First quarter done but not dusted. Makin' the Most of It.
If you remember from my last digital meanderings, I was looking forward to getting out and making the most of the fabulous Autumnal weather we get down in the deep south.
My mate Galah was keen to get a playmate to help him settle into his new GS1300, and like a good mate, I volunteered. Hey, it's the least I could do... right?
As it was a long weekend down our way, the plan was to head off and search out the least populated spots we could find, light a campfire and catch up. |
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We each had a two-night leave pass to spend and as the weather was predicted to run well past the thirty-degree mark, we wanted a creek to flounder into. Beachside camping was out of the question, of course.
Now Galah is a gun off-roader (an ex-seniors Mountain Bike champ to boot), but he added a new GS to his quiver to get a few road miles in. My task was to mix up the route with cracking scratcher roads and a mix of gentle dirt to wear out the road-based rim protection the bike came with.
Everyone must ride the Dargo road at least once in their career, so we snuck the back way via Freestone Creek Road. It had been closed for a while after a nasty flood event, but it's a nice dirt shortcut to the Dargo twisties.
Campsites are dotted all along the creek the road follows, so we were bound to find somewhere to pitch our tents. The further we rode into the never never the more disheartening it got. Campsites were busier than a cat buryin' crap on a hot bitumen road. Until we came across some small mountains of landslips and impressive washouts leaving only a single track in places. "Yeeee ha, this'll stop the great unwashed we both thought", and it did. A deserted campsite strewn with flotsam wood presented itself... A tiny slice of paradise! |
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Those who know the Dargo region will tell you it's a Mecca for 4x4 drivers... Like Mecca at the Haj it was chokka! No place for a couple of Adventure bikes! About face and engage in a return match on the sealed Dargo Road, what a luxury!
We looped the back way, skirting Bairnsdale to a scorching resupply in Omeo and set out for the Mitta Mitta River in the Omeo Valley. By now it was well over 35 degrees, a bag of ice secured beers in my Panniersky and bulged out our hydration packs. |
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| Our spirits sagged as we passed high density, high rise campsites dotting the riverbank until we came across a closed gate. Evidently, many of the previous road users had turned around at this point but I knew it was National Park and I'd come from the other end (a nose bleed steep decent it was too) once before. So through the gate we went, obeying the Law of the Bush, leaving the gate as we found it. Through a second gate and deserted campsites on an enticing riverbank paid us for our persistence. |
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| Our clobber was soaked with sweat by now, first stop was the Panniersky and then the river. |
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We spent a perfect evening on a grassed area with clear sky. The campsite was so good we didn't even need shoes.
The unmistakable tap tap tap of rain drops on the tents woke us and stirred us into action. Let's get packed up and into Omeo for a cafe breakky before this... Too late, we packed up in light intermittent rain.
After breakfast we both headed different directions toward our homes. I rode out of drizzle into a scorching 30 degree day getting a head start on the post weekend hordes on the main route home. |
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As bikes become more complex so does our task when it comes to getting a luggage system up and running.
BMW's new electronic pannier locking bracket is a case in point. Most bikes come with it (despite a recall on all the luggage sets), some don't and other owners remove it.
We had to find a way of accommodating both configurations. To that end we've made one bolt and spacer kit that will allow owners to get our frame set on whether they use the OEM bracketry or not.
Like a number of modern bikes we've encountered over the last decade we've decided to offer or Traveller or Asymmetrical bag set up so as to keep the whole pannier system as narrow and light as possible. The whole package (bags and frames) weighs in at just over four kilograms and remains made locally.
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More from Timewaster.com
Hmmm, wishing they had no carbs?
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Always happy to support a good cause, here's a bit of info regarding the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Another crackin' Aussie initiative that's found traction in more than 1000 cities worldwide.
'"The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride unites classic and vintage style motorcycle riders all over the world to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was founded in Sydney, Australia in 2012 by Mark Hawwa. After inspiration from a photograph featuring classic suits and vintage motorcycles, Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of motorcyclists and connect the global motorcycling community and to raise funds for a cause important to every rider. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has raised over US$45M for prostate cancer research and men’s health since 2012."
For more information, visit www.gentlemansride.com.
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| I don't have a trendy helmet and Mario Ducati hates crawling along in a slow moving conga line. Maybe I'll just turn up and rubber neck. |
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| To celebrate my impending retirement (we are getting regular interest on our business sale, but no-one has shaken the moths from their wallet yet) Strapz HQ are releasing special edition, numbered pairs of 'Camel' coloured, Avduro Pannierz. |
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Constructed in-house of the same high quality CS12 Aussie Canvas but in a colour we are tagging Camel.
