Black dog ride - 2015

Sunday March 22nd marked the day for the Annual Black Dog ride - a ride I participate in each year, this year was no different.

The Black Dog ride provides awareness for depression and mental health and raises money to support integral services such as Lifeline. No more worthy a cause to pull on the boots, stuff my head into a helmet and throw a leg over the Ape......game on.

Like years in the past - I am riding as a corner maker to assist in the marshalling of the main bunch - this means the day starts early.

By the time I hit the road the sun is just up, the low-level fog is refusing to shift. The roads are damp. The tyres are cold. It's 9c and I have nearly an hour slab at free-way speed. Great!

The solution - base layers, thermal layers, wind-stopper layers and heated grips cranked. Slab done and done.

We meet at the official start point in Pakenham -  standard affair, corner marker briefing, then main bunch briefing, then go.

The corner markers head off, hitting the black stuff - most of the riders manage to follow most of the marshals, most of the time - most being the operative word.....

I'm dropped on a corner as we head into Yarra Glen - a marker-mate is dropped on the entry corner and I am on the exit. We're going to be here a while.

Ample time for me to remove my base layers and wind-stopper.

I get busy on the side of the road redressing myself.

I also take the opportunity to let some air out of the tyres - I'd been a little too generous with my set-up adding too much air when cold. The Ape was chattering around from both the front end and the rear - taking some air out, adds more give to the hoops, making her nice and compliant.

Done and done....




My marker-mate standing stoically - waiting for riders to marshal. The seriousness of it all is overwhelming. :))

And here comes a component of the main bunch - it did get quite spaced out this year......

We continue into Yarra Glen for a mid-ride regroup allowing any stragglers to catch up. A quick "splash and dash" for bikes with limited range and we're off again.

We point the bikes towards Toolangi then King Lake. Beautiful roads out this way - up the front, in the corner marker bunch we get a clear run through some pearler roads.

I'm dropped on another corner or two before the ride finishes up back in Pakenham - the local Lions club putting on a BBQ lunch with many hungry and deserving riders to feed.

All in all, another great run for a great cause.

See you all next year.
\BitSar
--getting redressed by the side of a road, marking his corner.

Reunion

This Saturday was the 10th Anniversary of the launch of NetRider........an Australian based motorcycling community site with members from all over the World.

So!.........it was decided to use the Saturday morning practice session as a get together......a Reunion of Misfits......

This is only one such event which was held over the weekend......many other States held their own Reunions on the same day to mark the occasion.......there sure are a lot of NetRiders out there.

We couldn't forget to run the practice course.........for some reason it ended up happening like this......

It was a great day out, a great excuse to catch up with mates and to reconnect with many NetRiders I haven't seen for a while......

Thanks guys......Motorcyclists really are the best kind of people.

\BitSar

Jinxed............

A couple of weeks ago I headed down to the old stomping ground and a bit of practice.......

I love these guys and gals........the best people.......

As it happens I got talking to a good friend about bikes, as you do, and for some reason we go onto indicators.........

He rides a lovely black on black 2012 Triumph Street Triple R......a magnificent looking thing......turns out (pun intended) that the indicators are identical to those on the Ape....and the Ducs.....and the Ape APRC RSV's....etc...etc.....

They have been known to fail on the expansion section between the mount and the indicator housing.......

On the day myself and my mate were discussing the "known issue" - my reply......."Nah mate....no problem with mine.......thanks for the heads up though"

JINXED

Got off the bike the following Monday at work and realised I had a broken indicator stalk...........indicator itself still works......

All under warranty and the dealer is being very good about it so no love lost.......

And hey.........mate (you know who you are)......I've got a spare globe now!

Good times indeed..

\BitSar 

Toy Run - 2012

Each year the MRA in association with the Salvos organise a Toy Run charity ride..................
Each year I ride and bring a Toy donation for needy kids and their families..........a good excuse for a ride eh?

***

The guys met at my place for a Man's breakfast whilst we got the bikes ready and strapped on the tail-bags full with our gifts.....................almost like Ye'old St.Nick with his sleigh and sack...........although, I think our rides have just a little more horsepower...........

We headed to the official meet point in Port Melbourne where hundreds of bikes were congregating......all manner of decorations and costumes........riders really do have big hearts.....

As the Port meet point is an official start location it attracts a large amount of riders making travelling in convoy quite difficult...............VicPol get involved and help to get the bikes out to Calder park safely.................they even let us through against Red lights....shepherd us onto the Tulla Freeway without having to wait........and.......turn a blind eye to some of our Mods...........thanks boys!

We arrived at Calder park Raceway.........

Once at Calder park we give our Toys......talk to vendors and see the displays.......

Each year there are Stunt and Trials riders who amaze the crowd...........but that's not the reason why we do it......this ride is for the kids........but hey.....a little rider-entertainment can't hurt eh?

Thanks for the ride fellas......

\BitSar

Practice, practice, practice..........

About 2 years ago I came across a forum thread offering new riders a chance to practice basic bike skills in a controlled environment...........at the time I'd been road riding for about 12 months so I thought a bit of a refresher might not be such a bad idea......

Since that day - way back when - I've been attending these Saturday Practice sessions frequently and infrequently as life dictates.......

I hadn't been for quite a while so yesterday morning......having no ride plans for the day.....I decided to head back down to the old stomping ground to catch up with some mates and to see the new guys and gals ride the course......

These sessions really are a community service........they are so important to many new riders.........there are two Guru riders who organise and run the sessions......every Saturday.....they do this for the love of riding and to teach new riders how to be safe.......they give their time, experience and wise words every weekend and ask nothing in return........very special indeed.

There is much more to motorcycling than just the ride.......of course......riding is the fun part, it is why we all do it.......but the most important part of being a rider is the people..........I have worked in numerous industries and met many people over the years and I can honestly say that riders are some of the best people I have ever met........

I'll continue to attend these practice sessions well into the future..........I'll still run the course from time to time to keep up low speed skills, although being a commuter I get lots of practice with slow speed technical riding........as any rider knows......it is much HARDER to ride well SLOWLY then it is to go fast......

But mostly......I'll keep going to see my mates........meet the new guys and gals entering into the Moto community and to see all the smiling faces........

You guys are great.

\BitSar

WTF - When Thought Fails........AKA - What The F^ck?

Sooo.........this is a mini rage post.................unfortunately this rage is directed at another rider......yes - it's sad but true.......ahhhhhhh - here goes......

At the office we are lucky enough to have dedicated bike parking which is undercover, out of harms way and secure...........we appreciate this.......well - most of us do.....

At a squeeze you'd get 6 VERY WELL PARKED bikes in here.........the only requirement is parking tail in.....and STRAIGHT........who would've thunk it eh?

Well then.....this morning I arrive and see this POS Honda-Davidson parked front in taking up at least 3 Moto spaces.......I mean dude.....WTF?

Adding insult to injury.....this is the first time I've seen this bike in here........a nice sunny day and a Solar-Powered inconsiderate rider......on a POS cruiser decides to grace us with their presence.........A little birdy tells me this bike will NOT be seen here again........well - at least not parked like this.........

\Lost a little more respect for humanity........

<cries_a_little>I didn't think it was even possible........</cries_a_little>