Eildon via Torbreck River Road Sunday 11^th July, 2010

Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Ken Goederee	Suzuki B King
Pina Garasi	Honda CBR600RR	Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Geoff Shugg	Suzuki DL 650
Jon Willis (1/2 Rear)	Honda Varadero	Paul Sorenson	Suzuki SV 650
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF 1000	Cliff Peters (Lead)	Kawasaki ZX10R
Mirko Strasser	Honda CBR 929	Jason Wilson (1/2 Rear)	Kawasaki ZX9R
Damian Jones	Yamaha R1	Ivan Radywonik	KTM 990
Pierre Ong	Ducati 1098	Tony Raditsis	Aprilia RSV 1000
		377 kilometres	16 bikes/16 riders

I have not been out riding for a few weeks due to family commitments so I woke on Sunday morning feeling rather excited about today’s ride. It’s the same feeling that I felt some 30 years ago when my dad bought me a DS 80 for my ninth birthday. I’m glad some things don’t change as you become older.

Outside the weather looks good and I kiss the family goodbye. My little boy Jordan gives me a dirty look. He’s not impressed as he feels that I’m spending more time with my bike than with him these days. I know I’ll have to make this one up later this week. I have two passions in life: my family and my motorcycle. It’s sometimes hard to balance these, as most of you would understand. I gave up motorbike racing many years ago (sold everything) to focus on my business and family and was a miserable bastard during that time. Fortunately, my wife understands this and encourages me to get out on my bike.

I press the start button on my Ducati and she refuses to start. Hmm. Flat battery perhaps. A few four letter words and minutes later she starts. Life is not easy living with this Italian beauty. She is complicated, hard on my wrists and posterior and has a tendency to break down at the most inconvenient times. But she rewards me in many different ways compared to my previous Japanese rides. (Misho, I can see you nodding.)

As I head into Yarra Glen, the roads are wet. Quick briefing and Ben introduces a new rider to each member of the group but forgets my name… Might just have to sew my name to my leathers for the next ride, hey Ben… As we take off I sit behind Cliff. He nails it and I try to follow but have a massive rear end slide on a patch of wet road. My rear tyre is not in the best condition and I’ll pay for it later in the day. I decide to back off a little to avoid a crash and possibly one of the shortest articles written in the history of this Club. Cliff disappears into the distance. I thought you slow down as you get older. Not the case in this Club.

The ride from Healesville to Toolangi via Chum Creek Road is one of my favorite roads. Unfortunately, today it’s wet and covered in mud and gravel. Ron comes flying past like I’m standing still. On my first few rides with this Club, I couldn’t believe how anyone could go that fast around corners on a CBF 1000. I’d hate to see him ride a new Fireblade. Very impressive riding skills. Toolangi back to Healesville is a tight section and full of green moss at this time of year. The road is quite pleasant though.

Healesville to Narbethong via the Black Spur is another one of my favorite roads but, unfortunately, it’s become a hot spot on weekends. I sit on the 80 km/h speed limit and avoid overtaking. I copped three points and was fined $250 by Mr Plod in January this year for crossing the white line.

We get to Marysville and it’s great to see that tourism is alive and well. I remember riding up here on my RGV250M in the early nineties and spending the whole day riding up to Lake Mountain and back. Tony (Raditsis) and I went for a ride up this way a few months after the fires and I was devastated at the destruction of this town.

Time for coffee. I strike up a conversation with Ken. He tells me that I’m riding like a pussy. He’s right. My rear tyre is shagged. At least that’s my excuse… Ken’s B King (or as Cliff calls it, “The Transformer”) is a wicked machine. I’m impressed with the home made luggage rack and wind screen. I recently bought a $2 dollar vegetable strainer to get the mesh which I liquid nailed to the vents. So I’m glad I’m not the only one to indulge in homemade bling. Ken decides to call it a day. Home to watch the V8s. Who’s the pussy now!

Back on the road and we head to Torbreck River. A cycling race is in progress and, as I go around a bend, I have to slam on the brakes to avoid a support van traveling at five km/h. Cliff takes a wrong turn and the rest of the lemmings including myself follow, much to the amusement of a rather attractive lady riding a horse.

We head up to Torbreck River and the road is a real mess. It’s wet and covered in gravel. Ben comes past me making me look like a novice. Again this is due to my shagged rear tyre. (Yeah, yeah.) Excuses, excuses.

We pull up for a photo at the end of Torbreck River. This is a magic spot and I must remember it for a potential camping spot for the family.

As we head back to Eildon, Mr Plod goes by in the opposite direction. I’m surprised that he’s out here but glad that I didn’t meet him on the straight.

Back into the twisty bits and I look in my rear mirror and see a green machine. It’s Jason on his beautiful ZX9. In theory my bike is lighter and more powerful and I should be able to pull away with ease. I can’t. He’s sticking to me like glue. I start making mistakes and run wide into corners. Time to leave my ego at home and slow down.

We stop for fuel in Eildon and I assess my rear tyre. It’s really shagged now so I decide to call it a day before I end up as road kill. I tell Ben my situation and he agrees that it’s a good idea. I can’t stress the importance of good tyres on these rides. In hindsight, I probably should have stayed at home today. The following day I read that Mirko had the same problem with his tyre.

Overall a great day and probably one of the hardest rides I’ve completed. Riding in these conditions is one of the best ways to hone your riding skills. It takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you a better rider. Thanks Cliff for great, challenging day.

Pierre Ong