Saturday ride 3/12/11

[Intrepid Ken]

Anyone fancy a ride tomorrow, dirt or road. Let me know, the Boss is out of town!

I would be great to start early and come home before it gets too hot.

Give me a call 0427081113

Intrepid Ken

[Bozo]

Ken

Road all bitumen?

Armadale/Del Park Rd/Dwellingup (Coffee Break)/Nanga/Waroona/Perth.

Bozo
R1200c

[Davey_sprockeT]

Isn't tomorrow the Teddy Bear Ride?

[Bozo]

Davey

Ken did say starting early.

Now let me see 350kms and a 15 minute break...oh we need to meet at 6:00am at Catalanos...that will certainly avoid the heat but will be a very early start for someone coming from Wanneroo.

Other option is Kalamunda/Mundaring/York/Spencers Brook/Bakers Hill with two stops for Coffee (York) and Pies (Bakers Hill) leaving at 7:00am Catalanos and 7:30am to 7:45am from Kalamunda Shell (Mead St). More northern suburbs friendly.

Bozo
R1200c

[Intrepid Ken]

Bill and I are meeting at 0630 at Cats then off to do some slow dirt. It'll be the first time he's taken his new baby in the dirt

If anyone else is there feel free to join us.

Intrepid Ken

[Davey_sprockeT]

then off to do some slow dirt.

Is there such a thing as slow dirt? I was always under the impression that it's not possible ! like reversing gravity

Expect a full report over eggs and bacon tomorrow (the chicken contributed, but the pig really committed )

[bill9117]

Ken and myself met at Catalanos at 6.30am and ventured off for our "slow dirt ride" . We went down Welshpool road and ended the sealed part up near Pickering Brook. This was to be the initiating dirt ride for my new toy which hadn't seen dirt before. We stopped let some pressure out of the tyres adjusted the ABS, ESC, ESA and off we went with Ken leading the way and myself getting to know all the bikes little movements and what they would lead to and what I had to do to compensate and all those things associated with riding on a slippery uneven and soft surface with big ruts and bits sticking up where there shouldn't be. Intrepid Ken lived up to his name and took us along washed out gravel tracks across rocky granite outcrops sandy tracks and up gravel mountains. My first prang was the result of some fairly long soft sand streaches that the GSA developed a mind of its own and decided to head bush throwing me off into a rather prickly clump of plants. Ken had his trusty camera out in a flash and took the standard required club shots and assured me that we had only another 20kms min to go on this track till we got back to sealed roads. Well after another hour and another fall on a rather steep washed out soft gravel mountain track and a sore leg as a result and gravel rash on my new toy Ken decided that we were lost. It was now starting to get quite hot with my bike thermometer showing 38degrees and thinking we were only going for a slow easy dirt ride I was expecting to be sitting having a cold drink at a cafe by now. But no, here we were lost out in the middle of this National park with prime conditions for a bushfire, a leg that was getting very painful, no cold drink and not sure of the way out. Ken eventually found a GPS signal on his I-phone and he reckoned he knew where we should go to get out. So off we went again. I must admit I was starting to feel more comfortable with the beast and felt that I was getting to know all its little subtile moods a little bit more, but the "soft easy ride tracks: "were still quite tricky and meant quite a bit of concentration to avoid another prang. After what seemed a eternity and following a now very confident Ken who had now decided he now knew where we were to my suprise we got back onto the sealed road again. We stopped pumped up tyres and headed back to Catalinos and had that long awaited iced coffee. Overall I enjoyed the GSA dirt ride but feel it requires a lot of practice to ride the dirt with confidence. Oh and by the way Intrepid Ken also dropped his bike also

[bowewilson@gmail.com]

Wecome to the GSA club Bill!!

[GSDisciple]

Oh Billy your mini-ride report brings back memories......

"Overall I enjoyed the GSA dirt ride but feel it requires a lot of practice to ride the dirt with confidence."

And just when you feel like you have built enough confidence your GS will surprise you all over again!

JIGAP

[Bozo]

Bill

Slow dirt still hurts particularly when you are sandwiched between a heavy bike and laterite scree.

Disappointed that the full name of the "prickly plants" was not given ...possibly dryandra sessilis... but I won't continue to parrot on about wildflowers.

Glad to hear that whilst you took a set of gravel impressions and some bike bruxing you returned OK.

Bozo
R1200c

[Davey_sprockeT]

Onya Bill. Another pair of virgins (you and the GSA) bloodied into the fold. DS riding is another completely different world compared to the bitumen that we all know and love.

Onya for having the 'nads to get off the blacktop and have a crack at it. And as they say, with a little practice.......better things come.

Hoping to join you soon in some "nursery/snail trails".

and you know what they say...If your'e not coming off, you ain't trying.

[Swampy]

Well done Bill and congratulations on your ride in the dirt.

I'm a "Dirt Virgin" Although I did ride up a blokes Gravel Driveway a few weeks ago with the lads (Do I qualify as hard core)?

I take my hat off to you for having the guts to give it a go mate!

You must be thankful though that it was ONLY "Slow Dirt" that Ken took you on

Makes you wonder what his "Fast Dirt" is like though

PS: When do we get to see the photo's?

Swampy

[old betsy]

Ok Bill

Does Ken know what dirt looks like?

Time to go for a real ride now.
I'm looking for a new riding partner, my other one is busy at the moment with a pussy.

Rule 1. IF IN DOUBT, WIND IT OUT ( THE THROTTLE THAT IS ).
Rule 2. Refer to Rule 1.

Ahab

[bully1]

you'll be right Davey, if in doubt twist the right wrist. Trust me, it works, ( wanna see the bruises )


them big 1200's with all the elektickity bits are very confidence inspiring on the gravel roads, they only become a handful if'n you throw sand into the equation.

[Intrepid Ken]

Ok, there was sand but it wasn't that deep. And besides he was riding slowly on the left hand side of the road, and then went right!!!