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I hopped straight under the hot shower when I got home. Thanks to our President for setting a good pace in the rain on the ride home. I never like wet roads and tend to twaddle along a bit. Des has a thermometer on his bike and he said the coldest it read was 5.5 degrees. I told him it felt more like 4.5 :-). The thing was that I hadn't really dressed for the ride. I thought I'd turn up and find nobody there and then head off to the Pub later on. Instead I found 4 people waiting, so I had to put on a brave face and ride off to Kawhia. We had a quick stop in Pirongia, most used it to find some more gear to put on.Thankfully they had the heater on in the restaurant, but it wasn't long before I was told to shove off and stop hogging it, the others wanted to get some heat as well. I then strategically placed my gloves in front of the heater, hoping to get them warm and dry.I had a flounder again, and it was another good one. The coffee was good, I couldn't let go of the cup with my cold hands. It had stopped raining while we were having lunch, but as we stepped outside it started again. The weather must have had a rest to get ready for us. We had a brisk ride home, with a foggy visor, damp trousers and cold hands.You already know about the hot shower :-). We'll have to do this again, on dry roads this time. Thanks for the company.Alex
Anonymous
Inactive11/06/2007 at 12:45 amPost count: 286Alex, all in all it was a good ride. I now know I need new gloves. I also learnt from Rob that there is a place for thermals.Coming through the hills to Kawhia we not only hit 5.5 degrees, but high winds, low clouds giving poor visibility and rain (and the same on the way back with stronger winds I thought). Even the inside of my helmet ended up pretty wet from having the visor up at times. I couldn't stay with you guys on the very winding bits in the rain. We stopped in Huntly for fuel on the return. Fuel being a burger, chips and hot chocolate. Just prior to that I'd been the coldest I've been on a bike for a while. I also gas'd up the bike next door at the Shell station then parked it up in their abandoned car wash.Alex, it was interesting you saying you expected no riders and no ride. I think at Kawhia the general consensus was with hind sight we shouldn't have done the ride. Next time you have a bunch of riders turn up when the forecast is for deteriorating weather you may want to bring better gear or cancel the ride. 😀It was a good chance to test out the wet weather gear. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback Des. That hill section was difficult, no doubt. I hadn't been trough there in 4 years and I had forgotten what the road was like. I asked everybody if they wanted to go ahead and they did. Apart from that hill section it was pretty straight forward. But that's easy to say as I didn't have a pillion to look after.The return trip seemed a lot easier to me, as it had warmed up a little bit. As for keeping up, you don't have to, you've got to ride your own ride. I should have stayed with you guys on the return trip.Coming home I had damp feet and damp underwear. The jacket held up alright. My Goretex gear just needs a wash and external water proofing and it will be fine again. I could have done with an extra jumper, but I did have a thermal underwear, a thermal shirt and a thermal liner. However, I am a bit sensitive to cold :-). My hands were dry, but my finger tips started to go a bit cold.For next year I will stay away from this far south to avoid the big freeze.Cheers,Alex
Inactive11/06/2007 at 8:23 amPost count: 13I'd like to thank y'all for a top day! I learnt some good new roads from SH1 to Otorahanga which I woud certainly do again what ever the weather, and am planning to do on the 22nd on the way to Ohakea.I was pleasantly surprised on the way the R1200GS handled the really crappy weather conditions we had, and I would happily do the same ride again.Sorry I couldn't make the Monday meeting, we had an impromptu Happy Hour & got too beered up to ride over (Go the Air force!!!)Ride Safe, Rob
I was pleasantly surprised on the way the R1200GS handled the really crappy weather conditions we had, and I would happily do the same ride again.Ride Safe, Rob
You were definitely on a mission 🙂 Will we see you on the gravel ride July 1?Cheers,Alex
Inactive11/06/2007 at 8:47 pmPost count: 286Yeah Rob, you were damned quick through the winding bits. Alex, I always do my own ride and if that means I get left behind, then I get left behind.I actually thought the hilly cloudy bit was worse on the way back. It seemed like there was much more wind.I was largely dry except for a small leak in my new jacket but I think that was me not suiting up properly. Oh and the winter gloves leak like a sieve. Still it was a good ride.
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