Ride Report – Tidbinbilla 15 January 2017

Ron Tito took over leading this ride in the absence of David Formica, who is over in the land of the long white cloud for a holiday.

It was a blue sky sunny day at Hume servo with an estimated top of 30 degrees – this meant a big turn out for this comfortable run round some of Canberra’s finest riding roads (and some of Canberra’s worst riding roads). We called ahead to the café but FYI  they don’t book tables on a weekend – they did appreciate the heads up that 20 Ulysseans were on their way. 

Leigh rocked up on his Royal Enfield only to be the subject of a few friendly jibes like “he should have left yesterday to get there for lunch today” and “doesn’t he know we don’t have a break down trailer on this ride” ……. Leigh took them in good humour, his bike is pretty impressive and the main thing is, he loves it. 

Peter Arday regaled us with a true story about corner marking during the ride briefing – citing an instance where the corner marker changed his blinker direction to avoid misunderstandings between himself and a car – and a long standing member took off like a rocket in the wrong direction. In fact, it was stated that she took off so fast they had difficulty catching up with her real retro 250!

We headed up Mugga Lane to Sulwood Drive and out through Coombs to Uriarra village and on to Moon Rock. During the hour and a half it took us to get to Moon Rock on Ron’s interesting route, we saw no wildlife - unless you counted the sports bikes zooming in the opposite direction – some of those were pretty wild.

The two old (but extremely lovable) blokes in Tail End Camry did well, scooting along behind the riders on two wheels each. 

Two for Tango

On arrival at Moon Rock, Carol was greeted like a rock star -  with an Indian family crowding around to take pictures of her and her bike and find out all about the green Can Am. Strangely, none of the Indian family were interested in the Royal Enfield. Go figure.

During lunch, it was reported to the Secretary that Mark Mitchell drank a milkshake, ate a ham and cheese croissant and a piece of apple pie, and for dessert had a pie and chips with sauce. It’s also rumoured that Mark may have hollow legs.

After lunch, some headed toward Tharwa and home, while Julie, Mick, Andrea, Peter and Robert took an interesting side trip to Corin Dam with Mark Mitchell in the lead.

Kim Moorey


Riders:

• Andrea Lanagan GSXR
• Andrew Campbell FJR 1300
• Ash Plumb F6B 1800
• Barry Solley ST1300
• Carol Solley Can Am
• Julie Hyland Honda Sports
• Kim Moorey F700GS
• Leigh Nielsen Royal Enfield GT
• Mark Mitchell Ducati Scrambler
• Michael Venables Harley 1690
• Mike and Sharon Kelly BMW R1200RT
• Peter Arday Toyota Camry
• Peter Thomas BMW F800GS
• Robert Vernals TU250
• Ron Tito R1200GS
• Steve Hayes VStrom 650
• Trevor McLeod Toyota Camry

Chomp and Chat ride to Tidbinbilla (First Ride)

A burst of motorcycle inspiration saw me join the Canberra Branch of the Ulysses Club for their Chomp and Chat ride to Tidbinbilla on Sunday 15 Jan 17.   

Before going further, by way of introduction, my name is Leigh Nielsen and the proud new owner of a Royal Enfield Continental GT (more on this later).  I have just returned to motorcycling after an extensive layoff, a story that seems to be common amongst Ulysses Club members.   

I am sure the common thread amongst “comeback kids” is that their skills once held in youthful exuberance have long since waned and a more sober evaluation of one’s riding skills needs to be undertaken. Something of a recalibration between perceived historical  skill versus actual ability,  current speed perception, and older body and reflexes. I thought a group ride would be a good way to ease myself back into riding so I pencilled in Sunday 15 Jan, Caltex - Hume, 11 am.

Upon arriving at Caltex Hume I met our ride leader Ron and Secretary Kim, plus a bunch of other members who also had names! Amongst some serious riding iron was a scattering of smaller bikes so I did not feel totally out of place with my 29.1 (bhp at 5100 rpm) horses of Royal Enfield power.  A ride briefing ensued followed by some tall stories but true. With the formalities over it was time to mount the bikes and an impressive formation snaked its way towards Tidbinbilla.

It was fun to be part of a group ride again and Ron set a good pace suitable for all riders, no matter what their riding iron or skill level.   In many ways I feel like a learner again so I appreciated the discipline and pace of the group and confirmed in my mind that I had done the right thing joining the ride. 
By the time we reached Tidbinbilla it had warmed up and it was good to get the jacket and helmet off and settle into the air-conditioned café for the Chomp and Chat part of the day’s activity.   

