Dusty Butt 1,000km adventure ride

**Zukin** · 17th March 2007, 13:06

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Can it be here by dinnertime?

Yep no problems

Dinner time next Sunday

**NordieBoy** · 17th March 2007, 17:20

But I'm hungry now

**Transalper** · 20th March 2007, 16:54

Jeeezzzz, just watching the Race to Dakar.... it makes our little one day trip look rather pathetic. They like do our trip over and over with sweet f-all sleep, early starts and much much rougher tracks. I'm enjoying this DVD much more than the Long way round, and am iching to get out with all my new hindsight and go again.

**Zukin** · 20th March 2007, 18:31

Originally Posted by Transalper

Jeeezzzz, just watching the Race to Dakar.... it makes our little one day trip look rather pathetic. They like do our trip over and over with sweet f-all sleep, early starts and much much rougher tracks. I'm enjoying this DVD much more than the Long way round, and am iching to get out with all my new hindsight and go again.

Where can you get this from?
I have been looking for it everywhere!

Cheers Scott

**cooneyr** · 20th March 2007, 19:19

Originally Posted by Transalper

Jeeezzzz, just watching the Race to Dakar.... it makes our little one day trip look rather pathetic. They like do our trip over and over with sweet f-all sleep, early starts and much much rougher tracks. I'm enjoying this DVD much more than the Long way round, and am iching to get out with all my new hindsight and go again.

Can I borrow the DVD some time - please please please????

The whole 1000km in one go this time?

Cheers R

**NordieBoy** · 20th March 2007, 20:34

I got it off BitTorrent.

**Transalper** · 20th March 2007, 22:26

I bought it here at Real Groovy for $45. It's 2 DVDs including 7 episodes of the TV series ( I don't think its been here yet) and a bunch of extras like the crash reel, outtakes, epic montage (havent watched that yet), footage of the bike build, an interview and photo gallery.

I'd love to have another go at the whole 1000km, but would have to approach it a little more selfishly (if you're ahead of me and broken down i'd help, if you're behind then hopefully someone else can help, also i'd only stop when i was ready for a stop) and with better food and nights sleep before. Sorry BusaJim you'll have to leave the Magicfairy off your back seat if you seriously intend to finish the whole 1000km trip in one day next time. Nordie, you said you were not totally comfortable on shingle and were indeed quite easy to catch up to in places so keep up the practice.
We'll also need a little more good luck in the Flat Tyre department and as for my (J's DR650) headlight issue, it looks to have been the wires in the headlight plug getting knocked about, it's been fine ever since the Murchison adjustment.

Now it's just a pity the Molsworth is closed until the end of December, so we need a new route for winter R !!!
Oh well, i guess doing the second cheek last 500km in a good time, say 9 hours, or even 8 hours since it will probably be daylight the whole way, will have to do for now.

**magicfairy** · 21st March 2007, 06:27

Originally Posted by Transalper

Sorry BusaJim you'll have to leave the Magicfairy off your back seat if you seriously intend to finish the whole 1000km trip in one day next time.

LOL - I already told him once was enough and the next one he is doing on his own - I'll do a "Not so Dusty Butt" on my road bike. And meet up in civilization somewhere.
Sitting on the back, with only Jims arse for a view, whilst roaring up the Managatapu, in the dark...I don't mind missing that.

We'll save the 2up for the more leisurely and shorter Adventures.

**Transalper** · 21st March 2007, 08:06

Would have been a great scenic trip with a few more keen attendees if we had two days and accommodation half way at St Arnaud waiting for us.
Careful magic, you run the risk of being loaded up with food, drink, shelter and spare parts then being called a two wheeled support fairy

I'm thinking we do the whole thing, same route again when the Molsworth AND Rainbow are open. We would have no gate key issues then, down side is could be more traffic.
Roll on the second half...

**cooneyr** · 21st March 2007, 08:46

Originally Posted by Transalper

Would have been a great scenic trip with a few more keen attendees if we had two days and accommodation half way at St Arnaud waiting for us.......

I also agree but I've done all parts of the route before so would rather go somewhere else for the scenic rides.

Originally Posted by Transalper

........I'm thinking we do the whole thing, same route again when the Molsworth AND Rainbow are open. We would have no gate key issues then, down side is could be more traffic.
Roll on the second half...

Next time I do the route it will be when they are both open and I'll be hanging it out. I really want to see If I can do the 1000km in a day. Minimal stops and fast as possible.

Cheers R

**NordieBoy** · 21st March 2007, 09:03

My gravel problem is that I've never done the "rear wheel steering" thing.
If either wheel moves around a bit I panic.
Do I lean the bike through the corners like on dirt or keep the bike upright?
I'm thinking something like a Mitas E09 would help the confidance and grip levels on the front and the E07 rear should be fine.

Got another E07 front on order as this one is getting near the end of it's usefull gravel life.
The previous tyre owner must have been running it far too soft and it's cupping badly.

**Transalper** · 21st March 2007, 09:28

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

...
Do I lean the bike through the corners like on dirt or keep the bike upright?

Check this out... It's gravel riding in Africa, most of it sounds about right and works me. As always some will be subject to opinion.

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

The previous tyre owner must have been running it far too soft and it's cupping badly.

Lower pressures are often good on gravel. I let some air out of the E09 rear half way through the Molsworth on the ride and it helped get more of the power to the ground especially noticable on exiting corners. The rear had been spinning up to easily without driving me froward before that. The front was about right already.

I'd be approaching your friendly neighborhood warewolf for a bit of guidance in person if you really want to get some idea of whats what, but don't push too hard all at once and scare yourself off.

**cooneyr** · 21st March 2007, 11:12

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

My gravel problem is that I've never done the "rear wheel steering" thing.
If either wheel moves around a bit I panic.
Do I lean the bike through the corners like on dirt or keep the bike upright?
I'm thinking something like a Mitas E09 would help the confidance and grip levels on the front and the E07 rear should be fine....

I recon this bit helps heaps (from TA's link), especially the keep the body upright and lean the bike into the corners - "When cornering on gravel roads, slow down before the corner, keep the body upright and lean the bike into the corner, accelerate slightly; look at the exit of the corner. Don’t look right in front of you."

This makes it much easier to control a slide should it occur. If the bike moves don't tense up or panic as it doesn't help - hard to get over this though. I was running a Dunlop D605 front (first Pic) and Shinko R244 rear on the DB 1K with no problems at the speed I was traveling. I think tyre profile (worn out square profile MT21 wasn't nice - wouldn't tip in easily) and skill is more relevant on the gravel roads although for me a more aggressive rear tyre does tend to help with drive out of corners. I'd say practice and get use to bike moving before getting new tyres - but do whatever works for you.

Cheers R