Roads around Auckland

[99TLS]

raglan rd not sealed down this way, 45 kms approx unsealed

[Ixion]

I found today that the bastards have sealed the road to Orere Point! When did *that* happen ?

Things are getting to a fine state these days, one can't even leave a wee road unattended for a moment without some bugger sneaking in and raping it. Just about have to mount a permanent guard.

I did also poke my nose down the road to Tapabanga Regional Park (not quite that name , but near as, next door but one to Orere). Niceish bit of gravel.but like all ARC commandeered places, it doesn't go anywhere, just locked gates. Found a very pretty little spot by a stream though, lovely place for a picnic or a shag.

[xwhatsit]

Can we just ride around these gates?

I went over to Devonport today, met the girl. She wanted to go up North Head -- I'd brought the other helmet -- so we went up up up. Carpark! Feck. Still ages to walk up. Spotted a road, but it had a locked gate. Rode around it, went right to the top of North Head and parked bike on the Helipad. Security guard just looked amused.

[Crisis management]

I can understand your frustration with gates but bear in mind that the more we abuse "locked gates" the more gates get locked. You've got to think of other users as well as yourself.
If you need lots of gravel head down the coast from Port Waikato and you can spend 2 days on gravel (well almost). Use up all these resources before you start jumping over gates.......please.

[windboy]

well said crisis... (or maybe if you get through the gates, just don't tell anyone and do it after 11pm , that's what I do along a bmx track by where I live and the odd gravel track in the golf course!!!)

The "raping" of our beautiful roads has been happening around the puhoi-waiwera-waitoki too... Every time I go it gets more and more "sealed"...

Being far south I wouldn't bother coming up this way if I were you; head to port waikato and besides the west coast rd that goes all the way to raglan harbour you also have hundreds of km of gravel inland, keep an eye on the forestry trucks and cattle...

And of course don't miss klondyke from just out of pokeno to port waikato....

later,

[Bass]

And of course don't miss klondyke from just out of pokeno to port waikato....

later,

I suspect that you meant Onewhero rather than Pokeno

[windboy]

I suspect that you meant Onephero rather than Pokeno

Maybe, not too sure?

after the tuakau bridge don't turn towards Pt waikato but do a right after the intersection uphill and it's maybe 5min before you find klonedyke on the right hand (very easy to miss)

later,

[Bass]

Maybe, not too sure?

after the tuakau bridge don't turn towards Pt waikato but do a right after the intersection uphill and it's maybe 5min before you find klonedyke on the right hand (very easy to miss)

later,

Yep Onewhero, when I finally get my spelling right.

[Pixie]

If ya head through old north road onto 16, then hook a right towards dairy flat, take a left at waitoke, up waitoke road, it turns to metal after a few k's and you can go through to Puhoi etc from there. Last time I did it was a few years back, at about 1am on a FZR thou....it was a bit of a goat track, but be a bit of fun on an adventure bike ....

Old North rd - Ararimu valley rd - Bald hill Rd - forestry rd - Waitoki (it's still a gas station) waitoki rd (sealed) from there are dozens of unsealed roads going north ,east and west

[Pixie]

The Hunuas are criss crossed by all sorts of legal roads but just try and use them. Often they are gated or barred.

Coz they don't want dead bikers contaminating the water catchment

[Pixie]

I found today that the bastards have sealed the road to Orere Point! When did *that* happen ?

about 30 years ago

[tri boy]

I can understand your frustration with gates but bear in mind that the more we abuse "locked gates" the more gates get locked. You've got to think of other users as well as yourself.
If you need lots of gravel head down the coast from Port Waikato and you can spend 2 days on gravel (well almost). Use up all these resources before you start jumping over gates.......please.

Sounds like a Kawhia Bach overnighter is on the cards soon.
Get a bit of gravel under the RS's wheels xer,(maybe a cheap set of B/stone dual rubber will be the go), but don't worry about being a pro at it. (most of us still wobble our way around also).
I will post a overnighter at Kawhia in Feb, and Crisis and windboy etc(plus any others) are more than welcome to sup wine, ride gravel and enjoy the views from the deck.

[xwhatsit]

Point taken about jumping gates. It's this funny compulsion I have, like `ENTRY' and `EXIT' signs at a service station. Always have this urge to go in via the exit However, I shall gallantly resist the temptation.

Was exploring some of the (dead end) gravel roads around the airport after work tonight. Was going down one straight piece of road at about 50kph and a YUGE rabbit bounded across right in front of me. Was standing up on the pegs at the time (it is possible despite the drop-bars) thankfully, so was able to keep upright and ride it out, but still very scary. Rabbit somehow crawled off out of my view. Don't think it'll live. Cleaned a fair bit of blood and fur off the headers and guard when I got home. Thankfully new boots are fine.

Was around late dusk, which I suppose has something to do with it. Not a hazard I've come across before, unless you count suicidal pedestrians. Correct technique just to straighten up and ride it out like I did?

[warewolf]

Correct technique just to straighten up and ride it out like I did?

Yes. Hit it just like any other obstacle: power on, weight back, try to lift the front over it.

Never hit an animal under brakes; don't kill yourself trying to be kind to the animal. Brake like mad beforehand, sure, but as for other bumps come off the brakes before impact.

[Ixion]

At least you have wire spoke wheels. With alloy wheels, the buggers dive THROUGH the wheel. Then get clobbered by one of the spokes , hooked up and carried up and around. Which puts the wheel frantically out of balance and causes quite remarkable handling whilst trying to slow down.