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Thread: A day in the life of a TansAlp rider.

  1. #1
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    A day in the life of a TansAlp rider.

    Yesterday, Wednesday 01 November 06, I had the choice of two appointments, one in Oamaru or one in Alexandra.
    I chose the one in Alexandra, just because it meant I could take the bike.
    Alarm goes off at 06:00, out of bed to check the day, looked like an excellent day for riding, quickly (for me) had breakfast and put on my thermal singlet, warmer clothes and trusty old leathers and wheeled the bike out of the garage ready to go.
    I had checked the bike and packed the days necessaries last night so that there would be no holdups.
    Well the morning really felt chilly, no wind and a seemingly modestly warm one degree Celsius.
    Having travelled the Lindis Pass frequently all through the coldest parts of the winter I sensed a nice warm ride this time. "Bloody wrong!"
    I think for some reason that only God, the LTSA, or Helen Clark,(for Jameso) knows why, this was to be the coldest crossing of the pass in my life, by the middle of the Lindis I was colder than I have ever been for years.
    I had to stop for a pee and my hands were so cold I could hardly work the zippers on my leathers and almost suffered the ultimate embarrassment!
    Then having escaped the fate worse than death I barely was able to get myself and my gear done up again!
    I know, I know too much information but I also know that you have all "been there" so you will understand!
    I rode on towards Alexandra with my mind constantly slipping my attention to the heated handle bar grips on the shelf in the shed and how it must be Mrs Oriders fault as to why they were not fitted to the bike!!! It's always her fault isn't it?
    Towards Tarras and the sun came out from behind the hills and somehow the heated hand grips began to fade from the consciousness and the bike and I began to hum the same tune, maybe there is a God afterall!
    The pace quickened, the corners took on a whole new meaning, cages and trucks slipped effortlessly back where they belonged and the world was a nice place again.
    Arrived early in Alex so took in a (compulsory) visit to the bike shops to kick a few tyres and drool over the bikes on stock but was disappointed to find a very small offering in the showrooms.
    Alexandra has always had quite a good selection in the past.
    The meeting I attended went well and was worth cancelling the other appointment for besides I would have had to go Mrs O in the damn car.
    I had PMed Jantar last evening to see if he would be home for the day and he was so I rang him to find the best way to get to his place, then went and filled the bike with petrol while he put the kettle on.
    The day was now very warm so I rode out to Jantar's with my visor up and my jacket loosely zipped suddenly that cold ride through the Lindis was all but forgotten.
    Easy found and very impressive Jantar's place was basking in the Alexandra sunshine and looked a real picture.
    I thought I had never actually met Jantar but we soon established that our paths had crossed (amicably of course) earlier in our careers in the electricity industry.
    I had my lunch with the Jantars and a hot drink when he said he would ride some of the way back with me.
    As it was I had intended to return home through Saint Bathans and across to Naseby to check the time between them for a link up between the Omarama saddle and the Kyeburn turn off back through Otematata Station access for planning future KB venture rides.
    Jantar rode in front, (manners) because it is his home territory and because he has a radar detector, which he doesn't need turn on of course.
    We set off for St Bathans and the pace was perfect, I found him to be an excellent ride partner and enjoyed riding with him very much. The countryside, the mountains and general scenery is very special to that area and very enjoyable to ride through.
    After a brief stop at the Vulcan (no drinks) we took a pic and moved on to Naseby down the main drag. (Excellent gravel from St B to the highway)
    I offered Jantar to hold the front position again and I took the dust (manners again) which really wasn't too bad.
    Jantar maintained his good pace on the gravel and we were soon out onto the seal and looking up toward the site of the Brass monkey with fond memories of the last rally and all the friends we saw there.
    It took about half an hour to the lazy quietness of Naseby so we decided to stop and have a glass of beer to celebrate a toast to our first ride together.
    We had a good interesting and informative chat over our beer then shook hands bid each other farewell and he rode back home while I rode on up through the Dansey Pass and home.
    The ride through the Danseys at that time of the afternoon is always interesting because you usually strike traffic coming or going at the end of the day from one side or the other and the stock are settling down for the night, usually just where "you"want to ride.
    I did manage to invent some corners where there are none in the name of animal rights, one of which developed into a classic "oh shit" moment but it all ended well and I told myself never again, then proceeded to do just that!
    Surprising enough I only encountered one very good "lady driver" who gave me all the courtesy in the world to which I acknowledged my appreciation with a thank you and a wave.
    The colours of the area as the sun sinks can sometimes be absolutely stunning in the pass but for some reason I do not seem to be able to capture it effectively on my camera but I had to stop and water the tussocks again so took a pic looking out to the Oamaru coast just at the Waitaki Valley boundary.
    I was now getting conscious of the fact that Mrs O had gone to town and we had a visitor coming for the night so I had to push on and increased the speed down the other side of the pass to try to gain some time.
    I took a mental note that the speed did not increase by much when I hit the seal even though I now had legitimate reason for hurrying home for the visitor!
    The rest of the ride up valley commanded the utmost urgency in the interests of the visitor of course, it's amazing what we can convince ourselves of when we want an excuse to "hurry".
    All too soon the day on the bike was over as I turned into Otematata township and the cold of the Lindis was just a fading memory and all I could think of was what a great choice I had made not to go to town in the car.
    It was it just 6:30pm, the visitor was sitting down sipping wine, Mrs O was busy getting tea and my bike was resting in the shed.
    Perhaps there was no need to hurry after all, "damn!" John.

