Ducati Monster Forum

Mighty Victorians - let's get a ride going to correspond with the Sydney ride.

this was the best idea put forward by DosVerde:

Bugger the M1 Spider.... try Warburton, Powelltown, Noojee (stop at the toolshed for lunch) then the road from the base of Mt Baw Baw past Blue Rock Dam, then up to Walhalla, back down to Warragul, then south to Korrumburra, then back along the South Gippy  moto More twisty bits anyway


Brendan...don't we turn off at launching place or yarra junstion to get to Ptown / Noojee?

sure Toolshed as a break.....also Koonwarra food store as well...for fuel for bikes and people. From Trafalgar we could take the Hyland down to Yarram and across to Leongatha? or is the Strzelecki hwy the way to go?

now...how about I head off this Saturday morning and recon some of this?

Hey Spider,

Once again the organiser.  Well done! 
So how long are you planning for this ride to take?  It sounds like an all day job to me. (Not that I have a problem with that)
My social sectretary advises that I'm free on that day so perhaps I can meet you at Yarra Junction.
Details to be confirmed I guess.
My thoughts are to try to keep out of the mountains as much as possible because at that time of the year the roads will be wet and really slippery.  Also there is a great little road that runs between Inverloch and Cape Patterson that we found one year on the way to the Moto GP..... [moto]

Spider, to get to Powelltown you go through Launching Place then on to Yarra Junction where you turn right to Noojee.

I think my directions were a bit off 'cos from Walhalla too, you go down to Moe, not Warrigul. So what we could do is from Noojee, head south to Warragul, then south to Korrumburra (which is a good bit of road). We can head south to Inverlock from there if you want to do the road to Cape Patterson, Ducmeister. I think I know it. Does that pop out at Wonthaggi? I did it with a group of SV riders earlier this year.

There are some backroads we can take which pop out at Grantville, then follow the South Gippy back to Melbourne. It's about 350km all up. Add in a few stops and we are probably looking at 6 hours  :P It would look something like this......

(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll194/dosverde/idea_ride2.jpg)

B - is lunch

F to L - is where I get lost .....

did you miss the climb to Walhalla in that map?

Duc - I can report on cold/wet scenario after this Saturday's recon.

Ahh.. my old stamping ground (born in Toora near Foster) would love to come along... :'(

great ride, but i'm on night shift again (anyone up for a nocturnal ride ;D) just kidding....

Gedday you lot....

I'm on call that week (including the week-end) so you guys have fun without me [cheeky]

Ita

how about this weekend for the recon mate? or you still playing at being a the lady-killer at the bowling greens?

Warning: I'm slow i.e: I obey the law! (I've heard about you!)

Shouldn't you be working??? [coffee]  [laugh] [laugh]

Yup I bowl on Saturday's but at this time of the year it's mainly just social.   Pennant season kicks off in October [beer].   It is a very boozey sport [thumbsup]

Obeying the law is very sensible if you go week-end riding, cops everywhere in the hills and they show little mercy :'(   This is why I like to ride mid week.   I had a ride planned today with some mad mates, (these guys go HARD) but we cancelled due to last nights gales and todays forecast showers.   Figured there would be crap all over the roads.   Our route was from Warrandyte (11am) to Marysville for lunch then Lake Mountain, Reefton, Warburton for coffee then home....

Oh yeah...  (I was off on a tangent wasn't I :-[)   Sunday also out as my Mum and Dad are coming over for lunch [wine]

Ita

aug 2nd sounds good... barring any windy/wet days on or before, i'm in..  ;)

considering it's only 350-odd kays i don't think i'd need to worry, but it'd be nice to hear there's fuel stops every 130-150kays or so on that route... that's as far as my HM can go on a tank i think!

Hey Dos,

The posted route sounds excellent.   [moto]  Yes, that bit of road does end up in Wonthaggi if you turn right at Cape Patterson.

Wraith,

I can feel your fever from here.  That cough sounds terrible too.  I imagine you'll be quite crook by the 2nd. [puke]   [thumbsup]

So, I guess that gives me about 5 weeks to get some training in.   [moto]

Recon report

synopsis:

good news: good riding, good roads, lots of kilometers
bad news: it's cold, wet and best kept for summer riding (Rob (ducmeister) was spot on)

the beginning:

out to the basin and up and over Mt Dandenong, all roads are wet...I was already thinking Rob could be right about "the mountains". Monbulk to Seville then on to launching place (fuel stop and meeting point). I've already got 74km on the clock and I've just said hello to my imaginary friends for the day!

