Barry and his bike go the distance

22nd April 2010

STRATFORD District Council’s roading asset manager Barry Jagersma really, really enjoys riding his motorbike.
He enjoys it to the extent that last month he rode a gruelling10,000 kilometres in 10 days around New Zealand – for fun.
Barry took part in a marathon rally, a one-off supertour that weaved around the entire country, riding up to 12 hours a day.
The 18 bikes entered started the journey on March 17, and apart from one rider who fell off his bike and damaged it, they all completed the long distance run.
Barry rides a 2010 Kawasaki Concours 1400, which is a modern touring bike with all the bells and whistles – ABS link brakes, traction control, adjustable windscreen, GPS and even heated handgrips, which were very handy in the minus five degrees around Lake Taupo.
“It wasn’t too gruelling, mainly because I’d travelled 17,000km getting fit for the event and getting myself ready for such a long ride.
“It wasn’t a speed event either, more of an endurance thing. Sometimes I’d stop on the side of the road and have a nap on the grass to re-charge.”
The event was organised by the Rusty Nuts Motorcycle Club, which also runs a Grand Challenge long distance event each year, in which riders cover 1600km in 24 hours.
They also run a 6500km Southern Cross run, which involves visiting lighthouses at extreme points of the country.
Barry loves these runs.