Mirboo North -
Sunday 20th April 2003
Ian Payne - CBR929 (Leader) Dave
Skitt - TL1000S
Dave Deas – R1 Rob Langer - R1150GS (1st rear)
Mark Newson - R1 Ken Wright - Aprilia RSV1000 (2nd rear)
Mario Ibeas - R1 (3rd rear) Will Surtida - GSXR750
Damien Tsang - CBR600 Trevor Harris - YZF1000
Jack Ning - CBR250 Kate Stewart - CBR600F1
Will Tran - GSXR600 Paul Southwell - CBR954.
14 Bikes, 14 People, Weather …Fantastic
I knew the day was going to be great, a quick check of the weather map on the
internet showed the biggest high pressure system over the Australian continent
I have ever seen. It was a pleasant
change to have a ride start from Hallam as it normally takes me about an hour
to get from Bentleigh to Yarra Glen. So
I set off from home too early only to find there was some confusion over the
start time with 09:30 printed in the newsletter and 10.15am on the ride
schedule card. Rob had arrived already.
Just as most riders had assembled, Kate arrived on her brand new CBR600 F1 which looked very sharp indeed. Soon we were off after lots of discussion and offers for rear rider. Thanks Rob for being rear rider number one
Hallam to Drouin.
Out on to the Princes Highway. It’s always tricky riding in a big group of bikes with far too many “tin tops” on the road. At the second set of lights we were turned left and headed for some quieter windy roads. Ian led us through Narre Warren North and Harkaway to Cockatoo before arriving at Pakenham on some excellent roads you wouldn’t expect so close to Melbourne. Next time I complain about having to ride an hour in any direction from Bentleigh to find good biking roads, remind me to go to this area.
From Pakenham we headed the usual route to Drouin via Nar Nar Goon and Longwarry. Over a lengthy morning tea we marvelled at the on-board computer systems of Kate’s new CBR and Ken’s Aprilia RSV1000 which gives all the trip details you need like top speed, lowest speed, average speed, fuel consumption etc. Trevor showed us his accessory system normally used on a push bike which gives all trip detail including accuracy up to 273 km/hr. It would be a keen cyclist that would attempt this speed on his/her mountain bike…but hey anything is possible.
With Ken as second rear rider, we were soon on our way again to Mirboo North via Poowong, Arawata and over the infamous gravel section to Fairbank that catches everyone out with that short bit of sealed road before another gravel section. The TL goes quite well on gravel with its deceleration capability.
It was here that Rob left us for home. Somewhere in the middle, Jack, on his CBR250, had to head for Leongatha to find fuel. Jack was to meet us later at Mirboo North but didn’t show up. I hope he made it home safely.
From Fairbank we headed for the “real” Gippsland roads…smooth, wide, sweeping corners in open country without the constant line of gum trees along the roadside. It was starting to feel like New Zealand roads again. The last section through Mardan is just the best. Won’t mention the speeds I was going and still got passed by another R1.
A lunch stop in Mirboo North was welcome. Good to see quite a few other bikes out for the day.
This was a long section of the ride which took us through Thorpdale and out to the Princes Freeway via Trafalgar. A short ride on the freeway and then to Drouin via Ellinbank and Lardner. This road is a welcome relief from what could be a long slow ride to Melbourne on the freeway. Everyone settled into a steady pace through Modella and Bayles. Then we hit the dead straight and flat but very bumpy section of road close to Cranbourne and finally through to Berwick where the ride ended. Mario volunteered for rear rider over this section.
All in all it, was an uneventful but very enjoyable ride on some great roads with perfect weather. Not too hot and not too cold and sunny all day. Thanks to Ian for leading us through the maze of roads that is Gippsland. And thanks to the three rear riders who shared the duty throughout the day.
Dave Skitt (One of the TL’s)