Canberra & Region Riders Meet, Greet & (?) Eat

Guys, I notice not many of us Canberra Bandits have registered an interest for the Neville ride (not you Grover) so I was wondering about the level of interest in a meet, greet and eat ride somewhere Canberra thereabouts. Now the weather has turned Antarctic even though it's supposed to still be Autumn (minus 5 yesterday was a bad sign of the long winter that surely lies ahead of us), but I was thinking of a few ideas so that we can put a bit of flesh to the posters.

A. Simple coffee somewhere local (I don't even drink the stuff but I'm putting it out there as an option), then back to the rest of the weekend commitments.
B. Slightly longer meet and eat involving a local breakfast (ie in the Canberra 'burbs - there are numerous options).
C. Expand on Option b but go a bit further afield, eg Bungendore, Sutton, Gundaroo, Bredbo, etc - still doing a breakfast meet and returning home.
D. Not breakfast at all but lunch ('cause it will have warmed up to at least 5 degrees by then!). But still with all of the above options.
E. Or an even longer, all day ride, (but not overnight) that takes in lunch further out, eg Bemboka, Bateman's Bay, Wagga, Tumut, etc. I don't want an overnighter because the Neville trip is it for me.

What do you guys reckon? I'm out for May and probably the first half of June and then it will be really bloody cold. So, if replying, state a preference for timing, even if it is November (it sure to be a lengthy winter here)! It might be that far off but I'm certainly keen to meet up sooner or later. And besides, the forum doesn't even recognise Canberra as a state ride (not having a go so don't get on the attack)!!

With your response I'm happy to be the one to conclude the arrangements (might be called 'trip leader' in our old 4WD club).

We're not a state, we're a territory. Or was that a state of mind....

The main reason why I don't go for the longer ride/overnight is work. There was a time where my roster was open and I could plan for the long rides, but there's little to no staff and the cycle has closed up. Sure the easy solution is to get a new job, but I'm not sure what I want to do and me bikes keep calling to go for a ride....

Anyway, I'm up for whatever in the warmer months. I ride all year round, but black ice isn't my cup of tea. No doubt I'll be heading to the south coast during the colder months and there is a pretty good contingent of bandit riders around the ACT/Qbn region.

Given the time of year, would probably suggest a mid-morning meet and ride out for lunch, don't care when or where but my bike will probably be off the road till after the Queens birthday.

can only ride for about 1 hour before pain agony etc sets in...........would have a go at anything on south coast.............Grumpy

I am keen to catch up for a ride, perhaps on a regular basis. My preference would be Saturdays for a ride, a feed and a ride home again. I have been riding to work in -5C, so cold not really an issue for me.

Grover

Well you carnt turn blue can you .

Lol Gus. I want to replace my avatar with a pic of my bike, but my pc and camera are currently refusing to talk to one another.

Back to topic, a longer day ride is appealing to me. I am pretty new to Canberra and am still learning what is out there around us.

Ewok, being only a suburb away let me know whenever you want to go for a ride. I am usually good to go on weekends.

Grover

No worries - I haven't forgotton - just a bit busy. My problem is I'm only home about 1 weekend in 6. I'm still looking at possible dates.

If you end up somehere between Canberra & Wollongong, i would be in for that.

Still working on this one guys. Haven't yet got a proposed date but venue possibilities for a lunch-based Saturday trip are:
- Loaded Dog pub at Tarago
- Meridian Cafe, Marulan (with Bungonia Gorge sightseeing for those interested)
- Merino Cafe (or pub), Gunning (lot's of route possibilities)
- Cork St Cafe Gundaroo (if we end up doing a very short ride)

Still researching but if you have (or have heard of) a good spot for lunch within striking distance then please don't hesitate to put it up as an option.

We're in your capable hands Ewok. Thanks for taking this on.

If this goes ahead i might try and work my magic and get some sydney boys in for a roadtrip

How about lunch at the Taralga Pub (I've never been there)? - http://www.taralgahotel.com/index.htm (I liked the idea of the pizzas!!).
Date: Sat, 2 July (but if wet weather likely, we'd delay it until the next Sat that is dry or at least not pissing down. That might mean it would be 9Jul or 16Jul but let's start with 2Jul as the plan unless it suits no-one!).
Aim to arrive at the pub 12:30pm (it's open for lunch 12.00 - 2.00pm).
For Canberra region riders, I'll work out a proposed route.

I am in mate. Will be back from a Qld work trip during the week.

I should be able to make the Taralga ride. WhereIs tells me it's 2 hours 8 min away. Will be good to meet some fellow bandit riders.

At this point in time I should be good to go. Been through Taralga a few times, the road gets better the further north you go. The bit past Black Springs through the national park is

Shaping up to be a ride! Me, Grover, Four40 from Cbr and Boatz from the Gong (so far). Sounds like a quorum. Hey Cam, are we likely to see any Sydneysiders?

Love to join you but the way this front-end project is going I doubt if I will be back on the road by then.

Ewok1958 wrote:Shaping up to be a ride! Me, Grover, Four40 from Cbr and Boatz from the Gong (so far). Sounds like a quorum. Hey Cam, are we likely to see any Sydneysiders?

Can't speak for Cam but I can't also imagine him missing out on a ride on the oberon goulburn road.
I'll attend

Guys (Four40, Grover, Boatz, Baz, others(?)),
Just an update - the weather forecast for 2Jul is high chance of rain (CBR and tablelands), whereas 9Jul is looking good (10Jul isn't too good).
Please be prepared for a change of date to 9Jul - no point getting soaked just for a lunch meet.

No worries Ewok. I couldn't agree more, no point in getting soaked. I don't mind riding in the cold, but rain is a different matter.

Guys,
Currently the 9th is looking worse than the 2nd but 16th is looking good (as Grover said - might be colder, but at this stage it is not forecast to be wet). So, again, please be prepared for a change of date to 16th July. Fingers crossed that there are no further changes.

I know a meet up will be fun but it is winter and the chances of getting a good day are less likely. I don't have an issue with the cold or wet, my biggest worry is the slippery stuff that falls from the sky. Bathurst and Oberon have recenly had snow falls, not sure how Taralga fairs in the winter.

I was planning to go through Oberon ... not after a picture I saw taken this morning.

Yeah, I'm no riding at all if there is snow, so I'll keep a close eye on the weather forecast. May swap the meeting place to the Meridian Cafe, Marulan on 16 July to be on the safer side. Hope that still suits.