Waikato to Wellington Winter Night Ride

[awa355]

Are you heading to a particular place in WellyWood, having breakky then turning around & heading home or staying over night ?

No particular place to finish at. I'd like to end up down around the waterfront if there is a breakfast joint open. As for returning, I will probably be wanting to crash (as in sleep, I am in my 60's now) somewhere for a few hours. Last time Brian and I had family to head for. We each made our own way home. I returned to Putaruru that afternoon.
This time I wouldn't mind staying somewhere and maybe exploring the coastline the next day. Had thought of riding over the Rimutaka, and tiki touring around the Lake Ferry area. That may depend on whether I've thawed out by then. I will have Fri-Monday to get back.

[r6rchris]

Go to the Spruce Goose chaps. It's right on the drink at Lyall Bay down the airport runway end. Can't miss it. Big new cafe and really good food. Open from 7am daily

[awa355]

Thanks for that but might be too far through the city. If we hit the waterfront after a long cold miserable ride, probably the first hot food place off the motorway will do.

[dieselboy]

Okay, how about some commitment here guys, we are only two weeks away from doin' it!
What do you reckon Arthur, meet at 'Z' Putaruru at 11.45?
PS I have succumbed to the indignities of age, I do have heated handgrips and a small fairing!

[jonnyk5614]

On a little bike it gives a greater sense of achievement than sitting in a lazy boy with all the plug in extras. This ride on a full dressed tourer would be pretty much a non event. My bike is a basic 250 cruiser, no windshield, no heated grips. Give it some thought, still 2-3 months away yet.

Froze my tits ofd doing it on the 250 GSX a while back.
Rained the whole way and my riding gear wasn't waterproof!

Did it in 6:45 thou and made a video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS4detcy3jY

[awa355]

Okay, how about some commitment here guys, we are only two weeks away from doin' it!
What do you reckon Arthur, meet at 'Z' Putaruru at 11.45?
PS I have succumbed to the indignities of age, I do have heated handgrips and a small fairing!

I opened my big mouth so I guess I better front up. I will catch up with you before then, Brian. Most likely be just us two. On the 250, I will be cruising along between 90-100kph. The smaller bike will be a lot easier to keep up a steady pace than that heavyweight XS750 custom I used back in '92.

No full moon this time. I might try to knock up a form of windshield before the Friday night. Thought about heated grips but I'm not sure about the electrics handling the extra output. Then decided it's cheaper just to "harden the fuck up".

[eldog]

No particular place to finish at. I'd like to end up down around the waterfront if there is a breakfast joint open. As for returning, I will probably be wanting to crash (as in sleep, I am in my 60's now) somewhere for a few hours. Last time Brian and I had family to head for. We each made our own way home. I returned to Putaruru that afternoon.
This time I wouldn't mind staying somewhere and maybe exploring the coastline the next day. Had thought of riding over the Rimutaka, and tiki touring around the Lake Ferry area. That may depend on whether I've thawed out by then. I will have Fri-Monday to get back.

go for the Rimutaka and Lake Ferry then head home via Kimbolton and Waituna West that would be my pick.

[Maha]

Sound an epic ride, reminds me of days past when gijoe would ride for hours and hours just because. Heading to Wellington from Auckland via Gisborne.

[eldog]

Sound an epic ride, reminds me of days past when gijoe would ride for hours and hours just because. Heading to Wellington from Auckland via Gisborne.

Going to do something even more epic than this at Xmas, just over a couple of days

In the planning stages at present.....

so got some to do.

Keeping an eye on this thread as it is approx. 30% of the ride I will be doing.

hence all the posts about training, fatigue, gear, fuel etc

appreciate all the help from fellow KBers

[Maha]

Going to do something even more epic than this at Xmas, just over a couple of days

In the planning stages at present.....

so got some to do.

Keeping an eye on this thread as it is approx. 30% of the ride I will be doing.

hence all the posts about training, fatigue, gear, fuel etc

appreciate all the help from fellow KBers

Will you be doing it on the big boys bike Lance?

[eldog]

Will you be doing it on the big boys bike Lance?

no, still in storage, just waiting for me, shining in the darkness. I haven't quite got the skill for her yet. She is 70-80% complete of the mods I planned right at the beginning. (electrical stuff left) Its the control of the throttle and cornering I am working on, but that's me, time/practise/confidence, using another bike for that.

but it will be on a black beauty just the same.

If I get the chance and you are free might go via mangakino on my way south or north.

[awa355]

go for the Rimutaka and Lake Ferry then head home via Kimbolton and Waituna West that would be my pick.

As it is now, with a looming redundancy in the next couple of months, I wont have money for the luxury of staying down there, so will start heading back that morning. I don't know anyone down at Wellington but have a place back at Fielding I can crash for a few hours kip.

[eldog]

As it is now, with a looming redundancy in the next couple of months, I wont have money for the luxury of staying down there, so will start heading back that morning. I don't know anyone down at Wellington but have a place back at Fielding I can crash for a few hours kip.

that's a bummer.

for years I have had to live with the fact that my place of work could fold.

stop at fielding on the way down, rest. Carry on to welly, then further afield, back to fielding, rest, then home again.

have a good ride

I have to plan my stops etc, so trying to get my ride fitness up.
Planning first, getting the bike setup for a long journey, then ride fitness time.

[awa355]

I'm going to pull the pin on this ride (for now). I should find out late next week what date my redundancy takes effect from. Probably wont have my mind tuned into the ride like I should, so am putting the breakfast run off for a while.

[eldog]

I'm going to pull the pin on this ride (for now). I should find out late next week what date my redundancy takes effect from. Probably wont have my mind tuned into the ride like I should, so am putting the breakfast run off for a while.

Cancelling your ride - Totally understandable.

Nothing in life is certain, that much I have come to understand.
and be careful what you wish for.

Redundancy - I hope I never have to face it. But in reality its there all the time.
I just work in the hope it never happens.

Plan your ride, just don't put it off for too long, you never know whats around the corner.