Representing the pinnacle of the Andy Strapz, robust as Fk, soft saddle bag design they include a special embroidered logo celebrating the 28 years we've been up and errr... riding.
There's a few special touches included in them too. Each pair gets Top Nets and a set of Strap keepers. |
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The run is strictly limited so if your bags are getting a bit long in the tooth or you want to grab a set to see you into your dotage, now's the time to jump.
I'm taking set number 1 for just that reason. I know a bloke in the office ; ) |
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It's been a busy month at Chez Strapz'z shed too. Skinny has finished the 440cc and six speed upgrade to Dr Z's motor. It's back and Purv has helped me shoehorn it back into the frame. My gourd, there is SO much packed into such a small space.
After frustrating freight delays the donk turned up as this mail was ready to go out.
Interestingly it's not just fill it with oil, ride it in the hills and change oil at a thousand kilometers as I'd expected. I'm instructed to start the motor, let it idle and 'blip' the throttle to around 3,000 rpm until I feel the radiators are both hot and turn it off. I'm then to let it cool off and repeat 2 more times. Then plan a first oil change at 500 to 1000km.
There is no need to change carby jetting and sprocket choices are up to me. I've been running the Super Moto gearing and I'll stick with that for now. |
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| I'll let you know how it goes next Strapzagram |
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Held Decks Out German Ambos |
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In a solid leap of confidence Held have been chosen to outfit German Ambos in 'Try Telling Me You Didn't See Me Orange'.
My high school German gets as far as working out the headline means – Fast Angels. |
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Blinged up Adventure Boots Here's a pair of 15 year old Forma Adventure boots that had seen better days. Off they went to a local cobbler in the Philippines for a tidy up.
All that work and a polish for $5.
Flash as a rat with a gold tooth I reckon! |
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Over the years I've come up with a guiding principle that plays out true time and time again.
Unless proven otherwise – Bakeries have crap coffee. The further from civilisation the worse the brown fluid gets.
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| My head has had the pleasure of donning the new Commander 2 from Italian company Airoh. |
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| Over the last few months I've clocked up a good two thousand klicks in mine. It's a well made, comfy helmet that is quieter than I anticipated for an ADV hat. |
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Like most modern Adventure styled helmets it can be configured for road and dirt. This one goes that little further and is well appointed to use as a ADV/MX environs with goggles.
The Carbon-composite models are priced under $750 it's pretty good value with a full Carbon fibre item setting you back under a grand. I'm not convinced that's a value proposition for a 70 gram difference in weight.
I've held off until now as stock has been very thin on the ground. As that situation has started to improve and I've had the opportunity to test one properly, I'm prepared to have the Andy Strapz name associated with Airoh helmets.
For a 10% intro special, use the DISCOUNT CODE – SPRAYZ |
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Camp cooking is always a joy... as long as we have something to cook on. A few times I've had to cook on hot rocks, filthy or mega rusted barbie plates. I've also been crook in the pants department once or twice and blamed the cooking surface.
I decided to make a packable barbie plate and wrap it in a canvas sleeve to prevent it slimeing or wrecking the rest of my kit. The most obvious name would be Biker Barbie but that sounds a bit like a blow up doll!
Titanium was out of the question, as was aluminum (it might be an furphy that it contributes to Oldtimers but I don't need any help!). So there is a bit of a weight penalty... I'll have to carry one less can of beer. |
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It weighs in at 300grams, measures 20cm x 20cm and packs down almost flat. There's even a small detachable pocket for 'eat'n irons'.
If you'd like a pup, drop us a mail below and we'll make a batch in the next couple of weeks. |
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| #1 son takes a hardcore approach to the seasoning of the plate |
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| I am constantly gob-smacked by the number of riders getting around sans gloves! Other than our brain and eyes the hand is probably THE most complicated and structurally vulnerable parts of our bodies. It is a bundle of bundles within bundles. Muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels all need to fit into a tight space and glide smoothly over one another. |
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Our opposable thumbs separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, it's allowed us to develop to the point where we can make and ride our bikes. The little finger is more that a device to crooked at a rakish angle while sipping tea... It is the cornerstone to grip and power control in stick v ball pursuits.
Repairing hands has become a surgical specialty in it's own right over the last 30 years because the mit is a bugger to fix. A loss of skin, an injection of dirt and bacteria complicate the issue exponentially.
We take our hands for granted, probably because they just work so seamlessly.
Please... Ride naked if you must but wear a helmet AND GLOVES! |
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| A damaged hand makes buying gloves a bit problematic. Here's one we adjusted for a customer. I cheekily sent this photo to Held Germany with the caption - 'How many of your dealers can do this?' |
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That's me out of stuff to bang on about.
Copyalater
Andy |
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