“The Cross”, Mt Macedon           Sunday 6th February, 2011

                                                                           

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000RR

Cliff Peters

Kawasaki ZX10

Misho Zrakic

Honda CBR1000RR

Jason Wilson

Kawasaki ZX9

Norm Robinson (1st ride)

Honda CBR1000RR

Peter Ng (2nd ride)

KTM 950 SM 

Ben Warden

Honda CBR954

Geoff Jones (leader)

Yamaha R1 

Pina Garasi  (½ rear)

Honda CBR600RR

Marc Marais

Triumph 675 R

Ron Johnston (½ rear)

Honda CB400/4

Rick Van

Yamaha YZF600

 

 

 

12 bikes, 12 people

 

With all this crazy wet weather we have been having, it’s a challenge working out what to wear. Decisions, decisions.  I decided to wear my Dri Rider gear and hope that I didn’t cook if it got too hot. Shorts and tee shirt underneath is a good combo; not too hot, not too cold.

 

I decided to take the 400/4 for a run, instead of the 1000. A big ask for a little bike, especially with Geoff leading.

 

The rack on the 400 won’t take a Ventura bag so I was wondering what to do. I didn’t want to tie it on with an ocky strap. I have actually bought some steel tube to make a new rack, but I have to find someone with a pipe bender to fit 20 mm tube. Then I had a brainwave!  I got an old pack rack off my 1200 Bandit and cable-tied it to the existing rack. Hey Presto… I can now carry the bag…Wooppee!

 

Time is 9.15am and Julie asks, “Are you going to be late?” Not quite, if I get going now. Out the door and climb aboard my trusty stead and head off into the sunrise for Whittlesea. I could see where there had been serious amounts of water flowing. It was certainly an eye opener.

 

At Whittlesea there was a reasonable contingent of riders with one new face, Norm Robinson, on another Honda CBR1000. Peter Ng was on his second ride. If I recall correctly, he came on a ride last year, but missed the starting point because of daylight saving. He caught us at Marysville.

 

Mr Jones gave the usual pre-ride route and safety spiel, and we were on our way. Pina was rear rider. Being on the 400, I hoped I wouldn’t hold her up too much. It was wishful thinking.

 

Whittlesea to Flowerdale and turn off to Strath Creek. As we go down the straight there is a house on the left on stumps about a metre off the ground. During the last heavy rains I reckon his house would have been an island. Scary isn’t it. Just a bit further down the road at the Spring Valley Road turn off, there are some large logs wedged against the Armco indicating there must have been a hell of a lot of water flowing across the road at some point making it impassable.

 

Strath Creek to Kerrisdale. We haven’t done this road for a while. On to Tallarook, Glenaroua and Pyalong. After Emu Flat we encountered a short gravel section. Then Baynton and Lancefield for the first stop. Rick Van was waiting for us because he arrived late at Whittlesea and we had already gone.

 

I suggested to Pina that I would go rear rider so I wouldn’t hold her up and then she could get her fix. The need for speed… Done deal.

 

Paul Southwell mentioned that he was leaving the ride somewhere down the road. Fine.

 

Burke and Wills Track here we come. I’m having a bit of trouble using all 32 HP on the 400 to keep up with the ride. My choice. I see Paul stopped and pointing right. I assumed he was pointing to the road on the right, so I’ve slowed down, turned right and kept going, knowing Paul would catch and pass me.

 

About two kilometres down the road he came along side me and indicated for me to stop, which I did. He reminded me that he was leaving the ride and the others had gone straight ahead. So I lost a bit of time and had to back track.

 

Back on the Burke and Wills Track, I see Cliff coming back to look for me. I explained what happened and we were on our way again.

 

The road through Sidonia is one we don’t use very often. On to Kyneton - in one end and out the other. Riding past the Upper Coliban Reservoir was a treat, water flowing over the spillway. It must be the first time in a decade or more.  Jason, Ben and I stopped to take photos.  Cliff made a mad dash up to the dam wall on foot to have a look.

 

At Spring Hill you come screaming along the road, hook into a left hander and there is the intersection. Bloody dangerous. There is no warning sign that the intersection is so close. No margin for error.

 

Misho was corner marking the next corner and was enjoying himself eating the blackberries. I noticed there was quite a lot of fruit on the trees: plums, apples and blackberries. We continued on to Trentham and the back roads through Ashbourne to Woodend for lunch. Some people parked outside the bakery and some across the road at the servo. Pina parked her bike in front of me on the grass outside the bakery, put the side stand down, and walked away, only to have the stand sink in the grass and the bike fall over. No damage, luckily, but mud stuck in everything.

 

Soon it was time to move on. Back along the main street, up Mt Macedon and on to The Cross. We parked at the car park and walked up to The Cross and lookout. There were a lot of people enjoying the views and pleasant weather. Ben got into the photo when a nice Italian lady offered to take the picture. A couple of the riders left the ride from here.

 

On the way out I got caught up behind a couple of cars, and due to the narrowness of the road, I was unable to pass. (That’s my excuse anyway).  Hesket, Kerrie and Bolinda are all good roads through here. We continued down the Highway past Clarkefield and then the back way into Bulla.

 

On the Wildwood Road coming down the hill before you cross the river, I turned the fuel tap on to reserve. Then I heard this grinding noise. On the rear sprocket there is a steel plate covering the chain which had come adrift.

 

I stopped on the flat, put the bike on the centre stand and rang Cliff, and then Ben.  I left a message to say that I would be delayed and that I would see them back at the servo. I pulled the rear axle out, dropped the wheel, took the cover off the sprocket and put it all back together again. In the meantime Jason came back to see what had happened. Meanwhile Ben rang back, asked if I needed help. I told him no. Cliff arrived shortly afterwards, took a few photos and then we all continued on to the servo to finish the ride.

 

A good day was had by all. Nothing exciting happened, apart from Pina’s bike falling over and my rear sprocket issue. Good company. Good roads. Thanks Geoff for leading and Pina and myself for rear riding. The ride was officially 341 kilometres long and I did 463 kilometres door to door.

 

 

Ron Johnston