Northern Gravel Adventure Riding Club

**uksteve** · 17th October 2011, 17:54

looked like a great ride.
Glad i went home...........................not much fun with no electric starter. Imagine trying to kick start the bike with the kickstarter on the left side and me barely able to get a toe to the ground haha.

**ADVGD** · 18th October 2011, 07:10

Great vids guys and girls

**pete-blen** · 18th October 2011, 10:09

Originally Posted by Shewolf

Africa Twin gets frisky

Getting up the hill, some sort of good luck dance ritual that really helped.

Into the tunnel and girly squeals of delight. Girly squeals of fear come later.

Robert on the Dommie

Nic giving it some

Garth showing how it's done

Eddie's bike well dirty now

Ians magic moment

Bugger, we've got to go back again-!

Auckland gravel riding club....
NOW knowen as...
Auckland mud riding club

**rhino_343** · 18th October 2011, 16:27

Originally Posted by Shewolf

sure thing, we have a learners+Hardouts Adventure weekend 3-4th November at Rangitaiki (just out of Taupo) visit our Facebook Info page for details.

If youse fullas ride as well as you play rugby you'll fit right in

Sounds like a good plan... be cutting it fine for us though as we fly out on the 7th of November in the morning from Aukland. Would of been good to catch up with Clint as part of this though. Will see how we go! Thanks for the offer though.. and I will leave the rugby comment well alone...

**Bass** · 18th October 2011, 17:15

Now why is it, that whenever I make a dick of myself, there is someone around with a camera to record it for posterity.
Maybe it's because I do it so often, that some of it is bound to get recorded.

**Eddieb** · 18th October 2011, 21:52

I've put a gallery of pics up here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3774891&type=1

**Eddieb** · 19th October 2011, 08:02

and some video

**Rosie** · 19th October 2011, 08:34

Originally Posted by rhino_343

Sounds like a good plan... be cutting it fine for us though as we fly out on the 7th of November in the morning from Aukland. Would of been good to catch up with Clint as part of this though. Will see how we go! Thanks for the offer though.. and I will leave the rugby comment well alone...

That weekend is Clint's birthday campout at Minginui, in the same general area the Rangitaiki ride - I think some people may be popping across from Rangitaiki to pay us a visit. Clint posted up a bit about it earlier in the thread.

**Shewolf** · 19th October 2011, 08:38

this could easily turn into Clints Birthday Roast

**clint640** · 19th October 2011, 09:31

Originally Posted by Rosie

That weekend is Clint's birthday campout at Minginui, in the same general area the Rangitaiki ride - I think some people may be popping across from Rangitaiki to pay us a visit. Clint posted up a bit about it earlier in the thread.

Yup, & Rhino, it is about a 4hr ride back to Auckland from Minginui so you guys could easily stay the night there with us & get back to the big smoke ok on Sunday 6th with time to take a few scenic diversions on the way.

Cheers
Clint

**Shewolf** · 19th October 2011, 09:44

Crikey I've barely recovered from last weekend...here's the next one...

05th/06th Nov - Rangitaiki Warm Trail Excursion
Learner training plus hardout's trail afternoon

Friday: I'll be heading down after lunch towards Taupo so if any want to meet up Bombay BP lets say 1pm. I'm sure we can find some gravel on the way.

Friday accom and evening entertainment: Arrange your own and TBA
* see earlier posts regarding some accom options and phone numbers.

Saturday:
Meet up in the pumice pit first thing Sat morning. (Actual time and location to be advised - probably a convoy from Taupo will be arranged.)
After short training stint, we will do a grass berm run out to Rangitaiki pub.

LUNCH at Rangitaki pub

PM: shorter loops for our novice folk, or more exp and those looking for more will head out high into the hills further up.

Another option available after will be to head out via MMMMM Cold loop over the stream crossing (due to wash outs) and go visit Clint and Rosie. Please pm Clint640 if you wish to take this option and camp there Sat night. Jim will escort those out there and then will head back.

Sat night: Dinner at Stag Diner (open 24 hrs for those Dakar-types lost in the forest

)

**Waihou Thumper** · 23rd October 2011, 07:12

I put a little video together

**Shewolf** · 28th October 2011, 14:39

**Shewolf** · 28th October 2011, 14:44

This is a small and big bike friendly ride. There will be a lot of off-road riding in mixed conditions, therefore knobs are recommended. See below for details:

Road legal bikes only
Knobs recommended (or at least a knob on the front wheel)
Morning plan: 8:45 meet at Mobil Taupo (at the turnoff to Napier/Taupo highway)
Ride to Pumice Pit, Off-road training and grass berm ride (approx 75km)
Lunch: Rangitaiki Pub
Afternoon plan:
Learners: Potter around easy tracks at Rangitaiki
Advanced: Forest loops (24km) and ride to Minginui then back (120 km)
Rangitaiki - Taupo 60km
Total day mileage 280km
A trailer will be available to take fuel and gear out to Rangitaiki. Bring a named fuel can if you have less than 280km capacity and want to refuel at Rangitaiki.
Evening plan: dinner Rangitaiki or Stag Park Diner Taupo (determined on day)

Short clip of some of the berms we'll be riding up

**Night Falcon** · 28th October 2011, 18:01

looking forward to meeting some more hard (and soft) core kiwi bikers ! I will becoming from Napier so will probably meet somewhere near the pummice pit....for some fun time....if someone can tell me where it is and approx time of arrival?

The berms have some cool riding but there are some things you need to be mindful of:
1. the long grasssy strips are way cool for some "air" time when ya hit the bumps...but only when the grass is low! I had a rear top box disintergrate once after some unexpected whoops at 100klm

2. There are some cool clay forestry tracks to explore that run parrallel to the highway but becareful on the blind corners as the foresty lads dig the odd "bike swallowing" holes in places....slow and steady and theres no worries!