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The 2010 Ulysses Club AGM ran from 8th to 14th March and was held in Albany, Western Australia – each year it is held in a different Australian town or city. As I’ve only been a member for a little over a year, and this AGM was being held in our ‘own backyard’ as such, it was a perfect opportunity to checkout what a Ulysses AGM was all about. It was my first AGM, as well as my brother’s, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ulysses AGM Site - Centennial Oval Albany

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Over the period of a few days, a few people from PSB (Perth Street Bikes) organised a charity ride to Toodyay for Sun 3rd Jan ‘10. The purpose of the ride was to raise some funds for immediate expenses by those effected by the bushfires on 29th Dec ‘09 which destroyed 37 homes in the Toodyay  area. As Toodyay is a bit of a ‘Mecca’ for motorcylists, the ride was also to show support  by the motorcycle community for the residents of one of WA’s most popular ride venues.

Well, as it turned out being summer, the official Perth (Mt Lawley) temperature hit 39.9 C, which meant pretty everywhere else was tapping 43 – 44 C, and was a damned hot day for a ride. About 50 motorcyclists met up at the Caltex in Stratton for the ride, although several went on ahead in separate smaller groups (as did we).

Some of the bikes gathered at the Caltex Service Station (Stratton, WA) prior to the ride to Toodyay - photo courtesy 'Hammerhead' @ PSB

On arrival in Toodyay, several small fires could be seen still smouldering, and you could smell/taste the smoke & ash in the air. (continue reading…)

As a prelude to the 2010 Ulysses AGM being held in Albany (WA), the local Ulysses branch was asked to lead the 2009 Albany Christmas Pageant. To help bolster numbers, members from other WA branches made the trip to Albany for the 5th Dec.

Our group left the usual Armadale departure point at 8am on Saturday, making out way down Albany Hwy as far as North Bannister, before taking the Wandering Rd turn-off. From there we made our way to Narrogin, and then via Gt Southern Hwy through to Katannining and Cranbrook. Rejoining Albany Hwy, we made our way to Mt Barker, then Albany itself. After locating ‘Frenchman’s Bay Rifle Club’, where camping had been arranged for those not staying in hotels/motels, I made my way back to my brother’s place in Mt Barker to off-load some of my gear, and for a brief rest before the Pageant. (continue reading…)

I ’spose it was bound to happen sooner or later, momentary lapse in concentration/error in judgement and down I went.

Wednesday was a nice mild looking day, sunny skies with a little cloud cover and temps in mid 20’s, so decided to go for a mid week ride Dwellingup way, but I didn’t even get out of metro area. I was at a giveway sign cnr Lake and Armadale waiting to turn left; there was absolutely no approaching traffic to the right, and the car in front moved off to the left, so I moved forward at 3-4 km/h checking traffic to right (still none), but car in front decided to stop again … quick grab of brakes, but too little too late … bang ! (continue reading…)

After a fortnight of suffering hayfever and having constantly flowing sinuses, things finally dried up enough to venture out on the bike again.

Saturday was a *”fine’ day for a ride, so I just jumped on the bike and headed off with no particular destination in mind. First of the ‘regulation ride’ through the Weir Rd, which is always a good way to clear the head and get the blood pumping. When I got to Mundaring, I decided to continue on along Stoneville Rd through to Toodyay with the intention of heading back through the Sawn Valley and on home. However at Toodyay Rd I turned right instead, and headed to Toodyay, cause the weather was so nice and the road just beckoned.

I grabbed some munchies and a drink at Toodyay, (continue reading…)

Been a bit slack with this site lately; I’ve been busy with bike, and fixing the PC … mainboard fried last weekend (more on that here), as well as other stuff.

On Monday (19th Oct), I took both mufflers into Roo Racing in Welshpool, and met Alex the owner and Roo pipe master craftsman. He explained how the carbon fibre is bonded to the pipe mounting plate and that it had come  adrift due to knocks over the years, and that he would need to shorten the CF to get to clean fibre so he could re-bond it; this meant he would also need to shorten the internal pipe to match, and repack with new e-glass. He said the left one wasn’t so bad and could be done later when I had the extra dollars again (I’d told him I also had to get a new tyre that day as well).

So I left the right muffler with him for repair expecting it to the end of the week before I would have the bike back on the road – c’est la vie. (continue reading…)

Been a busy week for riding; as is fairly normal in WA, winter gets drawn out, bypassing spring, and goes straight into summer weather.  Technically it’s mid spring;  a week ago it was still cold, jackets and jeans weather, with occasional showers; then overnight, it’s T-shirts  and shorts, sunshine and heat – mid to high 20’s all week, with Friday hitting 37C.

