W. A. R. T.

**Maha** · 20th June 2012, 18:47

Originally Posted by nzspokes

It was Epic. Great ride with great company. Love that road. Will not be the last time I do it.

1200cc's tis a lot of fun.

Great food to.

But freezing first thing, frost all through Huna on the way out and some places had ice warnings and grit on the roads.

Did you do the whole loop or half?
We did it once, a figure eight covered 700kms...but its like a 650 km ride from here if the full loop is done.
250 for the full loop plus 400 return from Thames. 650Kms.
180 half loop plus the 400 = 580kms.

**swbarnett** · 20th June 2012, 21:43

Originally Posted by Maha

Did you do the whole loop or half?
We did it once, a figure eight covered 700kms...but its like a 650 km ride from here if the full loop is done.
250 for the full loop plus 400 return from Thames. 650Kms.
180 half loop plus the 400 = 580kms.

Top half. I think if we'd done the full I would've been frozen solid by the time I got home.

Met at Z Takanini at about 10am. Some nice back roads through Clevedon, Hunua and Miranda. Lunch in Coromandel then up over the hill through Whitianga. Stopped in Tairua for the loo and a chin-wag. Then easy does it through the Kopu-Hikuai road - no ice but a bit of ice-grit and wet roads.

474km round trip from Mairangi Bay.

Loved the ride but I really was a tad under-dressed for the conditions. It was OK when the sun came out but once it went down it got cold fast. I nearly didn't make it home because my brain was cold. Coming through Tirakau drive I saw someone coming to the end of a driveway in front of me and thought "they'll stop". I NEVER do that. Of course they didn't. Instnct kicked in and I ended up lane-splitting between them and the guy in the right lane.

**Mom** · 21st June 2012, 06:17

Originally Posted by swbarnett

I nearly didn't make it home because my brain was cold. Coming through Tirakau drive I was someone coming to the end of a driveway in front of me and thought "they'll stop". I NEVER do that. Of course they didn't. Instnct kicked in and I ended up lane-splitting between them and the guy in the right lane.

Thank God for experience. Being cold is probably the most underrated hazard for us bikers. Cold is one thing, but you can get hypothermic on a bike very easily.

**Maha** · 21st June 2012, 07:30

Years ago I sold a bike to a chap in Dargaville, I said I would take it to him on the Saturday, and being true to my word, I did just that.
I shouldn't have, the weather was crap...but it got way worse the further north I got.
I had to stop at Ruawai because of the shaking. A hot pie and smoke and away I went again.
Anne was following in the car.
All I had on under my gear was shorts and a T Shirt. It took me all the way home in the car, under a jacket with the heater to stop shaking.
Stupid thing to do looking back now, but, the guy got his bike and I had the money.

I can ride in any weather now, I have the gear for it...just gotta remember to take it..bring on August!

**swbarnett** · 21st June 2012, 09:33

Originally Posted by Mom

Thank God for experience. Being cold is probably the most underrated hazard for us bikers. Cold is one thing, but you can get hypothermic on a bike very easily.

Indeed.

I'm also having to get used to the fact that I can't take the cold like I used to. I used to be quite comfortable cycling in weather that would freeze my water bottle, wearing just summer lycra.

**nzspokes** · 21st June 2012, 17:45

Originally Posted by swbarnett

Indeed.

I'm also having to get used to the fact that I can't take the cold like I used to. I used to be quite comfortable cycling in weather that would freeze my water bottle, wearing just summer lycra.

Same here. I used to able to handle cold but a bit of age has seen to that. Its really the first time my leather jacket has been to cold. But seeing as its a summer jacket thats not a surprise. Im glad I had a spare jumper with me.

And Hot grips were awesome.....

**Mom** · 21st June 2012, 18:23

Originally Posted by swbarnett

I'm also having to get used to the fact that I can't take the cold like I used to.

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Same here. I used to able to handle cold but a bit of age has seen to that.

You two need to have the Men-At-Pause

never feel the cold, far too friggen hot almost all the time. Summer clothes year round, no blankets on the bed, NO electric blankets either

Dont turn the heater on, or TURN THE BLOODY THING OFF is the norm. Personal fans come into their own

But, cold hands and cold feet, and, when you have your arms out of the blankets in the dead of winter and bring them under the blankies to warm up, the squeals of delight from the other in the bed are priceless

Originally Posted by nzspokes

And Hot grips were awesome.....

Are awesome

**nzspokes** · 21st June 2012, 18:28

Originally Posted by Mom

But, cold hands and cold feet, and, when you have your arms out of the blankets in the dead of winter and bring them under the blankies to warm up, the squeals of delight from the other in the bed are priceless

Not an issue I have.....

But a lesson in carrying gear for all weathers I guess.

**Maha** · 23rd June 2012, 18:01

Meet at Dairy Flat Caltex @ 10:30am..
Bit of a ride around and end up at either point A or point B for a bite to eat then bugger off home.

Weather Dependant.

**nzspokes** · 23rd June 2012, 18:18

I might wander up if its not raining. I may melt in the rain.

**swbarnett** · 23rd June 2012, 22:48

Originally Posted by nzspokes

I might wander up if its not raining. I may melt in the rain.

I might've been tempted if I wasn't still trying to get the Hornet back together. The new throttle cable turned up today but it's a bastard to get in. Just no room to manoeuvre.

Oh, and I managed to figure out what I was doing wrong with the relay for the hot grips. I had it in series with the headlight, not parrellel

.