Any members still active in ACT?

Title says it all really.
Looking to explore my new back yard. 
Any rides happening or let's organise one.
IM

I'm still here...not doing much this time of year, best contact point is probably the Canberra Riders FB page,

I'm not too far away down in the Bega Valley. But there is an 1100m range between us so not much chance of a catch-up until Spring. One of the problems with Canberra (I lived there for 20+ years) is that to get a good ride day in you need to travel a decent distance to get out of the ACT and the flat and boring roads.

Still here. Am away next couple of weeks out bush, but otherwise ride every weekend. Often do Gunning - crookwell - goulburn = tarago - bungendore - home loop. 

Yell if you want to join us.

I'm up for a ride. Any weather really.
PM me when you are going to be back.

I want to see snow whilst on the bike (I have never seen it) and to try out my cold weather gear and thought of Canberra to Jindabyne and beyond but day trip it.

Mate ...while riding with mates can be fun ...............it is sometimes better to loose yourself on your own on a ride ..............sometimes , time , commitments  ...........or even enthusiasm  stops some people from going ..................explore your new surrounds.    ( hope that didn't sound too shitty ........... I meant well )

yep, sounded shitty.

Ironman wrote:yep, sounded shitty.

Damn , I thought I had it nailed .............bloody red wine ,,,,,,,,,,,,,enjoy exploring your new surrounds .

In the past on another forum, I've found some say,"YEAH! We should totally do a ride! Just text/ email / PM/ me / us  when."
Multiple texts/ PM / emails later I just gave up trying.

Kinda what I meant ..............It seems to me to get a  ride together these days with peoples commitments , is harder to establish than in the past even with established groups ( ulysses for example where 100 riders wasn't uncommon in the past ) my point was , that even a ride on your own ,can sometimes be equally as  enjoying.......................don't rely on others , get out there ................having said that , I hope you find some riding buddies .

Ironman wrote:I'm up for a ride. Any weather really.
PM me when you are going to be back.

I want to see snow whilst on the bike (I have never seen it) and to try out my cold weather gear and thought of Canberra to Jindabyne and beyond but day trip it.

Riding to the snow I could cope with, riding in it I definitely can't! There are patches on the hwy between us that include black ice in winter. The photo shows the road conditions a few years ago, and it is typical of what happens in this stretch on the Snowy Mts Hwy every year (we were in light snow today in this region in the Triton trayback):

Clarification required from me... I want to ride TO the snow. Not in it. But yeah that's pretty cool to see for real!

Are the roads salted up there?

Ironman wrote:Are the roads salted up there?

Nope, no salt. The max altitude is about 1150m, so it hangs about for a bit but then buggers off. There is one patch where black ice forms and even in late May it had me worried.

Sorry, I should have mentioned: that area in the pics above is between Nimitabel and the top of Brown Mountain. Where we live in the Bega Valley there is never snow - altitude is only about 170m or less. 

Ewok1958 wrote:Sorry, I should have mentioned: that area in the pics above is between Nimitabel and the top of Brown Mountain. Where we live in the Bega Valley there is never snow - altitude is only about 170m or less. 

A fair way from canberra , but you did live closer didn't you ?

Would not recommend a run to Jindy at the moment…roads are full of dickheads, some in AMGs, M sport BMWs, Audi RSs etc.  Now some of these fucktards think they are quick and will put themselves and possibly any motorcycle they are trying to prove they are quick to in dangerous situations.  Because of the high prevalence of these wankers the Monaro (as boring as batshit between Canberra and Cooma btw) is wall to wall fuzz at this time of year.  If you do go be aware that the quaint little towns of Bredbo and Berridale are notorious speed traps…never ever at any time of year do anything other than the speed limit through these towns.

If you want to see snow head up the Corin dam road after a fall in the Brindabella’s…possibly even this weekend; if you do this as part of the Cotter loop, (Point Hutt Crossing to Mt. Stromlo) you could call in at the café at the tracking station where you can thaw out your now freezing arse.  They also have quite a good space display as one on the key sites for the NASA space probes.

Here’s a map.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Point+Hut+Picnic+Area,+Australian+Capital+Territory/CSIRO+-+Tidbinbilla+-+Canberra+Deep+Space+Communication+Complex,+421+Discovery+Dr,+Paddys+River+ACT+2620/Corin+Dam/Mount+Stromlo+Observatory,+Cotter+Rd,+Weston+Creek+ACT+2611/@-35.4305643,148.8851568,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m26!4m25!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b17cae5b4978d8b:0xf00ea6f8b5736c0!2m2!1d149.0751842!2d-35.4523466!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b17c9c5d46d217f:0x97d25d531bcb08f7!2m2!1d148.9816261!2d-35.4014167!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b17db7b770167cf:0x34d44ef9262ceac!2m2!1d148.83527!2d-35.534741!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b17b6abd7b30147:0x91864957aac85050!2m2!1d149.0080556!2d-35.3200158!3e0

Will also be a good test for your gear without finding out it's not up to snuff and being forced to endure the cold on the aforesaid batshit boring section of the Monaro, (btw gets real good after Cooma

If you have not already done so, would seriously recommend a set of heated grips, 

With -2.5 deg showing outside ATM where I am and the airport showing -7.5 deg I'm not going anywhere on 2 wheels ATM.
I will investigate these rides though thank you for the suggestions. I hear that some riders here in the ACT only register their bikes for 6 months of the year. Useless to regsiter when its just too dangerous to ride.

Not dangerous mate, unless you use hypersport tyres e.g. Pirelli Diabolo Super Corsa’s; Michelin Pilot Cups and similar.  These tyres use compounds that seem to undergo a state change around freezing and become hard and nasty.  Pilot Roads, Pilot Powers and similar no drama.


My solution is electrickery…heated grips and heated jacket liner (never been a person who gets cold legs) with a jack and thermostat on the fairing…plug-in, dial-up and warm up.  I use Gerbing, they supply the US military under contract.  Plus a pin lock fog insert so I can see where I am going. 

Ironman wrote:With -2.5 deg showing outside ATM where I am and the airport showing -7.5 deg I'm not going anywhere on 2 wheels ATM.
I will investigate these rides though thank you for the suggestions. I hear that some riders here in the ACT only register their bikes for 6 months of the year. Useless to regsiter when its just too dangerous to ride.

Holy snapping duckshit -8.7 @ 15 mins ago!

I swear its colder outside my place than inside the freezer.

Your V-Strom is perfect for Canberra winter riding; you just need to set it up and buy the right gear.

Nordic pro jacket
neck warmer fleece
snow thermals top and bottom
wool socks
nordic gloves
glove liners
(i find bark busters stop the wind chill - I have foam "pussygrip" grip covers that stop the buzzy sensation)

Sounds right you may need a jumper or two...the Aldi merinos when they do the bike gear sale are excellent.  When you are siting on the highway for a prolonged period with little physical movement the heat bleeds out of your body and you really feel it.  In these cases it takes a hot shower to restore body heat.  Pop down to CMC (or Joe's) and pick up some heated grips...that way you can use light gloves and retain control feel.

CMC is amazing place!
My next bike is on display there