G’day all,
Your ride team will shortly begin work on a new ride calendar that will start in July.
We’d like to make the rides a bit more interesting and varied, so if you have any preferred roads, treasured destinations, best-loved lunch spots and/or favourite festivals that you reckon would make an enjoyable excursion, please let me know — especially if we haven’t been there in a while.
Single-day rides are our usual fare, anything from a Chomp & Chat (a short ride for a long lunch) up to a 600km all-dayer (less in winter, of course), either on sealed roads for most of our members or with some gravel for our adventure bike riders. We’re also looking for some good two and three-day rides that may or may not include camping, glamping, cabins, motels or pubs.
Please have a think about it and get back to me with any ideas.
Cheers,
Ian
Ian Paterson
Ulysses Canberra Ride Coordinator
41 Alroy Circuit
Hawker ACT 2614
Australia
(02) 6254 9332
0427 291 728
Skype: iansallypaterson
iansallypaterson@iinet.net.au
Ulysses Club, Canberra Branch Website
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Ride Report - Decide and Ride, 27 May 2018
It's not often that I even bother attending Decide and Ride (D&R) days. Too many times I've turned up and been the one and only, or a few others have rolled in expecting a short and casual ride to a nearby cafe and then home. I like the social aspects of that, but if I get the bike out, I also expect to use it.
Late starts don't cut the mustard either. They limit how far you can ride to lunch and offer little opportunity or desire for a coffee on the way. Maybe the problem is one of 'We couldn't be bothered' if there is no ride leader and no destination along with a late start to the day. No, D&R days are generally off the menu for me. I could change that by volunteering, but I rarely know in advance of a weekend if I can even do a Sunday ride.
So here I was, unanimously being elected as ride leader, ride scribe, ride photographer, destination planner and lunch venue chooser. It was the middle day of the peculiar ACT-only long weekend and I had had a sleep-in. Damn that late night movie. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping, so I figured I might as well get the machine out and go for a ride.
The D&R departure was set for 10 am at Nicholls, so I called in for fuel and coffee. Miracle of miracles, so did three others. We had a ride to plan. The only thing I didn't have to do was the corner marking and tail-end-Charlie.
I had a little help with the lunch venue as Mick R had been to the Tangled Vine (Ed: 79 Orchard Street Taralga) recently and said it was still good. That made the lunch venue and destination an easy pick.
Riding with a small group of experienced riders has its upsides. There was no need to explain exactly what a three-second gap was and how to calculate it without repeating Year 12. No need to explain or even use corner markers, no need for a tail-ender and no need to enter the murky depths of discussing speedo accuracy versus GPS speeds and refresh rates. We even failed to discuss the perils and risks of not riding within our own abilities or the abilities of our bikes. Clearly we were doomed to wander the roads of NSW aimlessly and fall upon hard times as our bikes and bums parted company somewhere along the way.
That didn't happen of course, and the need to include such things in the ride briefing is accepted, but sometimes you just have to accept that it isn't necessary. This was one of those times.
Where did we go? Given the short two hours to lunch and already selected destination, the boys decided to follow me to Nanima Road then on to Gundaroo, Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga. Nanima Road is still as rough as buggery - not that I've had the experience of that. It's a strange term
in Australian slang, I wonder where it originated? I digress. It was an easy run along oft-ridden roads with little cause for excitement or fright. The roadworks between Gunning and Grabben Gullen are done, but it looks like some extra bits are in the running for attention, so maybe a new stretch of temporary dirt will be forced upon us and our shiny bikes.
The lovely Thruxton needed a splash of fuel at Crookwell, resulting in the first rush of petrol bouncing out of the tank and down over the tank, hot engine and headers. Oops! There was no fiery ending to the bike, rider or petrol station, but the clean-up made it a suitable photo opportunity. The despair in Warren being unable to rapidly find some paper towel was a sight to behold and he eventually cleaned up the mess, filled the tank, and then walked away to kick
something.
The rest of us waited in the wings a short distance from the pending fireball, socialising as required under the Ulysses charter of being a social club for motorcyclists and not a motorcycle club for socialists.
Mind you, I would have liked a socialist's share of the Thruxton.
We continued our mutual socialising at 100 kph all the way to Taralga where lunch was ordered, received, eaten and digested in fairly quick order. The usual food photo was taken, and all parties gave their approval to have their mugshots included. Taralga was its usual busy self, with bikes aplenty either parked while their riders consumed the local fare, or breezed through in both
directions on the way to somewhere else.
It was good day to be out but all things must come to an end. We discussed the options for the homeward journey and talked about a direct run or lengthened run home, but that all got too hard so we decided to split and head in two directions in groups of two. There has to be a Noah's Ark joke there somewhere. Thus ended the ride formalities.
With farewells proffered and decisions made, Neil and Mick R chose to head Goulburn way and then split again for their individual home locations. Warren and I decided to retrace our path and do the same run in reverse.
It is effectively a different road if you look at it logically. The uphill bits become downhill bits (and vice-versa), the left corners become right corners (and vice-versa), and the rough bits become smooth bits (maybe that's stretching it too far). The rough stays rough and the smooth stays smooth, except where the rough and smooth are on opposite sides of the ride.
