Ride Report

Friday the 4th of July. Independance Day. I’m sure there’s a joke there somewhere, about bikes and Independance Day, I just don’t know what it is.

Plans had been made to meet at Eagle on the Hill. A favourite spot for Adelaide riders. The trip up the freeway was slow and frustrating due to the thick fog which meant we could barely see 10 foot down the road.

I crawled up the freeway, and made the turn off onto the Eagle. The plan was to meet at 9:30, and I was already running about 10 minutes late. Hopefully I was going to be able to spot someone in one of the car parks. As I rounded one of the bends, to my suprise there’s Big John (Name changed to protect the innocent.), waving at me. What the? Isn’t he supposed to be at work? Turns out he was supposed to be working, but a bad day’s riding is better than a good day’s working.

Seems we were the only two there!! A good half hour or so later, and Simon arrived. Seems I wasn’t the only one that slept in. Well, 3 out of 4 wasn’t bad. Numerous phone calls to Jamie, with no response, helped us to formulate the “Let’s go and wake the turd up” plan.

On the bikes and down the other side of the Eagle. Holy crap!! What a change. Over the other side of the Eagle we were met with beautiful blue skies, and warm sun.

A quick squirt over to Jamie’s hillside palace. The roar of the bikes and the banging on his door by 3 helmet headed heros must surely be a great way to wake up. Not as good as waking up next to a gorgeous.... errr, you get the picture.

Once Jamie got his shit together, a plan was made for a quick squirt to Strath, via the backroads for coffee and a breakfast.

The ride to Strath was pretty uneventful. I got to test the double bubble iridium screen for the first time. WOW!! What a difference it makes. It’s my imagination, but it seems to make the bike feel quicker. Maybe it’s less wind resistance, maybe it’s less wind noise. Dunno, but I love it.  :o)

Decided that today Jamie wasn’t going to get away from me, like he normally does when we go riding. So, after we all rode through a town or two rather sedatley, I decided I was going to ride in front. A quick blast to the front of the pack did the trick.

As we passed through one of the smaller towns, Jamie decides he’s going to do a 100m plus wheelie down the main straight. Much to the disapproval of the locals. And much to my disapproval as he sits comfortably back at the front of the pack. Oh well, he was only going to overtake me anyway.

The rest of the trip to Strathalbyn was Jamie out front, pulling away from me on the straight stretches of road (Can’t beat cubes when it comes to this sort of riding.) and me riding like a mad man trying to catch him through the twisites. The Dunlop D208 GP race compound tyres are incredible. However, I noticed that the back end gets a bit squirmy when they heat up. Had a moment coming into a 45km/h right handed. Came in a fraction hot, on with the front brake, gently apply the rear break, and the back end starts getting snaky, Looked at the guard rail (big mistake), said my prayers, off with the brakes, roll on the throttle and tip the bike in. PHEW!!

Pulled into Strath and parked. Dunno where Simon and Big John got to. When they arrived, not too long after, Simon tells us he is having trouble pointing the Trumpy into corners. I suspect he just didn’t have enough coffee. As for Johnny, well, he has a crook back, so we’ll give him this one.

Seems Jamie was as suprised as I was with my ability to keep up. To quote him:

“I didn’t know that new screen worked so well.”

“Huh??”

“Makes you ride faster.”

(See sponsors page for a new double bubble screen that makes you ride faster, from Racers Den.)

Seems he now wants to claim he was scrubbing in new tyres, and wasn’t riding as hard as normal.

After a coffee, hot chocolate and a bite to eat and a long yarn, we decided to head off to Meadows, and the Clarendon. Not the most exciting hills road, unless you get airborn over the bridge!

“Didn’t you know about that hump on the bridge?”

Yeah, thanks Simon.

Anyway, we made the turn off towards Bridgewater, and Simon took the direct route home. The rest of us continued on through the twisties bak towards Jamies place, before Johnny and myself made the 15 minute trip back to Adelaide.

All in all, turned out to be a great day. Just as any day riding through the Adelaide Hills turns out.

Jason

A few shots of the fog at Eagle on the Hill.

The bikes at La Palais le Jamie.

Bikes in the sun at Srath!

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