"All Things Rogey"..now includes "The Gravel Rash Adventures"

Sorry to disappoint but I am not pregant, but....I would like to announce the arrival of my new bike...

For those regular followers of my blog, you may remember earlier this year I did a bit of a tour around the Taranaki.  During the Sunday on my return home I found myself on a dirt track, just west of Ohura.  I managed to get the sprint home OK, but it sent me thinking on a path to a second bike, and the opportunities this would present for discovering more out of the way and for gotten places.  I began to seriously look at getting a duel purpose bike. Since Andrew added the DL to his stable, I was more inclined than ever to become  adventurous in my riding.   So for the last few months I have been trolling adventure forums and doing my own bit of research on what I think would suit the types of roads I would like to get onto.

After a while I had narrowed it done to a couple of bikes, and eventually settled on the G650 GS.  Once I had done a test ride I was in no doubt that this bike would do everything I was looking for.  It is light, nimble, comfortable and out right bloody fun to ride. 

The Sprint will remain with me as it is a great bike, and is ideal for two up touring and the purposes it was brought for.  The GS will open up new adventures for me, giving me the chance to visit places that I can not get to on the sprint.  It will also only improve my skills on a bike, and I have all ready enrolled in a off road course.  New Zealand has some amazing places to ride a off road bike, and I am  buzzing at the opportunities that this new bike will present me. 

I Picked the bike up yesterday, and took it for a we 200km spin.  Man it is a hoot, I had to fight the urge to find a dirt road, in due cause I will do a full review.  Man I love being on two wheels.

So I hope you will join me as Rogey's Gravel Rash Adventure begins.........

Breaking News!

Changes are foot in the world of "ALL THINGS ROGEY"!

Pictures and details to follow 7.00pm NZ Time Wednesday 28th September.

Stay tuned.

Bloody Orange Cones.....

Well, Phillip was good enough to organise another observed ride for me on Monday night.  Simon my appointed mentor has been pretty busy with the Rugby World Cup (God I hope the All blacks win!) and the Pacific Island Forum  (more political drum beating) .  So I was most grateful to have the opportunity to ride with Phillip again. The fact that this man gives up his time into  training me cannot be under estimated, and I am very very grateful.

The weather forecast was for rain and thunderstorms, thankfully we only got a bit of rain, although the route we took through the Waitakere ranges ensured the road was wet!

But First............

I arranged to meet Phillip where he does his other training courses.  This is a car park behind a gym and while we were there he decided it would be a good opportunity to try some slow speed manoeuvring exercises.  Now this could be interesting.  Although my slow speed skills have improved a great deal, throwing the 220kg sprint around a 15 foot wide turn with lots of little orange cones,   was perhaps a little optimistic on Phil's behalf.  Of course never one to turn down a challenge  I thought bugger it lets give this a go............and I did...again (fail)....and again(fail)....and again(fail)....and again(fail)....and again(fail).....and again(fail)....and again(fail)......shit this is hard!  So Mr McDaid...aka Phil steps in.   So I then get to watch this little man..and yes he is not a big fella, throw this Honda ST, all 300kgs of it through this obstacle course as if it is a  GN125!  Shit, feeling a bit like a plonker now.

OK Phil so you proved a point, now let me have a go on one of those little 125's you have on the back of the trailer there?  Whoop.......I am away.  At least I nailed it, perhaps not the first time, but I did eventually  get this bloody little bike around two fingers of this orange cone obstacle course.   In case you haven't noticed I am beginning to get an aversion to "road cones"!!!!!!!  Of course I did try my best to destroy as many as possiable but the little bastards pop back into shape.....no matter how many times you run over them.

With my helmet sufficiently soaked with sweat and my hands sticking to the inside of my winter gloves, we ended the obstacle courses challenge and set out on a ride.  Enjoying Auckland's peak hour traffic and intermittent rain.

The route took us through Scenic drive in the Waitake rangers, a very picturesque part of suburban Auckland, and from a bikers point of view a great road.  Certainly a challenging road.  Full of speed zone changes, hidden driveways, 25km bends and anything else you may want to through into the mix.

