Mt Baw Baw 12th May
2002
Kawasaki ZX7 Tim Walker (leader) Suzuki TL1000S Greg Hales
Honda CBR929RR Ben Warden (1/2 rear) Yamaha R1 Renzo Cunico
Honda CBR1000F Martin Bastock (1/2 rear) GSX1200 Ron Johnston
Honda CBR929RR Pete Weyermayr
Honda CBR919R Liz Oliver Honda CBR250RR Kate Stewart
BMW R1150 GS Rob Langer 11 bikes, 11 people
I passed a purple and white YZF1000 in Diamond Creek heading for Christmas Hills and Yarra Glen but forgot about it until I saw two bikes approaching fast at the bottom of the hill climb. Thinking it was Ray and Craig I upped the pace a smidge and only the red bike kept coming. A couple of cars and I was gone. Entering Yarra Glen Enzo skooted past, heading for fuel at the servo. Enzo had become entangled with the YZF who didn’t like being passed …
Tim and the
group were amassing outside the Original Café. Eventually Rob arrived. Just as
we were about to depart, Rob appeared with a steaming brew of coffee with his
partner in crime, Enzo, similarly equipped. Enzo immediately tried to give away his cup of coffee but
there were no volunteers. Now there was plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine
and talk tyres and catch up with Martin, back in
Twenty five
minutes after the scheduled departure time we headed off across to Healesville
along the
At Narbethong Enzo and I corner marked.
Not far behind, Martin and the tailenders soon appeared and we made quick
time to Marysville and up to Cumberland Junction. It always feels like a new
road heading in this direction. I was still acclimatising to the number of
bumps on Victorian Roads when compared to Tasmanian roads, after just returning
from 6 nights and 4 days riding 2000 km around the Apple Isle. My cousin had
invited me to make up numbers to comply for group discounts on a mini Targa.
There were 16 starters including 11 bikes and 2 cars: one a V8, 8 litre cabriolet Cadillac and the
other an MG-B. Accommodation was pubs at
As usual a bunch of bikes were grouped at the top of the Reefton. Not ours, so I continued on. A quick check of the odometer revealed that I was 50 km past the 50,000 km milestone. It’s a five-year plan the missus tells me. At this rate it will have close to 150,000 km when due for replacement.
The Reefton was fine and dandy, though more difficult heading in this direction with the “walls” obscuring the view through the left-hand corners more so than in the other direction. Eric Makin and John Clowes, the Spur minders, were parked at the bottom. Eric was on his new SP-2 and John on his RGV250, and a friend on a 2001 Blade with a similarly modified rear brake lever – bent in a U-turn. But he had the muffler scratches to go with his bent lever. I turned around and headed back for a chat until Martin came through. We decided bent levers were a special Honda part. The hot-dog man and his information trailer arrived as we enjoyed the very pleasant and warming sunshine.
Arriving in Warburton I headed in to the Shell service station only to see former MTCV member, Vince Melot, in all sorts of bother. His Yamaha R6 wasn’t going anywhere except on a trailer, his electrics completely failed, a black charred connector one obvious sign. Apparently it was the second time in a week. And he had a ride day coming up the next Friday. Good luck Vince.
It was now
A pleasant time was had by all over a leisurely lunch. Tim’s front tyre, a Pilot Sport, was exhibiting unusual tyre wear, which we attributed to the camber of the road wearing out the right hand side of the tyre more than the left, and the staggered grooving producing different wear rates. This was of particular interest to me as my bike is now shod with set of Pilot Sports, front and rear, and what happens to Tim’s tyres is likely to happen to mine.
Martin headed for home and I took up rear rider duties for the rest of the ride. Given the experience level of the group, and Kate’s proclamation that she wasn’t going to corner mark, this was not a particularly onerous task. And so, we headed off for Yarra Junction and the Powelltown Road, wet and dry in places, requiring more concentration and care than usual.
At Noojee most people refuelled, for it is 100 km return to the top of Mt Baw Baw and back, though Icy Creek appears to have a pump, though not necessarily open on a Sunday. Kate’s battery problems seemed to be not getting any worse and she was able to start it without pushers this time. I sent her ahead, knowing it would be a hard ride for her and best if got going. Indeed, it is a hard ride for anyone: 100 km of tight, twisty roads with sand and leaf litter, no centre white line for much of it, and wet/dry conditions with many corners littered with gravel as the logging trucks cut corners, spreading stones everywhere. Everyone made it, probably only a few minutes separating the first and last bike. Everyone had a smile and a tale to tell.
