Background and Build Up
I went on a uncertified run late last year, which ended with a trailer home. The Bridgestone S22 rear was already on the way out, but trying to squeeze "just-one-more" was a dumb thing to do. I quite like the tyres and got a new set despite them not being particularly long lived and terrible for distance riding. I told myself to just keep them off the motorway as much as practical.
See here for photos of the tyres.
Earlier this year I went touring around Jindabyne. I took the scooter (ADV150) this time around for a change of pace, extra luggage space and with the intention of exploring some of the gravel roads. It was good fun having a sticky beak down the unsealed roads and getting passed by the typical ADV crews. When it came to the twisty alpine roads, 150cc is not particularly engaging and made me want to return with my other ride (CB400) and have a proper go.
Being from Sydney, I've not had the chance to visit many riding roads in other states. I'm somewhat at the stage where you sort of run out of roads to ride "locally". Eyeing the dense maze of roads in Victoria does make NSW look rather sparse. I've been eyeing the squiggly roads around Mount Beauty, in particular the road from Mitta Mitta to Omeo.
The Easter long weekend usually sees people with ample time off and there is a Ironbutt Easter theme. Why not combine my hesitency towards motorways, a desire to revisit Jindabyne and to explore Victoria into a Easter IB twisty run? A "day trip" to visit the alpine regions of NSW and Victoria if you will.
I did try to get some of the crew together, but something about family and other responsibilities got in the way. The route was also a bit of a non-starter for some, understandably. I ride with a varied group of individuals with equally varied types of motorcycles and skill levels and we're all somewhat new to this long distance thing.
The Route
Below is the general route, not inclusive of all the stops I made along the way. I tend to rest and refuel every 1.5-2 hours and make full use of the available 24 hours. I find that cadence works better for me, the creaky knees and my bike than slogging out longer sections and finishing early.
Google Map
Checked the BOM and Easter Friday was notably warmer around Goulburn/Yass than the Saturday in the wee morning hours. From memory it was 14C Friday versus 10C Saturday. The dew point for the Saturday was also 10C, meaning fog very likely and nobody likes night time fog. Locked in Friday 03:00 for departure.
The plan would see me turning off the motorway at Gundagai a little after sunrise to begin the alpine shenanigans. All going well, I would return to the motorway at Wodonga around sunset for the run back to Sydney. This would keep night hours restricted to the motorway.
Easter theme "eggs" to be collected at least 150 miles apart (ballpark 250km),
https://ironbutt.com/themerides/easter/
1. Yass - fried eggs on toast
2. Adaminaby - Chocolate egg
3. Mitta Mitta - egg roll (sandwich)
4. Wodonga - bike on footpath (because Victoria) in front of bank
5. Sydney - "Egg Hut" food truck gold bonus
The Ride
Sydney to Gundagai
Nothing out of the ordinary. A quick sprint down the M31 to Gundagai. It was notable how many vehicles and caravans were already on the road despite it being 3:00 in the morning. You could often see a line of red lights sprinkled in the far distance. Stopped at the Coolabah Tree Cafe in the Yass service centre for fried eggs.
Gundagai to Adaminaby
By the time I reached Gundagai, the sun was already up. It was shaping up to be a very pleasant morning and this next leg was new to me. I have been to Jindabyne several times previously, but have always came to it from the coastal road. I had heard that the road via Tumut is actually quite good and folks were not exaggerating. It was a lovely way there. The country side was lightly layered with fog, mountains framing the background and the sun beaming down across it all. There was also a nice twisty section climbing up the mountain for some ways before descending to hug the Tumut river.
Taken a little north of Tumut,
Rolled into Adaminaby very satisfied. Grabbed a chocolate egg from the general store.
Adaminaby to Khancoban
This was the bit of road that made me want to return. I have ridden it in earnest before in prior years and did so again. It's a winding back road, no lane markings, but your typically high quality alpine surface. It hugs the mountain side as it snakes passed dams and catchments in the area. The open alpine scenery is really separate from other roads available in NSW. As a bonus it sees comparatively few cars, you're more likely to pass a motorcycle than any other vehicle type.
