Can't beat pouring rain & wet roads

Well I finally got the new chain & sprockets on the Sprint. In the end I got the Triumph chain & sprocket kit - makes it a lot easier as it comes with the exact size DID chain, OEM sprockets and the locking washer for the front sprocket.
Some might remember me saying I was getting a wobbling feeling when I backed off on the throttle or changed down - I even thought the back wheel nut was loose at one point!
Well I found out why - when taking off the front sprocket, the weight of the wrench was enough to turn the nut - it's supposed to have a torque of 132NM - so the factory stuffed up on that one - big time! The front sprocket was wobbling on the shaft... lucky it had a locking washer on the spliced shaft!
Well it's fixed now and the nuts back on at the right torque - so it pays to check your nuts once in a while!
The chain got a good test today - I went for a burn with David S - he rides the black Speed Triple. It was cold, wet and up through Forest & out through the Otways the roads were drenched but it was a great ride. We stopped briefly at Martians for a 'pick-me-up' coffee & caught up with Martin who wasn,t even tempted to take us up on our offer to join us on our mission to Lorne via Skenes Creek.
We had a good lunch at the Lorne pub & headed back via Deans Marsh. The Sprint was minging when I got it home - the chain had a good workout & felt fantastic. Now I just need to get it serviced - maybe next week.

Last Ride Day on 31st May 09

Well its finally turned a bit chilly but not too bad considering its Winter - out on the bike the aches & pains are a good sign that we're not getting any younger.
Up in the northern hemisphere ridng in minus temperatures was normal, even in snow - wearing jeans, pair of Doc Martins and a Levi jacket minus the sleeves - hard to believe now when I'm freezing even with 3 layers of clothing and its 12c!

Its this time of year when that exhaust under the seat of the Sprint is very appealing!

The calendar has a break over June - I'm not sure if anyone turned up last Sunday anyway.
A few of us did the May ride to Deans Marsh. It was a great morning and great to catch up with a few old faces a Martians. Stefan was there on the bonnie - those exhaust modifications were too much for some of us - riding in his wake was like riding behind a tractor. I think he was going to put the original exhausts back on - too many of us told him the mods sounded crap!
I had an e-mail from the Point Cook Motorcycle Club - they're orgainsing the Pink Ribbon Ride this year and there's a departure point from Mercer St on the day - 25th Oct - see link for info.
Hopefully the week-end will be as good as the last one - I should have a new chain on the Sprint on Saturday and hope to get out on the road Sunday.
Might see you on the road...

Ride Day - 3rd May 2009 - Wye River

We all met at the Max on the last Thursday of the month & Wye River was chosen as the destination for the Sunday ride.
First, a quick one about The Max - it was disappointing to hear that the owner had called the police to have Stefan move his car off the pavement - if I didn't know better I'd think he didn't really want us there - cramping his style - only my opinion but there others that have the same view! At the ride on Sunday we all agreed to go back to the Wharfshed for the Winter break - Muz is happy with that idea!
It was a great turn out for the Sunday ride - about 13 bikes. Great to have Mark and Spook from the Triumph Owners joined us for the first part of the ride to Martians - Deans Marsh. There was also a few new faces - Wazzer on the T-Bird (beautiful bike), Gary on the bonnie & Dave on the Speed Triple.
It was a good ride out through Moriac and onto the Cape Otway Road.
The plan was to ride to Lavers Hill, then on to Apollo Bay and Wye River.
Things quickly changed as the temperature dropped and the sight of fog and black clouds rolling in over the Otways became a dismal prospect. So, a diversion to Deans Marsh to regroup in Martians car park. Coffee wasn't possible as Martians was packed with a group from a classic bike club.
A decision was made to ride on to Forrest and then down the Forrest/Skenes Creek road to get on to the Great Ocean Road - sounded good.
Those black clouds we'd seen earlier opened up as we got to Forrest - it absolutely poured & I had problems seeing the road through my visor - especially through sunnys! The sunnys were quickly ditched - it was so long since I'd ridden in rain I'd almost forgotten what it was like - great test for the Michelin tyres on the Sprint!
It was good to make it out of the rain & out into dry sunny weather once we reached Skenes Creek. We all regrouped & burned on to Wye River and a well earned lunch.
Stefan was on form and treated us all to a lemon tree irrigation demonstration before we left - don't think he know a couple sitting in the restaurant had a full view!
It was a good ride back along the Ocean Road & then to top it off we went the back roads into Deans Marsh - on dry roads - perfect! A quick coffee at Martians & then we all said farewell & headed home. Gary & Stefan hadn't fuelled in Lorne so it was touch & go - luckily they made it to Moriac & filled up.

Mal's Birthday Ride 22nd Feb 09
As I was getting the photos from the camera I realised I hadn't written anything about Mal's birthday ride on 22nd Feb - seems like it was yesterday!
It was a great ride to Daylesford & the girls even presented Mal with his own mini cake - complete with candle. Warren had brought the Thruxton out - it sounded awesome and flew!
Here's a little video of Mal blowing out his candle!

Tasmania Triumph Rally 2004 - 5th Anniversary

Well its hard to believe that is was 5 years ago this month when the Geelong RATs landed in Tasmania for the Triumph Rally.
It's still up there with the best 10 days I've ever spent anywhere and with the best bunch of people. A friendship was forged in those 10 days that will last forever. So to commemorate the 5th Anniversary I've dug out our theme song - remember the one Leigh told us we had to sing at the Triumph dinner but it never happened.
But, never mind, when we got to Strahan and after a few beers to celebrate Mal's birthday, the whole pub heard us sing it!
So here it is again - sing along if you want - goes to tune of Frank Sinatra's My Way.