Last Sunday’s ride was only a short one; seems we had only been on the road half an hour and one of the ladies was heading to a notorious corner (regularly gravel on it) a touch fast on her cruiser; so she hit the brakes to wash some speed, but locked the rear end, slid a while, then got high-sided into a gully.  Christine was relatively unhurt, mainly winded and some shock set in when she tried to stand, but otherwise ok. Bike wasn’t too bad, a few bent bits and a dented tank; but apparently the insurance company is writing it off – what is wrong with these companies ? The bike was ridden back to a friends place, and is easily fixable – but they are writing it off ??

Anyhow, a passing nurse took her to hospital for a check-up, and a couple  of people went with them. After the bike was stored and the riders returned, the rest of us continued the ride as far as morning tea stop at Gidgegannup. But as it was almost mid-day by the time we were ready to leave, everyone just decided to head home instead of continuing further afield for lunch – so we only clocked about 120 kms for the day, but at least there were no serious injuries.

Wednesday came and I decided to catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen for almost a year. I headed up to Nev’s place in Bullsbrook and got there late morning. After a while yabbering about this n that, we decided to take advantage of the weather and hit the road. Nev fired up his ZL1000 Kawasaki and we headed to Toodyay via Chittering and Julimar roads. We stopped briefly for lunch, refuelled and headed to Northam via the Northam-Toodyay Rd, and then onto the scenic Katrine Rd which circles around and comes in the back of Northam. (continue reading…)

Had a busy weekend of riding; great fun, but damn I’m knackered from it all.

First off I booked a ‘Spyder Experience‘ a few months ago for South Perth venue, which was then changed to ’south of Perth i.e. Bunbury ?? No probs, I had some friends down that way so left venue as is, but changed time from 10.30am to 11.30am. My brother Paul then made a booking for the same time, so I’d meet up with him there (he was coming in from Mt Barker).

I left Friday morning about 8.15am and headed south via Sth West Hwy to Pinjarra, then the Old Bunbury Rd till it very briefly became new Freeway (not open till Sunday), and then the Old Coast Rd etc all the way to Bunbury – road works, speed zones etc …. geez. There were several bouts of rain along the way, and some strong cross/head winds nearly all the time, so was glad when I finally got to Bunbury. Arrived at venue (Koombana Drive car park) just before 10.30; brother was already there as he arrived Thursday and stayed in motel overnight.

Can-Am Spyder

What an unusual machine the Spyder is. First there is no counter steering, instead you pull on right bar to turn right, likewise with left bar and turns – reaction is a bit like go-cart steering, but is power assisted. There’s no front brake lever; the whole thing is done by foot brake and ABS with proportional sensor for pillion. There’s also Vehicle Stability Control, and Traction Control – yes the back end still busts loose, but only so far before TC kicks in which stops it getting right out of shape. The VSC takes care of handling on sudden changes of direction, and lifting of any wheel, by applying brake to grounded wheels and reducing engine power.

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Today’s ride was organised by Christine. The day started off with rain, and finished that way; but in between were periods of dry, with some of the roads being dry, but most of the bitumen was wet for much of the ride.

About 15 or so of us left Armadale at 9am (ish), headed down Armadale Rd for a while, until we picked up Tonkin Hwy, then on to Roe Hwy, and finally up Great Eastern Hwy to York for morning tea – that was the first 115 km for the day.

After morning tea, a few riders had other things planned for the day, so they headed back home. The rest of us headed south along Gt Southern Hwy, through Brookton, Pingelly, and Popanyinning for another 127 km till we got to Cuballing for lunch.

Whilst we were eating and telling tales, the skys opened up, making sure everything in sight was thoroughly wet. So it was back on with the wet-weather gear before we left for the journey home. And that decision was right, because it rained for most of the return journey, so we all managed to stay dry and relatively warm.

All up we clocked 388 kms for the ‘Mystery Ride’ – not bad for a bunch of  ‘old farts’ on bikes in the middle of winter. Add another 20 km each way to departure/return point for my journey, and that totals 428 kms for me; and don’t I feel every bit of it … I should sleep well tonight.

Sunday 9th August, Ride & Decide.

Turn out for the ride was about a dozen or so, others were away on Bully’s overnighter to Paynes Find. Although the day was overcast, except for the odd spit, the rain held off for the whole ride. We went the usual back way through to Pinjarra for morning tea at the bakehouse. After some ’spirited’ riding along the way, hot drinks n food were welcome; we then continued on via the old Bunbury Rd through to Waroona, and then on to Harvey. (continue reading…)