Hi All, While planning my initial FarRider rally to Silverton I thought I would be clever and incorporate it into my second SS1600 attempt seeing my first SS1600 to Burke NSW was successful and enjoyable.
Plan..Friday transport session to arrive to my start off point at Nyngan for the next day...Saturday..Depart Nyngan at 5am to get to check in time window at Silverton at noon.. ( 606km) ..depart asap to Hay (614Km) to get there early evening (have an hour break and a catnap) and head for Yass (449Km ) to cover 1650Km.
Ride...Up at 4.30am ready and rearing to go at 5am (got ATM slip etc) and off to Silverton..Had new cree lights which were working fine ..pulled in half way to have food/drink at rest stop with two shifty looking characters checking out my Capo who turned out to be The Ox and Tiger Bill (all good). Made Silverton on time and after sorting out slips and food off to Hay. At this time the winds were picking up and I was getting bumped around but the worst part was that the wind was from the left quarter so my neck muscles on that side were getting a beating (took a couple of nurofen-plus for the neck pain ) and continued on. Due to the wind etc my arrival time at Hay was later in the evening than I had planned (around 7pm) . Had food and tried to nap but couldn't so just rested. It was dark by the time I headed for Yass and though a little sore and weary felt all was going to plan.( Murphy's law.. don't congratulate yourself for anything while on a ride ). Once on the open road I started using my new beaut Cree spots only to find that they had vibrated loose and off line..If a roo was in a tree on the left I would have seen him no worries same on the right if he was lying in the gutter. .Wasn't going that hard so slowed down further (80kmh) using my normal lights and second pair of spots I have had for a while. Saw a few roos but avoided any close encounters. Came around a sweeping corner and didn't see the wombat and it was only reflexes kicking in that I swerved around it and it gets worse ..I was looking for the first safe place to stop and when I did ..stopped ,bike in gear ,get off bike ..bike fall over as Dopey JN didn't put the side stand down. I was so pissed off I just pick up my Capo easily and apologised to it. This was about 120Km from Hay so I just turned around to a nice motel in Hay to lick my wounds.
Lesson learnt..I have read a heap of stuff about fatigue and managing it BUT didn't recognise it in myself till things started to happen that shouldn't have (my hydration and calorie intake was spot on). On my last IBR ride I left at 2am which I prefer to having a longer night ride at the end of the day so next time I wont change things so drastically as far as time went.
Preparation..on taking my lights apart on return no Locktite was used at all by the installer ( I think "Good bike mechanic " may be an oxymoron ) So check all new installations and preferably give them a trial run. Most importantly DNF is normally not a consideration for me which is the most important lesson learnt that it needs to be part of the my plans from now on.
As a passing note I have to thank Ox and TigerBill for making me feel welcome and most importantly Gareth who gave me some fuel when I ran out 4km from Nyngan(no lesson learnt there ..that was just stupid ).
Plan..Friday transport session to arrive to my start off point at Nyngan for the next day...Saturday..Depart Nyngan at 5am to get to check in time window at Silverton at noon.. ( 606km) ..depart asap to Hay (614Km) to get there early evening (have an hour break and a catnap) and head for Yass (449Km ) to cover 1650Km.
Ride...Up at 4.30am ready and rearing to go at 5am (got ATM slip etc) and off to Silverton..Had new cree lights which were working fine ..pulled in half way to have food/drink at rest stop with two shifty looking characters checking out my Capo who turned out to be The Ox and Tiger Bill (all good). Made Silverton on time and after sorting out slips and food off to Hay. At this time the winds were picking up and I was getting bumped around but the worst part was that the wind was from the left quarter so my neck muscles on that side were getting a beating (took a couple of nurofen-plus for the neck pain ) and continued on. Due to the wind etc my arrival time at Hay was later in the evening than I had planned (around 7pm) . Had food and tried to nap but couldn't so just rested. It was dark by the time I headed for Yass and though a little sore and weary felt all was going to plan.( Murphy's law.. don't congratulate yourself for anything while on a ride ). Once on the open road I started using my new beaut Cree spots only to find that they had vibrated loose and off line..If a roo was in a tree on the left I would have seen him no worries same on the right if he was lying in the gutter. .Wasn't going that hard so slowed down further (80kmh) using my normal lights and second pair of spots I have had for a while. Saw a few roos but avoided any close encounters. Came around a sweeping corner and didn't see the wombat and it was only reflexes kicking in that I swerved around it and it gets worse ..I was looking for the first safe place to stop and when I did ..stopped ,bike in gear ,get off bike ..bike fall over as Dopey JN didn't put the side stand down. I was so pissed off I just pick up my Capo easily and apologised to it. This was about 120Km from Hay so I just turned around to a nice motel in Hay to lick my wounds.
Lesson learnt..I have read a heap of stuff about fatigue and managing it BUT didn't recognise it in myself till things started to happen that shouldn't have (my hydration and calorie intake was spot on). On my last IBR ride I left at 2am which I prefer to having a longer night ride at the end of the day so next time I wont change things so drastically as far as time went.
Preparation..on taking my lights apart on return no Locktite was used at all by the installer ( I think "Good bike mechanic " may be an oxymoron ) So check all new installations and preferably give them a trial run. Most importantly DNF is normally not a consideration for me which is the most important lesson learnt that it needs to be part of the my plans from now on.
As a passing note I have to thank Ox and TigerBill for making me feel welcome and most importantly Gareth who gave me some fuel when I ran out 4km from Nyngan(no lesson learnt there ..that was just stupid ).