Stay Upright Slow Riding Training – 8 August 2016

Yes, I know it would sound like a Ulysses winter fairy tale if I were to start by saying “the day dawned bright and full of sunshine beaming down on a perfect winter’s day as the 12-member strong ride roared through the Stay Upright gates” so I wont. What I will say is that it was damn cold (temp hovering around zero) as I headed across the border to Stay Upright’s rider training facility in Queanbeyan on my latest motorised acquisition, Hilary Honda (CB300), to introduce her to her big brothers and sisters belonging to 11 keen riders in the Ulysses Canberra Branch’s tribe.

I knew the day was going to be a huge success when I got all green lights and no turners at roundabouts so that I didn’t have to put my foot down after joining Hindmarsh Drive at the Canberra Hospital till I pulled up at Stay Upright (SU). I was later accused of running red lights but that was not true. However on a non-heated grips machine with no fairings, I was frozen so fast was good.  As I arrived a few very keen people were already defrosting and by 8.30 there were 12 of us gathered to hear from our instructors – Andrew and Andrew (thanks to SU for making the name bit easy).

We started with introductions all round which set the scene for a very relaxed course, which of course gave us all the chance to find out a bit more about our fellow students and their riding skills. The day followed a similar format to other Stay Upright courses – a bit of theory, practice and then recap with feedback and questions.

First up it was about our bike’s Balance Point – handling the bike from the ground, understanding what it takes to move it off balance (out of the ‘manageable zone’) and appreciating its weight. This was followed by learning to walk our bike around by slightly leaning it onto a hip and within the ‘manageable zone’ and (with feet clear of pegs) move it backwards and forwards.

Next, after a run through of the best body position, we leapt on our bikes and in two groups had a session on cornering where we all learnt the benefits of a few key points – scan ahead, turn the head, prepare for the corner, lean & turn, moderate speed and use of the back brake.

After that things got a bit more complicated – manoeuvring at low speed with a series of stops followed immediately by a turn and another stop. For this exercise we used the bike’s friction point and with a constant speed established, focused on use of the brake to vary speed. After a few runs through everyone was more confident with this technique – or system for manoeuvring say in car parks, even when loaded with luggage and maybe a pillion.

U-turns were the next challenge after a briefing on technique and use of a steady throttle and speed moderated by the rear brake. A range of performances turned up in this exercise but I think we all learnt a lot – for me as clearly the worst, it was mainly that I need a lot more practice!

And finally (after 2 coffee breaks – one including the arrival of a coffee van, which was a great alternative to the instant version available in the kitchen) we did turning and stopping at low speed, through a series of generously spaced cones, using the rear break for slowing and stopping.

That all done with much success and some outstanding performances, we retired to the training room for a debrief and to receive our Certificate of Attendance. The group agreed that the session was more than valuable and served as a good reminder that formal training can chase away bad habits and that skill refreshing is great and should be a constant for everyone. 

A big thank you to our two excellent instructors Andrew and of course to Mick Winters for his role in initiating the course happening in the first place, chasing up members to participate and for facilitating the opportunity for our slow riding to improve. Thanks also to the other 11 trainees (now graduates) for joining in and doing what Ulysseans do so well – riding and socialising.

Jenny Carlin 
 

Ride Report Adelaide-Sydney-Snowy Mtns and return August–September 1978

In February 1978, after returning to Oz from five years in New Zealand and with nowhere in particular to go, I finished up in Adelaide for the arts festival and the wedding of my friends Spot the Dog and Pat the Sheila. I moved into their shared house in St Peters, living in the enclosed veranda until a proper room became vacant.

My first home in Adelaide in 1978 (that’s me on the left).

With a roof over my head, a steady supply of food and a steady income from a journalist job with SA National Parks and Wildlife Service, the only other thing I needed (apart from a woman, but read on) was a set of wheels. I found a fairly youthful Yamaha XT500 advertised for $1200 so I took $1000 in cash and wafted it seductively in front of the vendor’s face. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

On the XT500 wearing state-of-the-art safety gear from the 1970s.