There is a small township that is open currently,
Khancoban to Mitta Mitta
The Victorian border is a stones throw from Khancoban. You just need to cross a bridge after visiting the crayfish border guard.
This next few legs will be all new to me. I've not really had the opportunity to explore Victorian roads in earnest, let alone on the motorcycle.
The road was nice enough and the scenery varied. It was an enjoyable jaunt. Turning off onto Omeo Highway on the way to Mitta Mitta, the amount of other vehicles became nil and you could get a good pace going.
The general store in Mitta Mitta has to be the nicest general store I have ever visited. Parked the bike on the foot path as is Victorian custom and picked up my American "egg roll" substitute, a egg salad sandwich.
Mitta Mitta to Omeo
Okay, this is the road I was wanting to visit the most. The main reason I made this route. Roughly 106km of back to back twisties.
It was amazing... for the first 30km, somewhat tiring for the next 20km and a real slog the rest of the way to Omeo.
Granted it was a decent trek to get to the "start" of this ride, but those corners are just brutal and relentless.
There is a distinct lack of flow or cadence to the corners, like listening to heavy music on 11 all of the time.
If I were to relax and cruise through at a flowing pace, my average speed drops to around 40km/h. Pushing hard, I could only average about 60-70km/h.
Ended up somewhere in the middle flipping between taking it easy and going for it. I was on the clock after all.
Do not think I would want to return, not unless I was fresh from a motel in the local area.
No photos taken, I was keen to finish it!
Omeo to Bright
After the ride into Omeo, I was glad to be back to country roads with a 100km/h limit. I was heading north-westish and it was about 16:30, sun was on it's path down in the direction I was heading. The roads were nice and enjoyable, except seeing the actual road was a bit of a challenge against the glare of the sun.
That didn't last too long however. Once I started climbing the mountain towards Hotham, the sun got hidden away. The road markings went from white to yellow, back into snow country we go.
The ride into Hotham was really nice. Alpine roads are of another quality, very smooth and generally free of debris. The vistas around the ski village were expansive.
On the otherside of Hotham village, the road snakes along the mountain's spine (it looks like), reminded me of those roads you see with reference to the Swiss alps in old magazine ads and the like.
The descent down drew me in and I was very happily floating the bike through the corners enjoying every moment of it in stark contrast to Omeo. Cars and caravans were crawling their way up for their holiday stays overnight. The road down was free and clear, I had it basically to myself and I was hammering it. Throttle, brake, down shift, lean, throttle, up-shift, repeat.
The towns of Harrietville and Bright are very picturesque. Tree lined streets with thick canopies. People out and about enjoying carefree living, nothing like back in Sydney. Postcard perfect.
Bright to Wodonga
Nothing of interest here, the sun was fading and the roads generally quiet. I made good time here and maintained a decent clip. Pulled into Wodonga just as the last light was exhausted and before I was blind - swapped out my sunnies for normal glasses.
A fellow riding buddy happened to be in Wodonga taking care of family affairs. He and a few others completed our first Ironbutt run together early last year. He met me at the servo and lead me to the local Westpac to pick up my "nest egg" goal, snapped a picture and escorted me back towards the motorway on ramp. A few beeps of the horn to signal safe travels.
Wodonga to Sydney
Night had come, I was rugged up in all my layers and settled in for the run home on the motorway.
Made a stop in Gundagai and Goulburn for fuel, food and coffee. It was a touch foggy, just a "touch". Anyone heading out around this time would have had a not-so-fun-time.
Besides the fog, a typically uneventful final leg.
A few other mates (they work the night), also fellow butters, met me in Punchbowl for my final receipt and bonus commercial sign via the "Egg Hut" food truck on premise at the Metro servo, very convenient.
Finished the day with about 40 minutes remaining. A productive use of the 24 hours.
Also my newish rear tyre is a little squared off now, oh well.
