Loch Sunday 10^th January, 2010

Dave Ward	Honda CBR1000	Tony Stegmar	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ian Payne	Honda CBR1000	Barry Dorrity (1^st ride)	Suzuki GSXR1000
Tim Emons (leader)	Honda CBR1000	Peter Feistl	Suzuki GSXR750
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF1000	Sherief Wissa (1^st ride)	Suzuki GSXR600
Mark Copeland	Honda VTR1000	Geoff Shugg (rear)	Suzuki DL650
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Adam Wright	Triumph 675
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Stuart Forster	Triumph 675
Cindy Lee (1^st ride)	Honda VTR250	Dave Chisma	BMW F800ST
Peter Jones	Yamaha R1	George Grivanis (1^st ride)	Kawasaki ZRX1200
Pina Garasi	Yamaha R6	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10

The night before the ride I received an email from Dave asking me if I was doing the Loch ride, and if so, to bring my Blade BMC filter. I replied, “No, it’s going to be too hot!” I then went out to the shed to see Lucy and after much discussion I agreed to take her for a ride. Tim “lamb chops” Emons was leading the ride and I thought it shouldn’t be too taxing as Gippsland rides aren’t usually big ones. I thought this would be a nice easy ride through the rolling hills of South Gippsland; it turned out to be an epic 554 km door to door run with some familiar roads and some very technical, never-seen-before roads.

I rolled up first, as usual. After filling up, I deciding to park in the shade of the tyre shop as the sun had some early bite to it. This caused confusion for some riders arriving later. Eventually everyone rolled up making a total attendance of 20 bikes, a good turn out considering the impending heat of the day. I had a chat with first time rider Barry who was riding a GSXR1000 who advised me he was a member of the Black Spur Motorcycle Club and Phillip Island Motorcycle Club. A quick look at the tyres confirmed he was a track day junkie with no apparent chicken strips.

We had four new riders for the day: Sherief Wissa GSXR600, James Grivanis ZRX1200, Cindy Lee VTR250 and Barry on his GSXR1000.

When Dave turned up I gave him the air filter and then coerced him over to the R1 to see the new Brembo RCS19 brake master cylinder I fitted to Lucy. Dave turned green with envy, immediately saying, “I want one!” A few pumps on the lever sent his eyes rolling back in his head; this is bling of the highest order.

After phone numbers and names were taken, (not a good experience for first time riders, “Who do we contact if you need to be scraped of the road?”) Tim gave his spiel telling everyone where we’re headed. Geoff Shugg volunteered to perform rear rider duties and I was nominated for First Aid.

First leg was Berwick to Loch, starting with a quick run down the highway, turning right at Tynong, on to Drouin and then heading into the Strzelecki Ranges. All was well with the faster riders heading to the front, the main protagonist being Stuart (two speeds) on his 675. Stuart seemed to corner mark at every intersection. How he maintains his pace I don’t know but it’s a joy watching him fang around corners keeping that Triumph pinned all the way.

On the way to Loch I decided to follow a couple of the new riders, the first being Sherief on his GSXR600. He looked a little tense on the bike with early hard braking for corners and gassing it down the straights. I think all this tension took its toll as he had a lapse of concentration later in the day, over-shooting a corner and crashing his bike gently in the pig-face, no damage. It was the same corner as Dennis Lindemann awhile back. If you’re tense, you fatigue quicker, making it harder to concentrate. This is why it’s so important to be relaxed and smooth. Ben is the perfect example of this and that’s why he can ride fast for hours without tiring!

I then followed Cindy on her VT250, surprised by her pace. She was relaxed and smooth and didn’t seem to slow down for corners. On a lot of the tight sweepers she would go in at what I thought was too hot and just stick to the same line all the way round, no cutting through the apex. It was like following a car. It took me a while to get into her groove but I got it eventually and enjoyed it. Very similar to following Pina, though she is much faster and cuts the apex; a pleasure to follow as she is so smooth and consistent.

(If we want these inexperienced riders on powerful bikes to stay with the Club, we might need to do some work.)

We eventually arrived in Loch for morning tea. After refilling and heading for the cafe for breakfast, Ron comes over to tell me about my near-death experience. Apparently, I pulled out in front of a truck which needed to lock up all its brakes, smoke pouring of its tyres, only just missing me. Luckily I was oblivious and gassed the R1 when leaving the corner. I guess the best near-death experience is the one you don’t know you’ve had.

Morning tea was lots of talking and catching up after the Christmas break; who’s crashed and how, and the Porepunkah trip. It was good talking with everyone after the long break.

As we were about to head off for the second leg of the ride (Loch to Kongwak to Mirboo North), about thirty Harley Davidsons headed in our direction. It turned out to be pretty easy getting past these two wheeled tractors with only a couple of bad boys trying to match the pace of our rice burners. All their noise and wrist twisting came to nothing at the first corner.

The second leg took in the usual loop down to Archies Creek, then back up to Glen Alvie and on to Kongwak. This run has magnificent scenery looking over the Gippsland coast which was made more pleasurable by good, clean roads. Eventually we get to Korumburra where the familiarity ends. All new roads from here on. This part of the ride became taxing with tight technical roads, dirt and heat. This is where we have our first off for the day. We nearly all arrive in Mirboo North losing one rider to corner marking. George, on the ZRX, rode past Tim not stopping to corner mark.

Lunch provides a much needed rest with everyone looking pretty tired. We grab a bite to eat and sit down taking in the Mirboo North atmosphere, talking bikes and the upcoming Jindabyne ride.

Next leg was Mirboo North to Endeavour Hills. This felt like the longest stint as fatigue was setting in which wasn’t helped by technical and unfamiliar roads. I eventually got in the groove and especially enjoyed the downhill run coming into Trafalgar. We came across another Harley, this one more persistent than the others. As I came up on the Harley, Stuart passed me, then took the Harley around the outside on a blind left hander. I can only imagine what the Harley rider was thinking as he pushed Stuart far out into the right lane. It was obvious he didn’t want to be passed so I stuck my front wheel on his arse which seemed to make him push harder. He had a few moments then let me pass without fuss.

We crossed over the Princes Highway at Trafalgar to what I thought would be more familiar roads. I was a third the way down Hill End Road before I knew where I was! Then familiarity stepped in. I relaxed and enjoyed the ride home. As I am taking the twisties at what I thought was a good smooth pace, Ben flies past me. It was like he was being sucked down the road. “Amazing”. He is Zen master Yoda and his Blade is a light sabre. (I’ll give you the $10 later, Pete… Ed.)

We eventually got to Icy Creek and on to Noojee for an icy pole. As we came out of Noojee I was following Tim and anticipated a right turn to go down the Powelltown Road, but no, he went straight ahead. I’m thinking, “Where the hell is he taking us now?” I can’t take any more! True to the form of the day, a new set of uphill sweepers to Neerim Junction - just enough to get the blood running again - before ducking down through Nayook and on to Powelltown and the last run home. I broke from the group at Yarra Junction.

It was a great ride and a great day. Tim did a fantastic job leading and took us on some great roads. Thanks to Geoff for rear riding.

Peter Jones