TASSIE 2004 - Geelong RAT Anthem
Verse 1
And now that we're all here
I think its time that we should mention
Geelong the home of Cats and Triumph Rats too many to mention
We've road the Ocean Road
And scraped our knees on every corner
But more much more than this we're here in Tassie

Verse 2
And scrapes, we've had a few
But Trumphy takes us through it safely
The laughs, the jokes and fun
Our Triumph is our ole matey
We know we wont get lost
The girls they have their maps of Tassie
And Pete's out there in front
He's pretty snazzy

Bridge
Then there were days were some would go
Off road in dirt and through the trees
The corner came and disappeared
But little Dave was on the rear
The front wheel barely on the ground
He thought he was going the speed of sound
He wants to be like Bruce Anstie
But he must be dreaming

Last Verse
And now as I look around Its time to thank
Our friends at Triumph
Who brought us all here
As one, big happy family
We'll not forget this trip
Nor let Mal forget the kill switch!
But more much more than this
We love you Tassieeee

World Superbikes - Phillip Island 1st March 09

Well it was a wet & windy day when Murray, Mick, Jane & me boarded the 7am ferry bound for the World Superbikes on Phillip Island. We all convinced ourselves that the weather would get better - after all, it would be a miracle if it rained after so many days without a dribble!
It's always a lovely way to go relaxing on the morning ferry. Good thing Murray warned us about the ferry docking being rough - a few bikes have been dropped as the ferry bumps sideways into the docking bay - it did it this time too but we were ready!
It was a smooth ride to the Gippsland Hwy - got passed by a bloke on a BMW doing about 180km/hr - turned out he was a cop on an unmarked bike - separate rules for them!
Once we got to the island first stop was Doohan corner where we set up camp & soon were sheltering form the rain - it was pissing down - and cold...
Once the first WSBK race came on the weather had cleared & we weren't disappointed by the racing. It was great to be able to cheer on a fellow Ulsterman as Johnny Rea led the pack off the grid on the Honda 1000 RR. The lead was soon taken byNori Haga on the Ducati 1098R. Those Ducati 1098's can go & there was always a couple of them in the top 5 leaders. The new firing order on the R1 sounded awesome - like a big twin.
Troy Corser put on a bit of a show on the BMW, sliding through the corner before the straight and smoking up the tyre! Unfortunate that they didn't get placed i their first race outing. The Aprilia with Max Biaggi on board had a good race but missed out on a place as well.
Then there was Gary McCoy on the 675 - our hopes were dashed!
There were lots of Triumphs there & 1098 Ducatis everywhere you looked! That was even a 'Pete' replica!!
We made it back through the made rush avoiding the nutcases and just missed the 6pm ferry - good excuse to stop & have a quiet beer & wait for the next one.
Once underway we were treated to an exhibition of dolphins swimming & jumping throught the ferry wake.
It was a long day but we all thoroughly enjoyed it - even the weather turned out good.

Go Johnny Rae for the rest of the season!

Ride For The Hills - Bush Fire Appeal Ride

I had these details sent to me - anyone interested?

RIDE FOR THE HILLS

All funds raised will be directed to Red Cross Bush Fire Victims Relief 2009

Date: Sunday the 5th of April 2009
Starting: Pier Road, St Kilda - by the Catani Gardens.

Assemble: From 8am, there will be speakers at 10am
Departing: 11am for Whittlesea Arriving at destination at around 1 o’clock.

See www.rideforthehills.org.au for more information

Bush Fire Appeal Ride - Sunday 15th Feb 2009

Well I never ever thought the first entry of 2009 on this blog would be to talk about a ride raising money for bushfire victims! I just heard tonight that the death toll is now 189 and climbing - the stories still coming out of Kinglake & Marysville are as horrifically vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
We had been in Marysville over the Australia Day week-end and it was beautiful - rhe ride up to Lake Mountain at 7:30am on Sunday morning was as good as it gets - even caught glimpse of a lyrebird walking calmly across the road & jumping up into a lush green forest. We stayed at Marylands - a bit of a treat. A beautiful old guest house - it had been around since 1927 & stood proudly in the lush Marysville landscape. What a shock to wake up & watch the news last Sunday morning! Now its all gone. We met some lovely people that week-end - some we now know never made it out of the inferno that engulfed that beautiful little town.
So, it was great to hear about (thanks to Mal) the charity ride to raise money on Sunday - those places where some of our favorite haunts - Marysville was a place we all loved to go for week-ends.
This ride was one we definitely weren't going to miss & I've heard there are many more to come.
The ride itself on Sunday wasn't anything exciting - just a simple ride to Williamstown, catch up with the guys & then back to Geelong.
There were a few hairy moments when some blokes on bikes fancied themselves as traffic cops - nearly ended in disaster when they stopped traffic on the Princes Hwy at the Rippleside junction! The group itself got split up & some heading to the Little River pub while the rest of us rode straight up the highway - slightly chaotic at times!
But, it was great catching up with the usual crew & on the way back we stopped off at the Wharfshed for a cold beer & to kick back for an hour before we went home.
The Wharfsheds looking good by the way - some even think that's where we should meet again - felt like we'd come home! It was a great atmosphere down there & the beer wasn't bad either!
I heard today that the ride raised over $1500 for the bushfire appeal.
One part I didn't mention was the bloke on the Harley doing monos from the lights at Corio - now I've seen everything! In case you didn't guess already - his name was Warren!!
It will be great to get away for a week-end & I've heard that there's something on the calendar for the Labour Day week-end - calendar should be available soon.
Next meeting is at the Max on last Thursday of the month - next Thurs 26th Feb.