Once stopped the feed back begun.  So the negatives were.  Missed a couple of shoulder checks when the lanes went from two to one.  I did check my mirrors  but as Phillip pointed out it is easy for a car to enter theses roads from a driveway and the mirror check is just not adequate.  Was a bit lapsed on my indicating on a couple of round abouts.  And was not chasing my vanishing point as well as I should when exiting corners.  This is an area that I am aware is a weakness in my riding. 

So now the positives.  It is clearly obvious in my riding that I am applying the skills that are associated with Advanced riding.  I am using the full road , altering my position when I need to, watching my following distances and making a degree of smooth progress in most cases.  It comes down to a lot of fine tuning and working on the little things that need work.  The big thing for me is that I have improved from my previous observed ride.  It is there, I just need to continually reinforce the small stuff.

Fathers day ride and prizes!

So last Sunday was Fathers day, old news I know, but not for being frantic at work this week I may have been able to write about it earlier.

I was given the delicacy of toast, baked beans and coffee.........with a slash of ham on the side.   All made with love and appreciation, which is all i can ask for.

Nathan had a friend over, so that breakfast was where fathers day started an ended for him, still Taylor was keen to go for a ride, and she even mentioned a  "long ride", dangerous words indeed.

SO with Nathan off to his mates place, my partner working, Taylor and I headed north, stopping at the chocolate factory for a very yummy brunch.......(forgot photos sorry).  WE carried on north after that and took the scenic ride through Wellsford, SH 16 to Helensville, and eventually home.  we were away for about 6 hours, and Taylor didn't seem to mind in the slightest.  I think I may be turning her into a biker yet.  A few years ago anything longer than 20 Min's was considered a long trip.

It was great  to get out for a ride on what was a nice day with my daughter.  She seems to be growing up so fast that the time will come when she will be far to busy to come with me any more.

Soccer season has finally ended.  Taylor's team finished second from the bottom, but it was a great journey along the way.  Yesterday was the Girls 13th Grade prize giving.   Taylor won "Most Valuable player", I thought I should of won most "vocal sideline commentator" and supporter award, but it was not to be.

Proud Dad

Most improved, Most Valuable, and Sportsmanship award, The three winners from Taylor's team.

Still very proud of my girl, first season of football and she won a ward.


View Larger Map

Why Bother?

On the ride on Sunday I had the opportunity to talk to Simon (my observer) in some detail.  I wondered what would inspire a man, or anybody for that matter, to give up there time freely to educate others bikers.  To put time and effort into teaching with no possible financial reward.

I have spent a few days since Sunday thinking about this very thing. 

In the end I came to several conclusions.

All over NZ, and obviously many other countries, countless individuals will give there time and commitment to helping others, or promoting some thing that they consider important.  They do this because they are passionate about it. They do it cause they love to do it, and they do it because the results far out way the time they put in.  Weather it be couching a girls soccer team, or a boys rugby team, weather it be meals on wheels, or collecting for the blind.  There is some thing very rewarding about doing such activities.

But...........what motivates people to do such things?

Which brings me back to IAM, and the conversation I had with Simon on Sunday.  I asked him why he did what he was doing.  Mainly because it was clear to me that he is a busy man and I am sure he probably had better things to do with his time than follow a chubby guy around behind a red triple.

He went on to tell me about a recent motorway accident involving a biker.  With out going into detail, the biker lost control while entering a on ramp, slid across three lanes and into the wire rope barrier  (or as we call them over here "Cheese cutters") He was picked up in four pieces.   This alone is motivation for encouraging better riding.  Seeing the consequences of some body's riding and knowing that you can teach and help people to ad void such tragedy's would be very motivating.  It would be for me.

When he stops a biker  for reckless or dangerous driving he always promotes IAM and encourage's them to seek out and get some better training.   Not one single rider has ever taken him up on his offer. 

Which brings me to a point which applies to every sport or exercise where training is required.

YOU CAN ONLY TEACH SOME ONE IF THEY WANT TO LEARN

and here lies the problem.