Of course, that further assumes that you were not overtaking on one of the rough left side bits in one direction and missed the rough altogether on the return journey. Have I baffled you?
It was a very pleasant day out with a small group of good riders. Yes, we socialised. No, we didn't stop half way for coffee due to the short ride duration to our lunch stop. Yes, we did split and go separate ways after lunch. No, that isn't being unsociable but merely recognises that some have other things to do, or live in places where a more direct route home is desired. It works for me.
Has it changed my mind about D&R days? Not really. (Webmaster: OK, so how do we make them better/more appealing?) We struck it lucky today, but consensus was that it was a fairly late start and the lack of a pre-determined destination didn't help. Perhaps that makes me the unsociable socialist. If so, then clearly we must have had a miserable time today socialising from 3 seconds away at 100 kph. From where I was (leading the ride), it was a great day. I'd be happy to do a longer ride with Neil, Mick R and Warren.
Thank you for the company gentlemen. It was a pleasant day on the bikes.
Mick B.
Participants were:
Late starts don't cut the mustard either. They limit how far you can ride to lunch and offer little opportunity or desire for a coffee on the way. Maybe the problem is one of 'We couldn't be bothered' if there is no ride leader and no destination along with a late start to the day. No, D&R days are generally off the menu for me. I could change that by volunteering, but I rarely know in advance of a weekend if I can even do a Sunday ride.
So here I was, unanimously being elected as ride leader, ride scribe, ride photographer, destination planner and lunch venue chooser. It was the middle day of the peculiar ACT-only long weekend and I had had a sleep-in. Damn that late night movie. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping, so I figured I might as well get the machine out and go for a ride.
The D&R departure was set for 10 am at Nicholls, so I called in for fuel and coffee. Miracle of miracles, so did three others. We had a ride to plan. The only thing I didn't have to do was the corner marking and tail-end-Charlie.
I had a little help with the lunch venue as Mick R had been to the Tangled Vine (Ed: 79 Orchard Street Taralga) recently and said it was still good. That made the lunch venue and destination an easy pick.
Riding with a small group of experienced riders has its upsides. There was no need to explain exactly what a three-second gap was and how to calculate it without repeating Year 12. No need to explain or even use corner markers, no need for a tail-ender and no need to enter the murky depths of discussing speedo accuracy versus GPS speeds and refresh rates. We even failed to discuss the perils and risks of not riding within our own abilities or the abilities of our bikes. Clearly we were doomed to wander the roads of NSW aimlessly and fall upon hard times as our bikes and bums parted company somewhere along the way.
That didn't happen of course, and the need to include such things in the ride briefing is accepted, but sometimes you just have to accept that it isn't necessary. This was one of those times.
Where did we go? Given the short two hours to lunch and already selected destination, the boys decided to follow me to Nanima Road then on to Gundaroo, Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga. Nanima Road is still as rough as buggery - not that I've had the experience of that. It's a strange term
in Australian slang, I wonder where it originated? I digress. It was an easy run along oft-ridden roads with little cause for excitement or fright. The roadworks between Gunning and Grabben Gullen are done, but it looks like some extra bits are in the running for attention, so maybe a new stretch of temporary dirt will be forced upon us and our shiny bikes.
The lovely Thruxton needed a splash of fuel at Crookwell, resulting in the first rush of petrol bouncing out of the tank and down over the tank, hot engine and headers. Oops! There was no fiery ending to the bike, rider or petrol station, but the clean-up made it a suitable photo opportunity. The despair in Warren being unable to rapidly find some paper towel was a sight to behold and he eventually cleaned up the mess, filled the tank, and then walked away to kick
something.
 |
| Fuelling the Thruxton at Crookwell - no fireball thankfully |
The rest of us waited in the wings a short distance from the pending fireball, socialising as required under the Ulysses charter of being a social club for motorcyclists and not a motorcycle club for socialists.
Mind you, I would have liked a socialist's share of the Thruxton.
We continued our mutual socialising at 100 kph all the way to Taralga where lunch was ordered, received, eaten and digested in fairly quick order. The usual food photo was taken, and all parties gave their approval to have their mugshots included. Taralga was its usual busy self, with bikes aplenty either parked while their riders consumed the local fare, or breezed through in both
directions on the way to somewhere else.
 |
| The hungry D&R crew dismount is search of lunch |
 |
| Time to eat! |
With farewells proffered and decisions made, Neil and Mick R chose to head Goulburn way and then split again for their individual home locations. Warren and I decided to retrace our path and do the same run in reverse.
It is effectively a different road if you look at it logically. The uphill bits become downhill bits (and vice-versa), the left corners become right corners (and vice-versa), and the rough bits become smooth bits (maybe that's stretching it too far). The rough stays rough and the smooth stays smooth, except where the rough and smooth are on opposite sides of the ride.
Of course, that further assumes that you were not overtaking on one of the rough left side bits in one direction and missed the rough altogether on the return journey. Have I baffled you?