We turn left at Yarra Junstion and the ride begins, into Powelltown and Noojee - a lovely bit of road - the valleys are full of fog and it's cold (not Coldstream cold...but cold Brendan!). get into Noojee, 42km - the toolshed is closed - it's 10:30 in the morning (hopefully opening hours are more generous in the summer!). My riding companions complain about being hungry but I'm tougher than that! I'd actually suggest helping out the general stores and topping up the tanks! the next stretch is the longest.

10km and then a right turn into the c465, this road is narrow, wet and winding - full of blind corners in dense rainforest. Lots of stuff on the ground, great practice for practicing your target fixation skills (tree branch in middle of corner - don't look!). The road opens up after 7 km and we all make good time to the corner. Left into the c466 all the way to Rawson, a damn fine, fast, fun (the triple F) road, then the twisties to Walhalla - my imaginary frineds ride off from me because I'm going so slow, tight switchbacks, wet, slippery...I'm already looking forward to coming back with sun and better skills. 136km since the meeting place - see why we wanted the top up at Noojee!

Lunch at Wally pub. They serve pub food...with beer (I don't have any but my riding pals do).

The sun is out and its back along the twisties, feeling better already, only stuff up a fee (over geared or scrub off too much speed). Take the C481 down into Tyers where the hungry tank awaits. Quick ride to Morwell (this is where the ride turns dry!) and a nice blast into Leongatha.

It's 2:30 and gray already - I decide to do the 40km to Lang Lang along the A440 instead of Rob's 100km loop to Inverlock, Cape Paterson and along the coast...you're thinking I've wussed it - hold on....

Scream along the highway (at very legal speeds Ita!), hit the m420 and could have headed for home but take a quick detour to Frankston to have coffee with a friend. Onto the M1 and straight home...at 5:15!

total covered: 492 km








 

fun but useless data:

I've been riding 2 months and logged 5000km.

Over 700km this week alone...I'm still no good...but I'm trying!

when I grow up I want to be like BigIain  [thumbsup]

If I do a bit of research I may be able to come up with a route out to the north of Melbourne around Woodend way.  Did some cycling out there not too long ago and there seems to be some fairly quiet back roads that could do with a bit of investigation.
Is this an area that is easy to get to for most people?

hah ahh ahh ahahhhahahah......

I wonder if my imaginary friends were watching you :-\ :'( :-*

Great ride report mate...  I know the roads and in warmer sunnier conditions would have loved to have been there with you!!!

Ita

Yup there are some great roads around Romsey/Lancefield/Tooborac an onwards!!!

Ita

Good work Spider, the best way to get experience on the bike is to ride the thing. I did 130 kays Saturday with Major Slow (the new name for my brother-in-law) in 2 1/2 hours  :P  I have to teach him that his bonny can go around corners.

Yeah, lets come up with some other suggestions for not cold mountainous routes. I've always wanted to do a Mad Max tour, checking out the sites from the original movie. Most of them are betwee Baccus Marsh to Geelong (Anakie Road), I'll see what I can come up with.

Otherwise there are some nice rides around the northwest asa Duckmiester and Ita have suggested. Woodend to Dalesford for example.

I've heard some good things about the Baccus Marsh to Geelong route as well... Never gone and done it myself though. Not yet anyways.



Spider, did you manage to milk-run the Aug 2nd ride on the weekend?

AH the 2nd of august its the boogey date for me (its also my mother in laws 60th, if i'm not working i'm wearing a party hat :-X)

yeah JC, bottom of page 1, but BOY did I find a HyperMotard road!

I went through a lovely little place called Mirboo North (there isn't any south, east or west!) and it is located on a fantastic dirt track called the grand ridge road...starts at Hyland (I'd like to run that way some day) and ends at Strezleki. I thought of your bike - and the 50mm marzocchis!

ahah.. my bad... i'll do more reading next time before asking...  ;D

700km in a week? you'll reach bigiain's 200,000 in no time...

Rode through Anakie down to Geelong a couple of weeks ago and didn't think much of it.  Not enough twisty bits for my liking.
Maybe there's some different roads out that way that I don't know about...


Wraith, look at it this way, the sun will still come up on the 3rd.

Nah, you're right, the roads are pretty flat and boring along there, but I thought the theme might be interesting  :P  We can chase trucks and steal fuel.....

Bloody I.T. guys - they are just ruthless hellions!

Come up with some ideas guys - I'd like to get out there this weekend for an explore!

Dos - went through Coldstream today, app. temp was 4.8 degrees (according to BOM) - and it was warmer than the 1st DML ride we did with Madalf!

