Forum Replies Created
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Chicken wrote:Don’t worry James I haven’t riden a bike for more than 15mins at a time so I will be right with you :laugh: :laugh:
How is the new toy going Chicken
I Don’t think even a lack of ride time brings you back to my level
I am trying but self preservation keeps getting in the way :pinch:I fall over too often TR :whistle: Don’t think those would last long on my bike
MrSquiggle wrote:james wrote:Trailboss wrote:As we spoke at the airport mate fuel won’t leak out. I will take a few pictures tomorrow morning and show you how to discount the line (special clip and safety) and where I routed my cablesTB
Thanks a lot TB,
While the bike is in pieces I think I will go the whole hog and get some new bling handlebars and heated grips, that Lithgow ride was cold. l am also keen on getting a damper after Plommer rd :laugh: :laugh: and it might as well be now cause I don’t want to dismantle the bike again,not something I excel at :blink: :blush:Don’t think Steve still sells the dampers does he?As for handlebars I think I read you got yours at Suttos if so would you mind letting me know what to get and I will do a little shopping.
Cheers James
Hey james, I had heated grips on a street triple, super convenient but when you sell the bike you have to go again and if it gets really cold they dont really cut it. I just bought a set of heated gerbings gloves and jacket liner for rides like lithgow, much better that heated grips IMO used them on the wauchope ride twice. Little bit fiddly but absolutely great for keeping warm. I think ADVmoto sells heated gear as well. Others may be able to comment on those products.
Not sure Squiggle but do you plug that clothing into your bike cause I don’t even have any power outlets on my bike yet, which reminds me I need to get the GPS hardwired also.
This is becoming a looong to do list
Have tried thicker gloves in the past but struggled with the lack of feel on the controls, maybe the ones you speak of aren’t that thick and rely more on the heat :unsure:
Either way it looks like I shall be paying ADV Moto a visit next week in regard to dampers and see what he has got in the way of keeping my hands warm on the colder rides
After the weather we had in Sydney today staying cool will be more of a concern shortly anyway
James
Thanks Mr Squiggle,
I really don’t have much of a clue about riding or the mechanical side of things :blush:Thankfully others on OBT are more than willing to give some help to the likes of me
Thanks Pete,
Enjoyed that report, was good to get a sweeps take and perspective on the ride.Good to see you got to have a bit of a go on some parts of the route instead of looking after the slow , lost, and wounded the whole trip :whistle: Must be frustrating at times for the sweep riders not being able to pin it and ride like they usually would :woohoo: Litter patrol duties as well, that’s something that hadn’t even occurred to me :pinch: You all do a great job and thankyou for being so generous with your weekend ride time
That’s a bugger with the bike Pete, didn’t something like that happen to TBs, hope its an easy fix for you.
Cheers James
MrSquiggle wrote:First couple of ADV rides I was wearing full armour and boots, not alot feel on the big bikes but plenty of protection, considering the speeds you do on a 220 KG dirt bike in tight trails. Wookie had a close call when he flipped his GS on a ride and had it landed another foot to the left I reckon it could have been a pretty tragic weekend, lesson learned and for a very experience rider.I am thinking I had the right idea the first time around. For day cruising standard adv gear. For Nav rides I think full protection given the increased chance of accident due to rivalry in larger groups and knarly terrain.
You know TB, I reckon you should have a grading system for the ADV rides.
Grade 1 – Learning to ride on my new ADV bike, dirt and tar roads please and no creek crossing.
Grade 2 – Been riding for years but never in the dirt. Causeways and occasional creek crossings, mild hills and challenges, good road bike rider but need to learn a few dirt techniques.
Grade 3 – Been riding adv bikes in the dirt for years bring on the pubs and lattes
Grade 4 – Retired Enduro king I can wheelie my GS over logs
Grade 5 – I can ride my ADV bike like a 300 2 stroke up snotty hills all day, get out of my way.With ADV bikes fitness is not as big of an issue as with enduro bikes but when you get into trouble the big bikes bite hard. I reckon while everyone can ride these tracks there are alot of reflexes and techniques that some of these technical sections could require and it may be the difference between a close call and a visit to hospital if you dont have them and you do get into trouble.
