G
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The next big combined GSR and Katana Australia ride was yesterday but due to the weather and other circumstances ended up being really just a Katana Australia ride, although several are members of both forums like me of course.
Most people were heading for Armidale over in NSW to meet up with the NSW and Victorian Katana Australia members and were staying overnight, but I could only make it part of the way and was then heading back home via some twisty roads. Two other guys also couldn't go the whole way, one pulled out at Beaudesert, and the other rode back with me and on home to Caboolture.
The weather prediction was showers with some rain, but it turned out to be rain, rain, more rain, a shower or two, some mist, and some heavy rain.
The route we took was from Arana Hills (Northside riders meet up), to Rocklea (group meet up), then onto Rathdowney and Casino via Kyogle.
Casino is where Jesse (the other Kat rider) and I parted ways with the group, and they continued on to Armidale. We headed to Urbenville, Beaudesert, and home. The original plan was longer than that but the weather made it slow going and exhausting so we chose to skip the last couple of legs, plus my hands and feet were getting a bit chilled from the constant wet.
I discovered Lyons Rd for the first time (from Rathdowney through to Kyogle) and that's a fun road! There were a couple of bridges that were close to going under water but not quite. The level was high enough the water was splashing onto the road, probably another inch and it would've been flowing over.
I also discovered Woodenbong Rd for the first time, and that's a horrendous piece of tarmac! It's incredibly bumpy as I had heard, but much worse than I had anticipated. My confidence was constantly killed in corners by the bumps and it made me extremely glad I spent the $$$ on the Ikon suspension. The water was over the road in a couple of places too but only a little so we didn't have to turn back.
All in all it was a great day despite the rain and I'm glad I went.
Here's some pic's I took, and I have a few hours of video yet to go through and edit as well.
The Northside riders meet up at Arana Hills:
The Qld group meet up at Rocklea:
The stop at Rathdowney (John's purple popup is around the corner at the pump):
Cont...
Most people were heading for Armidale over in NSW to meet up with the NSW and Victorian Katana Australia members and were staying overnight, but I could only make it part of the way and was then heading back home via some twisty roads. Two other guys also couldn't go the whole way, one pulled out at Beaudesert, and the other rode back with me and on home to Caboolture.
The weather prediction was showers with some rain, but it turned out to be rain, rain, more rain, a shower or two, some mist, and some heavy rain.
The route we took was from Arana Hills (Northside riders meet up), to Rocklea (group meet up), then onto Rathdowney and Casino via Kyogle.
Casino is where Jesse (the other Kat rider) and I parted ways with the group, and they continued on to Armidale. We headed to Urbenville, Beaudesert, and home. The original plan was longer than that but the weather made it slow going and exhausting so we chose to skip the last couple of legs, plus my hands and feet were getting a bit chilled from the constant wet.
I discovered Lyons Rd for the first time (from Rathdowney through to Kyogle) and that's a fun road! There were a couple of bridges that were close to going under water but not quite. The level was high enough the water was splashing onto the road, probably another inch and it would've been flowing over.
I also discovered Woodenbong Rd for the first time, and that's a horrendous piece of tarmac! It's incredibly bumpy as I had heard, but much worse than I had anticipated. My confidence was constantly killed in corners by the bumps and it made me extremely glad I spent the $$$ on the Ikon suspension. The water was over the road in a couple of places too but only a little so we didn't have to turn back.
All in all it was a great day despite the rain and I'm glad I went.
Here's some pic's I took, and I have a few hours of video yet to go through and edit as well.
The Northside riders meet up at Arana Hills:
The Qld group meet up at Rocklea:
The stop at Rathdowney (John's purple popup is around the corner at the pump):
Cont...
