The May RO2 is now available!!

Once more the new month is upon us and the branch news must be shared! 

The May Riding On 2 is now available for your reading pleasure!

>>Click here<<

Ride Report – Boorowa – Crookwell Loop, Wednesday 21st April 2021

A team of seven keen riders assembled at Caltex Nicholls at around 0845 for a 0900 departure. The night before the ride it decided to pour down across the region as a result of a cool change passing through Victoria and the Alps even leaving a dusting of snow across the Snowy Mountains. Naturally the next morning many areas of Canberra were still damp and a cool 7- 8 degrees at the muster point. Despite this the sun shone through with the promise of slightly warmer weather and a great day ahead.

The ride kicked off with us tearing down the Barton Hwy with little hold up due the road works started on the Barton Hwy extension after Hall. There was only a few 60 signs posted in sections rather than what was the practice the last few weeks of having a blanketed 60kph 6-7 km stretch. Excellent! Also, traffic was light throughout the whole days ride (mid week rides I just love them).

Anyway once through Murrumbateman and on the dual carriageway we joined the Hume and headed for Burley Griffin Way and made our way towards the town of Binalong. It was along this section that we came across a very friendly semitrailer carrying cattle, or was it sheep, who waved us pass once on a straight stretch - wish there were more drivers like him.

Once in Binalong we crept quietly through the sleepy town for a right on Hughstonia road, a great little farmers road which took us all the way through the farm district to Boorowa and fuel stop one (top up) for the Triumph. Morning coffee and a chat was enjoyed at the Boorowa Bakery outside in the sun for warmth. It was here that unfortunately Ian M, a new member from the Sunshine Coast, had to excuse himself due to planned activities back at home. What a gentleman - though poor judgement this time, as he was missing the truly best leg(s) of the ride namely Boorowa - Rugby - Crookwell - Gunning loop. Oh well, maybe next time Ian.

 At Gunning we enjoyed a break and lunch chatting about just how cool the last section was, then the subject of Kevin’s new and beautiful R1250RS came up. Andrew and Mike came up with a brilliant idea of using the sophisticated technology built into the R1250RS suspension and modes to get Kev’s bike just that little bit lower to provide him with more comfort. This got us all interested, so we decided to get involved as well and before we new it, all six of us were mulling around both Kev’s then Dave’s RS’s while Mike and Andrew provided guidance on setting and adjusting the complex looking TIFF display and menu. We now know BMWs don’t breakdown, owners just get totally lost or immersed in their colourful TFT display, software updates and reboots.  Me, I have enough problems with my iPhone and Laptop let alone having such technology integrated into my bike, though I might just give it a go one day.

After this quick training session we were all a little dizzy and weary and decided it was time to head for Canberra and call it a day. Overall it was a very enjoyable ride across superb countryside with I say again very minimal traffic.


Warren

The Weather: 14 degrees on the bike 8, another brilliant Autumn day in the Lachlan Valley Region

Distance traveled: 345 kms

Riders:

• Darren Beauchamp    HD Dyna Superglide
• Kevin Sherman          BMW R1250RS
• Dave Mossman          BMW R1250RS
• Andrew Campbell       BMW R1250RS
• Ian Mansfield            BMW R1150RT
• Mike Beltrane            BMW R1250GS
• Warren Richer           Triumph Thruxton R1200

Chomp and Chat to Laggan - Sunday, 18th April 2021

 

So, I’ve been very slack and forgot to write the ride report when it was fresh in my memory, with the predictable result that I can’t remember much about the ride.

In my defence I was volunteered to write the report, by Al, who should have known better.

I do remember that it was a lovely day and an enjoyable ride to Laggan, via Gunning and Crookwell. I believe we returned via the same way, mainly to stop for a coffee in Gunning, but also because the Laggan, Crookwell, Gunning route is such a pleasure on a motorcycle.

Hopefully someone submitted some photos to accompany my abbreviated ride report. 

Andrew

• Allan Munday        Yamaha FJR1300
• Anthony Hanson    BMW R1200RT
• George Attard       Triumph Tiger 800
• Warren Richer       Triumph Thurston
• Andrew Carley       Harley 883 Low
• Kevin Sherman      BMW R1250RS
• Andrew Campbell   BMW R1250RS
• Damon Hatchett    BMW R1200R
• Noel Bentley          BMW F800GSA

Riding On Too (RO2) for April

The April RO2 is now available!!

 As with the sands in the hourglass, 

the time for a new magazine has come around and

the April Riding On 2 is now available for your reading pleasure!

>>Click here<<

 

Rockley Ride, 11 April ’21

Rockley is not a destination as such. Rather, it has a pleasant pub for lunch on a route which takes in some really good motorcycling roads; the Abercrombie River valley in both directions has countless tight turns, some steep hills, and some spectacular scenery.

In the event, there were four riders on a day when somebody had thrown the big switch from ‘summer’ to ‘winter’; winter riding gear was definitely required. The temperature on departure was six degrees, falling to four degrees as we passed Black Springs, and hovering around eight degrees for most of the ride. It was fine,but regrettably pretty windy. There was a strong, gusty westerly giving us a crosswind almost all day.

This was also the day when Kevin Sherman turned up on his new BMW. Now, having traded his thunderous Indian, people no longer refuse to ride behind him; he volunteered for TEC duties anyway as he gets used to the new bike.