The XT500 was a 500cc single-cylinder dual purpose thumper. It was my sixth bike, following (in order) a black Honda S90 sports model with patented T-bone frame; a red Triumph Trophy 250 which handled like a dream but set new records for unreliability and on one trip left a trail of parts from Sydney to Hobart, returning on the train while I hitch-hiked; a red and white Honda CB350 twin with hollow megaphone exhausts that my whole suburb hated; a green Yamaha DT360 two-stroke enduro that was fun to ride except at night when the headlight would switch off without warning till I pounded it repeatedly with my fist; and, my favourite until then, a white Honda XL250 that carried me and Jan Number One all over the South Island of NZ. 

In July the money ran out for my NPWS job so I went back onto the dole and decided, with my new-found freedom, to visit my parents in Sydney. And, seeing as I was going that far, I might as well pick up my skis, which were stored at Mum and Dad’s along with lots of my other stuff, and head up to the snow for a few days’ skiing. 

The XT500 packed for the ski trip.

It didn’t take long to strap my gear – tent, sleeping bag, foam mat, cooking gear, pack, daypack and cameras – onto the bike’s rack. I left Adelaide in bright winter sunshine (similar to Adelaide’s summer sunshine except a bit cooler and no dust storms) and took two days to ride to Sydney, crossing the glorious Hay Plain for the first time in my life. 

It was a simple matter to tie the skis and poles onto the bike – in fact, the skis sticking out backwards at a 45 degree angle gave the XT a rather dashing look. Back in those days there was no freeway and the ride from Sydney to Sawpit Creek campground, on the road to Perisher Valley, took most of the day. I set up camp, put the billy on and kicked back with a good book till it was time for bed.

Camp at Sawpit Creek.

I skied by myself at Perisher for a few days till my friends Steve and Prue turned up, then skied with them for a few days at Perisher and then at Thredbo. After that, Steve and I donned our cross-country skis and slogged from Guthega Power Station up to Whites River Hut and the crest of the main range for a few days, learning how it feels to face-plant in the snow wearing a 25kg pack. The snow was still good after Steve left, so I stayed on and skied some more at Perisher.

But eventually my body clock told me it was time to leave the mountains and get back to responsible living on the dole, including maybe even looking for a job. I packed the bike again and headed for Sydney in one of the worst storms I have ever ridden in. At one point during torrential rain on the Federal Highway (highway in name only in those days) the car in front of me braked suddenly on a right-hand bend and, knowing I would be unable to stop without laying the bike on its side, I veered past him on the left and rode straight into a flooded creek. The water was near the tops of my wheels and there were waves from oncoming vehicles but I kept the power on and somehow made it through.

I left the skis at Mum and Dad’s and, after a detour to go rock climbing for a few days in the Blue Mountains, I headed back to Adelaide. The XT had performed flawlessly for the whole trip and, while it was definitely no Goldwing, it made the 4000km trip seem easy (of course, I was a lot younger back then).

While I had been on the road a new tenant had moved into the house in St Peters, a Kiwi named Meatloaf. We became good friends and, even better, his ex-wife started visiting. This eventually solved my only other problem, and at the end of the year she and I moved to Hobart. (Note for history buffs: this was Jan Number Two; Sally came later).

Ian Paterson


Rider was:

Ian Paterson        Yamaha XT500

Aldi - Motorcycle Gear - 13 August

The 13 August Aldi catalogue has a "Special Buys" for motorcycle gear. 

The range includes helmets, gloves, ramps, stands and clothing ( inner and outer ) and a few otehr items. Clothing appears to be in mens sizings and CE certified.

For your information :-)
 

Club Ride to Major’s Creek 24th July 2016

After weeks of bad weather for riding, the forecast for this ride was fine with rain late in the afternoon.  12 riders and one pillion were at Watson Servo for the start with the temperature at a pleasant 5°.

I decided that we would go via Tarago and all were in agreement as it was only about an hour’s ride if we rode directly to Braidwood.

