Lake Mountain Sunday 4^th January, 2009

Matthew Egan (1^st ride)	Ducati Monster	Peter Feistl	Honda Blackbird
Peter Jones (leader)	Yamaha R1	Dean Fox (1^st ride)	Hyosung 650
Ken Goederee	Honda CBR1000	Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600
Tony Stegmar	Suzuki Hyabusa	Steve Cowburn	Honda CBR 954
Geoff Jones (rear rider)	Yamaha R1	Chris Davis (1^st ride)	Honda Transalp
Robert Martin (2^nd ride)	Triumph RS	Rick Whitehead	Suzuki Hyabusa
Greg Trainor	Triumph 955	Ben Warden	Honda CBR954
Jimmy Zournadzis (1^st ride)	Kawasaki ZX14	Pina Garasi	Yamaha R6
Toby Quin (1^st ride)	Triumph 675	Craig Walker (1^st ride)	Ducati 1098
John Rousseaux/Kate Stewart (1^st)	Honda CBR1000	Neville Dibbs (1^st ride)	Hyosung 650

It was the first ride for the 2009 calendar and it was my second time leading since my ill-fated attempt in April 2008 when I suffered a humiliating crash on the Eildon-Jamieson road. Admittedly, my confidence has improved since the fall but not to the same level as before the off.

I was expecting a small turn out for the ride as many of the regular members were still up at Porepunkah at the Christmas Camp. I left home early taking the R1 via the Christmas Hill route from Warrandyte; it’s a good run and helps get your eye in and be prepared for the main event.

I was first to arrive at about 9.30 am. Then a first time rider Dean turned up on his Ducati Monster. We had a chat and I explained it would be a quiet ride with not too many people. It got to 9.45am when more riders started to show and by 10 am we had nineteen bikes. All these bikes were making me very nervous as I wasn’t quite sure if I could control this big a group. I felt better when some familiar faces showed up like Ken on his new CBR1000, then Geoff and finally Ben. Having some experienced people around makes you feel far more confident and with Geoff as rear rider, I thought we could have a successful and enjoyable ride.

I started with the usual blurb including explaining the Corner Marking system, who was the rear rider and the intended route, noted Black Spur with police in the bushes, the Reefton Spur with the amphometer and Lake Mountain where I’ve never been.

So, off I lead along Old Healesville Road, then up Chum Creek and back down Myers Creek roads and in to Healesville. We picked up new rider Neville in Healesville. He was standing alone in a service station like a stray dog looking for a pack to join and, of course, we picked him up. We’ll take anyone; the more idiosyncratic, the better.

The road through the Black Spur was glorious: not too many cars and I got to follow Ben some of the way which helped my corner speed significantly. It’s 80 km/h all the way now so self control on the straights is essential. We arrived in Marysville around 11.30 am, stopped and had a break, a chat and some food. I asked Ken how he liked his new CBR1000 to which he replied, “Do you want to take it for a ride?” An offer I couldn’t refuse. In an attempt to avoid confusion, Ken led off on my bike and I ended up corner marking at the first corner which put me at the back of the pack on the CBR. But I was third to the top of the mountain. This says more about the bike than it does about me.

First impression: this is a great bike. I felt fast and confident as soon as I got on it. It’s a very neutral bike, unlike the R1 which has a front end bias. The CBR is very easy to flick around, pass people under brakes and has plenty of torque; my mother in-law could kick arse on this bike! At the top I handed it back to Ken, said thanks, and told him it’s a great bike but it’s still very much a Honda - “no je ne se qua”. As good as it is, I don’t know if I could have one. Which says more about me than the bike!

Back to the ride. I was leader again and back down the mountain I went and then headed for the Reefton. Near Cambarville we came across some traffic and lots of bikes. There was a group of bikes and riders on the side of the road who I thought were having a break, but I later learnt that a gixer had gone over the edge. Ben was there helping drag the bike back up the steep slope. When we got to Cumberland Junction there were bikes everywhere, the warm weather bringing them all out.

I made the right turn at the top of the Reefton and headed for Warburton. About 5 km down the road was carnage. A Suzuki SV1000 was smashed to bits, lying in the middle of the road; there was an overturned trailer behind a four wheel drive and most distressing, a rider lying on the side of the road being attended to by one of the female car occupants. We stopped to give aid but things looked under control, so we moved the bike off the road and took off again.

The road down to Warburton was great and I was really enjoying my ride. I was trying to get the Honda out of my head and how well it handled. I was telling myself the R1 is a great bike, you just need to improve your skills. (I think I’ll take it to Krooze Tune for a set up).

We arrived in Warburton for late lunch, talked about the ride, the bikes and accidents on the road. I thought we had had enough action for the day and most wanted to call it a day, so we headed to Healesville to break up.

It was great to lead a ride and finish it in one piece; no accidents and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, so I’m calling it a success. A short ride, but successful none-the-less.

Thanks to Geoff for rear rider duties, Ken for the ride on the CBR which has resulted in some internal conflict (how can Honda be so good?) and Ben for helping me with the ride.

Peter Jones

Lake Mountain MK II

On a typical day’s ride we have the usual core group of MSR riders with the occasional first time riders, great roads – usually not too impeded by many cars, motorbikes or police. Well, today’s ride had the great roads, but all the rest was completely the opposite of what we normally expect. I think the wonderful sunny day brought a lot of people out. A large group of first-time riders turned up with a smaller than usual number of MSR committee members attending; many cars, motorbikes and police (marked and unmarked), as well as speed-detection cameras on the road. Consequently, all this changed the usual speedy flow of the ride. The fun-factor was a little reduced too, as caution was required almost constantly, given the presence of so many unexpected ‘variables’ on the road as well as having to ensure a cohesively safe ride for all the first and second-time club riders.

Despite all this, all those riding with the MSR club finished the ride safely with no incident, which was a great relief. Alas, along the way we did witness the aftermath of two motorbike accidents on the Reefton Spur which caused some mellowing of the spirits. One rider had gone over the cliff but was okay and his bike was retrieved with the help of the mighty ‘push-up’ Ken and Ben (well done!).

Further along the Reefton, a not so fortunate rider had collided with a ute and trailer and was lying injured on the side of the road in-wait of an ambulance. Ride-leader, Peter Jones, was the first MSR rider to arrive on the scene of the accident and found the damaged bike lying in the middle of the road; he stopped to stand it up respectfully and place it by the side of the road, away from oncoming traffic - a very thoughtful and considerate gesture.

Ben, in the meantime was being mother-hen (with a touch of mother-superior as well) making sure we all quickly move off the scene of the accidents so that we don’t add to the confusion and continue safely on the ride with a minimum of fuss and delay.

The ever-patient and good natured Geoff Jones was the perfect choice as rear-rider… you couldn’t be in safer hands. I’ve already placed an order with the gods of karma for Geoff Jones to be my ‘carer’ in my next life, if I ever require one.

And so it was a strange mixture of a day, but nevertheless still enjoyable because of the subtle way the MSR members contribute to the day in a positive way – Peter Jones your gentle and caring nature is much appreciated; Geoff Jones, your benevolent and patient disposition imbues one with a sense of calm and security; Ken… your crazy stories are brilliant and always have us in hysterical laughter... bring it on; Peter Feistl – your wit is razor sharp… you must come more often; Ben, your ability to maintain a sense of order and direction given the diversity of riders and the random events which may present themselves on a ride, is highly commendable; you’re truly indispensable… please don’t ever leave! And to all my fellow-riders, your presence adds to making the day’s ride such an enjoyable one… thank you.

Pina Garasi