Club ride to Pauanui

[Dave Ross]

#2051

The weather report for my first official ride as Area Rep. had been favourable. However, I was still surprised when we had 18 bikes turn up incl. two with a pillion.After the usual briefing we were soon under way. Jim  had supplied me with a Tiki tour route through the Hunuas and I managed to follow it without getting lost. Of course it helped that we were in radio contact for most of the trip. Oh, where were we going you wonder? The final destination was Pauanui. We were a long queue of bikes but managed to reach the destination without too much trouble, thanks to the pointing system. The feedback was that people liked it and they also enjoyed the back roads, thanks again Jim.We reached Pauanui on time and got ample parking just outside the American Café. The food was good and the company even better. Most people headed home the way we had arrived, apart from a small group of determined riders who pressed on around the top half of the peninsula. We had a great ride and the weather was fantastic. Peter and Christoph took the Miranda Road back to Auckland, while Gerda and I stayed on the main road. 300 metres from home we got hit by a short shower, but by then it didn’t matter. We pushed the bikes into the garage just as the last bit of daylight disappeared. On Mother’s day it certainly helps if your own mother lives 20000km away and your wife enjoys riding as much as you do.Picture to follow, if you have one, please add it.Cheers,Alex[img][/img]

[Anonymous]

#7730

Alex, we enjoyed the winding roads through the Hunuas then further on. The American Cafe is a great place to stop for food.After Pauanui we decided to head south taking the winding roads from Pauanui to Whangamata and then through to Waihi on more winding roads. I hadn't been through these roads so it was a lot of fun with a lot of low speed corners. We hit a small que in the Karangahake Gorge where two cars had a head on. Everyone seemed okay which was good to see. Two cars were definitely needing tow trucks though. It appeared as though one car went wide around the corner. The vehicles stopped with the crashed cars included two bikes. So I guess they were one of the first on the scene. Luckily they had not encountered the car coming wide around the corner first. The traffic seemed a lot more cautious after that.Does anyone have a suggestion for sleeping pillion passengers. Coming up the Southern Motorway I felt this body slump against me and the two helmets hit before my pillion was jolted awake. I'm a little concerned about this and pleased she fell forward instead of to the side. I think I really want to avoid this situation in future.The burgers are pretty impressive at the American cafe. Overall a great ride. We hit rain from the bottom of the Bombays, with small patches of dry all they way into town. But still a great ride.

[David]

#7731

Desamo, good to see you both today. Dont worry about sleeping pillions, it means they are very comfortable with your riding. I have yet to hear of any pillion falling off while asleep. I have a friend who used to ride from Tauranga to New Plymouth on a Kawasaki sportsbike, his girlfriend would go to sleep soon after leaving Tauranga and wake up while going through the tunnel after Piopio on SH3. She is a lot bigger than he  😀You do realise, of course, that if you dont want her to nod off the next step is her own bike  🙄

[Dave Ross]

#7732

Hi Des,like Dick said, your pillion is relaxed and that is a good sign. I am glad you guys managed to get through the Gorge without an incident. I bet the people were sight seeing, instead of paying attention to the road. Most people must have done the breakfast in bed thing and have stayed off the road. The traffic wasn't bad considering the good weather.Cheers,Alex

[Jim Young]

#7733

Yes she is obviously very happy with your riding Des.Dave, Tony and myself basically retraced our route from the morning but added in Findlay road which we missed out on in the morning.Stopped for the obligatory icecream at Kawakawa Bay and chatted to a few bikers.All in all a great days riding.

[Anonymous]

#7734

I'll add to the “Well Done!” votes Alex.  Very much enjoyed the ride, and meeting some new people.  Had a blast playing catch-up with Richard up the gorge after finding ourselves well back in the group at Kopu.  And Jim, you never fail to show me great new roads!A fantastic Day!

