2025 Mahinapua Moped Melee. 28th Feb- 2nd

[RUNAMUCK]

Enter Here:

https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/8gqO62Ww9BI7

 

Here we go team. Save the date!

Brace yourselves for the 2025 Mahinapua Moped Melee. 

This ride will be commencing on Friday the 28th of February 2025. Departing from @Mof property at Darfield. (Plenty of safe off street parking for vehicles/trailers, and space for camping for those who are travelling from farther afeild) 

Day one will be ending at lake Mahinapua on the west coast. (Ten minutes or so south of Hokitia) 

Day two ends in Nelson creek.

And day three will finish back at Darfield for the prizegiving.

BBQ  lunch and liquid refreshements will be included each day.  

Cost is TBC. 

this post will be updated over the next few days to include maps etc. 

For those who arent familiar with the format, its a ride for small bikes. There will be off road sections. Please dont bring a stock FA50, Nifty50, or even a standard C50. The crew who have generously offered to drive back up will get the screaming shits if theyre stuck behind a rider whos eye wateringly slow on the sealed sections. 

Accomadation will be a sort yourself type deal. There will be very cheap camping options available for the budget conscious. 

Ive probaby forgotton a few things. But this will be updated in due course.

LETS RIDE BIKES!

[Mof]

Fuck yeah Melee goes west!

 

Day 1

253km

We are starting from my place in Darfield, there's plenty of space to park vehicles and trailers if you are transporting your bike to the start/finish point.

Also if you're travelling in the night before/not a morning person I've got plenty of things to crash on in the house.

From Darfield, head to Lake Lyndon via Lake Coleridge,

over Arthurs Pass, turn onto Old Christchurch Road, Loopline Road, thru Goldsborough.

Through to Hokitika for fuel, 

Loop around Lake Mahinapua on Woodstock Rimu Road.

End the day at Lake Mahinapua DOC campground.

It's 230km to the fuel stop, so we'll stop at some stage and top up bikes from the support vehicle fuel cans.

 

I'll be staying at the campground, if you want to stay there I suggest you book online prior, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/mahinapua-scenic-reserve/things-to-do/campsites/lake-mahinapua-campsite/

There is limited cell coverage at the camp so it's a good idea to do it beforehand. There isn't an honesty box there anymore because the locals kept stealing it.

There are showers at the camp.

There is also a hotel directly across the road from the campground, or Hokitika is 10/15 minutes up the road.

 

[Mof]

 

Day 2

200km

From Lake Mahinapua, Loop around the back of Lake Kanerie, 

Head to Old Christchurch Road, Duffers Creek Road, Stafford Loop Road, thru to Kumara for fuel.

Cross the Taramakau River, through some forestry roads to Noname Road,

Head to Woods Creek where there is a short walk in the bush through some old gold workings, caves and tunnels,

Over Maori Gully Road and out to Arnold Valley,

Quick detour to Dobson for fuel, 175km to fuel.

Ride to Nelson Creek and end the day there.

Some of these roads/tracks most ADV bike riders don't know about.

There is some water crossings on a couple of the forestry roads, maybe bring a spare pair of socks and some 'camp' shoes.

I'll be camping at the Nelson Creek Camp, $10 in the honesty box, there's a great swimming hole, and a tunnel to a swingbridge to some gold workings walks.

There's a Hotel across the road. We have given them a heads up that we're coming if we all decide to go for dinner there.

 

The map is in two parts because Google doesn't believe there's a track in the middle.

[Mof]

 

Day 3

224km

From Nelson Creek head south and have a stop at Lake Haupiri. 

Some nice gravel on the way through to Jacksons,

Over Arthurs Pass,

Springfield for fuel, 205km

Turn right between Springfield and Sheffield onto some cool little hilly back roads,

come out at Whitecliffs or Coalgate, 

Some backroads back to the start point at Darfield.

 

[holdenman]

I will decide when it gets closer to date but will do it if I can. Can it be done on a 80cc stepthru?

[RUNAMUCK]

11 hours ago, holdenman said:

I will decide when it gets closer to date but will do it if I can. Can it be done on a 80cc stepthru?

Hows your top speed? 

 

[holdenman]

4 minutes ago, RUNAMUCK said:

Hows your top speed? 

 

85kmh flat but cruise at 80 and up dyers pass rd from columbo at 60 so not too bad on hills

[JustHarry]

That'll probably be ok 

[RUNAMUCK]

Send it!

Its the sub 70kph club that slow things down and drive the back up guys insane on the sealed sections. (That uphill slog up the wairau into a head wind was murder!)

[JustHarry]

@holdenman reputation for full send helps move the pace too lol

[RUNAMUCK]

A fast rider on a slow bike is better than a slow rider on any bike.

There is zero question about your bad self in this regard.....

[GregT]

On 21/06/2024 at 20:26, Mof said:

 

Day 3

 

 

Turn right between Springfield and Sheffield onto some cool little hilly back roads,

come out at Whitecliffs, 

 

 

 

Small correction. If you use Malvern Hills Rd you come out at Coalgate. Lived in the area for 20+ years and when I read the route I thought you'd be going past a mates place. You won't - which is a pity.  Looks like a fun trip.

[Mof]

59 minutes ago, GregT said:

Small correction. If you use Malvern Hills Rd you come out at Coalgate. Lived in the area for 20+ years and when I read the route I thought you'd be going past a mates place. You won't - which is a pity.  Looks like a fun trip.

Yeah map isn't fully accurate, malvern hills is the shorter option if we're low on time/ energy 

[Mof]

On 23/06/2024 at 00:56, holdenman said:

I will decide when it gets closer to date but will do it if I can. Can it be done on a 80cc stepthru?

I'm not as concerned about speed this time, it's not as ambitious as MacKenzie. And west coast tracks are not high speed tracks.

But it's the state highways that are the issue, high speed traffic and slow small bikes don't mix too good. 

[Sungai Sungai]

Im going to try very hard to have a suitable bike by the time this comes around  

That route looks incredible.

[RUNAMUCK]

Bravo sir.

[Sungai Sungai]

My good friend will said woah the route even passes through 'New Zealand'

[alfalfa]

17 hours ago, Sungai Sungai said:

Im going to try very hard to have a suitable bike by the time this comes around  

That route looks incredible.

Come and do the King Country Crusade as a test run in November!

[Truenotch]

2 hours ago, alfalfa said:

Come and do the King Country Crusade as a test run in November!

Glad to hear you're using the Crusade to warm up for the Melee @alfalfa . See you at both. 

[NZChaddy]

Ohhhhhhh shit yeah!! Looks like another awesome adventure.