I went on a uncertified run late last year, which ended with a trailer home. The Bridgestone S22 rear was already on the way out, but trying to squeeze "just-one-more" was a dumb thing to do. I quite like the tyres and got a new set despite them not being particularly long lived and terrible for distance riding. I told myself to just keep them off the motorway as much as practical.
See here for photos of the tyres.
Earlier this year I went touring around Jindabyne. I took the scooter (ADV150) this time around for a change of pace, extra luggage space and with the intention of exploring some of the gravel roads. It was good fun having a sticky beak down the unsealed roads and getting passed by the typical ADV crews. When it came to the twisty alpine roads, 150cc is not particularly engaging and made me want to return with my other ride (CB400) and have a proper go.
Being from Sydney, I've not had the chance to visit many riding roads in other states. I'm somewhat at the stage where you sort of run out of roads to ride "locally". Eyeing the dense maze of roads in Victoria does make NSW look rather sparse. I've been eyeing the squiggly roads around Mount Beauty, in particular the road from Mitta Mitta to Omeo.
The Easter long weekend usually sees people with ample time off and there is a Ironbutt Easter theme. Why not combine my hesitency towards motorways, a desire to revisit Jindabyne and to explore Victoria into a Easter IB twisty run? A "day trip" to visit the alpine regions of NSW and Victoria if you will.
I did try to get some of the crew together, but something about family and other responsibilities got in the way. The route was also a bit of a non-starter for some, understandably. I ride with a varied group of individuals with equally varied types of motorcycles and skill levels and we're all somewhat new to this long distance thing.
The Route
Below is the general route, not inclusive of all the stops I made along the way. I tend to rest and refuel every 1.5-2 hours and make full use of the available 24 hours. I find that cadence works better for me, the creaky knees and my bike than slogging out longer sections and finishing early.
Google Map
Checked the BOM and Easter Friday was notably warmer around Goulburn/Yass than the Saturday in the wee morning hours. From memory it was 14C Friday versus 10C Saturday. The dew point for the Saturday was also 10C, meaning fog very likely and nobody likes night time fog. Locked in Friday 03:00 for departure.
The plan would see me turning off the motorway at Gundagai a little after sunrise to begin the alpine shenanigans. All going well, I would return to the motorway at Wodonga around sunset for the run back to Sydney. This would keep night hours restricted to the motorway.
Easter theme "eggs" to be collected at least 150 miles apart (ballpark 250km),
https://ironbutt.com/themerides/easter/
1. Yass - fried eggs on toast
2. Adaminaby - Chocolate egg
3. Mitta Mitta - egg roll (sandwich)
4. Wodonga - bike on footpath (because Victoria) in front of bank
5. Sydney - "Egg Hut" food truck gold bonus
The Ride
Sydney to Gundagai
Nothing out of the ordinary. A quick sprint down the M31 to Gundagai. It was notable how many vehicles and caravans were already on the road despite it being 3:00 in the morning. You could often see a line of red lights sprinkled in the far distance. Stopped at the Coolabah Tree Cafe in the Yass service centre for fried eggs.
Gundagai to Adaminaby
By the time I reached Gundagai, the sun was already up. It was shaping up to be a very pleasant morning and this next leg was new to me. I have been to Jindabyne several times previously, but have always came to it from the coastal road. I had heard that the road via Tumut is actually quite good and folks were not exaggerating. It was a lovely way there. The country side was lightly layered with fog, mountains framing the background and the sun beaming down across it all. There was also a nice twisty section climbing up the mountain for some ways before descending to hug the Tumut river.
Taken a little north of Tumut,
Rolled into Adaminaby very satisfied. Grabbed a chocolate egg from the general store.
Adaminaby to Khancoban
This was the bit of road that made me want to return. I have ridden it in earnest before in prior years and did so again. It's a winding back road, no lane markings, but your typically high quality alpine surface. It hugs the mountain side as it snakes passed dams and catchments in the area. The open alpine scenery is really separate from other roads available in NSW. As a bonus it sees comparatively few cars, you're more likely to pass a motorcycle than any other vehicle type.
