Advice wanted on heading to Brass Monkey

[Jackal]

The best tip..............Watch out where you go and don't eat yellow snow!!!!!

[yoyo 2wheels]

The best tip..............Watch out where you go and don't eat yellow snow!!!!!

awesune try keep that one in mind !!!!
looking forward to it even tho it sounds like it could all end bad in so many ways

[sleemanj]

Ive got a question about camping with tents,,, if one goes on a camping trip like this, can they just set up tent anywhere??? hm.. I could see it can be done on country side where theres no one around.. but what about in the city? or would they need to go into camp site?

What you are talking about is called Freedom Camping, and if you haven't heard about it in the last 3 years or so you must have been living in a cave.

In short, each district (or city) council has their own rules about Freedom Camping (camping where ever the mood strikes you). Many councils now have information specifically about freedom camping. Here's a site with links to some council information: http://www.camping.org.nz/new-zealan...l-information/

That said, the Department of Conservation operates a large number of camp sites which you can use for a very nominal fee, these all have at least a long drop and a source of water (possibly a stream), use of DOC sites (and commercial operations) should be encouraged over pitching a tent any old where, leave only your footprints and all that.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...tes-by-region/

[DODO``]

Oh man.. I was living in the cave,,, haha thanks for sharing!

[Flip]

Well we are going again this year, think its about 28 for me 17 for Crowe.

But we are only going from Oamaru this year and I will probably take the old side car, might go up the waitaki and see some mates who stay at Omarama.

If it all turns to custard I have ute, a workshop and space on the floor etc about half way down. There is a do for Brass Monkeys in the historic part of town on Friday night I want to go to, which should be fun.

[Conquiztador]

I like girls with balls!

Most advice worth knowing is already here. But FWIW here some that I know works:
- Breadbags for your hands. Beats any "These are the new ultra dry gloves" crap you pay $300 for. (take spare ones!!)
- Strips of innertube that you use to keep breadbags in place with.
- Small rubbishbags on your feet before you put them in the waterproof boots...
- A small bottle of Cognac, not to get tipsy but to warm you up inside when you have a stop.
- Put all things you know you will need on the trip (wallet, camera, cognac, mobile) somewhere you can easily get it from
- Don't pee in your pants. It will only be warm for a very short time...

Have fun!

[imac]

- A small bottle of Cognac, not to get tipsy but to warm you up inside when you have a stop.

I most sincerly hope you are not serious

[gammaguy]

now i have your attention
brass monkey.... being a learner from chch, can i get there and back in one piece and what do i need to be prepared !
any tips would be appreciated but not the grammer kind of tips or the your a girl you wont make it kind of tips, or the youve posted this thread in the wrong part.....

wrap up warmly,more layers of thin are better than fewer layers of thick

stop regularly for warm drinks and carbo loading(food)

if the people you are riding with are going too fast or too slow,let them go/leave them behind

make sure your bike is fully serviced and checked by someone you trust well before leaving.

get heated grips!cold hands cause accidents.

If the road is icy,dont ride,or be bloody sure you can handle it.

apart from that have fun!

[FJRider]

I most sincerly hope you are not serious

It's only a 15 minute ride in the chopper to the hospital if it goes pear shaped ... but the two hour wait for it to get to site sucks ...

[Conquiztador]

I most sincerly hope you are not serious

And why would I not be?

[FJRider]

I like girls with balls!

Most advice worth knowing is already here. But FWIW here some that I know works:
- Breadbags for your hands. Beats any "These are the new ultra dry gloves" crap you pay $300 for. (take spare ones!!)
- Strips of innertube that you use to keep breadbags in place with.
- Small rubbishbags on your feet before you put them in the waterproof boots...
- A small bottle of Cognac, not to get tipsy but to warm you up inside when you have a stop.
- Put all things you know you will need on the trip (wallet, camera, cognac, mobile) somewhere you can easily get it from
- Don't pee in your pants. It will only be warm for a very short time...

Have fun!

GOOD GEAR is much better. And gear that does not require 20 minutes of removing gear to gain access to the required anatomy ... and ability to carry out the required ablutions ...

In other words ... if you think you need to pee ... start looking for somewhere to go ...


Dont put it off ...

[sleemanj]

I most sincerly hope you are not serious

Just in case anybody isn't clear, drinking alcohol in order to "warm up" is a bad idea (at least in the absense of some external heat source to ACTUALLY warm you up at the same time), it might make you "feel warmer" for a short while, but it's at the expense of your core body heat, and once that's gone, so are you.

In the words of the Mythbusters (not exactly the fount of all knowledge, but they'll do):
"Alcohol may make your skin feel warm, but this apparent heat wave is deceptive. A nip or two actually causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving warm blood closer to the surface of your skin, making you feel warmer temporarily. At the same time, however, those same veins pumping blood closer to the skin's surface cause you to lose core body heat — the heat you need to survive, especially if you're stuck in a snowdrift . This effect could lead to fatal hypothermia."

[Conquiztador]

Just in case anybody isn't clear, drinking alcohol in order to "warm up" is a bad idea (at least in the absense of some external heat source to ACTUALLY warm you up at the same time), it might make you "feel warmer" for a short while, but it's at the expense of your core body heat, and once that's gone, so are you.

In the words of the Mythbusters (not exactly the fount of all knowledge, but they'll do):
"Alcohol may make your skin feel warm, but this apparent heat wave is deceptive. A nip or two actually causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving warm blood closer to the surface of your skin, making you feel warmer temporarily. At the same time, however, those same veins pumping blood closer to the skin's surface cause you to lose core body heat — the heat you need to survive, especially if you're stuck in a snowdrift . This effect could lead to fatal hypothermia."

You are all missing the point badly: I have some cognac with me when I ride. Perhaps once/hour (or even less) I take a small sip and only if I am cold and there is no proper place to stop to get warm.. It DOES warm me up inside and the amount of alcohol I get inside is so miniscule that it would not make any difference to a sparrow's flight. But hey, I was only providing options, and for those who do not like this one: don't. Simple.

[MIXONE]

I most sincerly hope you are not serious

Me too!
Jack Daniels does a far better job.

[FJRider]

You are all missing the point badly: I have some cognac with me when I ride. Perhaps once/hour (or even less) I take a small sip and only if I am cold and there is no proper place to stop to get warm.. It DOES warm me up inside and the amount of alcohol I get inside is so miniscule that it would not make any difference to a sparrow's flight. But hey, I was only providing options, and for those who do not like this one: don't. Simple.

It's NOT the amount of alcohol that causes the problems .... but the with the loss of core body heat. I know of a few that claimed the same as you. And after an enforced period of having no external heat source (due to weather/road conditions or an "off") Hypothermia set in.

Your comment is not advice that should be given to those with no cold weather riding experience.