It's Johnny the boy...
He's done it again...  This time with a scrubber

I'm not going back...  Not for him...

Not for him Bubba for me...  Do it for me!!!

Nnnnoooooooooo...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry guys but it looks like i'll be MIA for the Aug 2nd ride.   :'(
I'm off to Malaysia for a couple of months for work.  ;D
Still, nothing quite like a stint overseas at someone else's expense. [thumbsup]
I should still have access to a 'puter so I'll try to keep in touch.

Cheers,

when do you leave Rob?

Where will you be posted? If it's KL and you like certain types of m'sian food then maybe I could point out some good places...  [thumbsup]

Spider,

Leaving Thursday.  Yes, that totals 1 week's notice.  So much to do, so little time...


JC,

Yes, we'll be posted in KL.  Staying at some flash place in Subang.  Any inside info would be much appreciated.
We're not expecting to get a lot of free time so knowing where to go and what's not worth the trouble would be great.

Cheers.

You'll be back in time for DML coffee in late September!

Have a great time - you'll miss the bike, eh?

Yes, I'll miss the bike  :'( 
Still, this time of the year is not my favourite for riding.  It's either wet or freezing cold.  Should be better by September.

Gedday Bob....

I drink at (play) at Auburn...   [drink] ;D

Ita

Rob,

Ok Subang is not that close to city, but not so far either. Not far from where my family used to live.

And actually, I'm not so much a local although I used to go back very often and loved pigging out.

In any case you're likely to find good food everywhere, so rather than mention which places to go (because I don't know/remember ;D), if you want I can suggest foods that you could try...

I'm not sure if you're familiar with what the Asian food scene is like, but you have massive choice of places pretty much on every corner of each shopping district that whilst dodgy looking can provide highly satisfying foodly goodness.

Don't be scared to try things there, there's less chance of food poisoning in M'sia compared to India/Vietnam/China..

Ita we will have to have a game of old mans marbles one day , I drink ( play ) at Landsborough

Bring it on!!

No dramas...

I've got a mate at Sebastopol and plan to play a tournament or two there this season...  Do you ever get over that way??

Ita

Ok start with the populars/you-should-enjoy-these; most of these will have a hint of heat/spice to them:
> Curry Laksa - Curry soup-noodles with chicken
> Nasi Lemak - Fragrant rice with your choice of toppings like Curry/Rendang/etc. Whereever you'll go the stalls that sell them make their own dishes so you'll get different flavours even if it's the same toppings. You'll probably be able to buy this everyday and have something different each time.
> Char Kuey Teow - Fried dry flat rice noodles
> Yong Tau Foo - medley of tofu type dishes sometimes stuffed with mashed fish, also sometimes with flat rice noodles, optional dry or soupy
> BBQ Pork Rice (Char Siew Fan)
> Wonton Noodles - optional dry or soup
> Chow Mein (Fried egg noodles) - dry
> Beef/Fish Ball noodles - soup
> Assam Laksa - This will test your tolerance of exotic m'sian food, maybe you'll learn to like it if you can imagine a sardine broth with noodles topped with the sardines, pineapple, mint, and shrimp paste (brace yourself if you haven't smelt that before).

All of them should be fairly tasty and satisfying for you. Makes me drool just thinking about it.

Oh also, with these foods, you'll also have a choice of sellers, be they Chinese, Malay or Indian, which also brings different flavours.

Here's hoping you're adventurous enough to try these. Would like to hear how you fare with the food by the end of your stint there.

Have a great time there Rob!

Thanks for the good wishes but the trip got canned today.  And I was due to leave on Friday!

D'OH !!! >:( >:( >:(

Sometimes the crowd I work for couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.  It can be very frustrating.  [bang]

There is still potential for 3 or 4 weeks in August but I'm not holding my breath.

The wife is definitely not a happy camper being 'robbed' of an all expenses paid 2 week holiday to Malaysia.  Sometimes I think that when managers cancel things like this they should be the ones telling the spouses, not us!

Thanks for allowing me to vent a bit.  ;D

Should be able to see you all for the brekky and ride days now. :)

Cheers.

Bummer for you and your wife...  :-\
Good to scam a trip away through the company, bad when it falls through.

Well, it looks like we'll be able to organise a bigger gathering to compete with them Sydney boys...

I will quite often shake my head in disbelief and ask myself "how do these business stay in business?"

the sad answer is...

they are ALL like this!

it's amazing anything can get done, for the first time in my career I decided not to write the home loan for a friend (I'm on annual leave) so I gave it to a friend at another bank - oh my lord - I could of written 4 loans in the time it's taken for them to get documents out to my friend - just tragic! and this is a big 4 bank too - they have completely stuffed up her First Home Owners Grant - I only gave them the original 6 weeks ago.