I think the advantage of a grade system is that you can either put grade warnings on the GPS route or simply use coloured arrows to let riders know what they are in for. An ADV level rider that locks the front in a rut on a steep down hill for instance is going to learn the hardway what enduro riders already know, not a good lesson on a 200KG adv bike + lugguage. Especially if the big pig lands on your foot
The other benefit is guys that are improving can join the appropriate rides that forum members organize themselves and increase thier technical ability gradually.
My 2 cents
HI Mr Squiggle,
Speaking as one of the newer riders with less experience and skill I have always taken comfort in knowing that I am in knowledgeable and capable company on these rides, that includes you and every other rider that is above my level of ability. I have just listened to the warnings about certain sections of the route and how to ride my bike accordingly feather the front brake etc.Your right in what you say about armour the Farrier said much the same to me as this ride was tougher than previous and deserved a little more respect and possibly protection than the standard adventure suit.
In regard to grading I personally don’t need to try and remember any more details along the journey as my head has enough stuff to remember already I just listen to the words of caution on the day and try hard not to get caught up in racing and over step the mark and my ability.
If this ride had been graded I may not have got to succeed at it and decided not to do some of it due to a higher grading number the parts that were a worry for me are the slower speed sections so even if it had gone pear shaped it would not be too bad, the rest of it I just don’t ride to fast.
Cheers James
Well another journey of epic proportions has come to an end. :woohoo: And with it memories of excitement fun and fear. This ride was by far the most difficult Nav ride I have been on in the sense that there were not too many places where you could switch off and cruise along taking in the scenery, like some of the other rides I have been on.
Day one and it was sand, sand, sand, in this little stretch alone I think I must have picked my bike up half a dozen times, :pinch: and it was a relief to be out of it and back on solid ground, a crossing of the Simpson is unlikely for me. 😆 Nice views of the ocean followed with faster more open stretch of track.
Along the route I was passed by numerous riders and I still can’t believe just how fast some of you pedal your bikes. I realise I am like a speed hump and an inconvenience to get around :blush: , but my speed isn’t there yet, sorry, hopefully soon. It was speed combined with a late start and a few short stops along the way that saw me pull the pin at 3:30 at Taylors Arm and slab it to the motel via the servo and bottle shop.
Day two and an earlier start time with yesterday’s DNF pissing me off, saw the Farrier and I kick-off at around 7:50, and once again it was a case of him waiting for me every so often at an intersection.
We had been told of a steep decent on the route but after conquering yesterday’s steep section without problems I was apprehensive yet confident on what may lay ahead. Well all I can say is that I am glad I didn’t see photos of it prior because I don’t know that I would have done it, they say ignorance is bliss and it sure helped me here as once heading down there wasn’t a thing you could do about it. :blink: :ohmy: I stalled my bike half way down and thank #@&! It was right in front of an erosion mound. Would have loved to have seen the expression on my face as I was $#@%% myself. :laugh: :laugh:
Made it to the Pub with no beer to see Wolfman on the balcony enjoying a schooner of old, but although tempting pushed on to make better time.
Not exactly sure where it was but ran into the Beer and Band-Aid convoy somewhere along the route, must have been a dozen bikes, one quad and half a dozen utes flying towards us on a narrow twisty bit of trail which could have ended badly.
Frodo’s pies saw me push on without stopping, and leave the Farrier to have his lunch and mow me down later, oh to be faster. :pinch: I had intentionally adopted the Tortoise and the Hare approach after my disappointing DNF the day before.
A tight little single track with a milk crate bridge was a good little test for me, firstly finding it with the GPS and then weaving my way through it, this ride did pose me a lot of challenges.
Not much later I found myself on a tar section and looked down to see the line had turned blue so I turned round and headed back down the hill only to see two bikes flying back up the hill past me. So turn around again head back up to where they had pulled over and waited. The two riders turned out to be TB and Lefty and judging by the look on TBs face I am not sure who was more surprised to see who, me them or them me . Loaded the next map on the list and the purple line came back and away I went.
Was glad to see the finish line on this ride and take a break it was a challenging ride for me, sand and steep in parts but great fun none the less. Definitely need to improve in some areas and if and when the instructional courses take place hope to attend as they are on my to do list, my bike may appreciate them also as I must have dropped it ten times on this ride :pinch: :whistle: .
Thanks to all concerned for yet another great weekends riding, sponsors Steve , Yamaha, riders Mick, Pete , Strucky , Lefty, Amy hope I haven’t missed anyone and of course TB well done on yet another successful nav ride.
Looking forward to the next ride and partyCheers James
