The 1970s heralded a boom in trail bike riding in NZ. The new decade was to be an exciting time for young people with with the growth of the new youth culture, a big rise in youth wages and a partial relaxation of import controls of luxury goods and hire purchase. Couple that with the development of practical Japanese trail bikes and all red-blooded males capable of drawing breath were lusting after a trail bike.
We wore no special gear, jeans and work boots from the waist down, footy shirt and a jacket on top. Eye protection amounted to sunnies, or grinding glasses, welding gloves were popular in winter. Helmets were optional, even on the road, japara parkas were the most popular rain wear, though strangely in the rose-tinted 70s, it seldom rained....
And trail ride we did, all day, and often well into the night. My own Waitemata MCC organised many Wednesday night trials around the district. In the early 70s most forests were not gated and access was, as it turned out in the long run, too open. Other favourite riding areas were beaches and subdivisions. As soon as work started on the next nappie valley hordes of trail riders would take over from Saturday morning to Sunday night.
Hell, they were good times! Click through the slide show below to get a taste of the decade.
I welcome any half good classic trail riding pics that you can contribute to the Your Classic Photos page in this section. E mail scanned images with a brief description to me at jnick@nztrailrider.co.nz
We wore no special gear, jeans and work boots from the waist down, footy shirt and a jacket on top. Eye protection amounted to sunnies, or grinding glasses, welding gloves were popular in winter. Helmets were optional, even on the road, japara parkas were the most popular rain wear, though strangely in the rose-tinted 70s, it seldom rained....
And trail ride we did, all day, and often well into the night. My own Waitemata MCC organised many Wednesday night trials around the district. In the early 70s most forests were not gated and access was, as it turned out in the long run, too open. Other favourite riding areas were beaches and subdivisions. As soon as work started on the next nappie valley hordes of trail riders would take over from Saturday morning to Sunday night.
Hell, they were good times! Click through the slide show below to get a taste of the decade.
I welcome any half good classic trail riding pics that you can contribute to the Your Classic Photos page in this section. E mail scanned images with a brief description to me at jnick@nztrailrider.co.nz
Some of the video and images published on this site were not taken by myself; Natalie Kirton, Chris Stephens, Dave Britten, Geoff Osbourne, Greg Wylie and Sonja Piontek have contributed. Thanks folks for helping document so many good times. From time to time uncredited photos may slip into the system. If they have please let me know and I will correct the credit, or remove them as you wish.