A very sociable hour or so talking bike and watching the Keith Code video the owner had thoughtfully put on.  
From here part of the group went to Corrin Dam while the rest proceeded directly to Tharwa and back home.  A very enjoyable afternoon and one that I look forward to repeating. 

Why a Royal Enfield?
The most common question I was asked during the ride was “Why a Royal Enfield?”    This was usually followed by “it looks great, but …”    In my previous life as a motorbike rider I had a string of BMW R Series bikes (R65, R80, R100RS); a couple of UJM (Universal Japanese Motorbikes – XJ650, GPz 750R) and my last bike a ’94 Honda VFR750.  Most of my holidays were spent motorcycle touring the country.

When considering a bike for my current adventure I decided  a V twin 650 or twin/single 500cc would suit my needs.  I wanted something reasonably light, manoeuvrable, fun and would be suitable for day or weekend rides one-up.  The single comes from my appreciation of modified Yamaha SR 500’s in the Manx Norton/Café Racer style.  The initial favourite was the Suzuki SV650 followed by the Japanese  500cc road bikes.  

Then I saw a Royal Enfield Continental GT!  It was love at first sight.  I appreciate that the Japanese bikes in the range I mentioned have more power, are more comfortable, have superior acceleration,  brakes, handling, etc., i.e., in a nutshell are superior motorcycles!  But the look, sound, vibration and rawness were a thing to behold in comparison to the refined, but IMHO characterless,  Japanese offerings.  Not bagging Japanese bikes, just a perspective from my age, experience and bike background - and one man’s definition of motorbike character is another man’s definition of inferior design or performance!  Plus, it was by any measure something different from my previous experience.

 Just as non-bike riders cannot understand why you would buy a motorbike at “your age”, it is the same when buying a particular bike compared to other bike riders preferences.   It is something that appeals to where you are now in your life journey.  

Good riding!
Leigh Nielsen

Working B to help Nat

After battling with chemotherapy due to Breast Cancer, our lovely Natalie Evans-Sandell is looking forward to a brighter 2017. With Chemotherapy under her belt and mastectomy done this week, she now has just 25 rounds of radiation to go.
However, her house has fallen into disrepute while she has been sick and short of funds. Therefore we are putting on a working bee to spruce up Nats place next Saturday 21st January from 9am onwards.
We need anyone (partners, friends, acquaintances included), to help paint walls, rake leaves, mow lawn, de-cobweb the eaves, oil the deck, steam clean the carpets, patch some holes, spray weeds, and other odd household cleaning.
If anyone has tools to assist with any of these tasks, or knows how to fix, we need your help.

Address is: 20 Gungurra Cresent, Rivett
Date: Saturday 21st January 2017
Time: 9am – until whenever

The list is not limited to : Painting, Vacuuming, Steam Cleaning Carpet, Patch holes in ceiling from previous lighting, rake leaves from driveway, clean cobwebs from eaves, sand doors to stop from sticking,  re-screw hinges on pantry door, mow lawn, whipper snip back yard, take load of trash to tip, sweep out garage,
If you can help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Andrea Lanagan

Junee Ride . . . no, Crookwell 8 Jan

We were supposed to be going to Junee but for most of the week before, the weather bureau had been forecasting Sunday temperatures of 38°–39° out Junee way.

Not wanting to have anyone cark it because of heatstroke, and also because I reckon riding in that sort of heat when you don’t have to isn’t much fun, I looked around for cooler destinations and came up with a Plan B and a Plan C, the winning plan to be decided on the day by either democratic vote or dictatorial fiat (or should that be dictatorial ducati in a bike club?).

Plan B was to ride via Taralga to Crookwell for lunch, then back home. Plan C was a short ride to Gunning for coffee, arriving home around lunchtime to avoid the worst heat of the day. 

At Nicholls on Sunday morning the early sentiment was leaning towards Plan C, although Mick hadn’t heard about the change in destination and labelled us “a bunch of wimps” before deciding that if he couldn’t beat us he’d join us. When it came to a show of hands, however, Plan B was a clear winner.

But wait . . . Marilyn had another suggestion, sort of a combination of Plans A and B, which was to ride straight to Crookwell for brunch. After all, it’s not that far to Crookwell. So Marilyn’s Plan D was put to the group and adopted unanimously except for Mike, who at the last second thought Laggan might be nice.

That’s the great thing about being me. I’m not the world’s most creative or lateral thinker, and I can come up with as many plans as there are stars in the sky and someone will always have a better suggestion. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, but then I tell myself that my failed ideas are triggers for someone else’s more creative ones, which makes my floundering efforts worthwhile and gives me some sort of obscure purpose in life.

