CCC loop on 17th Nov

[far queue]

That was a fun ride, I was having a ball. I was annoyed I had to peel off early, but the damage I did to myself in that fall was making things very uncomfortable. I should be right in a few days though, so no worries.

Now, did someone say they wanted some pics? Here's a few ...

[far queue]

... and a few more ...

[NordieBoy]

Excellent shots.
Excellent turnout.
Excellent scenery.
Excellent!
< Insert Bill & Ted riff here >

[Transalper]

And after FQ left us... we were led to a Museum or at least a collection of old stuff half way through the extra suprise loop organised by XF650

[Transalper]

and the rest of my photos. The rest I have is all video.

We adventured on for another hour or so after that before stopping for a drink at the Hurinui.

[The Mistress]

Ever since I’d found myself sitting sat slack-jawed, enthralled by what I was watching at the KB adventure bike porn evening, and marvelling at the serendipity that I’d just happened to have bought a bike that could take me to those places, I’d contracted an itch. The itch is the one that I get when something fascinates me, strikes me with awe and provokes me with fear. Like a scratchy clothing tag or a fine splinter, the challenge needles me, working away, till at an opportune moment I’m compelled to scratch it; square up to it and take the plunge.

And so I met up with a bunch of KB adventure bikers at ‘the Peg’ for my eagerly awaited maiden adventure, the Christchurch-Cheviot-Culverden (CCC) ride. It was a grand turn out; a total of about 25 riders on a spankin’ sunny morning with a deep pacific blue sky. It happened to be another maiden’s inaugural run, as Helen-of-Troy fronted up on her meaty R100 Beamer.

After cruising north and winding off to Motunau beach, the fun began with stretches of gravel road, leading into aromatic pine forest and on to farm tracks through lush pasture. Having tasted gravel in Danzies Pass for ‘the Brass’ and Kanari Lake at the Bottled Lightening rally the previous weekend, I was pleased that my initial terror was being replaced by cautious amusement. ‘Hey, that skatey roll over the stones and the wee skids from changing down were kinda fun!’ Suddenly, I was careering through chunky rocks in the grass tracks and then, as if by magic, I landed on the top of a hill with grand views of spectacular, sprawling valleys and ranges and the sea. ‘Yes! This is what it’s all about!’ I inwardly exclaim. Poignantly, an exquisite, iridescent, exo-skeletal creature landed on my arm. Though beguiling, it was in fact a portentous omen for what was in store: it was a dung beetle…

We turned around and headed on to the next leg, backtracking down the hill. Hang on…as if I’d slipped into some twilight zone episode, or crazy David Lynch film, the way back had transformed into a gnarly obstacle course, bearing little resemblance the track I’d been on just 10 minutes before! Big, squelchy, muddy ruts had materialized and I was heading straight for them! By some miracle and a couple of well-timed outrigger spring hops, I got through, only to spot a long stick in my path that mesmerized me like some kind of hypnotic wooden snake. My fear of running over it, coupled with my fear of running straight up Helen’s backside, caused my spectacular face plant, complete with girly shriek, straight into an enormous pile of cowshit.

Not only did I have a scraped knee, broken indicator, stinky jacket and bruised pride to grapple with, but I knew the rest of the day I’d have to field the boys’ cheeky asides: “Hmm, nice perfume Mistress, there are more subtle ways to attract males you know,” ”I think I’ll ride up-wind if you don’t mind Mistress”….

There was nothing to do, but get back on, lift my chin up and be staunch. In fact, I was so keen to prove how a little muck didn’t harm me, that 20 minutes later I took the other side of my bike and trousers for a mudbath, by attempting a nifty steering manouevre amidst a great, dirty puddle in a rut. Nice. I now resembled GI Jane in camo gear.

Moving on from the less auspicious episodes in my day, the reason we all ride is for those joyous epiphanies that these fantastic machines provide us with, right? Those moments of clarity and exuberance; exhilaration and single-minded focus; a spiritual wow; the biker high. And there were plenty of them throughout the day.

I thrilled at my first slush through a deep, puddly stream (all legs akimbo, flicked back as if in gay abandon to avoid a soaking). I became a member of a small colony of motorized ants, swarming all over the vibrant, green hills. With grim determination and surging adrenaline, I rode straight up a steep track filled with rocks the size boxers’ fists. I learnt to use my body suspension, standing up on the pegs negotiating tricky terrain. The sheer variety of terrain demanded such a range of different skills that kept the challenge biting seductively. What would I be seeing, doing, feeling next? This was no second-hand screen action, it was real life. Just like the video, but I was doing it!

The satisfaction is hard to describe, but I know most of you reading this have a passion for bikes and just know what I mean. Maybe that ‘knowing’ is what creates the easy, uncomplicated camaraderie that we share. I want to thank all you guys who organized, helped pick up bikes, gave me a push, opened gates, checked up on, gave tips…you know who you are. Hopefully, myself, Helen and the other MBTB dirt-munchers (more balls than brains) added to your days’ entertainment.