Sandy Fisk volunteered to be Tail End Charlie and we set off, with Jenny Carlin riding with us only to Bungendore then headed home due to prior commitments.  We picked up Allan Grimes and Emma Campbell at Bungendore and proceeded on to Tarago.  A short stop at Tarago and we then travelled on to Braidwood for a coffee stop.  Mike Kelly caught up as he could not get to the start by 9.15.

We left Braidwood at 11.45 to travel the short distance to Major’s Creek Hotel, still in sunny weather.

Food was ordered and we could take it across the road to the park benches, which seemed great as the weather was warming up, but by the time the meals arrived, the sun was gone and we decided to eat inside.
 

After a good feed we all wandered off home.  Chas, Garry and myself decided to call in and visit Michael Winters at Bungendore, as he was to have led the ride until his knee operation (I think he was scared of bad weather, after all – he had been out of hospital for 2 weeks).  Unfortunately, the weather turned bad (snowing on the hills on the LHS of Braidwood road), so we decided to head straight home instead, to miss the rain that was coming towards Bungendore.

Overall a good short ride with good meals at the hotel.

Alan Munday

Riders:

• Alan Munday                            Yamaha FJR1300
• Mick Beltrame                          Victory XE
• Vivas Sadavshas                       Harley Street Glide
• Sandy Fisk                               Triumph Speedmaster
• Garry McCurley                          Honda VFR1200
• Gary Stratton                            Honda Goldwing
• Peter Daniell                             BMW GSA1200
• Chas Towie                               Honda ST1300
• Rich Costan                              Ducati ST4S
• Allan Grimes & Emma Campbell   Harley Fatboy
• Mike Kelly                                 BMWR100RS
• Chris Dietzel                             Kawasaki GTR1400

Chomp and Chat - Tarago Sunday 17th July 2016

 Quite differently to our spate of soggy or frosty mornings over the past few weeks, Sunday 17th July dawned warmish (for a Canberra winter) and full of glorious sunshine. As I was heading off after 10 am I did wonder if my enthusiasm for trying out the thermals I had remembered were lurking in my cupboard and that I should try out would be misplaced. Yes, it was not the right to try them out and I cooked all day.

The 11am advertised time was interpreted differently by some of today's happy band of and at least there were several early arrivers who had each other to chat to while we wondered if anyone else was coming along. And yes, they were and by 11am there were 10 riders and one pillion ready for the ride briefing. Then we got the good and bad news.

The bad news was that our ride leader (who shall remain nameless but his first name starts with C and is not Chris) had sent his apologies (with a good excuse so he was quickly forgiven). Good news was that Ian stepped up and quickly put on his Delegation Hat. First, after making flattering comments about me handed me the list of riders and nominated me to write this report. Secondly, after a bit of discussion about the ride's possible speed and route (including a suggestion from Trevor of taking the non-direct to Tarago via the Doughboy turnoff (Goulburn Road) off the Kings Highway), he nominated Andrew as ride leader. To give Ian a bit of credit though, he did offer to be tail end Charlie which meant following me to Bungendore!

We set off up the Barton Highway to Macs Reef Road and on to Bungendore without incident and the pack headed out along the pre-agreed route while I took the direct route to Tarago and was then ready at the Loaded Dog Hotel to take pics as the ride pulled in. I heard that the highlight for the rest of the ride was passing and getting a wave from some of the returning (from Batemans Bay) Xmas in July revelers who I believe were heading home to recuperate after a very enjoyable weekend in the Bay’s sunshine.

Once we all arrived at the Loaded Dog Hotel a group pic was taken, and a separate pic of the photographer!

Rugged up and grinning

Andrew picks the best spot - fire and food!

Then we all piled into the pub, ordered drinks and what turned out to be humongous meals. Some of us took advantage of one of the several dining rooms with open fires roaring (a bit of overkill given the temp outside but the atmosphere was cosy) and enjoyed dining inside, while others took advantage of the balmy weather and ate outside in the sunshine (after shifting tables when they were ticked off and told that non-smokers must not sit at tables designated for smokers). A note here if you haven't been to the pub (Loaded Dog) before, the food and service was excellent, there is plenty of easy parking and the atmosphere with the open fires made makes it very worthy of a stop if you are passing.