Bloody banks!

rant over...

[thank you]

Spider,

Deep breaths mate, go to your happy place. :)

Yes, it's true.  The company I work for is an Aussie icon and employs over 35000 people.  (mostly grumpy and disgruntled people at the moment)
It staggers me how they manage to remain profitable.

I'll carry on the rant ....

It is not so much how they stay in business or continue to turn a profit, but what they could do if they knew what they were doing. Customers, employees, shareholders, the economy .... everybody would be happier.

Maybe some people need to spend less time on the DMF for the greater good  :o ;)

Actually Betty I think the reverse. More people should spend more time on DMF and share the loving....  ;D  [laugh]

You're right Big T - the more we are on the DMF, the better for humanity.

It provides a healthy work/life balance and a happier workplace as a consquence.

Ita  I usually go west for tornaments etc but if you let me know times  I might be able to fit it in

Dunkeld???

Dunkeld is south ,we go to St Aurnard , Horsham . Never been to Dunkeld for marbles , may be able to float a team for a game  once the season starts . I will start late August with sets play pairs Ararat , until then it's work in the garden for mum ( brownie points )

Bad news guys, I'm up in Sydney on a training course next week..... Hold on, yeah I know thats bad in itself, but theres more...

I'm supposed to be on call next week, so I have to do it the week after, including the 2nd  >:(

Bugger...

Hi Melbournians, is this ride still happening?  I may be in the city picking up my repaired bike then and wouldn't mind going for a ride with people that know some good roads locally.  Getting tired of travelling the Western hwy so often.

that would be great Heather - I do believe the boys are waiting till we get closer to the date because it will be subject to weather, the meeting last Saturday was great - but then quickly followed by 3 awful days of weather...

we're thinking Woodend / Macedon way - avoiding the wet & cold mountainous (King lake, black spur, reefton etc) regions.

be great to hear another 1000 in the pack!

You're always welcome Heather.  Hopefully it will be a good day weatherwise.

As for where we're going to go I'm hoping to do a bit of exploring before late shifts at work next week to finalise a suggested route.
Please note all that it will only be a suggestion to go along with everyone else's ideas.   ;D

G'day Heather, I was born in a coastal town 45 minutes south of you ;) My family is still there, but usually take the car when I go down for a visit. I've been meaning to ride around the Grampians, especially the road from Halls Gap to Zumstiens, one day hopefully..... I've been told there are some decent roads heading towards the border as well, or is it just that they head towards the Coonawarra [wine]


Hey MelbMonsters there's an idea, in the spring how about an overnighter to Halls Gap? We can hire a couple of cabins and make a night of it......  [moto] [wine] [beer]

Or Dunkeld....  Have ya been to the Royal mail Hotel........   Sensational [beer] [beer]

Ita

Hey guys,

    Hope you have a good day out coming up.
Someone take a bunch of snaps for us so we can see as well as hear about what a great day you'll have.

you know I'm gonna do it on our little outing up here.

cheers
Matty...

hey Matty, I was just given a Sony cybershot W150 by a beautiful woman last night - it's about the size of 2 mobile phones and has 8.1mp and a Zeiss lens, weighs a bit only f#ck all - absolutely perfect for taking on cycling trips.

Now I want some bling to come over so I can practise some shots!

Spider

Uncorked another bottle of Rosé for you and the lady last night hey Spider?  :P

Pics please Mr Spider....

You must have taken some pics of her [evil] ;D

Ita

Excellent news Spider, lots-a-snaps on the next ride then.

ah you boys will just have to buy my self-help book to all men:

The mouth, The Clitoris and The Feet:
A guide to making the woman in your life very happy

...


It will be a good little bit of kit - and Brendan's wife will be able to see the mischief he gets up to when not attending puppy school etc.

JC, you must try it! Moscato by Innocent Bystander. After drinking you won't be able to get out of bed.....she won't let you!

Hey Matty - there is a cyber-shot model above mine that is 13.1 mp - now at that point I understand chipsets and lens will let the camera down - but hell that's impressive!

that wouldn't be suitable for a site like this! or any site really - personal enjoyment only, not that I would  [evil]

and I definitely didn't suggest it as soon as I unwrap the paper either!

I have no idea what you're talking about Spider, mi chica diabla know's I'm an Angel  ;D

Ita, yep been to the Royal Mail, the mushroom brulee entree I had was the start of a wonderful feast, and their wine list is phenomenal for a small country pub.

