Syd ride 27th Sept

[Dannog]

I'm keen to join in.

[craigo]

Did a recon run on this today: It's a pretty sweet run.. Getting to the top of Mount Panorama took about 2.5 hours from the Rouse Hill Caltex (@speedlimit+GST). Spent half an hour on top of the mountain doing laps (at the signposted speed limit of course). From there went down into Bathurst for something to eat and then off to the loop around the back of Tarana and Lake Lyall (this took about another 2.0 hours). Return trip from Lake Lyall via Great Western Highway was somewhat painful (half it felt like 40Km construction zones or school zones) to about Eastern Creek on the M4 took another hour and a bit. It may be better to avoid this altogether and return via Bells Line..

So with a larger group, I reckon round trip time would be about 7.5 hours including fuel stop and lunch.  You could probably shorten than somewhat by avoiding the Tarana run on return if there was time pressure.

I'll post updated maps and stuff shortly.
 

[Dockstrada]

Did a recon run on this today: It's a pretty sweet run.. Getting to the top of Mount Panorama took about 2.5 hours from the Rouse Hill Caltex (@speedlimit+GST). Spent half an hour on top of the mountain doing laps (at the signposted speed limit of course). From there went down into Bathurst for something to eat and then off to the loop around the back of Tarana and Lake Lyall (this took about another 2.0 hours). Return trip from Lake Lyall via Great Western Highway was somewhat painful (half it felt like 40Km construction zones or school zones) to about Eastern Creek on the M4 took another hour and a bit. It may be better to avoid this altogether and return via Bells Line..

So with a larger group, I reckon round trip time would be about 7.5 hours including fuel stop and lunch.  You could probably shorten than somewhat by avoiding the Tarana run on return if there was time pressure.

I'll post updated maps and stuff shortly.
 

Dam 7.5 hours  may ass hurts already 

[craigo]

7.5 hours is sort of a worst case scenario. I did it in about six hours all up; I'm just adding 1.5 hours for fuel stops for testastrettas and time for Andy's steak to cook .

It's seriously worth it for the Mount Panorama laps. They are painting all the walls and the track and surrounds are already being prepped for the V8 Supercar race. Those dudes have massive kahunas, the track is *way* tighter than it looks on TV. The Cutting, the Esses, and Forest Elbow are frikkin hairy, even at 60 Kms an hour.

[mattyvas]

Actually it's been ordered and cooking already.
It was an extra double rump am I correct, well done also.

[Big T]

Dam 7.5 hours  may ass hurts already 

Bring it on. The Saddle Box seat will keep my butt nicely warmed and massaged as I cruise.......   [moto] 

Dam fuel stops are going to interrupt my little fantasy though....   

[mattyvas]

Can ya fit a couple of litres in there to extend the range?

[Big T]

Was thinking of that Matty. Have Option 2 of the seat with an inbuilt fuel cell...   

I might make 200km before filling up.....   

[Andy55]

It takes time to cook half a cow! I'm salivating already.
Looking forward to the ride.

Andy.

[mattyvas]

Yeah me too looking forward to getting out over the Mountains.

[craigo]

Proposed Route

Mapref     Section:                                                           Distance:                            Notes:

A -> B       Windsor Road Caltex -> Lithgow Servo                (99 Km)                              Gas for Testastrettas. Watch out for the final downhill run into Lithgow (tricky tightening ratio steep downhill left hander)
B -> C       Lithgow -> Mount Panorama                               (70 Km + laps  )                Potentially high  presence on the hwy between Lithgow and Bathurst.                         
C -> D       Mount Panorama -> Food/Servo                         (5 Km)                                Lot's of food choices. Gas for All
D -> G       Bathurst -> Lake Lyall via Tarana                        (50 Km)                              1.3 Km dirt section, sections of single subway road (ie single lane with dirt edges). Watch the nasty left hander over crest just prior to Lake Lyall (Big Yellow Left Hand arrow painted on Road).
G -> F       Lake Lyall -> Split                                              (30 Km)                              Route back down out of the mountains  from here depends on the where you want to come out (Windsor/Richmond side or Penrith/Great Western Hwy)


Matty: sorry this route doesn't include the Hawkesbury Lookout (it's sorta of on the way back, either that or you have to skip the best parts of Bells Line *up* the hill to get to it..). There a a gazillion other good photo opps though, especially at Mt Panorama or Lake Lyall.

Super TIB (or someone else that did the previous breaky run):  The way that I got to Lake Lyall via Tarana is almost all backroads from Bathurst.. I think it's a pretty neat run, but I'm unsure if you guys have a better way.


I am going to check tomorrow to ensure that they will not have closed public access to Mount Panorama next week in preparation for the race ('cause that would *seriously* take the fun out of it). I'll update with further info as it comes to hand.

[Dannog]

I'm really looking forward to heading out on my first run with U guys. I drive over Bell's line of road all to the time to get to my parents property and always wanted to do it on 2 wheels.

Need to seriously watch out for the blue lights between lithgow and bathurst. At that time of the day when we'll be travelling, they'll be sure to have radar traps on it. Bells line of road is usually very clear of the fuzz so we should be able to get into the twisties bits around Mount Tomah. It'll be awesome hitting the throttle on the apex as you head up these hills. 

[Super T.I.B]

Just warning you all as I think Craigo said, the Bathurst 1000 is held on the 9th-12th October.

You "may" be OK with going around the track, but I'm not too sure how long out from the race that they start setting up. 

[craigo]

They are already setting the track up (painting the track walls, planting and watering grass, grooming the kitty litter etc).  I just spoke to Bathurst Police and they advised that they close the track to the public on the Tuesday prior to the race, so we *should* be fine.  [moto]

[craigo]

Based on discussion with some of the folks at Ducati Concourse on Sunday, a 9:00 departure seemed to be the general consensus. This allows plenty of time for the Coasties (north and south) to make their way out west to the Rouse Hill Caltex.

I'm thinking the timing will go something like this:

depart Caltex Rouse Hill                                                                   Depart 9:00.
Arrive Mount Panorama                                                                   12:00  (many will arrive a little earlier than this, 12:00 should ample time for the tail and sweeper to get there).
Photos/Laps  Mt Panorama                                                               Depart 12:30pm. 
Lunch in Bathurst Main St                                                                 Depart 1:00pm. (short lunches are better imo, i'd rather be riding)
Fuel at Bathurst Caltex                                                                     Depart 1:15pm.
Lake Lyall Loop                                                                                Depart Lake Lyall Dam viewing area 2:30pm.
Back over the mountains                                                                   This should take about an hour and a bit, contingent on traffic on Great Western Highway, expect to be riding past Eastern Creek at ~4:00pm. Depending on where you want to end up (northside or southside), it may be worth crossing back over to bells line and   coming down that way.

If return time is an issue, you can simply skip the Lake Lyall Loop section and save yourself about 45mins-1hour by returning via the expressway to Lithgow.

Does this sound OK to everyone? Any questions or suggestions let me know and I'll see what I can do!