 Ian, Mick and Tracey

After lunch and the usual round of chit chat we all prepared to depart. Ian mentioned that he was going to call in on our rehabilitating leader in Bungendore and I opted in for the detour. The others set off for home and I believe they all arrived safely. I followed Ian to Bungendore and after a short tour around other properties in Mick and Tracey's street, we arrived! It was good timing as Mick had returned from a leisurely wander from home up to the railway line. A thank you to Tracey for putting on a cuppa at short notice and to Mick for filling us in on his post-surgery recovery. After plenty of chit chat we departed Bungendore and my final leg home via Queanbeyan was event free.

Thanks as always to the other riders and Ulysses for another enjoyable ride.

Jenny Carlin

The Ride:

·         Ian Paterson GL 1800

·         Garry McCurley and Natalie TeBay VFR1200

·         Trevor Mcleod FSR 1300

·         John Barratt BMW R1200G

·         Darren Gledhill Ninja 1000

·         Andrew Campbell Zx14R

·         Gary Thomas R 1200R

·         David Leslie XWS 6504

·         Steve Hayes V-Strom 650

·         Jenny Carlin BMW C600 Sport  

Xmas in July (at the "Bay") - Ride Report

As is traditional with Xmas in July - we become the Ulysses Car Club as the weather is often dodgy and the location sometimes on the snow line. This year, Batemans Bay was the chosen spot and the weather was spectacular for a winter weekend. 15 and 16 degree days, with bright sunshine were forecast - Yippee !

Those that didn't have to carry too many presents were able to ride and Ron Tito, Kim Moorey and Mark Mitchell rode down together. The roadworks on the Clyde had been described during the week as 'slippery as snot'. 

Festive Fun!

 On our way back I thought Mark was pointing out a pot hole when in fact his front wheel had tried to escape from underneath him and he was simply trying to stay upright. The 2 BMW's had no such issues, and the surface was nicely hard packed. 

Of course they had just watered the road for our arrival and it was certainly 'slippery as snot'.

The traffic was surprisingly light for the final weekend of school holidays, the sun was out, the wind stayed away and the Bay was beautiful. Another fun ride to Xmas in July. 

Kim

Slow Riding Skills Training Course, 8 August 2016

Interested in a Slow Riding Skills Course? President Mick has been arranging one for us with Stay Upright - details are in the copy of an email from Mick below:

"Hi Everyone

I am sending out this email to let everyone know that we are trying to organise a slow rider training course.

The course will be run on the 8th August at the Stay Upright training area in Queanbeyan.

How to ride a motorcycle slowly and to use strategies and techniques that will increase safety, confidence and enjoyment.

I am sorry I will miss out on this rider training because I wanted to do it to make me more confident at controlled slow riding. After my knee started to affect my confidence I found I was having trouble with slow speed maneuvering.  As we get older we need to get smarter to keep our confidence at a higher level.

That is why training, looking at different ways and re-evaluating the way we do everything will make us better prepared for the future.  I think if we can be honest with ourselves we will become stronger if we have a think about what we do and ask for help more often. We’ve already had much interest in this course so all I can say is don’t hesitate as this is the best way to start being a more confident rider - I just wish I could be there with you.

We have organised the course for the 8th August 2016 starting at 8.30am in the morning and finishing at 12.30pm.

There will be one trainer for each group of six riders and it will be held at the STAY UPRIGHT rider training course in Queanbeyan.

The cost will be $150.00 or if we can get more than 15 riders it will drop down to $130.00 per rider. So ask your mates to come along. We need to confirm numbers and organise payment to STAY UPRIGHT before the course.  Please email me by 20th of July to confirm your spot at michaelianwinters@gmail.com

I will be providing further course and payment information to those that have RSVP’d at a later date.

Regards

Mick"