Daylesford Sunday 24^th June, 2007

Yamaha YZF1000	Trevor Harris (leader)	Suzuki GSXR750	Misho Zrakic
Yamaha R1	Peter Jones (2^nd ride)	Suzuki GSXR1000	Cameron Stevens
Honda CBR954	Ben Warden (rear rider)	Suzuki GSXR1000	Chris Pointon
Kawasaki GPx250	Les Leahy	Suzuki GSF1200	Ron Johnston
Suzuki Hayabusa	Corbin Spurr		9 bikes, 9 people

Yep, it’s another View From The Front writeup, so whatever happened back in the group will remain unknown unless I get told about it over lunch. Hmm – this is getting to be a habit…

Full pre-ride carried out on Saturday, so hopefully there will be no u-turns today. And a different route compared to the previous times that I’ve led this ride.

Whittlesea on a Sunday Morning. I’m away from home nice and early and get there at 09:45 and find there is already someone waiting – that is enthusiasm! The forecast of a cold day doesn’t seem to keep the crew away. I’ve got on my wet weather suit from the start of the day and am ready for anything, which as it turned out…

Eight bikes and riders, including a few new faces to me. Everyone has been on a club ride before so I give a rundown on where we are going. My estimated distance for the day is 390km. We don’t need to cover corner-marking, a rear rider is appointed (Ben) and a scribe (Cameron). Chat done and it’s time to go at 10:09. Ears plugged, helmets and gloves on, bike running, and it’s onto the bike at 10:10. Ron arrives and fills up. Ben let’s me know he will wait and so at 10:11 and we are off.

I start the first leg on some of the regular roads which have damp patches. Having told the group that “If it looks damp then it IS damp” I’m paying attention to what I’m riding over. We get spread out on the stretch to Flowerdale, where I get to see headlights in my mirrors not too far from the end of the tighter corners – they were paying attention! Left to Strath Creek on a mostly dry road, getting along at a good pace. Left again to Broadford and into Thick Fog as we head up the hill into the tight 30-k corners. Not what I had expected on what is normally the clearer side of the hills! This didn’t last too long and after 65km it was time for the first official comfort stop. I mentioned this at the riders briefing and it was a welcome relief – cold weather and bumpy roads kind of have an effect on you. Waiting for us on the Melbourne side of the rail bridge was Les Leahy, who I didn’t recognise until this ‘old guy’ joined in corner marking and raised the visor on his open face helmet. He had been waiting about 10-15 minutes and was feeling a little chilly.

Comforted, it was on to Wallan via Wandong and Heathcote Junction. Bakery for all, fuel for some. After around twenty minutes it was back onto the road and to Woodend, basically following the same route that Ben had led me on back on Queens Birthday weekend on the Monday ride. Up Straws Lane and find that there is loose gravel in the middle of the road that is a little hard to see – noticed when I lock up the rear heading into a right-hander. Right at the top, through a few 30k and 40k corners and it opens up again. And the headlights behind me disappear. Hmmm…

I pull over and see two bikes have stopped further back. No one is in any hurry to do anything so it can’t be someone has come off. A u-turn and I learn that Cameron has holed his radiator. And last week he got a puncture. This is NOT his month. (Check out the writeup for Sunday July first for the next exciting instalment of The Misadventures of Cameron.) Ben arrives, takes it in and sends us on our way, intending to catch up in Daylesford. Corbin stays to assist. And so we carry on.

Tylden and Spring Hill come and go. Left onto the main road to Glen Lyon, and cruise into Daylesford. Parking is always at a premium, and so we park at the first available spot: right by the first roundabout. I give the group an hour for food, rest and recreation (meet back at 12:40) and promptly head for a bakery. And another one. I meet up with Les and Ron, and eat, chat, etc.

Back to the bikes at the appointed time to find Ben and Corbin eating just over the road. Seems that Ben headed into Woodend, purchased some radiator goop and got Cameron mobile. Cameron decided to take the easy way home at this point. And that is how he got out of doing the write-up…

On we go again – to the petrol station. Surprising how long it can take a small number of bikes to fill up! We retrace our earlier route back to Spring Hill, where we turn left towards the reservoirs. They are starting to get some water in them after the recent rains. Through Kyneton, up and over and down into Lancefield. I fill the YZF – the benefits of having what is now a large tank (20 litres).

Final leg of the day is up and over to Pyalong, Tallarook, Trawool and then the main road to Kerrisdale. This is where I met a bike-mounted radar a couple of years back and so the pace is sensible rather than spirited along this stretch. Me? Paranoid? King Parrot Creek road takes us to Strath Creek at a spirited pace, and the next leg to Flowerdale is even more spirited – this is a great road.

Break-up today is at Kinglake West and my bicycle computer tells me that I have covered 390.04km for today’s ride. That educated guess of 390km at the start was pretty good! And no unplanned u-turns! Thanks to all for attending, participating and helping where required. Anything I’ve missed out can be raised at the next social sip.

Trevor Harris