This ride goes by many names Waiotauru Forks, Otaki Forks, but I always refer to it as the Reikorangi Church to Church because it is a pilgrimage. It is not till after you have done this ride, or should I say walk, that you remember why you only do it every couple of years or so.
This time 9 intrepid riders set off early one Sunday morning for the loop. This time ride turned into a 9:30 epic adventure, but you can guarantee it will never be short of 8 hours, and there is no turning back

By the way, if you do this with the Vorb Mob 05 then make sure that you take plenty of food. You will need at least 4 lots of sandwiches, and snacks for in between. Anyone who took less was hungry and exhausted at the end.

Our stops were

08:30 Reikorangi Church
09:20 Akatarawa saddle ( snack )
11:00 Renata Saddle ( sandwich )
11:45 Waiotauru Hut ( snack )
13:00 Clearing turnoff ( sandwich )
15:30 Old machinery at Otaki forks ( sandwich )
16:45 Mangaone walkway ( sandwich )
18:00 Reikorangi Church

I used 3 litres of water and one water bottle that was filled from the river with more Jungle Juice. If it is a warm day you will need more.

That looks like the hell mission - good work

Heh - we do like seeing XC vids (well, I do. It gives me a perverse sense of happiness). I might have to see if I can pull something similar together for this weekend (assuming I can borrow dads camera before they bugger off for the weekend )

Talking with the kennetts yesterday, they mentioned that it would probably be easier to walk out down the river than follow the trail. I remember doing trackwork up there many years back, and it took us about 30 minutes to walk out down the river...

...mind you, in my rosy glow(tm) memory, I recall the walk section being about an hour, interspersed with small rideable bits anyway...

I'd do it again this weekend but I think I'm washing my hair ;-)

Nice vid

That pushing / walking section looks '100% ridable'

Your opportunity to test that theory will be on Sunday with Jono and the Vorb Mob 05 crew.
After 2 ½ hours of walking, carrying and pushing the bike, getting back on you bike for anything less than 20 metres of riding is not worth the effort.
What you can’t see ( in the amazing quality of the clip ) is the slippery, slimy green rocks that cover the ground and feel the damage it does to those sensitive regions of your anatomy .

sbetts wrote:Your opportunity to test that theory will be on Sunday with Jono and the Vorb Mob 05 crew.

Unfortunatly prior commitments meant I had to turn down the opportunity as to appear guest rider on this one

sbetts wrote:What you can’t see is the slippery, slimy green rocks that cover the ground

They are rocks I the most They allow you to attempt to achive the ultimate in 'zen' riding technique before crashing at low speed into a nice hard wood specimen tree.

Jono wrote "Talking with the kennetts yesterday, they mentioned that it would probably be easier to walk out down the river than follow the trail. I remember doing trackwork up there many years back, and it took us about 30 minutes to walk out down the river...

Jono - ask Liam about this. His team took this option at night on the recent Arrow 24 hour. He reckons the river was easy travel. I've always stuck to the track todate, but I'd be keen to try the river with the right companions.

Enjoy the ride!