Almost Ready For Some Track Time

 

I picked the Daytona up from its bodywork makeover yesterday. We gave Emily a vague idea of what we wanted as a scheme on the bodywork and left it up to her creative talents to fill in the blanks. It took a little longer than planned at about three weeks but it was worth the wait.

Before it went to Hawtt Decals I took it down to Joe at Ride Dynamics for a suspension rebuild/revalve and re-spring with K-Tech fork and Eibach shock springs. Joe set the sag for our weight (luckily Will and I are about the same weight) and gave me fork preload settings for the three racetracks we are likely to ride it on here in south east QLD.

Now we just need to get those Pirelli slicks off and some more beginner friendly rubber fitted before next weekend. I was keen on Bridgestone S23 or R11s but I have been recommended to try the Metzeler TD slick. They are meant to be a cheaper option than road legal tyres that still warm up and stay warm for the aahhemm…..newer (read slower) track day rider. 

Thanks to a mate, Mike who donated a head lift stand last week. It fits and works a treat and will make getting that front wheel out so much easier.

This will have to be done this week as Will is keen on attending a track day this weekend. It will be COLD up at Morgan Park this weekend, so lucky he has tyre warmers.

I just have to get through another licence renewal at work this week first, then I can look at getting the new rubber fitted. 

Giddy up!

Cheers.

NRRT Again

A good mate was back from Singapore for a few weeks holiday and true to form,  not wanting to waste a minute,  Dan took me up on the offer to ride the Northern Rivers Rail Trail on his first day back in Oz!

It is a bit of a drive down to Murwillumbah so we set off at 6am to be in the bikes by 0730. 

It was a bit cool until we spun the legs and warmed up a bit....but not much.😁

When I rode this trail late last year with Owen I had been struck by how similar it felt to the Singapore rail trail I had ridden with Dan in November. Today it would be interesting if Dan felt the same.

Tunnel time!

And he did agree that the tree covered, green lane that the trail wended its way through was very similar to Singapore. There were even some huge bamboo clumps.

The Burringbar range tunnel is a 524metre (1718ft) wonder that is almost pitch dark toward the centre with just a pinprick of light in the distance. Lights are a necessity.

We rode to the end of the “current” rail trail which ends at Crabbes Creek, then up onto a bridge to look further along the trail.

Did I mention it was cold? Think our faces were a bit frozen. 😆

Turning around, we pedalled the short few kilometres back to Moobal’s Moo Moo cafe’. I think I’ve posted about this cafe’ in a few moto ride blogs. 

After a very nice cooked breakfast we began the roll back down the trail to Murwillumbah.

The trail was much busier now, being filled with walkers, riders and runners. Pretty much everything except horses. I struggled to get a photo or two without other meat bags (bar Dan of course!) in the shot.

We were soon back at the Murwillumbah station having a look around. They are getting the place well organised these days with the value of the trail to the community becoming evident to even the most recalcitrant opponent.

So, a quick 50 kilometre pedal and we were home by midday. Thanks for the ride Dan and it definitely won’t be the last time I’m down here to ride this trail.

Cheers.