If ever you have never had the chance to get away on one of the Clubs weekend rides, then let me be the bringer of bad news…..they're grouse. Each event that I've been fortunate enough to attend has unfailingly left me with great memories (well one wasn't so great), and some good stories.

Because of my vast experience of these trips, I was cunning enough to know that my 207GP rear had no hope of doing the full distance, yet was still too good to change before I left. The solution….buy a new tyre in Wodonga on the Monday….problem solved. Not wanting to get myself stuck with no tyre, I fired up the computer and hit on the Yellow Pages on the net. Lo and behold a Honda dealer in Wodonga advertising bikes, accessories, tyres etc. I phone the dealer (Bob Crosby Honda) two weeks before the event, and explain that I need a new 190/50 rear tyre, and that I'll need it fitted on the Monday morning. "Gee, that's a big tyre" he tells me "but I'll order one, no problem".

Saturday and Sunday pass and due to the fun factor my rear tyre is about shot, of course this poses no problem.

6:45am Monday I crawl into my gear, quietly as possible grab my bike and head off to Wodonga for my new rubber. I can't resist a pretty serious blast through the Granya Gap where the road is in pristine condition. (What about the Tallangatta Cop chewing on his badge when you came up behind him, recognizing you from the day before? ….Ed.)

8:30 I pull into Crosby Honda, eager to get my tyre so that I can catch up with the rest of the Club at around Cabramurra. When I pull in all I can see is pumps and ag. Fittings. Still, I introduce myself to the spare parts guy and he grabs my new tyre. "Just head round to the workshop and the guys will fit it" he says. I head round to the workshop and as far as the eye can see: ……Ride-on mowers, quads and a couple of old XR's…..It gets worse; they don't even have a bike stand to lift my bike. One mechanic reckons he could take off the fairings and jack it up, another couldn't work out why there was no centre stand.

Time's rolling by as they try to borrow a paddock stand and finally decide it's just to hard. Eventually the manager comes out and informs me that he's organised Online Motorcycles in Albury to fit my tyre. He draws me a map and expects me to somehow carry my new tyre around me to Albury. "Not on" I tell him, so he sends it over in a Ute.

Online fitted my tyre up…a real pro job… gave me a cup of coffee and I was eventually back on the road…thank you Online Motorcycles.

I guess it just show that you shouldn't believe all that you read on a computer……

Thanks Ben. A great five days!