Switzerland Ranges 1^st May, 2005

Suzuki GSXR1000 Lyn Duncan Honda CBR954 Paul Southwell

Yamaha R6 Joel Haley Honda CBR929 Ben Warden

Yamaha YZF1000 Trevor Harris (leader) Honda CBR1000F1 Paul Punicki

Triumph ST Ern Reeders Honda VFR800 Anders Plenge

BMW1150GS Rob Langer (rear) Yamaha R1 Geoff Jones

The forecast was a bit dodgy, “clearing showers, 22 deg.” knocking the number of participants down a bit, I suspect. Nevertheless, nine bikes and riders assembled to hear the day’s activities from Trevor. Rob rolled in at the deathnell, then headed off to find suitable fuel. Someone said his clock on the bike is 10 minutes slow.

With a window of opportunity, I set about collecting membership fees and filling out forms with Paul Punicki and Anders Plenge. Paul discovered us on the net and Anders (pronounced “Arnus” as in harness) was a Tasmanian Trip chance meeting.

Paul Southwell was back for a ride, after mysteriously disappearing the week before, his Gabo Island annual sojourn taking precedence over his MSTCV Heathcote leading duties, except he forgot to tell anyone! In the lull, Paul attacked his suspension, softening off the front rebound damping – it was still set at the last rideday settings. Geoff Jones also graced us with his monthly presence, family commitments and work pressures taking their toll.

A speed camera vehicle was set up across the road, a portent of things to come.

Eventually we were on the road around 10.15 am, heading for Kinglake West and Flowerdale. The roads were partially wet, the temperature a cold 6 degrees minimum but slowly warming. I was surprised at just how grippy the Pilot Power on the front was, pushing a bit down the 60 and 70 km/h twisty section until catching Trev, who was riding very carefully.

At Flowerdale, Lyn and I corner marked, barely having time to wipe off the accumulated bugs before Rob showed up and was gone. As usual, it was warmer over the ranges and the roads now completely dry. Lyn might stop shivering. At Strath Creek we swung north heading for Kerrisdale and the turnoff to Seymour. I rolled on the throttle around that huge, off camber left hand sweeper, before catching up to a couple of bikes and Trevor. Next thing, oncoming strobing blue lights on a police motorcycle, ride leader obviously in trouble. The K1200 waited to do a U turn as we all remained in formation. Trevor dawdled along, the lights appeared, Trev pulled over, and we regrouped at Tallarook turnoff, waiting for Trev to catch up, which he duly did 15 minutes later, walking ticket in hand. He figured it was a double whammy – whatever he pays in speeding fines his wife Anne also gets to spend on herself. That’s fair.

On to Tallarook and the Pyalong Road, taking the first left to Broadford, arriving somewhat later than expected. Broadford has everything – toilets, food, petrol – but geographically dispersed. If you park at one, you have to ride to the other two. Throw in a slow serving bakery and Trev was itching to get going by the time Rob and I appeared with our salad sandwiches, which we quickly scoffed.

Just out of Broadford we turned left and headed for High Camp, picking up the Pyalong Road, following it all the way back to Seymour. The country looks brown, and threadbare, clearly in a state of drought. The sheep are eating dirt. Rob got the jump on me again and set a cracking pace, taking a fair while to overhaul. We picked up the Highlands road where Trev maintained a law abiding 80 km/h along the very boring straight section. I thought his brain had gone to mush, but all was revealed when he found a tree. Lyn enquired where the ladies were. Trev suggested that if he had followed is natural urges earlier in the ride, he wouldn’t have a lot of explaining to do. He seemed quite convinced of this.

After leading last week, I was getting lazy following Trevor through the twisties, eyes dropping down from the horizon. A bad move and I quickly admonished myself for sloppy riding. At the end of the gravel-over bitumen-section, Highlands, we turned right and headed down to Ghin Ghin and the dreaded Highway. Trev had pre-ridden the ride the day before and noted he saw a koala, I presume along this section. Into Yea for lunch.

Mr Plod, riding an un-marked K1200, was doing circuits. Gun at hip, white helmet with blue and white band were tell tale signs. There were lots of motorcyclists including Ern having lunch at a table outside a café. We gathered around his new silver Triumph ST for the obligatory photos, which, incidentally didn’t work due to a flat battery. Ern declared the front suspension a disaster and that he had made an appointment to see John (?) at ProMecha who guaranteed to dramatically improve the front end suspension by fitting new (stiffer) springs and revalving the shim stack to change the damping characteristics. The bike has standard forks with only preload adjustment.

Anders left us after lunch, other commitments pressing. Ern joined us, so our numbers remained static, that is, until Joel pulled over new member Paul on the CBR1000 just before Yarck who had a foot of canvas showing on his rear tyre. So he departed too.

Left turn at Yarck and up to Gobur. The road feels completely different heading in this direction. We got stuck behind a fast local in the tight twisties, driving an old Datsun within an inch of its life.

Heading for Caveat the road is still not quite made, awaiting the final coat of bitumen. It was smooth, but dusty, chains and air filters working hard. I passed Ern, travelling slowly, new bike caution gripping hard, catching up with Lyn. Fine stones were scattering from her rear tyre along with lots of twigs and leaf material. It is a pretty technical road with no room for error and I was content for Lyn to lead, though the fairing was taking a beating. Back to Highlands and onto the same road to Ghin Ghin travelled earlier in the day. The surface was now good, though Lyn hadn’t picked it, so I passed with Paul Southwell tacking on for a sweet trip back down to the Highway and back to Yea where we corner marked.

Heading for Junction Hill, Paul’s favourite hilly bit, he was off like a cut cat, slowing on the far side, waiting for the leader to resume station. Nearing Kinglake West uphill twisties, the ride nearly complete, my bike just took off, officer. Sensational. Regrouped outside the general store as per normal after 340 km of good roads, and it was only 3.30 pm.

A few of us set off for Whittlesea only to be confronted by a mass of flashing lights almost immediately. So we dawdled all the way to the flat section where the same camera car was now located at the foot of the hills. Lyn said we “wasted” the whole road. More flashing, and sure enough a blue and orange TOG car was hiding in Whittlesea, under the trees, before the bridge, opposite the show grounds.

Home around 4.15 pm after refuelling at the 280 km mark. Home to home 445 km. Thanks Trev and Rob for good work.

Ben Warden (Honda CBR929)

Victorian Demerit System reminder:

Speed Fine Demerit Points Suspension

less than 10 km/h                               $125.00 1 -
10 or more but less than 25 km/h  $200.00 3 -
25 or more but less than 35 km/h $265.00  4 1 month
35 or more but less than 45 km/h $360.00  6 6 months
45 km/h or more                                 $430.00  8 12 months

Disobey red traffic control light        $200.00 3 -