Frequently asked Questions
from the Visitors Page
http://www.mstcv.net.au/visitors.html
This information is cut and paste from the Club web site. It is intended
to give visitors a better idea of who we are, what we do, what our expectations
are of them and conversely, what they can expect from us. Not all members have
access to the web site – or visit regularly. Here is your chance to read it.
Club rides are recognised as being very well organised with leaders, rear riders, and a corner marking system. The members are very experienced. We do not ride in formation. The emphasis is on fun. We avoid highways as we consider them boring and risky; we look for interesting roads and destinations. We are not about food or drinking; we don't ride pub to pub. That is not to say we are not social - we have monthly social sips, a club magazine, weekends away - it is just that riding is our priority.
Most of us are professionals riding big bore Japanese or other exotica who can afford the habit, and the majority are "older" more experienced riders. There is a hard core of regulars who ride most Sundays - notably the Committee - and the members get out as often as their other commitments allow.
Some frequently asked questions are:
How far do you ride? We
ride between 300 and 500 km every Sunday, typically at the higher end of the
scale. We also have the occasional short ride.
What do I need to bring? To participate in a ride just turn up at the designated start point with a full tank of fuel, appropriate protective clothing, a licence and a roadworthy and reliable bike. Normally we start at a service station, so the fuel side of things is looked after.
Experienced riders find themselves carrying articles to improve the quality of their ride. Such items as ear plugs, sun glasses, waterproof clothing, sun screen and a water bottle help look after the body.
From a bike maintenance perspective, a can of chain lube and the standard toolkit may prove useful. A can of Mr Sheen and a couple of rags facilitate bug removal from your visor.
The more
community minded individuals carry odd things like cable ties and duct tape
which may assist at an incident. In the same vein, a
Throw in your wallet,
mobile phone, digital camera and pen and paper and it becomes useful to fit a
10 litre
Are my tyres good enough? Good tyres are critical to safety and reliability. Hence we request that all riders have good rubber fitted front and rear when participating in Club rides. Slick shod bikes will be turned away due to the unwanted attention they attract, even if the dubious argument can be made that they are safer than regular tyres.
The concept of "just one more ride" out of a tyre, though understandable from an economic point of view, fails dismally from a reliability and safety perspective. Chances are you will get a puncture, or suffer a worse fate. Grip is directly proportional to tread depth. No tread depth, no grip. It is as simple as that.
Safety is an important feature of our rides. Given the distances we travel and the time of year you should be appropriately dressed - helmet, jacket, boots, gloves. (Gloves, even on hot days. No gloves, no ride.) Our preference is for full leathers or the equivalent synthetic protective clothing.
Do I need to pay anything on the ride? There
are no charges associated with the rides.
Do I need to call the leader to let them know
I am attending? No, just turn up at the designated start
point. Please make yourself known to the other riders,
especially the leader.
How fast do you ride? Riders
can travel at their own pace; if they wish to travel
faster, they will end up corner marking more often. If they ride at a leisurely
rate then only occasionally will they be required to corner-mark. Effectively,
riders can travel at any speed they wish.
Do I need to know where I am going? No,
the advantage of the corner marking system is that riders very rarely get lost.
There is no need to be constantly looking at a map - in fact you don't even
have to know where you are going! Using a corner marking system makes for a
smooth, flowing ride.
Have I got the right sort of bike? The
size of the bike is not normally an issue. The bike should have sufficient
power to maintain the legal limit in all conditions. Most bikes above 250cc are
adequate. The bike must be registered and roadworthy.
Will I hold up the rear rider? Will I be able to keep up? The rear rider will not pass anyone. But, we ask that riders have the technical ability to be able to maintain the legal limit everywhere - including uphill, into a head wind, and on twisty roads. Otherwise it is impossible to plan rides with any degree of certainty with respect to distances and times. Inability to maintain the legal speed limit is more to do with skill, experience and rider attitude than limitations of the bike.
Less experienced riders may feel pressured to ride faster, and hence we recommend that learners not ride with us, particularly due to the distances we ride.
Rider safety is of paramount importance to the Club. Riders should not feel pressured to ride above their skill level. So, at any time, a rider can leave the ride, letting the rear rider know first. Fatigue can be an issue for less experienced riders.
How do I join? Prospective
members must attend at least three rides before applying for membership. Full
membership costs $40, Associate membership $20. Associate membership applies to
non-riders such as pillions or partners who can enjoy Social Sips, BBQs and
weekends away.
Where do you go? We
have rides in all directions from
What is special about the MSTCV? A
thorough read of the web site will give you an indication of where we sit in
the market. In a nut shell we are very organised, very
professional and have very experienced riders riding well maintained machines.
More importantly, our riders are true enthusiasts who love nothing better than
to go for a Sunday ride in the company of other enthusiasts and share a safe
and fun riding experience. Again and again.
What are the intangible benefits of joining the
MSTCV? The Club provides a wealth of experience in
most (road oriented) facets of motorcycling. Some people just live and breathe
tyres and suspension. One of the benefits of riding with our Club is that you
will be able to tap into this valuable resource.
How will I know if I will like riding with you guys? The only way to work out if we are right for you is to come for a ride. There is no obligation, just arrive with a full tank of petrol. At any time you are free to return home.
Ben Warden, Secretary