Castlemaine                                  Sunday 22nd  November, 2009

 

Name

Make & Model

Year

Odom.

Front Tyre

Rear Tyre

Will Vandeveld

Honda ST1300

2007

34,500

Pilot Road2

Pilot Road2

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000

2008

9,841

Pirelli Corsa

Pilot Road 2

Ian Payne

Honda CBR1000

2008

15,341

Pilot Power 2CT

Pilot Road 2

Dave Ward

Honda CBR1000

2008

28,300

Dunlop GP 209

Pilot Power

Misho Zrakic

Honda CBR1000

2008

37,588

Pilot Power

Pilot Power 2CT

Ron Johnston

Honda CBF1000

2008

8,535

Pilot Road2

Pilot Road2

Ben Warden

Honda CBR954

2002

178,100

Pilot Power

Pilot Road2

Ha Du

Honda CBR600

1995

82,228

Pilot Power

Pilot Road2

Den. Lindemann

Honda CBR600

1998

76,350

Pilot Power

Pilot Road2

Rob Langer

KTM 950 SE

2009

7,200

Bridgestone Trail

Pirelli Scorpion

Ray Weston

KTM 990 SD

2005

61,274

Pilot Road 2

Pilot Road 2

Cliff Peters

Kawasaki ZX10

2008

18,164

Pilot Power

Pilot Power 2CT

Mark Copeland

Kawasaki ZX10

2004

25,278

Pilot Power

Pilot Power 2CT

Geoff Jones

Yamaha R1

1998

60,000?

Continental R A

D’lop  Road Smart

Pina Garasi

Yamaha R6

2003

84,500

Pilot Power

Pilot Road2

Duane Rafferty

Suzuki 1000

2009

5,600

B’stone BT016

Pilot Power

 

Only cop the whole day was on Donny Brook Road heading for the start of the ride. Luckily I was heading through town, negotiating the bumpy, raised railway line of Donnybrook Central. Cliff was about to come from my left at the Woodstock roundabout, having turned too early and done a Uey, and the familiar blazing double headlights of Pina’s R6 were fast approaching from the rear, Misho in front.

Fourteen bikes assembled for the leader’s speech. Today Rob would lead us to Castlemaine via Lancefield.  A call for a rear rider produced 4 applicants. A call for a scribe produced averted eyes and shuffling, the fall back position of “first stuff-up does the article” being called in to play once again. The potential rear riders negotiated amongst themselves sharing the load around: Willem the first leg, after which he was heading home to a social event; Ian the second leg after which he was going home to a social event; Geoff the third leg after which we was going home full stop, and Rob the last leg because he wanted me to lead to Bulla. Ronny missed out.

The roads up through Kinglake West were wet and the shiny bits at the top very slippery. Ha had a new one piece rain suit so was dry and snug, unlike the week before down the Great Ocean Road where she was drenched and freezing. The 80 km/h grind through to Flowerdale is boringly slow and at some point I passed Cliff, Dennis coming with me. I won’t die wondering, though the oncoming car flashing its lights put a damper on things soon afterwards. It looks like there was a rally at Silver Creek as many loaded bikes kept coming towards us. It would have been a cold and wet night …

Moods improved as we swung westwards towards Strath Creek, the misty rain now gone and the roads mainly dry. The ladies were pushing along swiftly, Pina’s fuelling now Dyno tuned at C&C Engineering. After the work, when she first rolled the throttle on, the bike fairly leapt forward and the extra power and crisp throttle response took some getting used to. It had been running too rich.

On to Broadford, Glenaroua, Pyalong and Lancefield after 120 km for the first break. Geoff Jones met the ride here are after missing quite a few recent rides, one of which was Val’s 60th birthday. Congratulations Val.  Duane stuffed $40 membership into my hand and we quickly completed the paperwork. The new coffee shop seems to be drawing the bulk of our business but the ladies in the milk bar still make a killer ham and salad roll for a bargain $5, especially if you talk rain, drought or fires.

