Heathcote Sunday 24th April, 2005
Buell Nigel Hellyer Honda
CBR600 Jason Miller
Honda CBR929 Ben Warden Yamaha R6 Joel Haley
Suzuki GSXR1000 Lyn
Duncan Honda CBR1000 Paul
Punicki
Suzuki GSXR1000 Brad
Daniels (1st ride) Suzuki GSXR1000 Ron Solomon
Yamaha R1 James Giordmaina Suzuki
GSXR1000 Chris Cox - (1st
ride)
Suzuki DR600 Les Leahy
(rear rider from Whittlesea to Heathcote)
Yamaha R1 Mick Hanlon (rear rider from
Heathcote to Whittlesea)
I’d been given a day pass to freedom by the director of social events
and family gatherings (my wife). Every
once in a while when the weather is good and if I’m not pre-booked to attend
another 1st birthday party of one of the rellies or a barbeque for
whatever reason, I get to go for a blast on the twisty back roads between one
of the usual Club meeting places and back again. This week it was from Whittlesea, which in fact is the fourth
time out of the five rides I’ve done with the MSTCV.
The day started with applying some chain lube and a quick tweak to the
rear pre-load on my bike suspension.
I’d just had a new set of Michelin Pilots fitted and the helpful chap
Clyde, at C & C Motorcycle Engineering, suggested I up the pre-load a notch
or two since I’m carrying a little more weight than the average rider. (Mmph, forgot to hold in the gut
again). A 30 minute ride to Whittlesea;
I had little time to waste. I got there
just in time to top up with fuel and partake in a couple of minutes of blokey
small talk.
There were four GSXR’s on the ride, three of them with “Balls” stickers
proudly placed in view from all angles, including Ron’s machine just five day’s
out of it’s crate. The focus of
attention then shifted to Ben as he explained (exclaimed?!) Paul Southwell, our
lead rider, had not shown up yet and must be stuck on Gabo Island or something.
With a shrug of the shoulders Ben commenced to explain the route for the day,
mentioned the corner marking system to the newbies and led us off towards
Flowerdale.
The pace was modest heading up to Kinglake West. At least my pace was, until I was passed by
the pack. I got into my usual chase
mode as the pack caught up with a bit of traffic. Most of the riders made their way safely past the cars with one
brave (!?) soul in front of me deciding to overtake just before the turn-off to
Kinglake.
The road to Flowerdale has to be one of my favourites simply because it
is where I have so often began to feel ‘at one with the bike’, comfortable and
confident with some fear (as opposed to no fear). I don’t consider myself a fast rider so I was not surprised to be
left behind by those that live closer to the ragged edge.
The first corner markers indicated the way at the turn-off to Strath
Creek. I noticed the pack of riders
disappear over the next hill and was surprised that they weren’t that far ahead
after all. The chase continued as the
pack gave locals whiplash when they watched bikes blast past with me in
pursuit. The road opened up to a clear
view across the rolling hills with the pack disappearing over the next rise or
round the next corner ahead. Another
pair of corner markers directed us north onto the Kerrisdale Road, then left
towards Tallarook via Trawool. More
windy roads to enjoy. My sense of self preservation continues to remind me to
go slow into the blind corners and over the crests.
Another turn at Trawool. Oops, I passed the leader. Ben cruises by arms
spread wide indicating to stay behind.
I did not realise I’d made it to the front of the group so soon. Ben points out that there has been about
half a dozen corners by now and then asks what I thought about the reducing
radius corner back there near Trawool. I mention that I’m not really a fast
rider – slow in fast out of the unfamiliar corners. “Well you’re here at the front of the pack aren’t you”, he
replies and it dawns on me that the usual parade of riders past me has not been
happening in the last stretch. My first corner duty for the day and a 10+
minute wait as Les catches up doing little more than 100 km/h on the chook
chaser.
A series of corners has me back at the lead and on corner duty with
James at the turn-off to Glenaroua. At the sweeping turn into Pyalong, Ron and
Lyn are chatting as I cruise by with James just ahead of me. At the next corner I find I’ve caught up to
Ben and Joel already, thinking ‘what happened to the rest of the guys?’ It seems suddenly the group has shrunk. I asked Ben “Is that Les the rear rider
coming?” He says “No way, there’s the
rest of the group yet to catch up.” It
seems Ron and a few followers – the Balls Gang, took a 30 km round detour
towards Broadford and back.
The next destination: Lancefield, the first stop for fuel, food and wipe
the bug guts off the visor. Then it was
straight up to Mia Mia on mostly class 3 narrow roads winding up down up down
over small crests and along bumpy flat sections. Watch out for the gravel in
the corners. Left turn towards
Redesdale where we encounter more traffic.
Curious passenger and drivers, families on a Sunday drive watch us as we
pass by, turning towards Eppalock.
I park for corner duty with Joel at the roundabout just out of
Redesdale. Then it’s a blast along a
familiar road full of undulating hills and broad sweepers heading towards
Eppalock, playing chasey with Joel along the way to cross the Spillway. On the way to back to Mia Mia via Knowsley I
continue playing chasey with Joel and pick up corner duty with Joel twice more.
Along the way I notice the sandy dust come off the rear wheel of the riders
ahead of me. It almost looks like a
water spray wake coming off the surface of the road but its bone dry.
From Mia Mia we head back to Heathcote for the second stop; fuel, fluids
and wipe the bug guts off the visor.
Chris and Len depart the ride at this point and Mick takes on the rear
rider responsibility. We ride a short
section of highway to Tooborac and I resume the ‘catch me if you can’ chasey
with Joel in front at warp 7.95.
Luckily no constabulary joined the game. Towards Emu Flat and Joel backs
off to cruising pace (later tells me he was wiping bug guts off the visor). I
blast past at warp 5 along the straight sections.
By the time we get to Pyalong I’m starting to feel the tightening in the
arms and return to a more conservative pace heading towards Seymour and the
turn-off to Broadford. The usual blast down straights, slow in to the corners
and fast out applies until I reach the front of the pack again to take corner
marking duty once again, this time with Nigel.
We then head towards Wandong running parallel to the Hume Highway until
reaching Wallan East where I get corner duty again, this time with Lyn. The new tyres and the tweak to the
suspension have made a big difference to the handling of the bike.
Heading off towards Whittlesea along another familiar road (my usual
route home when returning from a visit with the parents near Echuca), I
cautiously make my way through the traffic as the rest of the pack disappear
ahead dancing around cars as if they’re standing still. The rural supplies store opposite the United
service station our final stop before splitting up for home.
It was a very enjoyable ride. I
look forward to the next opportunity, hopefully before the sunny Sundays become
rarer than a day pass from the director of social events and family gatherings.
Jason Miller (Honda CBR600)