|
Craig
Morley |
Honda
CBR929 |
Geoff
Jones (leader) |
Yamaha
R1 |
|
Ben
Warden (rear rider) |
Honda
CBR954 |
Tony
Raditsis |
Yamaha
TRX850 |
|
Martin
Hastie |
Honda
VTR1000 |
Harry
& Anna Vlahakas |
Yamaha
XJR1300 |
|
Dave
Twentyman |
Suzuki
Hayabusa 1300 |
Matt
Brice |
Suzuki
GSXR1000 |
|
Misho Zrakic |
Suzuki
GSXR750 |
|
9 bikes, 10 people |
Summary of GPS derived statistics for the
first part of the ride: leaving the servo we climbed 324 metres to the highest point of the
ride at the Kinglake West junction, then down 300 metres to the mid-point of the Bradford-Flowerdale
road, then back up 290 metres in altitude to Lancefield. Now for the write-up proper.
The weather man promised a nice weekend
so I had to ride on my new VTR. Due to a coccyx problem, I have been only able
to sit for a very short time. So this is only the second time the bike has seen
the light of day since I traded in the Blackbird before Xmas.
I did my Mothers’ Day visit and a short
ride on Saturday and was looking forward to Sunday’s ride.
When I arrived at Whittlesea I thought I
might have been early but no, Geoff was already there with new riders, Harry
and Anna, who saw the Club ride info on the web that morning.
Around the departure time a few more
riders arrived. I volunteered for rear rider duties for some of the ride. Geoff
got the "ICE" numbers and gave me a copy, then explained the planned
route to the others. We left the servo at 10.09 am. After only 2000 metres and 3 minutes we had increased our altitude by 20 metres. At the intersection of Wildwood and Kinglake Roads I saw our group stopped by the side of the
road and a white ute in the
middle of the group.
I was 300 metres
from the group when I noticed debris on the road. At first it was small pieces
of plastic but after another 20 metres there was a
mirror and another 20 metres a headlight in the
middle of the road. (South 37, East 145) I was almost at the group and noticed
a large section of grass and dirt torn up on my right. Looking further I saw
Matt throwing his gloves and helmet down on the road in a pissed off fashion.
It was then I noticed his bike backwards into the farmer’s fence. Mind you, the
two metre high wooden rail fence had about 10 metres of rails completely smashed.
A group of us picked up the bike and moved
it down the farmer’s driveway, out of harms way, making it easier for a trailer
to pick up. The bike’s damage was extensive. Witnesses saw it doing nose to
tail flips down the road.
We regrouped and started off again at 10.20am.
It wasn't until I got going that I realised I hadn't done up my helmet strap so, after stopping to redo
it, I played catch up to the group, remembering the bike is still running in with
only 600 kms on the clock.
I caught up to Harry and Anna after 4 kms,
then dropped back to a slower speed.
There was a little road kill around. One
animal looked all skin and bones, possibly because of the drought. A suicidal
bird decided to fly in front of Harry and Anna. Harry tried braking but the
bird was hit and exploded.
We need to explain to new riders and
members that it is best if the rear rider does not have to stop at corners, so
as to keep the ride moving smoothly. Someone was stopping at every corner to wait
for the corner markers to re-mount their bikes and get on their way.
We got to Lancefield
at 11.40 am, put some fuel in the bikes, and food in our bodies from the local
shop. We had traveled 121,134 metres.
My coccyx wouldn't let me do any further riding on
bumpy back roads so I left the group to find the most direct, smoothest way
home.
After all the scans and visits to numerous
specialists, the medication hasn't helped. The last resort the spinal surgeon
suggested is if I continue in pain for a couple more years, he will cut it off.
Thanks to Geoff for leading.
Martin Hastie
