I still had a few days off until my return to the coal face and decided I would join the Northland Gravel Riders club for a mid week ride. The deal was to meet at the BP in Kuemu at 9.00am and as usual for this summer, the for cast was not to be favourable.
As if right in Que when I arrived so did the rain. But this could not dampen the spirits of the few us who went. Although weonly numbered it was a good wee number and we set of towards Shelly beach. This is to be out first stop. The journey there is mostly tar seal with a small bit of gravel thrown in for good measure just to wet our appetites.
The dirt roads took us down to South Head and lots of fun was had playing in the sand (no buckets or shovels though). It was a shit load of fun with some of the guys having a real hoot. We explored around this area for quite a while. I suppose for me it is exploring , but for the others who had been here before it was just fun.
I am loving my gravel rash experiences. It is a real rewarding challenge, a great deal of fun, and just great to get of the beaten tracks and see more of what this country has to offer.
Thanks to Sues for supplying me with some pics....which I shamelessly stole of Face book!(with permission)
After the ride I headed to Cycle treads and changed the front tyre for a knobbly, to offer a bit more assistance when on gravel. After that it was over to Suzette's place (aka gravel hopper) where her husband had kindly offered to help fit the Hand guards and raisers I had purchased from Touratech. Actually I am not sure offered is the right word...roped in is probably the better phase.
Here are a few pics of the end result....
I am still loving the GS, seems the perfect bike for me at the moment and is continuing to perform flawlessly. It's only limits are those that are placed on it by the the riders ability.
The bike looks the biz Rog! So your next South Island trip is going to be all off road then???
ReplyDeleteWow, steal away Rogey, more than welcome, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. This was an excellent introduction to adventure riding, gravel roads, sand (yes, Rogey no buckets and spades this time round) and also muddddd. Hmmm the stuff we all like and are growing to adore more all of the time. Wow that beemer is looking hottttt. I shamelessly have suggested MORE appendages to be added. Has Xmas already been???? yikes more parcels may be appearing as gifts for the beemer???? More to be revealed in future episodes of Rogey's gravel rash adventures. Bring it on, I cannot wait for your nxt enstalments.
ReplyDeleteContinue to mislead...still fun to see you on the gravel. Bat risers? Didn't realize you were in need of those. The guards came out nicely. How can you change just the front tire? I've been told repeatedly not to mix tires like that. :)
ReplyDeleteGeoff: I doubt the oppurtunity will come to do a trip like that again by myself. That said i am sure the next time such an oppurtunity arises the sprint may have been replaced with a bigger duel purpose for touring purposes.
ReplyDeleteLori: I took a lot of advice from the experinced adventure guys and they all recommend doing it, it gives more steerage and control at the front end when on the gravel but also plenty of grip when on the road...they all seem to do it over here unless you are a hardcore trail rider. It does give he bike a nice agressive look. Gald you like my batman bars.....
ReplyDeleteHaving fun, I'm jealous, we are having nothing but cold weather. Knobby in the front only? I guess the front is where you need it most, does the GS have traction control?
ReplyDeleteAdventure bikes bring out the hooligan in all of us. :)
ReplyDeleteGeorge: Sorry mate, dont mean to make you jealous! Yes the bike has ABs, which can be turned off when on gravel. Some prefere it on others like to lock the back wheel and slide it a bit, I am as yet undecided which I prefere.
ReplyDeletePutting the knobbley on the front was something i did on the advice of quite a few experinced adventure riders here n NZ, they all recomended doing it . I will let you know what I think. Have yet to really test it out.
Ron: You bloody nutter...you are so right, how did you know?
ReplyDeleteSuse's : Thanks hon, throughly enjoyed myself yesterday....it is certainly addictive this adventure stuff. I am loving every minute of it. Your passion for it is contagious.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like too much fun. I think I may have to find an adventure type bike to ride off road. I am not sure my hub will let me add yet another bike to our ever growing fleet. I need some adventure, our winter is grinding me down and I need a serious dose of twisties.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmmmm, Touratech porn....
ReplyDeleteLove the look of those gravel roads too - they look pretty fast and in great nick! I'm sure the DL would eat 'em up.
Considering more aggressive tyres next time myself although I think that the DL may shred them fairly quickly...
What an awesome day for adventure - even if the weather wasn't perfect. How do you find the transition from going between the BMW and the Sprint?
ReplyDeleteI have ben debating on maybe purchasing a used BMW to go more off road with hubby then selling Max if I like it enough, but I have heard mixed reviews about handlebar vibrations on the single BMW. Thoughts?
Oh, and that bike looks sweet with that color combination and the guards on. Very nice.
Roger:
ReplyDeleteA dirty bike is a very happy bike. I would imagine that the single is well suited for off road, having more torque, I think with the rough terrain, vibrations don't even enter into the equation. You are lucky to have a great group to ride with
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
I agree that the bike looks great. Isn't wonderful to have someone taking pictures of you and your bike. It's like a whole different perspective. I'm almost always surprised when I see a photo me and the bike. Kind of like hearing your own voice played back.
ReplyDeleteAh, this is where I miss my Beemer, but yet again I don't do gravel roads that much any more, and if, the Vespa's are doing just fine. What a lovely lil' dust buster.
ReplyDeleteI sure love seeing the motorbikes on dirt roads! I've pretty much decided to keep my motorized two wheeler on pavement....well maybe a little dirt bike wouldn't be bad...
ReplyDeleteGreat pics of the ride, makes me want to be there!
Dar: be warned it is very addictive....dont say I didnt tell you!
ReplyDeleteAndrew: Touratech...my new "favourite" , what tyres are you running at the momnt. THe guys I spoke to say the ripp through rear knobbly in just 3000ks, that is why I ony put one of the front.
Trobaritz: THere is some vibration, not enough that concers me. In reality the single is perfect for off road and you will always get that with a single cylinder bike. I have gotten use to swapping between bikes now, at first it was weird but now no so bothered.
ReplyDeleteBob: I agree whole heartdly. The single seems perfect and when you are bumping all over the place you dont notice anything unusual on the bars. It i really only on the open road do you really seem to notice it. Enjoy Hawaii!
Keith: Mate, that is the first time I have sen a pic of me on the bike. ANd yes it is a buzz.
ReplyDeleteSonja: THe BMW seems just the perfect we bike, and I have certainly been putting it thorugh some rough roads of late. Wait till you read my next blog, from riding around the back roads of Coromandel.
Kari: Try a wee 250 and give it a go of road...you just never know , you might just love it!
Rog, I've currently got a Michelin Anakee 2 on the rear which is at least half gone. It's been very good on road and pretty good in the light gravel. One adventure in some wet clay provided it ok but I was extremely tentative with it. In deeper gravel the torque of the DL is a problem with the rear breaking loose on both acceleration and deceleration.
ReplyDeleteOn the front I have a pretty new Pirelli Scorpion. This is unbelievable on wet tar - probably as good as a road tyre. It is not very chunky so I do not push it too hard on gravel etc.
Might consider something like the Heidenau K60 next time as it is a bit more chunky but knobs look as though they may last on road. Probably not going to be as good on wet tar though.
I think every tyre is going to be a compromise on an adv bike - much more so than on a road bike...