Sunday, December 16, 2012

Mt Victoria

The plan for today was to go for a ride somewhere probably the last one before Christmas, anywhere would do. It was also going to be 37°C(99°F) today which isn't the most fun to be riding in. After meeting with Bushpig and discussing the options there ended up being only one option really in this heat. And no it wasn't the air conditioned pub although that was on the list. We decided to head up into the Blue Mountains with the idea being that it would be cooler higher up in the mountains and we could ride some twisties at maybe 10°C cooler than anywhere else.

After Jules and Brenda's Recent articles on riding in the heat I wasn't looking forward to it one bit to be honest, I even decided to wear jeans instead of my usual full leathers, I'd forgotten to take my camel back as well D'OH I just hope it is cooler up higher.

It turned out to be a great choice by the time we hit Richmond we needed to stop for a drink at the servo where we'd met a guy on a brand new Aprilla RSV4. We chatted with him for a bit before heading up into the mountains. You could feel the temperature dropping as we went up to make the day at least bearable. Our first stop was at mount Tomah to put the Gopro on, then on towards lithgow. From lithgow we then turned back onto the Great Western Highway and up to Mt Victoria.

Here is a short video of me following bushpig down the twisties into Lithgow, then near Hartley and going up Mt Victoria.





Just after we hit the top of Mt Victoria we stopped in at the Imperial Hotel for some lunch. It was quite a pleasant day up in the mountains, more like about 25°C(77°F). I had a chicken schnitzel for lunch and it was a bloody excellent meal, all washed down with an ice cold beer. Does life doesn't get any better than this? There were a few bikes at the pub today also and we saw lots riding through the mountains.




The pleasant cool mountain air seemingly vanished as we got down towards Penrith and the heat was stifling. I just wanted to get home now we hit the M4 motorway. Just like Jules said on his blog was it worth riding in the heat. You bet, any time out on the bike is good in my book and sometimes you just have to ride no matter what the conditions are.

9 comments:

  1. Steve,
    Hahaha, it's tough riding in the Southern Hemisphere at present eh? Great that you have the Blue Mountains to help out. Like you, I have full leathers but after Jules' recent comments, I might have to look at some Kevlar jeans.

    All the best for the festive season and safe riding mate!

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    1. Riding it 37°C heat is tough when your riding in it for a few hours. Still it was a good outing never the less. All the best to you and the missus.

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  2. We carnt win can we...it is either pissing down or stinking hot!

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  3. Nice one Bro. That was the Bell's Line down into Lithgow? Haven't been there in yeeeaarrrs.

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    1. It sure was, say you had better come down then.

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  4. Isn't it nice to be able to head for the hills when it gets too warm. We like to do that too in the summer to escape the heat, but riding back down into the valley is like riding into an oven.

    Did you feel nekkid without riding pants on?

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    1. It was a bloody life saver heading for the hills I'll tell you and your right it was like riding into an oven.

      Hahaha I did feel kinda nekkid without wearing my full leather suit, it was only the 2nd time this year I'd riden without my full suit on

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  5. Great that you guys got out for a run. Weather's been nuts here at present - hot days, wet days, hot wet days etc!

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