    PS: I have lost the pics somewhere in my computer!
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    Last edited by oldrider; 2nd November 2006 at 16:14. Reason: to add pics (again)

  2. #2
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    Great read john......read a story like that and it makes you sit back and ponder just how wonderful our favourite pastime is.............bumped into mrs oldrider at new world yesterday...
    Be the person your dog thinks you are...

  3. #3
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    Great roads mate.
    Cheers

    Merv

  4. #4
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    I very much enjoyed riding with you John. Coming home I took the Oterehua route just for a change of scenery. Althought this way is rather straight, I do it occassionally to remind me how much more interesting the main road is.

    Great pics, but I do believe you should have shown the one with you in it taken on the other side of the road.
    Time to ride

  5. #5
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    Good read John and some nice pics.
    Have you put that new tyre on yet? If so what are the early impressions?

  6. #6
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    It's easy to forget what you originally went for!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jantar View Post
    I very much enjoyed riding with you John. Coming home I took the Oterehua route just for a change of scenery. Althought this way is rather straight, I do it occassionally to remind me how much more interesting the main road is.

    Great pics, but I do believe you should have shown the one with you in it taken on the other side of the road.
    The pics from the other side by the pub were not as good as the first one.

    Did you go over the Raggedy Range road to Galloway or stay on the seal?

    The evening light and colours on the other side of the pass were really fantastic but I didn't have time to stop and take pictures.

    I had thought of going in to the Mt Buster road top end for a look but I had lost track of the time over your side.

    Time flies when you are having fun, I went out for a lotto ticket for her indoors one afternoon, got home the next day!

    She thought her numbers had come up guess who forgot to buy the ticket!

    She was not impressed but I had a great ride. Cheers John.

  7. #7
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    Good read John, nice pics.

  8. #8
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    Mitas E08 back tyre first outing.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ruralman View Post
    Good read John and some nice pics.
    Have you put that new tyre on yet? If so what are the early impressions?
    The tyre is barely distinguishable from the Tourance that I took off although I think the new one (E08) was better in the gravel.

    I didn't go too fast on the way over but the tyre was well scrubbed in by the time I got over the Danseys so I managed to hit the 100kph now and then coming up the valley and the tyre hangs on well.

    There are not many rubber tits left on it and no I didn't give it a haircut this time either.

    There are a few scratches right round on each side though and that surprise me because I thought the tyre was quite hard and would be slower wearing with less grip but is has worn (lightly) the leading edges off the blocks quite quickly.

    It does not seem to run as hot as the Tourance did either, so early days yet but I like it at this stage. Cheers John.

  9. #9
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    awesome write up john .. lol still smiling bout the cold bits ..
    Have to Karma ... Justice catches up eventually !!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldrider View Post
    Did you go over the Raggedy Range road to Galloway or stay on the seal?
    I just stuck to the seal this time.
    Time to ride

  11. #11
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    ... wicked write up OR ... could feel the chill in me bones & the richness of the landscape as i read it ... passin through that way late in the month on me way to the BURT ...
    ... you know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust ...

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jantar View Post
    this way is rather straight, I do it occassionally to remind me how much more interesting the main road is.
    Don't hear (read) that very often on here. The reocurring theme is get off the main road.

    Good write up Oldrider. Makes me wish I still lived in those parts.
    Soccer - A Gentlemans game played by Hooligans. Rugby - A Hooligans Game played by Gentlemen.

  13. #13
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    I know just what you mean about a camera not capturing the colour and texture down there. Tried many times, but what I got was only a shallow imitation of the real thing. Oh for the talent to take a decent piccie..

    PS: I see from your thread title you have upgraded to a TansAlp (or did your "R"s fall off on the bumpy bits?)
    The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight underpants.

  14. #14
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    Nice one John - now you gotta do it all over again (AND with a whinging pom in tow ) in 2-3 months' time.

    Cheers mate

    Keef

  15. #15
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    Excellent write up, sounds like you had a great day.

    This cracked me up too ...
    Quote Originally Posted by oldrider View Post
    Time flies when you are having fun, I went out for a lotto ticket for her indoors one afternoon, got home the next day!

    She thought her numbers had come up guess who forgot to buy the ticket!

    She was not impressed but I had a great ride. Cheers John.
    The views expressed above may not match yours - But that's the reason my Dad went to war - wasn't it?
    Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, .... but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,... shouting "man, what a ride"!!!

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