[Anonymous]

#7735

Dave I know what you mean about Kopu, I decided to pass a couple of riders going in to the gorge to get us behind some of the quicker bikes. We stayed with them for a while but then they left us till the end of the gorge. I also had a couple catch up to us for a patch before cars meant we got a little jump again. I was considering letting them pass till the cars.I think the sign for the bump in the corner was a bit of an understatement. It seemed like a four inch lift in the tarseal.Amy is great on the back and enjoys the corners. We even had a 4wd suddenly pull in front of us on the harbour bridge a couple of weeks back at night. The guy made the change without indicating and to get in our lane before the median strips. We were just on his shoulder near his rear wheel and moving slightly quicker. I had to lay the bike over to avoid being knocked off and got a real good look at his front wheel. It seemed like my front wheel was under the body of his car for a short time and Amy was looking straight at the rear seat passenger who was startled.We ended up riding close to the guy all the way to Manly. He was wandering all over the lane, constantly on the phone and at times even turned his interior light on to look at things. There was no front seat passenger just kids in the back. We ended up next to him at a set of lights and he just turned his head and looked out the side window away from us, oddly enough while still watching the lights. Strange and dangerous guy. Even worse it was the second run in with this guy he'd tried to block the lane a few weeks earlier when I was lane splitting and then raced to keep up with me. I don't think he knows it was the same bike. Maybe he didn't try to block the lane but was just moving around the lane as he does and then motoring through the traffic as he does. Seeing as we're from the same or neighbouring suburbs up the peninsula I'm bound to bump into him again. At least I know the vehicle now.His drivin was the same on the bridge. I decided to pull away from him and did 110kmph through the 80k zone and he was the only car going with me so I eased off and pulled to the left to let him pass and he passed then slowed to just over a 100 k's in the 100 k zone. So I just kept my distance.I asked Amy afterwards if she was okay and she said she was never worried or scared through the whole event. That was good to hear.So pillions fall to sleep but never fall off. Thanks for that. She siad there was a break in the rain on the Southern and a bit of sun broke through so she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm glow until she was woken. If anyone knows of pillions falling off let me know. Otherwise I'll relax about it.

[Dave Morris]

#7736

The weather report for my first official ride as Area Rep. had been favourable. However, I was still surprised when we had 18 bikes turn up incl. two with a pillion.After the usual briefing we were soon under way. Jim  had supplied me with a Tiki tour route through the Hunuas and I managed to follow it without getting lost. Of course it helped that we were in radio contact for most of the trip. Oh, where were we going you wonder? The final destination was Pauanui. We were a long queue of bikes but managed to reach the destination without too much trouble, thanks to the pointing system. The feedback was that people liked it and they also enjoyed the back roads, thanks again Jim.We reached Pauanui on time and got ample parking just outside the American Café. The food was good and the company even better. Most people headed home the way we had arrived, apart from a small group of determined riders who pressed on around the top half of the peninsula. We had a great ride and the weather was fantastic. Peter and Christoph took the Miranda Road back to Auckland, while Gerda and I stayed on the main road. 300 metres from home we got hit by a short shower, but by then it didn’t matter. We pushed the bikes into the garage just as the last bit of daylight disappeared. On Mother’s day it certainly helps if your own mother lives 20000km away and your wife enjoys riding as much as you do.Picture to follow, if you have one, please add it.Cheers,Alex[img][/img]

any one got a magnifying glass for sale. i need it to view this picture. blow it up man.

[Dave Ross]

#7737

any one got a magnifying glass for sale. i need it to view this picture. blow it up man. Have you tried clicking on it? Anyway, it's only a bunch of bikes.

[honeybear.2399]

#7738

Does anyone have a suggestion for sleeping pillion passengers. Coming up the Southern Motorway I felt this body slump against me and the two helmets hit before my pillion was jolted awake. I'm a little concerned about this and pleased she fell forward instead of to the side. I think I really want to avoid this situation in future.

Don't worry I have never had anyone fall off the back yet.  There has been times when I wish they would 👿  But the thing is would you be charged with having an insecure load 😕  Phil

[Anonymous]

#7739

In my case, looking at the replies it seems more a case of “insecure rider”.Clearly I don't need to worry about it at all.I've never had that "wished they would fall off the back" thing.I would have liked to have seen more photos though. Must remember to take a camera next time.

[Anonymous]

#7740

Yo, Phil, TOP AVATAR!Every now and again I have a blond moment and forget how hard mine can scamper - I know the feeling.

[Author]

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