After those warm fuzzies and continuing the ‘sharing and caring’ theme, here are my top tips for new adventure riders:

1. Reduce your tyre pressure: dropping mine from 26 front + 30 rear to 21 and 23 was putting on a pair of running shoes after wearing stilettos. (All you red-blooded, cross-dressing males will know exactly where I’m coming from.)
2. Low gears are your friends.
3. Steady throttle on.
4. Divert your course to avoid large obstacles like big muddy ruts if possible. (see consequences above)
5. Having said that, don’t let hypnotic wooden snakes mesmerize you (obstacle fixation?), look further ahead and have blind faith that you and your bike will cope with what ever in its path. (In fact, the latter can be successfully applied to many, but not all situations!).
6. Don’t lean into corners on gravel, let the bike tip but keep your weight central.
7. Give that standing on pegs malarchy a bash. Try to balance, feel the added suspension.
8. Ride across a wee creek, Wey hey!
9. Keep yourself fairly fit and strong. It can be hard yakka, especially with a heavier bike. Plus you’ll bounce and recover better if you decide to spend some time communing with the earth.
10. Invest in arnica cream.


To all those stuck on the seal that are getting bi-curious, take it from The Mistress: rough and dirty rocks ; )

[XF650]

Great report Mistress.
Yip - a fantastic turnout in classic Show Weekend weather, including a German tourist on a KTM who tagged along.
KB Adventure riding is alive & well in Canterbury.

[fleethaul]

Tobias, the German is staying with us for a couple of days. We spent today
riding gravel roads on Banks Penninsula. He really enjoyed yesterday's ride.
We finished with the Rapaki Track, just on dark.
He heads to town tomorrow
for some new rubber before heading south.
His bike has a range of 120k to reserve and 30k on reserve, could be in for
some interesting sections, the Catlins comes to mind.

The Mistress, here's the evidence you wanted in support
of your great day out

[The Mistress]

...yeah, and then there was the freaky, creepy, scratchy "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" playing on the phonograph in that old museum shed thing-like classic Steven King axe murderer material...

[bishxt]

Just post to add my thanks for a great ride - only my 2nd NZ trailride and very different to my experience from UK and Europe. Fantastic to be able to get so far off the beaten track and impressive how fast you can blitz those shingle roads (although I'm still getting the hang of them!)

Look forward to another KB in the near future - here's a bunch of pics from the ride that I snapped fairly randomly.
http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...hxt/Kiwibiker/

Cheers Bish

[cooneyr]

......Hey... does any one elses bike smell like a cow shat on it?
I think I going to have to finally give it a wash.

I gave mine a wash yesterday and it still smells like cowshit. All part of the fun aye

Just post to add my thanks for a great ride - only my 2nd NZ trailride and very different to my experience from UK and Europe. Fantastic to be able to get so far off the beaten track and impressive how fast you can blitz those shingle roads (although I'm still getting the hang of them!)

Look forward to another KB in the near future - here's a bunch of pics from the ride that I snapped fairly randomly.
http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...hxt/Kiwibiker/

Cheers Bish

Ahhhh - I've got who you are now. Awesome bunch of pictures. Watch this space for a short video (it will be a little while).

Cheers R

[XF650]

While on the subject of shit.....
Animal poo is corrosive - hence why most farm bikes look like crap.
So clean your expensive adventure bikes well & the longer you leave it, the harder it is to get the dung off.

[NordieBoy]

Ever since I’d found myself sitting sat slack-jawed, enthralled by what I was watching at the KB adventure bike porn evening, and marvelling at the serendipity that I’d just happened to have bought a bike that could take me to those places, I’d contracted an itch. The itch is the one that I get when something fascinates me, strikes me with awe and provokes me with fear. Like a scratchy clothing tag or a fine splinter, the challenge needles me, working away, till at an opportune moment I’m compelled to scratch it; square up to it and take the plunge.
.
.
.
.
.
To all those stuck on the seal that are getting bi-curious, take it from The Mistress: rough and dirty rocks ; )

Ummm...
If I sent you my ride reports could you make them/me sound interesting?

[Transalper]

Ever since I’d found myself sitting sat slack-jawed, enthralled by what I was watching at the KB adventure bike porn evening, and marvelling at the serendipity that I’d just happened to have bought a bike that could take me to those places.............
......
To all those stuck on the seal that are getting bi-curious, take it from The Mistress: rough and dirty rocks ; )

Ummm...
If I sent you my ride reports could you make them/me sound interesting?

Yeah, that was a good read Mistress, so glad I didn't try write a report first, mine would have been crap by comparsion.

[fleethaul]

A friend in Sydney introduced me to a product called CT18.
Spray it on wash it off. Repco (Northwood) sell it.
They mainly sell it to campervan hire co's.

The lazy mans way to bike cleaning.

Comes up shining and shedding water too. Amazing stuff.

Here's a thread about it from 04
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=6055