There is a small township that is open currently,
Khancoban to Mitta Mitta
The Victorian border is a stones throw from Khancoban. You just need to cross a bridge after visiting the crayfish border guard.
This next few legs will be all new to me. I've not really had the opportunity to explore Victorian roads in earnest, let alone on the motorcycle.
The road was nice enough and the scenery varied. It was an enjoyable jaunt. Turning off onto Omeo Highway on the way to Mitta Mitta, the amount of other vehicles became nil and you could get a good pace going.
The general store in Mitta Mitta has to be the nicest general store I have ever visited. Parked the bike on the foot path as is Victorian custom and picked up my American "egg roll" substitute, a egg salad sandwich.
Mitta Mitta to Omeo
Okay, this is the road I was wanting to visit the most. The main reason I made this route. Roughly 106km of back to back twisties.
It was amazing... for the first 30km, somewhat tiring for the next 20km and a real slog the rest of the way to Omeo.
Granted it was a decent trek to get to the "start" of this ride, but those corners are just brutal and relentless.
There is a distinct lack of flow or cadence to the corners, like listening to heavy music on 11 all of the time.
If I were to relax and cruise through at a flowing pace, my average speed drops to around 40km/h. Pushing hard, I could only average about 60-70km/h.
Ended up somewhere in the middle flipping between taking it easy and going for it. I was on the clock after all.
Do not think I would want to return, not unless I was fresh from a motel in the local area.
No photos taken, I was keen to finish it!
Omeo to Bright
After the ride into Omeo, I was glad to be back to country roads with a 100km/h limit. I was heading north-westish and it was about 16:30, sun was on it's path down in the direction I was heading. The roads were nice and enjoyable, except seeing the actual road was a bit of a challenge against the glare of the sun.
That didn't last too long however. Once I started climbing the mountain towards Hotham, the sun got hidden away. The road markings went from white to yellow, back into snow country we go.
The ride into Hotham was really nice. Alpine roads are of another quality, very smooth and generally free of debris. The vistas around the ski village were expansive.
On the otherside of Hotham village, the road snakes along the mountain's spine (it looks like), reminded me of those roads you see with reference to the Swiss alps in old magazine ads and the like.
The descent down drew me in and I was very happily floating the bike through the corners enjoying every moment of it in stark contrast to Omeo. Cars and caravans were crawling their way up for their holiday stays overnight. The road down was free and clear, I had it basically to myself and I was hammering it. Throttle, brake, down shift, lean, throttle, up-shift, repeat.
The towns of Harrietville and Bright are very picturesque. Tree lined streets with thick canopies. People out and about enjoying carefree living, nothing like back in Sydney. Postcard perfect.
Bright to Wodonga
Nothing of interest here, the sun was fading and the roads generally quiet. I made good time here and maintained a decent clip. Pulled into Wodonga just as the last light was exhausted and before I was blind - swapped out my sunnies for normal glasses.
A fellow riding buddy happened to be in Wodonga taking care of family affairs. He and a few others completed our first Ironbutt run together early last year. He met me at the servo and lead me to the local Westpac to pick up my "nest egg" goal, snapped a picture and escorted me back towards the motorway on ramp. A few beeps of the horn to signal safe travels.
Wodonga to Sydney
Night had come, I was rugged up in all my layers and settled in for the run home on the motorway.
Made a stop in Gundagai and Goulburn for fuel, food and coffee. It was a touch foggy, just a "touch". Anyone heading out around this time would have had a not-so-fun-time.
Besides the fog, a typically uneventful final leg.
A few other mates (they work the night), also fellow butters, met me in Punchbowl for my final receipt and bonus commercial sign via the "Egg Hut" food truck on premise at the Metro servo, very convenient.
Finished the day with about 40 minutes remaining. A productive use of the 24 hours.
Also my newish rear tyre is a little squared off now, oh well.
