Casual / Pillion Ride Saturday 19^th January 2008

Breht Emmerson (Leader)	Suzuki GSXR600	Jean Eldridge	Suzuki Bandit 250
Misho Zrakic & Pina Garasi	Suzuki GSXR750	Rob Zivanovic (1^st ride)	Honda CBR600
Peter Feistl & Sharon Portelli	Suzuki GSXR750	Simon Trubiano	Honda CBR929
Paul Walkley & Clare Eldridge	Kawasaki Z1000	Mark Rigsby (Rear)	Suzuki GSXR1000
Stoimen & Vittoria Sojanov	Yamaha R1		9 bikes, 13 people

The concept of the Club’s recently introduced ‘Casual / Pillion Ride’ was intended to be far less stringent than the hard-core Sundays. The Saturday ride is designed to be fun with an emphasis on socialising. This weekend was my opportunity to experience this first-hand as I rode both days and had a blast doing both!

Let’s start with the Casual Saturday. Whilst it was never my intention to do the Pillion Ride (due to lack of willing participant), the day was otherwise well-planned, to do tyre changes, put red bling on the wheels of the GSXR-750, wash and polish my bikes and cars and other neglected domestic duties.

Late in the week comes the call from Jean – there’s a damsel in distress. Ben has opted for quality time with Fiona during Saturday, so there is a pillion left stranded! Being the true gentleman (well in my own mind at least) I offered the services of my chariot by way of the sporty and compact GSXR750. The ‘pillion preferred’ Honda Blackbird with 1100cc’s of grunt, armchair comfort suspension and extra large seat was making a loud and annoying gearbox bearing noise, so the bike was with Ben Turner for some needed attention.

Now my 16 year old daughter who has once tested the pillion seat of the GSXR750, subsequently pointed out that the pillion option was very uncomfortable and less than desirable. I should not take out a new women on the back of that bike. (I wasn’t sure where her emphasis was on this point : the bike, taking out, new woman or all of the above)

Anyway, Saturday morning and I arrived at Jean’s place to meet Paul who is taking Clare (Jean’s wife), Sharon that is my pillion for the day and several other people who intended on joining us for the ride but were foiled by hangovers and other reasons. In total, four bikes and seven people set out for the day, some only venturing as far the departure point.

The trip from Ferntree Gully to Yarra Glen was straight forward and we arrived with time to spare. At the servo, Misho, Pina and Rob (Misho’s mate) are there and the conversation flows instantly. Pina is her usual bubbly self, Misho has the naughty boy look on his face and tells of an encounter with a radar and motorbike cop en-rout to this starting point.

All riders soon assemble outside the café, the casualness responsible for social chats, the girls mixing it with the boys and the smokers getting an extra cigarette before the transition to the next stop. Light rain starts to fall and delays our departure, giving the local motorbike policeman cruising past an opportunity to get amongst us. As the senior club representative, I pointed out that today is a pillion ride and with wives or girlfriends aboard, there is no chance of speeding or law breaking. The policemen still checked our licenses, registrations and offered a few sage words of advice... I did forget to ask Misho if he was at all concerned when the policeman stopped for a chat!

Anyway, some ride info here - Brett as ride leader - Mark Rigsby rear rider – first stop Marysville via wet roads.

This was a slow trip marred by solid rain. I knew I should have worn the wet weather gear at the outset – me the jacket – Sharon the pants because that is where we both got wet! Stoimen and Vittoria had it right idea and were high and dry. Doh! The bakery had hot drinks and food and whilst some of us were wet, it was not cold. The smokers congregated outside and waited for the rain to stop!

After much discussion and rain continuing to fall, we saddled up and rode to Eildon for fuel and a view of the dam wall and lack of water in the lake, (most of it being on the roads). During the fuel stop, Pina was keen to get Sharon’s assessment of my riding. When quizzed about Sharon’s pillion prowess, my answer of “no punches or squirrel grips”, had Pina in uncharted territory. She immediately asked Misho (new to Australia) and Vittoria (too much a lady to know of such things) before given the answer by an unknown source. She promptly chased me to – I can only presume - experiment on the finer points of a squirrel grip, but I saw her coming, jumped on the bike and was riding away in impressive and elusive style!

“Inland” was the cry, though Eildon is probably as inland as Yea, but that was our lunch rendezvous point. The roads remained sufficiently wet to finally dampen the enthusiasm of Breht, Stoimen, Vittoria and Mark who all headed for home. The rest of us headed for various lunch shops and we broke into two groups. Jean, Claire, Paul, Sharon, Breht (who decided to stay for a quick bite) and myself at the bakery. Misho, Pina, Rob, and Tony at the hamburger shop.

With our ride leader and sweeper (more apt name than rear rider) abandoning us, it was up to yours truly to lead the way to Yarra Glen via the Murrindindi loop. Momentary dry roads and high speed thrills were to be found much to the delight of the girls on pillion duty.

A quick stop before Yarra Glen (Misho: the junction of the Healesville-Kinglake Road and the Melba highway) and we decided afternoon coffee and cake is the agenda. This was good fun. The ride had officially terminated, no-one was in a real hurry to go anywhere so we enjoyed sitting outdoors under umbrellas, with the rain falling, sipping coffee and chatting. Pina (don’t leave home without her) provided much of the entertainment while the cricket as seen on the TV in the café, just went from bad to worse!

Whilst the girls all had a good time, they tended to congregate together and speak of whatever girls talk about. That meant the boys had to gather and talk of whatever boys talk about! Girls I presume, or motorbikes?

Upon reflection, the day had - not much riding, too much rain, plenty of fun, minimal tyre wear and a reminder of how pleasant it is to introduce somebody new to the thrills and enjoyment of the riding experience our club members love so much.

(Jean told me on Sunday’s ride that motorbike riding is Sharon’s new favourite thing – better than horse riding!)  So Pina, that answers your question!

Also thanks to all those who attended – Tony, Breht, Rob, Paul, Sharon, Clare, Jean, Stoimen, Vittoria, Pina, Misho and Mark.

By way of contrast, See Day 2 Dargo – Hard Core

Peter Feistl