Black leather and Central's soaring temperatures aren't a recipe for staying cool - as hundreds of bikers converging on Galloway for the 29th annual Vincent Country rally at the weekend will attest.
After arriving at the rally site, the bikers quickly shed their leather gear, as the mercury climbed above 30degC.
Temperatures at the site, a farm property by the Manuherikia River, was recorded at a high of 36degC on Friday and topped 30degC again on Saturday, when the majority of the 1400 rally-goers set up camp.
Bikers Rights Organisation of New Zealand (Bronz) Otago runs the rally and president Mary Storey said the weather and venue were among the drawcards. ''It's very, very warm - but that's one of the attractions of this rally.
It always has settled weather,'' she said. Dozens of bikers stocked up on bags of ice in Alexandra and the most popular camping spots at the rally were in the shade provided by willows and poplars.
The rally is the main fundraiser for the Bronz club and pays for the Easter egg and Christmas toy run by members. As well, proceeds from the rally are donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust.
Several Central Otago community groups and service clubs help out at the rally and raise funds for their own organisations at the same time. Ms Storey said the Vincent rally was unusual in that it was ''run in a paddock'' and all the infrastructure had to be brought in.
''It's an empty paddock when we get here and we bring in everything, including a water tanker, and take it all out again at the end.''
The event was popular and most rally-goers were aged between 45 and 60. Central Otago's two biggest motorbike rallies are at opposite ends of the spectrum - the Vincent rally is staged at the height of summer and the Brass Monkey in the chill of winter at Oturehua.
Oamaru bikers Bryers and Jo Hull are regulars at both.
''They are diametrically opposite - this one is the hottest one you'll go to and the Monkey is the coldest. You don't need to carry so much bedding to camp at this one,'' Mr Hull said. The 78-year-old and his 74-year-old wife are among the oldest rally-goers and they enjoy the camaraderie.
Scorching hot days are usual at the Vincent rally, which made going to the Portaloos a ''sauna-like'' experience, they say.
''It's so hot here, you can't keep wearing even a stitch of black leather, or you'd just cook,'' Mrs Hull said.
