Kapiti Coast Ride Outs

[gav24]

Good ride this morning, and gave the new wet weather gear a good test run today...
From the new "emerald glen" road, waterfall road (been graded and rolled for the logging trucks) and into the mangakutukutuku playground.
Basic crossing really, Perhams, Hydro, Orange hut, Norms crossing, Pram track, and out on to the akatarawa road via Karapoti entrance.
Aka's road closed to traffic, but not if your on an ADV bike
Some serious work on 2 new bridges going in, 2nd crossing required another river crossing (7th of the day by my count) Then rain turned heavy all the way back down to Waikanae.
Lots of water, but ride was all good, heaps of fun and the rivers were pretty low as well - surprisingly!
So how good were the waterproofs?
Stayed pretty dry whilst the rain was light for the first few hours - the gore tex socks held up well. Then the rain got real heavy and I reckon they lasted another hour or so before I was sitting in a puddle and my socks filled up from the tops.
Weise jacket and Buffalo pants (cordura) and Gore-tex socks. All good, my well vented mx boots even became waterproof for a few hours, but yet to find the perfect set up for the really heavy rain and river crossings (dont think it actually exists for under $1500 - let alone under $150)
Will try to be more organised next time, there were just 2 of us today, and post up the plans a bit earlier. I might even take a camera! maybe...

[Eddieb]

Good ride this morning, and gave the new wet weather gear a good test run today...
From the new "emerald glen" road, waterfall road (been graded and rolled for the logging trucks) and into the mangakutukutuku playground.
Basic crossing really, Perhams, Hydro, Orange hut, Norms crossing, Pram track, and out on to the akatarawa road via Karapoti entrance.
Aka's road closed to traffic, but not if your on an ADV bike
Some serious work on 2 new bridges going in, 2nd crossing required another river crossing (7th of the day by my count) Then rain turned heavy all the way back down to Waikanae.
Lots of water, but ride was all good, heaps of fun and the rivers were pretty low as well - surprisingly!
So how good were the waterproofs?
Stayed pretty dry whilst the rain was light for the first few hours - the gore tex socks held up well. Then the rain got real heavy and I reckon they lasted another hour or so before I was sitting in a puddle and my socks filled up from the tops.
Weise jacket and Buffalo pants (cordura) and Gore-tex socks. All good, my well vented mx boots even became waterproof for a few hours, but yet to find the perfect set up for the really heavy rain and river crossings (dont think it actually exists for under $1500 - let alone under $150)
Will try to be more organised next time, there were just 2 of us today, and post up the plans a bit earlier. I might even take a camera! maybe...

Did you buy the Weise gear at home? I have a jacket I bought in '95 thats still going well, though no longer waterproof.
I'd have bought them again as their current range looks pretty good but no one anywhere over here seems to stock it.

[thepom]

Here,s what I use..........bought a pair in Istanbul 8 years ago and they are still waterproof..

http://www.sealskinz.com/socks/long-light-socks

[gav24]

Yeah got the weise jacket in the UK earlier this year, bargain of the century at Malvern classic autojumble. Brand New clearance sale for 15 quid!!! thats $30
Nice tan colour, removable thermal liner, knox armour in shoulders and elbows. Cut a bit longer, sort of like a cross between an enduro and a touring jacket - was fully water proof for about 3-4 hours then started to give up a bit around the front zip. Not bad for the $$$$!
Yep sealskinz socks used as well, first proper trial. Felt a bit wierd when my boots were full of water and I could feel the familiar squelching, but my tootsies were bone dry
Eventually they filled up from the top though! again after 7 rivers and a final very heavy deluge so pretty good I think.