It was a very pleasant day out with a small group of good riders. Yes, we socialised. No, we didn't stop half way for coffee due to the short ride duration to our lunch stop. Yes, we did split and go separate ways after lunch. No, that isn't being unsociable but merely recognises that some have other things to do, or live in places where a more direct route home is desired. It works for me.
Has it changed my mind about D&R days? Not really. (Webmaster: OK, so how do we make them better/more appealing?) We struck it lucky today, but consensus was that it was a fairly late start and the lack of a pre-determined destination didn't help. Perhaps that makes me the unsociable socialist. If so, then clearly we must have had a miserable time today socialising from 3 seconds away at 100 kph. From where I was (leading the ride), it was a great day. I'd be happy to do a longer ride with Neil, Mick R and Warren.
Thank you for the company gentlemen. It was a pleasant day on the bikes.
Mick B.
Participants were:
- Neil McRitchie on the GTR1400
- Mick Riddle on the R1150RT
- Warren Richer on the Triumph Thruxton R1200
- Mick Beltrame on the R1200GSLC
Monday, May 28, 2018
Sad news regarding Ollie Walker
Ollie (Oliver Walker), one of our older members passed away on the 24th May.
Some members may remember him and his son Stephen who has also been a member.
The funeral for Ollie will be held at Norwood Park Crematorium on Friday 1st June at 12 noon.
No flowers by request, any donations to the Cancer Council.
Some members may remember him and his son Stephen who has also been a member.
The funeral for Ollie will be held at Norwood Park Crematorium on Friday 1st June at 12 noon.
No flowers by request, any donations to the Cancer Council.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Presidential vacancy for 2018-19 filled : Hello from Maritta
Hello fellow Ulyssians,
I am Maritta Heiler, the photo attached was taken at the Ulysses National AGM in Remark this month - the lady with her back turned, behind me, is my Quakka 900!
The
reason for the blog entry right now is to let you all know that I have “put my
hand up” and have been “appointed” by your elected Committee to the
position of Branch President for 2018.
It
is early days yet, but I have a few ideas to bring to the table and
want to work with you and the Committee to continue this great Canberra
Branch.
Please drop me a line if you are so inclined or just say “good-day” when we next meet.
Watch this space for updates!
Cheers,
Maritta Heiler
New Canberra Branch President for 2018-19maritta.h@bigpond.com
Monday, May 21, 2018
Ride Report - Marulan, 20 May 2018
I’m not sure who put together the last ride calendar; I wasn’t at the planning meeting but here I was suffering the consequences. It was 8:30am on a frigid foggy near-winter’s morning with the temperature hovering around 5° or maybe minus 20° (it was hard to tell) and I was at the BP Watson trying to figure out how we would make a short ride to Marulan expand to fill three hours.
OK, I had figured that out the night before, but you catch my drift. So did the nine other riders, who stamped their feet trying to keep warm and watched as the steam leaking from their trousers formed little snow clouds that blocked the weak, bleak sunshine that was struggling to break through the early morning fog.
But as we questioned and debated why such a short ride would demand such an early start on such a cold morning, we started to warm up; it is amazing how much heat a simple conversation can generate! And by the time we hit the road, just after 9am, we hardly noticed that it was still only 5° (or minus 20° as the case may be).
With Kim filling the vital role of tail-end Charlie, we headed out on the Federal Highway and turned north on the Sutton Road until we reached its logical and physical conclusion at the Merino Café in Gunning for our smoko stop. By now the fog had disappeared and the sun was shining so we sat at the tables outside in the back garden, gulping down our coffee before it froze in the still chilly air.
From Gunning we continued north on the Grabben Gullen Road for 19km before turning east on the bumpy but fun Gurrundah Road, which we followed to Goulburn. Here we waited for some time for tail-end Kim to turn up, which she eventually did, claiming she was delayed because she had stopped “to talk to a wombat”. Make of that what you will.
As it was already getting close to lunchtime, we abandoned our leader’s ambitious plan A, which was to navigate to Marulan via a complex route that might or might not have included Bungonia, in favour of a much shorter plan B, which simply entailed a short blat up the Hume Freeway. We reached the Meridian Café in downtown Marulan bang on 12 noon and settled into our Specially Reserved tables.
The overwhelming favourite for our 10 diners was the Italian sausage rolls with side salad and spicy chutney, and I can report it was all very tasty. Toasties and soup were also popular. Full as googs, we drifted off in dribs and drabs, with the last of us leaving at about 1:30pm. Kim complained of wind on the way home (make of that what you will) but I think everyone enjoyed the 300km-or-so ride.
Sorry, no photos from this ride.
Ian
Sorry, no photos from this ride.
Ian
- Ian Paterson (Honda GL1800)
- Mike Carmody (HD Softail Slim S)
- Kim Tito (BMW F700GS)
- Les Robinson (Triumph Trophy 1200)
- Neil McRitchie (Kawasaki GTR1400)
- John Barratt (BMW R1200GS)
- Mick Riddle (BMW R1150RT)
- Genelle Mills (BMW F700GS)
- Chris Dietzel (Kawasaki GTR1400)
- Andrew Campbell (Yamaha FJR1300)
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