King Country ADV ride?

**K slider** · 20th February 2009, 20:37

[QUOTE=marks;1945413]if you want someone to go with you to check it out I'm prepared to sacrifice a weekend[/

Hi Mark if it gets tough we may need a few guys so I will probably wait till the friday before.

**junkmanjoe** · 20th February 2009, 21:39

Originally Posted by marks

were ja get it from?

HEY mark ive orded a second book from local book shop.
did you or would you like one.

**marks** · 21st February 2009, 07:40

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

HEY mark ive orded a second book from local book shop.
did you or would you like one.

if the tracks are publicly assessable then I want one

**cooneyr** · 21st February 2009, 08:12

Originally Posted by marks

if the tracks are publicly assessable then I want one

If you or anyone wants the files I have already processed them so they will work with a GPS or can be loaded into google earth (they are in a not so commonly used format on the CD so have to be converted).

"All" I have left to do to get them on the web site is writing the names, descriptions, giving them a grading and creating the links which is the most time consuming bit. I have spoken to Andy Cockroft and he is more than happy for me to use the data on my website so I see no reason why I cannot simply forward the GPS data files.

Email me at the addy that appears in my signature or PM you email address if you want a copy.

Cheers R

P.S. Meant to say that most of the tracks are publicly accessible and if not contact details are provided.

**junkmanjoe** · 22nd February 2009, 12:28

I have booked our cabin at taumarunui for the 25th, some where to lay my head......

......

have also fulled all the beds in my cabin, so we be sorted.

im sure my ass is going to be very angry

with me on the friday up to motoxnut house,,,...
some where around 7-8 hrs................from my house.

the things we do for freedom...

**.chris** · 22nd February 2009, 13:41

Have also booked accommodation, I have a cabin booked so I have a spare bed if anyone needs it (25th).

Looks like I am committed now, so count me in as a definitely coming.
I am tripping down to Horotiu (near the Tron) for friday night, then shall pop down to Otorohanga on the Saturday AM.

Just wondering is there any chance of a google maps route? Of the planned saturday ride.

**MXNUT** · 23rd February 2009, 09:22

I spent last saturday checking out some of the roads planned to use in this ride. I covered about 500 kms return trip and found some excellent roads with good elevation changes.

I took down speedo readings at the start of all the roads so I just have to string them all together now to use the minimum of sealed roads and to get the distances right between fuel stops.

Will post up the route when i have done this later on.

It is looking like the Saturday will be a reasonably big day with around 420-430 kms from Otorohanga to Taumarunui. Less than 100 kms of these will be on tarseal.

Popped into the camping ground at Taumarunui and had a chat with the owners, they are a nice couple and it is well maintained and clean.

I also have found my new favourite gravel Rd, couple of pics below.

**MXNUT** · 23rd February 2009, 12:27

Google earth map links for 1st day, total of 427 kms.

Last leg of journey will be 160 kms between fuel stops on tight twisty roads so bikes with small
fuel tanks ( like mine ) may need to carry 1 litre of spare fuel with them.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.219727&z=12

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.878906&z=10

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.109863&z=13

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...7&ie=UTF8&z=10

**.chris** · 23rd February 2009, 14:01

Originally Posted by MOTOXNUT

Google earth map links for 1st day, total of 427 kms.

Last leg of journey will be 160 kms between fuel stops on tight twisty roads so bikes with small
fuel tanks ( like mine ) may need to carry 1 litre of spare fuel with them.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.219727&z=12

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.878906&z=10

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.109863&z=13

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...7&ie=UTF8&z=10

Excellent thank you very much.
Looks like it will be a good day. I am really looking forward to doing the 42, while doing it on a mountain bike we ran into some guys on motorbikes and I was thinking how excellent it would be to do on a motorbike.

From my memory there is only one part of the track I figured would be a bit tricky, it was a pretty steep up hill not long after the first small creek crossing. But after looking at the photos (as below), seems like it will be no problem.

**junkmanjoe** · 23rd February 2009, 16:41

top job cheers for that.

**Crisis management** · 23rd February 2009, 17:05

Mark, that looks like a great route you have planned, they are all wonderful roads to ride. I see the ride starts at 10 and you do say that it is fast paced, but knowing those roads and how slow a group can be I wonder if you might need a plan B if time runs out in the afternoon.
Recently a small group of us (6) did 450 kms between 9am and 6pm and that was a fastish pace with minimal stops and probably only 60% gravel (and easier roads than the ones you propose). I'm a little concerned you may find it's a long day with a bigger one the following on the 42 and Fishers.....

So, my 2c worth is to have an option for a short cut if it is needed, or an earlier start to take the pressure off.

Auckland to Otorohonga on friday....I will probably sort out some route for a midday departure from here if anyone wants a quick fang down the west coast.

**dino3310** · 23rd February 2009, 18:06

sounds like a 3day-er coming on

**junkmanjoe** · 23rd February 2009, 18:28

lucky i taken a day off either side weekend, might need them......

maybe a good idea to take in account for slower rides, as roads are new to some people. just a thought......

**cooneyr** · 23rd February 2009, 19:26

Originally Posted by Crisis management

....
Recently a small group of us (6) did 450 kms between 9am and 6pm and that was a fastish pace with minimal stops and probably only 60% gravel (and easier roads than the ones you propose). ....

There is that magic number again - 50kph total trip average. This is what we often manage down here in the SI with reasonably fast-ish tracks and not a lot of stops with smallish groups, generally less than 10. The only time I've managed to complete the DB1k (2008) we also did it with an average of 50kph (20 hours) - again with minimal stops. The "fast guys" (yes they are fast by adv riding standards) average was about 58/60kph total trip average and that was with 5 stops and fair going for it.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, and while I have no experiance of the King Country re tightness of the road, I reckon that using 50kph then add a couple of hours cause of the different riding speeds, large group and distance i.e. 427 kms will be about 9 hours + 2 i.e about 11 hours for the trip. So with a 10am start this will mean into Taumarnui at about 9pm so you then need to allow an hour for tea i.e. a 12 hour ride so 10pm arrive into Taumarnui. Hopefully I'm being pessimistic and this is not going to be a big deal but from experiance with organising many adv rides and dealing with large groups you never move as fast as planned.

Cheers R