Sunday, October 25, 2015

Phillip Island Trip Day 5 & 6

DAY 5

The racing had come to a stunning conclusion and there were many beers drunk on Sunday night. Come monday morning I met Bushpig in San Remo for breakfast at the bakery, he looked a little worse for wear. Somehow the enthusiasm for riding today wasn't really there. It always seems like that after the event has passed, it's exciting leading up to it and when it has come and gone its like the realisation that I now have to go home its a bit of a depressing feeling, maybe that coupled with the fact we'd have to ride through the boring Police infested roads of East Gipsland.

Bridge at San Remo

After a delicious pie and coffee at the bakery we were on our way. We must have seen about 20 police within 50kms of leaving the island. Rather than ride back through the roadworks nightmare of Taralgon we decided to head around via Yarram. Now I remember why we never came this way, its straight and boring except a short burst of twisties in the hills near meeniyan. I kept trying to convince Bushpig he needed to experience 200hp but for some insanely stupid reason he kept refusing......




Fuel in Yarram
There were tons of bikes heading out from the Island and we stopped in Bairnsdale for a quick lunch before heading off then a fuel stop at Orbost. I decided that I would lead from Orbost as I thought there would be another speed trap out of town, I had a sneaking suspicion that there would be one about 20kms out of town. You guessed it they were hiding in the bushes again booking another couple of riders, luckily I was setting a blistering pace 5km below the limit.

I said to Bushpig that I wanted to ride the Imlay road so turn off up Cann River road, when I turned left I watched in my mirror but he kept going straight. I wasn't about to turn around to chase him and we would both meet up again in Eden which was our destination for the night. He had taken the coast road.



Just after turning up the Imlay road within the first 5 minutes I'd seen 2 kangaroos standing on the side of the road. It was around 5pm and I was starting to think if it was a good idea that I came this way now I was by myself on a deserted logging truck road late in the arvo with wildlife starting to come out. I think I passed one car and two log trucks in the 57 km along here and luckily I only saw the 2 roo's. The Imlay road is a little chopped up due to the trucks but its a fantastic roller coaster ride through the hills. Very open and sweeping curves up and down over the hills with some long straights thrown in makes this a fun road to ride and even better with no traffic. Just be careful of logging trucks during the week.


Imlay Road

Imlay Road

I'd rolled into Eden looking for Bushpig but couldn't see him anywhere, I was sure I'd find him at the pub but no dice. I went back down to the petrol station then saw him at the motel across the road where he had already secured us a room for the night. Fantastic, a quick shower then we hit up the pub for beer and food. The pub food at the Eden pub was fantastic, I highly recommend the scotch fillet steak it was brilliant. We both went to bed at about 9:30 completely knackered. 600kms done and dusted. My butt was hurtin, and my wrists and back were coming in for some hurting as well. I think i must have been putting extra press on them because of my butt being sore.

Our digs in Eden

DAY 6

Tuesday morning rolled around and we packed up and left early. We stopped in Cobargo for breakfast at the bakery for coffee. The plan was to head up to batemans bay then cross the Kings Hwy to braidwood. We got fuel at batemans then set off up Clyde Mountain. The front right fork seal had developed an ever so slight leak. Not to bad but enough to make me keep an eye on it.




The kings hwy has had a bit of work done to it lately by the look of it with a lot of the top twisty section now hot mix tar which is race track smooth. I give it 8 knee sliders out of 10 for fun. The new bridgestones finally got a work out after all the straight roads in south eastern Victoria. They handled very well over the mountain, good enough for some knee down action. This bit of road is fantastic fun.




After we blasted across the mountain it was more or less just boring slab work to Goulburn for lunch then the hume hwy back to Sydney. By the time I had reached home I was ready to set fire to the seat of the R1 my butt was in that much pain. I have a 5 day ride coming up in November and I was wondering if i'd be able to ride this bike that many days in a row. A touring bike this new R1 is not, it's a track bike lets not make any mistake here. The old R1 was actually a quite good sports bike/tourer. This R1 is not. It is very good at one thing and thats going round corners bloody fast. Comfort comes a distant 273rd place. Luggage carrying is not easy either. Now to see what i'm going to do for the up coming ride.



11 comments:

  1. great write up steve
    heard the police were giving the roads down there a bit of a work out
    glad i didnt go
    now to maybe help ya seat problem
    have you seen or heard of these
    motoskiveez http://motoskiveez.com/
    i have a pair of the adv style and yes it does help the sore butt syndrome for me
    read up on them and decide yourself as there not cheap
    if ya decide on some buy them here
    http://shop.adventuremoto.com.au/buy-by-brand/moto-skiveez.html
    in australia so you can get the quick
    next step would be a trip to goulburn to http://www.mjmcustommotorbikeseats.com.au/
    he puts gell into the seat in the pressure points
    well thats the best i can do for the comfort side of the problem and will do the luggage next lol
    sorry its long winded post

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    1. Thanks mate, theres definetly food for thought in these 2 options
      I've got a couple of ideas coming up.

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  2. Hell of a ride and a great story and photos Steve - well done mate! Congrats too on putting up with the pain of a sport bike over many hours! From personal experience, I can recommend the Airhawk pneumatic pad which I used on the 1600 km in 21 hours ride I did in 2010. Not particularly good looking but does the biz and can be quickly removed for shorter runs. I used the 11" x 9" pad which is really for pillions but it fitted perfectly.

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    Replies
    1. Hi geoff
      I was wondering about the airhawk. If its good for riding long distance what is it like in the twisties when you are hanging off on both sides. Does it work here or does it get in the way?

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    2. It's absolutely fine Steve. The secret to making it work is to literally put half a breath of air in it - no more. All it needs is sufficient air to lift those 2 bony protuberances a couple of mm. Any more than that is too hard.

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  3. Sounds like you need to buy some bicycle shorts with the padding in the arse and wear them while your on the R1. Of course you'll walk a little funny off the bike......mind you with a sore arse you'd be walking funny anyway.

    Thanks for the write up on your trip. It looks well worth dodging the police and the sore butt. Nice bridge shot at San Remo.

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    Replies
    1. Well i have something planned, ill have to see how it goes and i will report back when i have tried it out

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    2. Some of the long distance riders in NZ use large cell bubble wrap taped to their seat on a temporary basis for a long haul! Have never tried it personally but they swear by it!

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    3. A cheap version of the airhawk I guess, maybe not so good looking but effective?

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  4. Looks like you had a great time and good to see you made it home safely. I probably passed you somewhere on the road - going the other way of course.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure we would have. If i'd seen you somewhere I'd have stopped for a chat.

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