The route took us through Tarago and Goulburn to morning coffee at the lovely Grand Ettie Cafe in Taralga, where Kevin and Anthony had the rather generous egg-and-bacon-rolls, then found that they couldn’t fit in lunch afterwards. After that was the first crossing of the Abercrombie; a narrow, steep descent to the river, then an even steeper climb out though on a rather wider road. From here we headed through Black Springs to Rockley with little traffic in our direction to trouble us, but a lot of motorcyclist going south. The Rockley Pub had lit their combustion stove for the first time this year, and its warmth was most welcome.

The return journey took us to Perthville for fuel, then home via Trunkey Creek and Tuena. This second crossing of the Abercrombie is also steep and winding, but two of us had the misfortune to get stuck behind a farmer ina ute who braked to hardly more than a walking pace at every corner.

Last stop was for a warming coffee at Crookwell. By now the wind was starting to abate and the temperature reached a high on the run home from Gunning; 12 whole degrees!

The team:

● Anthony Hanson BMW R1200RT
● Dave Jones Yamaha XT1200Z
● Kevin Sherman BMW R1250RS
● Scott England BMW R1250RT (RL & scribe)

 

 

Ride to Jugiong and Harden, Wednesday 18th March 2021

Original destination for this Wednesday ride was the Schmokin Motorbike Cafe in Berrima, but this was cancelled due to wet weather overhanging NSW anywhere north of Canberra. To emphasize this a very dark mass of cloud activity was overhanging the immediate area north of our departure point namely the BP garage in Watson. Still five of us had gathered to decide on a ride out West for the day instead where the weather was somewhat better, at the very least no heavy rain.

 It was eventually decided to ride to Uriarra Crossing and Mountain Creek road to head towards Yass, then on to Long Track Pantry for coffee, a favourite stop in Jugiong. After a chat we would then head for Jackson Bakery in Harden for lunch. Roughly a 320km + ride for the day.

 Once mounted, we made our way back across Canberra suburbs towards the Uriarra Crossing and on to Mountain Creek road. These roads and the area are a gem to ride through with sweeping farm lands across the Yass Valley well away from traffic and the hum drum of suburbia. On Wee Jasper road things got a little more interesting as just after crossing Lake Burrinjuck over the historic Taemas Bridge we had signage to slow us down to 40 as we wound our way up the escapement.

 Here we found speed restrictions in force due to what initially looked like a major car accident scene but on closer inspection while riding through it looked more like a large paramedic rescue exercise with a car on its side but tethered on the very edge of the escapement with groups of people positioned around the scene and even some dressed mannequins on the side of the road. This was a major topic of discussion once in Jugiong as we tried to figure out just what we witnessed.

 Much later however, once home I found out from my wife initially and then the Canberra Times online that ‘Home and Away’ where staging an accident scene that week along Wee Jasper Road for the new series of the show. The web page also mentioned locals were up in arms about it noting it was their only access route into and out of Yass. The things you see on Ulysses rides, we could have been stars in the next series of ‘Home and Away!

                                               The Long Track Pantry

The only rain (really slight drizzle) we hit on the ride was in Yass proper which persisted until we got to the Hume highway and heading south to Jugiong. We joined the Hume and fell into line behind a spotless BMW highway patrol car which seemed to be happy to escort us at a distance all the way down to and on into Jugiong town. They also stopped for morning tea at the Long Track Pantry but thankfully later declined to follow us on up to Harden. The Pantry was humming as usual, never short of patrons even in the week.

                               At the Pantry enjoying morning tea.

The Jugiong road up to Harden was as usual simply superb with its sweepers. Once in Harden we refuelled then headed on up to Jackson Bakery. As forecast the north-westerly wind were starting to build. The Bakery is another biker friendly cafe which provides good and hearty street food and plenty of seating out doors in their garden. As we were getting ready in the wind to mount for home we had the good fortune to briefly exchange greetings with some riders just arriving from Wagga. They were heading on up through NSW to Queensland. They had decided to travel inland away from the Low pressure belt overhanging the Sydney basin and the East Coast. We wished them luck and departed.

                                 The Jackson Bakery and the outside garden area.

The return ride was uneventful except for the gusts of wind on our Port (left) bow as we made our way home along Burley Griffin Way, the Hume and Barton Highways into Canberra.

 Overall, we managed to turn what could have been a very wet and uncomfortable ride to Berrima, into a great regional ride even though it was a familiar favourite route. We also had plenty of opportunity to discuss just what we saw on the road as well as sought out the troubles of the world and more importantly our next bikes. Again it is very hard to beat a mid week ride where tourist traffic is light.

 Warren

 The Weather: Top 21 degrees, overcast scattered showers.

 Overall Distance finally traveled: 325 kms

 Ulysses Riders:

• Kevin Sherman            Indian Scout
• Dave Mossman            BMW 1250RS
• Chris Dietzel                 Kawasaki GTR 1400
• Hartmut Kehm             BMW R1250GS
• Warren Richer             Triumph Thruxton R1200

March RO2 now available!!

 Yes that time has come around and 

the March Riding On 2 is now available for your reading pleasure!

>>Click here<<

and as always, 

if you would like to see the full 30 year archive

 >>click here <<