A plan had been forming in my head and when we reached the summit with spectacularly clear views of Gippsland, I removed Kate’s bike battery, the smallest I had ever seen, and proceeded to remove the caps from the cells with assistance from Greg’s trusty all-singing, all-dancing pocket knife. The battery is of the sealed variety and not meant to require water. But, as expected, it was very dry in all but one of the cells. I had some filtered water from home to top the cells up with. Ten minutes later her battery was like new. Tim had put me onto this idea. He had done the same with his ZX7’s battery a while ago and it recovered and is still going strongly.
The return trip was slower and I scooted ahead and waited periodically for Kate. At Neerim the CBR250RR needed fuel, its range limited by a small tank. Tim was leading us on, what Kate referred to as, “the goat track”. We were certainly getting our money’s worth today. Rejoining the highway near Neerim South we didn’t diverge again except to take the back road under the freeway into Drouin, riding nose to tail. Rob offered the final piece of comic drama while waiting to do a right hand turn, parked on a sloping surface. He toppled over, albeit slowly, the bike showing no signs of damage. Only Rob’s pride was injured. As he said, “They crash well”.
It was approaching 4 pm and time for food again. I gambled on a salad sandwich and I reckon the lass gave me every last contents of each tub. It was a beauty.
By the time we refuelled it was well past 4 pm and the rain clouds had started to gather strength. I figured it would be dark around 5.15 pm and wasn’t looking forward to riding in the rain and dark. Kate kitted up in her wet weathers and headed for home, riding the last 70 km in steady rain, whereas, the rest of us rode north and out of the rain!
Tim lead us around to Jindivick and then parallel to the highway through his favourite back roads from Neerim South to Neerim. Then back to Noojee and the Powelltown Road to Yarra Junction for break-up. We rode as a group until separated by cars in the tight twisties. It was now almost dark. We bade our farewells and headed for home. Greg and Enzo and I headed for Healesville and Yarra Glen but became separated by the heavy Mother’s Day traffic and abysmal riding conditions – rain, darkness, cold, poor visibility and overall tiredness.
Home around 6.15 pm, my arms like jelly. Even the next day my legs were stiff. I thought I might be bike fit after over 5,000 km over the past three weeks. But this was a Tim ride: Reefton Spur, Black Spur, Powelltown Road (twice), Mt Baw Baw, Christmas Hills Road (twice) – not a bad day’s riding. I did over 550 km for the day. Kate emailed me the next day to say she was exhausted after the ride and glad she bailed out when she did. And Mick Bosworth rang to say that he sat on the couch for three hours after the ride before he could gather enough strength to move again. Thanks Tim. It was certainly a memorable ride.
Ben Warden (Honda CBR929RR)
I know I made the right decision to leave the ride at Drouin..... I hated doing it but with the rain starting and as I was sick and quite muscle sore after Mt Baw Baw. It was the wisest thing to do. I'm glad I put on my wet weather gear coz it rained the whole 70 kms home. The back roads I took were clear of traffic so I had a fast and easy run home. It wouldn’t have taken me more than 40 mins :D
Then I soaked in a hot bath until I was quite prune like..... Nothing like along hot bath after a ride day.
Thankyou so much for fixing my battery :) I really appreciate the effort you went to. I got home without a hiccup. I'm yet to fire the bike back up, although I'm sure it will be fine. I must wash it this afternoon if I get the chance.
The road up to Mt Baw Baw certainly is a difficult one. I find I prefer the twisties with lines to divide the road...... they seem to be used more and hence have less crap lying on them. My favourite roads so far are Falls Creek, Tawonga Gap, Mt Hotham just out of Harrietville (the long open stretches and altitude don’t agree with my little bike) and the Whitfield road. I haven’t done Mt Buller or Mt Donna Buang yet but I've heard they are both nice. What a pest that winter will prevent me going up that way until the spring. There really is only another month before those mountains will be under snow :( I should try and do one more run up there!
Your Tassie trip would have been fantastic. Maybe you could plan a Club trip down there next summer!
Cya...... Kate.
ps. Thanks again for your help yesterday. And I know that having me on the ride meant you were stuck far behind the others... sorry about that :/