Solstice we went for a blat, one to forget.

[F5 Dave]

So I decided to get a few mates together to go for a ride in Karapoti as there is a bit of a gap of rides. OK it can be a bit same-same up there but we’ll concentrate on lunch.

I think this is the last time we’ll go on Solstice.
One of those days I should have gone back to bed with fruit toast & a bike magazine.

4 people couldn’t make it so we had 4 on the ride.

3 corners down the road from home to go pick up John – BANG. That’ll be the bike punching the window out of the van. I had just been looking at the back end bobbing up & down & thought that’s odd. Just after I’d hooked the tie-down the other way around I usually do. Oh poo. Ring around the glass shops & get John’s trailer sorted out while letting the guys know we will be late.

So we turn up ¾ hr late at the carpark, sorry guys, you set of & we’ll catch up at the river, have a play around there.

Right, so then John’s bike falls over, no one was near it. Clutch lever breaks despite bush-guards. Spare one out. Erm doesn’t fit John. Fortunately he also had a spare pair kit & the lever in that one did.
And then he lost the perch bolt. Ok scratch that it was way over there.

Ok so we’re off. Meet the guys. Steven has attacked a small trail up the hill & a blackberry bush attacked him back - his neck has some mean scratches & a gaping wound to make him look like an extra in a B grade horror. But he’s cool with it & wants to carry on.

By now we are a bit wary & want to stay careful careful.

Well pretty much the day is ok from then, but on the way back on the clay part of the track I lose the front. Well I didn’t lose it, I mean I still knew where it was, just it wasn’t where it was supposed to be, but I valiantly footed down to save it, which meant the rear slowly & comically did a nice 180, but then the bike stopped & threw me backwards & I rang my bell somewhat. I pulled the lining out later & can see some compression on the polystyrene. That’s 2 helmets in 2 weeks that I’ve destroyed. This is getting expensive.

So that night Stephen txt’d he went to after-hours to get his neck cleaned up & I wake up the next day with real sore neck from my crash.

Solstice ride next year? I’m washing my hair that day.

[FlangMasterJ]

Was this on the Sunday?

Do you ride with a guy named Jason?

[F5 Dave]

Saturday being Solstice & no.

[riffer]

Should've stayed in the gargre Dave.

[2_SL0]

Aaaaaaah, that brings back fond memories of dirt riding. The hours in ACC, the fixing of broken bikes followed with the repeat the following week, not quite music to my ears, but def brings back memories.

[merv]

You coulda come on Buck's road ride instead.

No worries your hair will look nice next year - wish I had as much hair as you .

[F5 Dave]

Yeah Merv I had considered it but it was originally on sunday so I organised the dirt ride for sat being Solstice proper. The weather decided it in the end anyways.

[theblacksmith]

So I decided to get a few mates together to go for a ride in Karapoti as there is a bit of a gap of rides. OK it can be a bit same-same up there but we’ll concentrate on lunch.

I think this is the last time we’ll go on Solstice.
One of those days I should have gone back to bed with fruit toast & a bike magazine.

4 people couldn’t make it so we had 4 on the ride.

3 corners down the road from home to go pick up John – BANG. That’ll be the bike punching the window out of the van. I had just been looking at the back end bobbing up & down & thought that’s odd. Just after I’d hooked the tie-down the other way around I usually do. Oh poo. Ring around the glass shops & get John’s trailer sorted out while letting the guys know we will be late.

So we turn up ¾ hr late at the carpark, sorry guys, you set of & we’ll catch up at the river, have a play around there.

Right, so then John’s bike falls over, no one was near it. Clutch lever breaks despite bush-guards. Spare one out. Erm doesn’t fit John. Fortunately he also had a spare pair kit & the lever in that one did.
And then he lost the perch bolt. Ok scratch that it was way over there.

Ok so we’re off. Meet the guys. Steven has attacked a small trail up the hill & a blackberry bush attacked him back - his neck has some mean scratches & a gaping wound to make him look like an extra in a B grade horror. But he’s cool with it & wants to carry on.

By now we are a bit wary & want to stay careful careful.

Well pretty much the day is ok from then, but on the way back on the clay part of the track I lose the front. Well I didn’t lose it, I mean I still knew where it was, just it wasn’t where it was supposed to be, but I valiantly footed down to save it, which meant the rear slowly & comically did a nice 180, but then the bike stopped & threw me backwards & I rang my bell somewhat. I pulled the lining out later & can see some compression on the polystyrene. That’s 2 helmets in 2 weeks that I’ve destroyed. This is getting expensive.

So that night Stephen txt’d he went to after-hours to get his neck cleaned up & I wake up the next day with real sore neck from my crash.

Solstice ride next year? I’m washing my hair that day.

Make sure its shampoo and not hair dye.