Adventurist in training

[Night Falcon]

layers sure are the way to go. My gear was pretty good except for my hands. Bought a new pair of dryrider gloves and some thermal gloves but still got cold fingers, so cold almost ran into a bank cos i couldnt get my fingers to work fast enough on the front break....might be worth some heated grips for next year

[Rosie]

The midwinter ride is the closest I have got to riding for sustained periods at very low temperatures, but I am an internationally-recognised expert at feeling the cold so I feel qualified to comment.

Lots of layers is the way to go (I got up to 8 upper-body clothing layers on the MMMMM). Having a good proportion of quick drying technical fabrics in your layers is good if it rains and you have limited time/ability to get things dry again. Good quality fleece, polypro and Kathmandu's "thermaplus" are all good (I recently got two themaplus tops, and I really like them). That said, I also wear some icebreaker stuff. If one of your layers has a turtleneck, it helps to seal up the gap between your jacket and your neck warmer. Sleeveless layers add a lot of warmth without movement-restricting bulk, and can be worn on their own when the weather improves. Actually, I try to choose all my layers of stuff so that they can be worn as stand-alone clothes (or as a long sleeved layer under a tshirt). While I appreciate that individual tastes do vary, I suspect your skin-toned spencer may not pass that test

Clint used to have a windproof neck warmer (windstopper fleece), which seems like a good idea. I'm going to investigate getting one of those. Presumably you also have a balaclava?
I have icebreaker knee-length snowboarding socks, which keep my legs nice and warm, and my feet warm-ish. I'm going to try wearing a second set of merino ankle socks under them to keep my feet a bit warmer (icebreaker multisport socks, because I already own a set). I also wear my sealskinz waterproof socks if it looks like it might rain, or if there will be water crossings. They also help to keep my feet a bit warmer.

[Shewolf]

a bit of vid...

[Shewolf]

a bit of vid and photos...


a bit of mountain....

[Eddieb]

Have you finished your training?

[Shewolf]

Have you finished your training?

not even! trading a motorbike for a pram at the moment while the little flea (grandson) is cute and cuddly, back to riding soon though

[Shewolf]

First day of trip at Anniversary Weekend, starting with a ride through Urewera's to Lake Waikaremoana

[ducatijim]

not even! trading a motorbike for a pram at the moment while the little flea (grandson) is cute and cuddly, back to riding soon though

Grandson did you say? No way Rhonda, ur such a wag!

[Padmei]

That is you in the Kiwirider mag isn't it? Looked like a great trip.

[Shewolf]

That is you in the Kiwirider mag isn't it? Looked like a great trip.

yer it was freaking awesome - a few of us kb nuts are heading to India end of June to ride Enfields up the Himalayas, should be a good laff.

[Shewolf]

Grandson did you say? No way Rhonda, ur such a wag!

yer the motorbike lessons are bloody tough as he's not applying himself too well. I suppose I should wait till he can at least sit upright by himself?

[Shewolf]

A few of us kb'rs went to India to ride Royal Enfields from Shimla to Leh in July - me, Big Col, Mrs Big Col, Nic, Maddad and Mrs Maddad. The rest were mostly kiwi's, a few aussies, english, dane and irish.

3 weeks of twisty roads, insane traffic, goat tracks, no tracks, glaciers to ride through, water crossings, highest motorable road in the world, lots of curry and mangey dogs that bark all night.

About a third of the 20 riders suffered delhi-belly - fortunately none of us seem to have been struck. Must've been the copious amounts of Kingfisher beer and Old Monk rum.

After arriving in Delhi we had a bit of sight seeing before lunching at a nightclub (as you do?)

[Shewolf]

We headed out of Delhi by train to Shimla where we picked the bikes, a wise move not letting us ride through the Delhi traffic. There are no rules, and they lane split in cars.

Everyone, Cols bike, Nics bike, Jenny also had a maroon one, Rex and I had Desert Storm. They don't look like they should be going up goat tracks eh? Last pic is of Shimla.

[paturoa]

.... The rest were mostly kiwi's

Was one called Rex?

[Shewolf]

Was one called Rex?

yep - Rex is Maddad

Rex, Lynn, cows everywhere, parked up for the night, a local