The single and most motivating factor for me in  getting some training was not my stupidity or lack of training......it was some else's. Some one who, if I could of I should been able to offer some commonsense and some up skilling. But if you are blind you can not tell a blind man what you don't see.

I have long given up on the government doing anything sensible about such things.  If I want to make a differenc then only I can do so.  In your chosen field what ever it maybe, if you are passionate about it then you can make a difference.

I look at like this.  If I and Geoff get to a position where we can train just two people, and those two people go on and train another two people each, and those four train two each, and those eight train two each....... you can see where this is going. 

Thanks for reading everyone..............and or all the Kiwi Fathers out ther, Happy Fathers day on Sunday!

It is a challenge

I joined IAM  again on Sunday for another ride.  This time I was to meet my newly appointed mentor, Simon.  A UK trained, and now serving in New Zealand motorcycle police officer.  We had exchanged a few brief emails earlier in the week, and it was decided to meet on Sunday as that suited both of us.   I was very much looking forward to meeting him, and learning from some one with a wealth of experience.  

The weather in Auckland this weekend has been fantastic, and even though I was prepared with thermals and linings in my jacket there was really no need.  I got to Deaus ex Machina nice and early and enjoyed a coffee while waiting for some others to turn up.

In no time there was about 8 of us, but only two observers.  None the less this was no problem as Geoff,( who made the trip from Coromandel, now thats dedication). myself and another guy went off with Simon and the others went there way.  As Simon is my mentor I drew the short straw and had the radio, with the other three following.  Just when I get use to being followed by one I now have three watching my every move.

I will say this, Simon is a very UN pretentious, humble and neat guy.   I instantly felt at home with him and discussing the finer art of motorcycle control.  He put me at ease and I can see that I will learn a lot from this fellow.  His willingness to put some time and effort into training others, is a reflection on the carnage he sees on our roads on a daily basis.  I have a great deal of admiration for men ( and women) who do this job.  especially those who are prepared to give up their time to contribute to safer biking here in NZ.

We set off for the ride, which as usual included some motorway, urban and open road riding.  Stopping after about an hour to review my progress and have a very healthy discussing between all four of us on some aspects that we were unsure off.

We continued on and I remained in front.  I swapped the lead with Simon on a couple of occasions and it is a great  delight to watch what  is obviously a very technical and experienced rider show me how it is done.

The feed back I received afterwards was great, a lot of positives and a few negatives.  The most glaring was my over taking maneuver.  Technically I did it well, but my choice of where I did it was wrong.  Some thing I knew but didn't really comprehend till afterwards.  I felt as the day progressed I was riding smoother and getting more and more relaxed.  

Some thing that I find hard to explain to some people is how much more I am enjoying my riding since I have embarked on this journey.  There is some thing very satisfying about getting your cornering and riding technically right.  Far more satisfying than just honing through corners and hoping for the best.  Knowing the bike is going where you want it to go, and knowing you are controling it is a one of the great joys of biking.  I feel more confident, yet it is tappered with  healthy restraint.

For Nikos and Sonja!.....and the foodies amongst us.

Since we have moved into our new home I have discovered  a passion for cooking that has not been there for a few years.  Living in a rented house that was always to small, I have never been comfortable to invite people over or even get into cooking in a big way.  That has all changed and here are a few dishes I have prepared of late, as well as a couple I didn't do.........I was thinking of Nikos and Sonja and there food pics and decided I would try and compete!

Duck Breasts, with various Indian herbs.

Malabar Duck Curry

Mmmmmm

Crab Meat Linguine

It was Yummy

Tk's Chicken Dish, hot but extremely tasty, the flavours just explode in your mouth.

Marinating the chicken with all sorts of stuff.

Lamb Bryrani, The lamb is underneath the Rice and there are various layers of other stuff, all slow cooked.

Yogurt with carrots etc.

Tk is a friend of Terry's from work, he came over cooked three very authentic Indian dishes, which I have to say were superb!  The house smelled like a Indian restaurant for a day or two, but it was quite the experience to see how it was done, and the boxes of various herbs and spices he brought over.  No such things as measurements, you just through in handfuls of  the stuff!!