But I digress. Amazingly, we left right on time at 9:00am and rode via the Barton Highway, Nanima Road, Gundaroo, Gunning and Grabben Gullen (no fancy route finding today), arriving at Crookwell at 10:15am. 

With a plethora of eating houses to choose from (well, a small plethora) we decided on Paul’s Café which is a big, echoey, mostly takeaway sort of place but with lots of tables and chairs and, importantly on a day such as this, air conditioning.
 
Jim and I had very generous and tasty egg and bacon rolls, while Chris had a Big Brekky, which came on a Bloody Big Plate and consisted of enough eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, hash browns, toast and other sundry delicacies to feed three or four ordinary mortals. On top of this nutritional abundance, the service was friendly and the coffee was excellent.

After about an hour, which gave Chris just enough time to finish his feast, we went our various ways. I returned home via Gunning and Yass while most of the rest had a jaunt through Goulburn. And, as far as I’m aware, nobody died of heatstroke.

Ian Paterson

The Riders were:

Ian Paterson            GL1800
David Dawson        R1200GS
Jenny Carlin            C600
Mike Kelly            R1200RT
Neil McRitchie        GTR1400
Chris Dietzel            GTR1400
Steve Hopkins        Ducati 1200
Marilyn Starick        Ducati 1200
Mick Beltrame        Victory XC
Jim Bass            Boulevard C50
Andrew Campbell        FJR1300

Ride Plans A,B & C for Sunday 8 Jan

G’day all,

You might have noticed that the forecast temperature for our Ulysses ride destination of Junee on Sunday is 39 degrees, so for safety reasons (and because it’s just no fun riding in those conditions) we will be resorting to either Plan B or Plan C.

We’ll still be leaving from Caltex Nicholls at 9:00am.

Plan B: ride via Taralga to Crookwell for lunch, then back home. The forecast for Taralga is 32 degrees, which means it could be 30 or 31 at Crookwell. However, it would be around 35 on the way home.

Plan C: a short ride to Gunning for coffee, arriving home around lunchtime to avoid the worst heat of the day. 

A decision will be made on Sunday morning, either by democratic vote or dictatorial fiat. If nobody turns up because it’s just going to be too damned hot I will return home and resort to Plan A/C.

Cheers,

Your ride leader

Ian

Ian Paterson

41 Alroy Circuit

Hawker ACT 2614

Australia

(02) 6254 9332

0427 291 728

Skype: iansallypaterson

iansallypaterson@iinet.net.au

Ride Report – Pambula 18 December 2016

Sunday 18th December. Weather turned up ideal riding conditions, although still a little cool for December. Arrived at Caltex Hume just on 0900 to find a small group of riders chomping at the bit to get in the last club ride for 2016 – Not Andrew Campbell as leader (he’s been in India for some Royal Enfield riding) but Alan & Lyn to lead the ride. 

A quick ride brief – Nimmitabel as first stop via Polo Flat, then Bombala via the Monaro, and then Pambula via Mount Darragh Road. Beware! the road is reportedly a bit chopped up (yes it was!) Do we all know the way? Nods all round, so off we went. 

Couldn’t believe it was cooler (6 degrees in December!) in Nimmitabel than Cooma. But once clear of that and down into Bombala the great weather was with us for the entire day. 

The road from Cathcart down through Wyndham was a little tricky, with some patches of gravel from ‘pothole roadworks’ never/poorly swept requiring care (apparently this is a common occurrence on this road!) – I had one of those ‘moments’ where I had to stand up the bike just coming through an apex to avoid the gravel patchwork.
 
From Wyndham the road widened and improved, and temperature now about 25 degrees down into Pambula. Turned north onto the Princes Hwy, refuelled and then hit the Pambula ‘pub for lunch. 

After a leisurely meal and chat, a quick discussion on the route home, and it was back on the road again. Steve advised that he’ll be heading home via an alternative route (probably checking out his block at Dalmeny), and we speared off at Wolumla (taking the Candelo-Wolumla Road), which brought us back onto the Snowy Mountains Highway just east of Bemboka, and up Brown Mountain. 

A quick stop at the rest area just outside Nimmitabel again to wish each other farewell and pleasant and safe Christmas, and homeward bound we went.  Another great day out; Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you all, and look forward to catching up for some more rides in 2017. Stay safe!
 
Chris Dietzel

List of riders:
Alan & Lyn Munday (Yamaha FJR1300)
Chris Dietzel (Kawasaki GTR1400)
Neil Goldfinch (Suzuki GSX1300R ‘busa)
Sandy Fisk (Triumph Speedmaster)
Gary Thomas (Suzuki DL650)
Steve Alford (MotoGuzzi V7)