Fang and Fins

I’m not sure where the concept for the “Big Day Out” riding came from. However the essence of the idea is that we choose a ride that is focused more on riding than latte, and that it be a loop if possible of more than 400 kilometres. Clearly there will be some time to re-fuel and to get a coffee, but the riding is to be more of the focus, rather than social chit-chat.

The two initial proposed routes were around Mossvale, Kangaroo Valley, Nowra, Ulladulla and Bateman’s Bay and home via Braidwood and the other includes a loop to Eden and back via the Imlay Road. Both rate in Peter Thoeming’s “Top Fifty Rides” in Australia, so are worth the look.

We chose Saturday 5 June for the first of these which is almost exactly 500km round trip. Five bikes met at the Shell Station in Northbourne Ave at 8.15 and headed for Mossvale via the Marulan turn-off and Bundanoon. They included Sheryle, Ian, Martin and Ashley from Cowra, plus yours truly. The day was very still and a thin layer of mist settled over Lake George in the cold morning air, which is perfect riding weather.

Sheryle left a little early and we never headed her until we reached Patsy’s Pies in the main street of Mossvale, about 150km down the road. There she was, standing in the street phoning me to find out why we were all so slow (and having already consumed one coffee) had to wait while we hooked into a pie and cappuccino (so you cannot get away from coffee all the time!). Patsy’s was chosen over the Robertson Pie shop, as various correspondents had said it “had gone off lately”. None the less, this would be a suitable trip variation, returning to the main route just before Fitzroy Falls (itself a nice place for a walk).

We wove amongst the Saturday market traffic and turned east at Mossvale, a welcome chance to reduce the low sun in the eyes. Then we went right to Fitzroy Falls followed by a plummet down the passes into Kangaroo Valley. A few cars slowed us on the corners, some still damp from the morning dew or frost. I was reminded that running a few inches wide on a 25km corner can take you onto the double white lines, which are particularly slick with some moisture on them, but a little tail slide did nothing for our cornering fervour. There were a few bikes there already, outside the pubs and coffee shops, but more were on their way, headed over from the coast. I should have stopped for a TJ’s photo, as “Kangaroo Valley” would score well under the Scrabble Method, but we were well under way and went bollocking up the switchbacks to that famous 15km corner (Sheryle says its 25) at the top where it’s a VERY GOOD IDEA to slow down to the suggested speed limit.

With no cars on the downhill stretch, we warmed the tyres heading into Nowra. Some stopped for fuel at the Caltex next to McDonalds in Nowra, but most raced onto the grand sweepers to Ulladulla and beyond. About 10 k’s out of Bateman’s Bay, there is a long (700m) right, followed by another to the left that really demand some peg or stand dragging with their smooth surface and perfect curves. Can you get your knee down here?

At Bateman’s, we stopped in the main street and bought fish and chips, then sat on the grassy river bank trying to avoid feeding the seagulls too much. The food was great and the weather divine. My mate, Harry, was working on his yacht in the river, (which I had previously sailed to Tassie with him last year) and he rowed across to chat to us before his meeting with the local Member regarding moorings! We tossed the remnants of the chips to the birds and vacated the screaming melee that followed.

A nip down the highway found the local servo and we refilled for the fang home. This was my first run up the Clyde with no cars in the way, so we made the most of it, watched by the Ducatisti who had stopped halfway up to enjoy the view (and let their bikes cool down no doubt). My bike had just had its 10,000 service, so I was keen to get it warm too, but the cylinder balance and tappets are not fine-tuned enough yet, so we will have to have another go! None-the-less, it’s a great ride, preferably up-hill on a dry road. The mix of sweepers and sharper turns demands some concentration, especially to get outside the corrugations on the inside of each turn, but not so far out, to be out altogether!

Thence home via Braidwood and Bungendore. As the day wore on, we saw more and more bikes heading the other way, and having done this ride in both direction, I would recommend going to Bateman’s first, if only to avoid the sun in the eyes on the way home, especially in winter. It’s a great trip, a nice distance and some of the best bike roads in Australia. And now for the next one – maybe on the June LWE to the Imlay road – lead on for the Big Days Out!