Economy Ride, Castlemaine                 20th July, 2003

 

It seems to me that an Economy ride, as part of the MSTCV itinerary, is a very different way of spending a Sunday. On other rides, fuel use, like tyre wear, is just one of those wallet drains that are part of the buzz of a high energy day with the Club. Sod the expense; let’s burn rubber, as we blast around the bike friendly roads that abound in Victoria.

 

Ten-fifteen at Whittlesea and most of the gathered group fill to the absolute top of the fuel tank, every last millilitre may mean the difference between winner or no-where. Mr Morley, however, must have had his thoughts elsewhere, as he later ran out of fuel on a lonely stretch of road near Sidonia, on the way to Mia Mia. Filler deep in the tank, fill till it clicks, return nozzle to bowser and assume the tanks full. Then spend the day pulling wheelies, hooning through all the serious economy minded riders till that cough and

splutter stop that has Ray borrowing a farmers ride-on mower fuel to get to Kyneton to fill up. Meanwhile we droned on, hunkered down to beat the wind, using a high a gear as possible, fighting the urge to "open it up".

 

Instructions and the ways of the MSTCV are passed on after Greg is asked to drop the volume. Rather animated about a mint CBR929 that he had picked up the Friday before. One way of fixing a rather sad looking TL1000S, last seen in close contact with the armco on the Eden Park twisties en route to the Les BBQ. Greg was in lust all day, it seems.

 

Off we go on the first leg, Pyalong the first stop, via Kinglake West, Flowerdale, Strath Creek and Trawool before taking the Upper Goulburn Road to Tallarook and then picking up the Pyalong Tallarook road after passing under the Hume Freeway. The ride settled in to economy mode as we kept close to the open road limit as Martin, the rear rider, had received instructions to report any slow tactics that would mean "you’re out". The prize for winning: $40 or yearly Club subs.  I picked 4500-5000 rpm on the R1 as "economy revs" and held onto top gear as much as possible. Agony as Craig and Ray blasted past having much too much fun.

 

Weather at Pyalong clear but cold. Some wet patches through the Kinglake Lake National Park. Into the warm shop or up to the loo depending on the most pressing need, talk the talk for a while, then south along the Pyalong Lancefield road through Goldie North. Pick up the Burke and Wills Track and swing around and head north to Mia Mia, past the now stopped pair (Ray and Craig), then Redesdale and Sutton Grange to Faraday. Corner marking delays felt here as Martin waited while Craig and Ray sorted out their petrol problems. Then across the Calder Highway and onto the tighter road through Golden Point to Chewton, which is really a suburb of Castlemaine. End of the economy part. All into the Ampol and watch the pump man's eyes light up as we fill the tanks to the brim while Ben records the amounts,

 

Bike                            Rider                           Litres              Odometer       Comment

 

Suzuki GSXR1000       Daniel Kosinski            10.46               208.1               Winner

Honda CBR 929          Ian Payne                     11.01               211                  190 standard rear tyre

Aprilia RSV1000          Ken Wright                  11.50                                       Louise  pillion        

Yamaha R1                  Geoff Jones                  12.10               219                  scribe

Honda CBR1100         Martin Hastie                12.74                                       Carmen Debono pillion

Kawasaki ZX9             Allan Zimmer                12.80               212                  3rd  ride, signed up

Honda CBR600           Craig Kleiman              12.88              219                  1st  ride

Honda CBR929           Ben     Warden             13.10               207.4 km         180 high profile rear tyre

Yamaha R6                  Tamzin Knight              13.20                                       1st  ride                        

Honda CBR 929          Greg Hales                   14.79               211.7               190 standard rear tyre

Honda CBR 954          Paul Southwell              15.48                                       worst economy!

Honda CBR 929          Craig   Morley                                                  didn't fill up properly

Suzuki GSXR               Ray Walker                                                                  got petrol with Craig

 

Lunch taken, then on the gas and into it. Back to Chewton, turn south through Fryerstown to Vaughan, twists and blind crests to get the heart rate up. Guildford, Strangeways down to Franklinford and Shepherds Flat, into the back of Hepburn Springs, through touristy Daylesford then into the Wombat State Forest after passing the local member manning a booze bus. Hook into it down to Blackwood for the afternoon break. The R1 tacho showing EXUP problems which I later found to be the valve cover jamming the valve as things got hot in the exhaust area. I will leave the cover off and see what happens on the next ride.

 

From Blackwood through Greendale to pick up the old Pentland Hills section of the Western Highway, (now rarely used but still in good condition), presenting some sweepers and views to the City CBD.  Taken at speed, as you do. Pop onto the Freeway, then off after Anthony’s Cutting onto Long Forrest Road and the Coimadai Road to Diggers Rest and ride finish.

 

I left at Coburns Road, just before Toolern Vale; trust all got home OK. I bet the fuel use was nothing like that achieved in the morning. Grin factor up a few notches I believe.

 

Thanks Ben for the lead effort after a rather sad week on the home front. Good job Martin and Carmen.  Morley is high maintenance isn't he. I had fun, hope you all did.

 

Geoff Jones  (Yamaha R1)