should see a little blue button saying "50+" with an arrow next to it, click on that and select petrol stations, and it'll show you all the petrol stations in an area if you zoom in far enough.

**laRIKin** · 18th December 2010, 10:29

Originally Posted by helenoftroy

My boy Casualty & I had a great ride last night!

Thats how WNRs should be,bit of discussion,wee deviation up the hill,then just smile factor riding....

laRIKins gixxer had a flashing dash,R1 had it sussed,all good to go

Sun came out,a natter at the TaiTap pub then home(that pub is excellent for us)
The break-off faction even caught up at the pub which was cool

btw - MR Waspy Hornet - let others fight their own battles if they so wish but leave it off KB & lets just do what we love - ride bikes

Well I have found out what caused the flashing light.
The last owner of person (NOT Ian) that worked on the bike, or was just bad luck.

A wee bolt had falling out of the Exhaust control system's electric drive motor.
So the cable drum fell off (so the valve stayed open) and was not sending the right info back to the computer.
So it had a hissy fit.

Big red lights that flash on, on the dash do upset me.

Sorry if the sudden stop upset anyone.

O the good old Guzzi's never had this problem, other problems and you could fix them with s hammer and hack saw.

**Peeteey** · 18th December 2010, 12:44

Originally Posted by laRIKin

Sorry if the sudden stop upset anyone.

Oh, I thought it was Ian that had the technical issue as it was he that waved us on by ...
Oh well, the video I'm uploading is a bit wrong in that regard ...

Shite! What a scorcher today! I hope no one is sweating to profusely in their leathers ... (which, of course, we should all be wearing ... ATGATT)

**Ghost_Bullet** · 18th December 2010, 18:36

Originally Posted by Peeteey

Shite! What a scorcher today! I hope no one is sweating to profusely in their leathers ... (which, of course, we should all be wearing ... ATGATT)

Ha as I drove in the car, so many bikes on the road, riders in all maner of undress, each to there own I guess, sure it must be refreshing ridin near naked!!! Not for I though.

**Peeteey** · 18th December 2010, 20:11

Originally Posted by Ghost_Bullet

Ha as I drove in the car, so many bikes on the road, riders in all maner of undress, each to there own I guess, sure it must be refreshing ridin near naked!!! Not for I though.

Yea, once you've seen the ... skidmarks ... from someone coming off their bike at speed in shorts and a t shirt, you will always wear your gear afterwards!

Same reason I don't wear open face helmets. (Double

)