Right you two, start planning that trip! fantastic...is it in Halls gap too?

I'll bunk with JC...he looks least likely to snore!  [thumbsup]

Hi all,

went for a bit of a recce today to see if I could come up with anything for Saturday.   [moto]  Went from Whittlesea to Kinglake West, Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Broadford, Pyalong, Tooborac, Lancefield, Cobaw, Newham, Hanging Rock, Mount Macedon (lunch stop) [popcorn] [bacon] [coffee], Romsey, Wallan, then back to Whittlesea. 
All up from my place in Hurstbridge it was about 300km and took me about 4 hours with a lunch stop.
There weren't a lot of twisties.  It's mostly fairly open roads although not a lot of boring straight highways.  Some narrower back roads included were not very wide but in pretty good shape.  It's more of a fun touring route than a serious sports ride and could be added to if so desired. [thumbsup]

Thoughts please...

I won't be able to make it this Saturday - bike not repaired yet - still waiting for bits.  sounds like fun though if the weather behaves.


Hi DosVerde
A Grampians/Halls Gap/ Dunkeld ride weekend is a great idea.  Don't know about roads west to South Oz.  Haven't explored much that way yet.

Have fun all whilst I sulk.   
H

That route sounds pretty good DucMeister, pitty I won't be there. I know it's not too twisty but all the good ones are in the hills where it would be wet and cold., unless we go around South Gippsland.  Plus I love that little run through the valley from Flowerdale to Broadford.

OK then, sounds like i'll be plotting a Grampians overnighter for later this year.  [beer]

That sounds great....   I'll be up for it work  :'( and bowls permitting [drink]

Ita

So, some questions we need to sort out:

1.  Who is actually going to be there on Saturday (so we don't leave anyone behind when we leave)?

2.  Where are we going to meet?

3.  What time are we going to meet?

Here's a thought, how about postponing this for a week or 2. Doesn't look like there are too many takers at the moment plus the weather is going to be crap tonight and probably blow alot of rubbish onto the roads - oh I hate being the barer of negativity....,

Don't worry about the fact I can't come tomorrow affect the decision though  ;)

I'm voting to postpone too.

According to my neighbour (works at BOM) this wind (whoa!) and rain is in for the next 18 to 24 hours...clearing tomorrow afternoon.

anyone know about Sunday?

Yeh, on the BOM radar it appears to be really closing in now and tomorrow is looking like a write-off - possibly Sunday is looking ok.  I'm in the middle of changing sprockets/chain which I will finish tomorrow so postponing suits me...

Sounds like postponing is the way to go.  I'll be in Queensland for a couple of weeks from Sunday but I'll try to keep in touch.  Pick another date and I'll see if I can make it.

Cheers.

Hello chaps,

     Hope you had a good day out.
There was 14 of us including a ring on a Multi 1100 who rode the wheels off his bike all day.
We picked Big up at the 1st/2nd fuel stop where we lost the Multi who shot off home.
Excellent day for all, photos of course they are on my flickr below and on the Oz Monsters Flickr page now with up dated logo.

cheers
Matty...

Hi matty, Friday night was pretty wet and windy down here, and although Saturday saw a bit of sun peek through, it was still quite windy, so the ride was postponed. Well, I couldn't make it and I haven't heard otherwise.

Glad to hear you guy's up north had a great day out.

So how about another go, 16th or 23rd, who can make which?

as I said to the blonde and brunette on Friday night: I'm up for either!  [thumbsup]

Any of you guys doing the Tourismo  ???

So what are you saying? You won't make either or you'll be on your own?  :P [laugh]

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml?looping=1&reloaded=187&topography=true&locations=true&range=true#skip

I'm always checking out the BOM [thumbsup] [moto]

I thought about it but maybe next year. I'm trying to wrangle a 1 week ride in November, was going to be Tassie, then was NSW (Putty Rd, Thunderbolt Way) but it's not not coming together. Now I'm thinking the Bombala shindig.

I was riding with 2 mates up in the hills last year when the Turismo was on, and the snowy ride, but heading in the opposite direction. It was great seeing so many bikes around.

Yeah me to....

I went head to head with the Turismo...  Myself and two mates were riding from Mallacoota to Tinaldra via Cooma that very day!!!   I don't think I'd like a big organised ride like that Turismo!!!   There would be a lot of tossers to deal with :o :o   

I'm planning to do another Alpine ride Nov 10th to 14th this year with the same couple of mates....   Our paths might cross Brendan, we musta been bloody close last year when you still had the Kwak!!!

Ita