Rob was leading on his new KTM 950 Super Enduro and Ray was on his KTM 990 Super Duke. Very minimalist and light looking bikes and most appropriate for the bumpy roads we were about to encounter. Rob noted that he was off visiting Tony and Kristen Prictor (former members from 10 years ago) and their mates who have all bought BMW F800GSs. Rob thought the build quality was better on the KTM and the longer suspension travel more suitable to our conditions.

Back on the bikes we headed up the Burke and Wills Track, the overhead canopy protecting us from most of the gentle rain, the road remaining almost dry. Left at Baynton (before the road really straightens out) and serious bumpy road heading for Kyneton running parallel with the freeway before striking north to Metcalfe. On to Elphinstone and Chewton, just 4 km short of Castlemaine and lunch. Rob figured 85 km between stops insufficient so at Chewton we headed across to Faraday (of Faraday School kidnapping fame)  along lovely 45 km/h corners. On to Sutton Grange and back to Elphinstone, Chewton (for Fuel) and Castlemaine for lunch at 1.15 pm after another 120 km. 

It was starting to warm up so off the layers were peeled. Now I was munching home made raisin bread and had plenty of time to consider the article as with this group of skilled riders, it was unlikely anyone would make a mistake worth the punishment of doing an article for the magazine. A survey was in order.  A few calls at the end of the ride completed the missing data.  Analysis shows that Michelin are wining the vast majority of our business, the tyre combination of Pilot Power front and Pilot Road 2 rear being the most popular. I am averaging about 9,000 out of the Road 2 rears with no grip complaints.  Of course, 2008 was a big year for Honda CBR1000s, the other notable statistic.

Ian was in a mission to get home and missed the group photo where my bossy nature come to the fore. I just want perfection! Though Pina’s effort on the front cover is going to take some beating! Can anyone suggest what she might be  saying?

Some conversation at lunch marvelled at the complete about face by Peter Jones, going from a Honda devotee to a one eyed Yamaha supporter in what seems like only weeks. Paul, Dave and Cliff all felt guilty for airing disparaging reasons why Peter and his Honda CBR1000 were not a good fit.

Southward bound via Chewton, Vaughan, Guildford, Yandoit, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford, Trentham, Spring Hill, Tylden, East Trentham (Pig&Whistle Pub) and the Ashbourne Road to Woodend. I must confess to leaving the ride (rear rider notified) at Daylesford, the thought of heavy Sunday afternoon traffic, double white lines, and 80 km/h zone all too much. I ducked off around through Glenlyon and Spring Hill, then the same route, arriving 10 minutes before the group. Only Pina figured something was amiss.

Another leisurely break, then a lead change as time was marching on and Rob felt Bulla was much closer to the city to finish than at Wallan.  It was only 60 km to Bulla with a few interesting twisty roads via Mt Macedon, Straws Lane, Bolinda and Wildwood Road to finish at the servo. Craig Morley driving his Mercedes work van gave me a wave as I passed him at Clarkefield. He tagged along with the group. His Dalmatian cross was very friendly and would howl whenever Craig stepped out of sight.

Cliff grabbed Ha’s Gearsack rack and it wobbled. One of the mounting brackets had broken. A struggle to loosen one of the bolts resulted in a socket breaking, Craig’s favourite 13 mm, much to everyone’s amusement.  Time to get serious and take the side cover off, expose the nut on the end of the bolt and quickly loosened and remove it. Craig was volunteered to weld the fatigued bracket and bring it to the Xmas Party on Saturday.  The CBR’s front pads were also diagnosed as needing replacing soon.

After farewells were bade, a short twenty km and 15 minutes saw me home at 5.50 pm after 475 km. The official ride length was 405 km and the maximum temperature in Melbourne was 19 degrees.  Thanks Rob for a good ride with lots of interesting roads, with no incidents. Thanks to the rear riders who shared the load.

 

Ben Warden