Minginui - Matawai - Motu Midwinter Madness Ride 28-29 July 2012

**Shewolf** · 29th July 2012, 22:06

oh yeah he gave me a look but then I ran really really fast

Originally Posted by Eddieb

I get told off for taking pics like that

**Horney1** · 30th July 2012, 00:35

Originally Posted by GSers

........
So blood test Xrays 2 litres of fluids and they said you've busted your collar bone.
Busted me collar bone but I could already see that once I got me gear off.
No you busted it good its in 3 pieces you will have to come back and see the specialist next week.
..............
GSers

Good going, staunch effort dude!

Let it heal well before stressing it too much.

**Crisis management** · 30th July 2012, 08:17

Well the Jaffa's (that I know of) all got back in one piece, that was the best riding conditions I've ever had on the MMMM, it was great to have the tme to enjoy the view and the weather was perfect, crisp and clear ish (once the fog was lifted... ) Talking of fog, I was sitting up on the first hill after starting the Motu and looking back at this sea of fog with a lime green ufo floating through it... it eventually became Jamies helemt, a great piece of HI-vis!

Friday: Great ride down the west coast to Pio Pio and met my Nemesis there..Colin! We did a mini liquefaction tour of three farmers backyard following a paper road (standing knee deep in mud with Colin pointing to a blank GPS screen saying "look I can see the road, can't you?") Having let all the air out of the rear I managed to find some traction and we only had to carry the bikes through one bog, all in all well worth doing. We passed on trying the northern Pureoro tracks afte that. Got to the lodge about 6 and told lies about how brave we had been.

Saturday: As I said previously a great ride and lovely conditions, the tracks were all clean and hard packed so fast and easy to ride on, the forestry was great! I did my usual on the challenge section, stalled bike, legs too short, why am I lying on the ground? Good to see so many bikes going through the challenge, it's a great way to deflate your ego! The rest of the ride was equally awesome, did all the extra bits and the views were magnificent, riding the ridgeline after Tiniroto was neat, I even got in some cow herding practice while I chatted to a farmer (I'm not so sure my help was appreciated but he was rolling around with laughter so I probably brightened up his day).

Best stretch of road for me was the last bit of gravel into Matawai, lots of loose stuff and it suits the 640 perfectly, a perfect day.

Sunday: Motu, what more is there to say, absolutely picturesque and a great ride, frosts, livestock, ufos', camper vans, what more could you want?
We turned north at Awakeri via some back roads towards Taurange (thanks Nick) but not before almost getting cleaned out by a tractor blowing a stop sign, despite narrowly missing killing two people the driver didn't stop, just abused us and kept going. I think Chris and Als' heart rates might just have reached normal levels this morning, not very nice.

Got home for 5, narrowly missing the rain so I'm sorry Clint, but it was only mildly moist this time!

Thanks for the organising Clint & Rosie and for the company the rest of you, heal up quickly those with injuries.

Iain

**.chris** · 30th July 2012, 11:31

The few photos I took can be found in the link below.

From MMMM July 2012

Thanks to Clint and Rosie for a great ride. A great ride and great event to catch up with everyone, and to meet some new faces.

**.chris** · 30th July 2012, 11:54

A quick video from the gopro (photo sequence 5 second inverval timelapse) running into Waikeremoana.

**Beem02** · 30th July 2012, 13:56

Made it back to Wellington just after 10pm, via the gravel roads just north of Rotoma, Rotoehu lakes, then down through Mamaku forest - boy does it rain in there! Was also pretty cold through a wet desert road after dark!

Total of 1700km for the 3 days, including 800km yesterday. Must admit I'd had enough of the stock DR seat by the time I got home last night. Will have to investigate an aftermarket alternative.

Thanks Clint and Rosie for organising a great ride

and to everyone else for good company on the trip

See you again some time - Bruce

**Rosie** · 30th July 2012, 15:10

It was an excellent ride

Thank you to everyone for coming along.

Feedback on the GPS route was good (luckily, since I hadn't tested it), so we will be keeping that option in future.

We were pretty lucky with the weather, yesterday the rain didn't set in until Clint was going outside to wash his bike

A note to other ride organisers: The bright pink hi-vis was great for tail-end-charlie-ing. The corner men could see me coming a mile away, so the forest section flowed really well.

**Cary** · 30th July 2012, 15:27

Great weekend all round, thanks again to Clint & Rosie

Good to catch up with everyone again. Roads were in primo nic and don't think you'd find any better days riding than we did on Saturday!

The short off road loop we did near the end was a good(read, hot and sweaty!) way to finish off the weekend. (cheers for the Husky ride to Mark)

Sure was good coming back to Auckland in the van today

Pic 1. Stopping for sheep.
2. Gas cue for fuel at Waikeremoana
3. Stewart on Wai' road
4. Minganui Forest
5. Andy
6. Waiting for Matawai fuel to open up.

**Box'a'bits** · 30th July 2012, 17:04

Pomgolian & I made another run thru the Forestry from the Minginui end on the way home. Made it Home to Wellington 9.15pm, from Opotiki. Only a light mist of rain at Dannevirke. 1591km for the weekend.

My ride report & photos are here, or check all of my photos for the weekend here.

Thanks for the weekend Clint & Rosie.

**pomgolian** · 30th July 2012, 22:15

Great weekend Clint & Rosie & everyone else i met new & old.

Checked out Motu falls on Sunday after a fast ride following Cary through the first gravel of the day, then a cruise through the Motu road what a great track. Ride home in great weather filled up in Murupara then back through the forest with boxabits from Minginui to SH5 which seemed so much longer north south, big ride home boxabits thought you would stop half way.

P

**Shewolf** · 31st July 2012, 09:54

no cows, dogs or Colins were injured in the making of this video

**DR Girl** · 31st July 2012, 11:05

Great Video Shewolf

Where's that swing bridge? We missed it

**Shewolf** · 31st July 2012, 11:36

Originally Posted by DR Girl

Great Video Shewolf

Where's that swing bridge? We missed it

It was just North of the store down a side road to Lake Waikaremoana Walk and a landing area

hey did anyone get a photo of Rosie at Rosie Bay?

**clint640** · 31st July 2012, 13:45

Good stuff guys, thanks to all who came along & made it a great weekend.

Rosie & my pics are up on adv: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...1#post19249791

A note to anyone who intends to revist the 'challenge section' at Minginui, please take it easy through there, parts of it are a designated mountain bike track & if it gets rarked up by too many idiots DOC may very well close it off to vehicles.

Cheers
Clint