Rusty Nuts – Grand Challenge

[Anonymous]

#2780

Ride 1600kms within 24 hours, on a set course without getting lost (it's a much greater distance when you get lost – http://www.rustynuts.org.nz – and my first timeWhat a stunner of an event. Thanks to Art, Tony and Steven for their advice, humour and misguidance that got me to the start line as best prepared as possible for what I thought would was both exciting and one of the stupider things I've done.80 bikes started and when I got back 29 were out. 1 did not start, 3 crashed (one broken collar bone but otherwise they were all okay), 25 retired. I got back to Turangi at 11.15am Sunday after departing at 3.09pm Saturday or a total of 18hrs6mins riding and just stopping for gas, muesli bars, drink and toilet and then off again.During one part of the ride we did 196km's in the dark and mostly on tight winding roads that got down to a single lane. That took close to 3 1/2 hours. It felt like it would never end.The Surprise - I thought that I would struggle to stay awake all night and that endurance on the bike would be a problem. This never happened (to my complete surprise). I looked at the clock at 5am and I thought it seemed like I'd gone for a ride and it had turned to night and it felt like it was only 10pm. The start time of 3pm is brilliant. (I'd questioned this before). Because you're riding, you're focused and busy and time just flies. That tiredness or urge to sleep never came. At night the lights basically light up the road and nothing else so you're not distracted by the scenery. There is also very little traffic. If you've ever thought about this event and thought it would be too hard to stay up all night.... it's just not like that. The EventTurangi - Start 3.09pmStage 1South (S) to National Park, North (N) to Taumarunui and Mapiu, West  (W) to Aria, (N) to Piopio (gas stop) and Waitomo, (W) to Te Kawa - Time Check, 209km's, (5.15pm all times are approximate guesses based on time we'd planned and my recollection of progress)(N) to Taharoa and SH31 near Kawhia, (E) Te Kawa. Rain patches started before Te Kawa CHECKPOINT 1 (300km's for stage) 6.20pm.Stage 2(SE) to Mangakino and Taupo (almost ran out of gas 9km's to go), (SE) to just outside Napier, (S) Tikokino, (SE) Waipukurau. (Gas stop) CHECKPOINT 2 (346km's for stage / 646km's total) 11.15pmRain started at the Napier Taupo highway and continued pretty much to Turangi below making the next stage tricky. It also had a lot of branches on the road from the high winds the night before.Stage 3 (The stage from hell)It rained the whole way, (SW) Route 52 through Porangahau, Weber, Pongaroa, Alfredton, to Masterton. (Gas stop) CHECKPOINT 3 (196km/842km) 2.45am. Animals on the road, 5 hedgehogs, one rabbit and one all black cow. Black as the night it was.Stage 4(N) Pahiatua, (W) Pahiatua track to Palmerston North, (N)Fielding, Taihape (Gas stop), Waiouru, The Desert Road (1 degree, cold and no rain it was sleeting. I could have made me a little snow cone. Luckily it was light sleet.), (N)Turangi (and some people ducked in for a hot shower - smart move and one I missed due to inexperience), (N) Taupo, Rotorua, Te Ngae (East side of the lake), Gas stop. CHECKPOINT 4 (431km/1273km) 7.45am.Stage 5(S) Rotorua, (SW) Atiamuri, Whakamaru, Bennydale, (N) Te Kuiti (Gas stop) CHECKPOINT 5 (154km/1427km) 9.30am  We'd had the odd shower to here and then it cleared to bright day.Stage 6(S) Taumarunui (gas stop - remove rain jacket and rain gloves), (S) National Park. CHECKPOINT 6 (127km/1554km) 10.45 amHome and Finish(N) Rangipo (torrential downpour - stopped on the side of the road to get wets on again and then several km's North it was fine again - arrrgghhh), (N) Turangi. FINISHED (55km(and it felt longer)/1609km) 11.15am.I wandered into base to get my badge, cold beer and a hot meal. In a haze of tiredness I stripped down and put wet gear and boots in the sun, had a shower and at 3pm went to bed surrounded by cabins with the curtains closed. The eager excitement of the day before had been replaced with dulled sensations and a happy calm sleepy atmosphere. I woke at 6pm around the same time as Tony and Steven. I was still hazy making decisions and after an hour Steven and I decided to head for home in Auckland. After packing up we shot North, gas'd up and had Burger King in Taupo. We left around Taupo 9.45pm, unpacking the bike at home at midnight.Thanks again to everyone for their advice on the event. It's an absolute stunner and I'm sure I'll be back. I see why people return. It's a nice feeling to have completed it.I got lost in Palmerston North after 4am, then a friendly local showed me the way and I followed him across town. He hopped out I assume to tell me which road to take and he said "Sorry mate, I just realised I took you to the wrong side of town, follow me back.... sorry", so we headed back to the right point and then in the distance I saw two lights wizz past and I was off.Some funny points for me were bumping into many of the same riders for a few stops and then wondering where womeone went. Or in tricky bits seeing bikes wizzing past in different directions. Being behind a bike in the distance as you find the turn off and you watch them dissappear in the distance knowing they're on the road to being lost. The stories aftwerwards of the wrong turns people took, the time spent or the kilometres clocked up going the wrong way. Or following a bunch of bikes and the lead bike makes a wrong turn and then soon a bunch of bikes are doing a you turn and heading back. Thank goodness it was only about a kilometre for me. Just hilarious.  I was toastie warm thanks to Art. The rain-off gloves from Titirangi are a must have. I need some for my boots. Going through the Desert Road my fingers were warmer than my toes. The plastic rain gear is a must have, not just for rain but it keeps you warm. When I stopped at Waiouru there were many guys in textile saying they were cold and I was warm. The pinlock is another must have. I'm already thinking about what I'll do different next time and hopefully some of you will join us and the huge number of BMW's present at the event.The F800 is a stunner of a bike for this sort of event, comfortable, handles well, comfortable, economical, easy to throw around and just an all round awesome bike. Except for it's few component failures and the dreaded ABS system fault it would be a hard bike to replace. When I make a list now of what I want in a bike the F800 comes up tops. It's a pity BMW can't sort it. But what a bike. And what an event.I also got the flu the day I headed down and didn't sleep much the night before the Grand Challenge, although the fever meant I didn't feel cold. If I didn't feel right by start time I would have stopped then or anywhere I didn't feel good. Codral helped but this type of riding keeps you wide awake. The "wide awake" and "time flying" was an unbelievable thing to experience.I had so much fun doing this event.

[aegis4805]

#11194

hats off to you Des for completing this event – sounds a real challenge – cheers Aslan

[Anonymous]

#11195

Yeah it is a bit of a challenge and their are a fair few BMW riders that have been doing it for many years. This was the 22nd Rusty. They guys I went down with had done 4 and 5 years from memory.I'm going to return. I also realised I rode for 20 hrs 6 mins. I was too tired to add yesterday.Cheers.

[Dave Ross]

#11196

I am glad you've enjoyed it, Des. They'd have to pay me to do anything like that.

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