PAST EVENTS

8th-9th March - Weekend away to Kangaroo Valley

From Srool:

Last week ride to Kangaroo Valley Was Great thanks Sean for always been available and help (meet you there (almost in time…) and Chris for the Great and interesting (as usual) riding places: through those foggy views, fresh CO2 streaming through and open wide visor and wetting and winding roads and of course for Gary (Rock Star) for his warm and kind hospitality and very tasty Blenches on breakfast morning.

Thank you all Veggies - for the Interesting and warm company this weekend.

Cheers Mates
Mate/Srool

From Phil & Greg:

Greg, I didn't see you on the ride to Lake Macquarie - you telling me that a little water from above can put you off???

For all the others who didn't make it (be the excuse the weather or hangovers or both): We were 8 riders - no girls this time and a couple of new recruits to join. The ride was damp, a little rainy but not anything like what I rode through coming home from North Sydney at around 10 pm!

Yo, can't wait to get out there again!

Greetings, Phil & Thumpy

Phill, you didn't see me huh. It must have been a strange sight having a teal blue Across overtake you through the twisies at Mt White with no rider on it.

Greg (The supposedly invissible man)

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ooops, mixed you up with someone else!

But what WAS that phantom across doing there without the rider on it???

Phil

Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th March -
Level 6/7, 8/9 and 11 courses at HART

From Sean:

On saturday, while Robyn and Philipp were learning how to ride a 250 slowly, Louise, SJ, Linda, myself and 2 non BA's attended the HART level 11 training course. The course is about seeing potential hazards and being ready to avoid them if possible, rather than laying balle on the other vehicle while lying in a hospital bed. We sarted off learning that some of us (including me) ride waaaaaaay too close behind other vehicles, by doing some quick stops from 40, 60 and 80k.

Then we went for a ride up the "old road" learning to keep a safe distance, set up the brakes (remember that from learners training?), lane position to create a buffer to other vehicles, and correct safe cornering lines (which also turn out to be the ideal racing lines). This was something i really enjoyed and got a lot out of, no more running too hot into the second turn after riding fast through the first one.

Next we were encouraged to lean the upper body into curves (out to Mangrove Mountain via Peats Ridge) and then hang your arse off the seat (Old Road from Somersby to Mt White). The idea was not to go faster (which was the obvious consequence) but to keep the bike more upright and therefore have more flexibility in lean angle, as well as increased traction. It was very funny watching a string of riders hanging exageratedly off the sides of their bikes doing near legal speeds thru corners. Im sure i wasnt going any faster than normal but it felt like it and it was great fun. At the penultimate stop at Mt White we discussed fatigue and dehydration and then it was back to the HART centre for a debrief.

We had a great day and learnt a lot about safe riding. I also learnt a lot about going quicker through corners (lines and technique) which was a useful bonus. Definitely worth the price (with a discount for members).

From Robyn:

Just thought I would report in on my weekend at HART.

Saturday I did the level 6/7 course, it was a long day doing lots of low speed stuff on 250's. I spent a lot of it muffling under my breath, as I knew Sean, SJ and Lou were out on their own bikes doing the level 11 up at Mt White. By Saturday afternoon I was feeling exhausted and was also starting to wonder if backing up on Sunday for another full day was going to be a good thing. Anyway I went home, hired 3 DVD's and slept.

On Sunday I was all ready to face another intense day, however that was not to be the case as a lot of the level 8/9 course was a rehash of the 6/7 but riding the 600 Hornets. The overlap was a good thing as it served to really reinforced what we had learnt the previous day. Anyway I highly recommend doing the two days, even if you think you don't need to learn anything go along and at least do the 8/9 course for the fun of being able the rev the shit out of someone else's bike (I think they need to buy some new foot pegs for the bikes that Philipp was riding)

I even got to take the SCOOTER through the slalom course - now that was fun!!! And managed to sign up 4 new members.