Summary trip report, All the passes led by Max

Thanks Max , great ride this past weekend . Well planned with sufficient riding and stops allowing us to take in the natural beauty around us . Excellent camaraderie in the group riding with you and great to "touch sides" with the other groups en route and at Oudtshoorn. Looking forward to the next ride , cheers Hamid

Thank you Geoff , for the overall co-ordination of the All Passes Tour , once again an excellent Club event , well put together and enjoyed by all the members , that I spoke to. Great being part of this club . Cheers Hamid. 

p.s. thanks for arranging my special meal , much appreciated . I know that arranging these tours take a lot of planning hence when finer details like meal preferences are remembered , it is truly appreciated.

I confer with Hamid, a very well planned event, thank you very much as if it werent for you and the other road captains, I would not be having such fun.

I know I chirp too often, but am aware of it and will tone it down   

Thanks to Max and Hamid for keeping the flock together.

The first few km's was nice and slow so there was time for pictures.  It later bacame fast and furious so I had to 'claw to the bars'.  I really enjoyed the trip back as I gave up on hoping we would turn off onto some of those beutiful gravel stripes leading into the mountains.  The track day training could be put to good use in the passes.  Thanks again.

Just a few pictures (of the start).

Adie

We will depart now

Looking back

Reflection in helmet

If only the knobbly knew what was in store over the next two days

Did the rear complain?

Will the wine be ready in time if we reach Oudshoorn

We arrived for breakfast and left at lunch. (Maybe the staff 'drossed' for the day)

Mother earth leaving her scars

We did stop (a few times)

Then we arrived

Then we talked

Then they arrived

The feathers arrived (did not see Andy)

Still had time to laugh

No skilpad nek yet Natalie

Live to enjoy the ride

Adie

I felt like the only grapefruit in the orange basket on the way back. Some riders probably hoped that I would defect to another group as I might hold them back. (Ooo... Kite represented the only other letter than R in the BMW alphabet soup with his F800 )

I've been planning a more 'protective' screen for the Dakkie (the facelift with the aerodinamically correct screen) as the old neck can't keep up with the force of the wind above 120. Like all else this was left until Friday morning. No time for anything other than a 'bolt on tab'.  WHAT A PLEASURE.

Wind Tab

Unfortunately I had to drill two holes to mount.  Would I have survived the trip back without it?, yes, but based in my other high speed trips I would have felt worse than a rotten grapefruit.

We will now develop adjustable clamp brackets to attach to any screen. (No drilling like Aerotrim or Aero-trim) the actual 'Tab' would be from unbreakable Lexan for maximum safety.

On the speed side we fitted a new chain and sprocket set with 2 teeth less at the rear. At 100km/h the revs dropped around 250rpm.  The top end power did suffer a bit but that is only an issue during high speed uphill sections (or headwind)  I had to drop to 4th in Op de Tradou Pass to keep with the boxers.  Other than that cruising at 150 was no problem. I never toured at these speeds so can not compare fuel consumption but the strech where we rode at higher speeds the consumption was 18.17km/l (Riverdale to Ashton)

In the passes the Dakkie kept up with whoever was in front without any heroics.  I did some 'experimentation' to juge distance and speed and only had to brake before entering about 5 corners, the rest I could just close the throttle on the way in and power out.  Also did some practice to pick a line and see if I can maintain it as smooth as possible.  I still hate the downhill side of a pass though. I was also noticably more cautious in the turns than during the track day due to the much smoother (less tacky) surface of the road and also scared of oil and other nasties.

Maybe I will come to like the 'all tar' trips as well. Nhaaa there is a special bond between me and the dust. (Look at my profile pic )

Thanks again

Adie

Thanks Adie for the pictures and humourous summary thus far . I have a few more pictures to add to those that you have posted already . Enjoy !

bikes resting outside the Dros in Robertson , while riders replenished

riders waiting , endlessly , for their refreshments at the Dros: Adie holding fort and Junaid looking on patiently

Tradouw Pass: Beautiful 

More views from the pass: Stunning

and more views: including the group leader , Max 

riders basking in the sun

Tamsyn & David Parkins , enjoying the view

Adie telling Mike to admire the natural beauty a

 round him , and not in the other group :)

brief stop on Route 62

Geoff with an attentive audience , I think ?

conversations all round

Wait there's more

serious conversation about the days ride: Mike holding fort here , i think ?

Geoff and Pillion getting ready to leave Klein Plasie on Sunday

Karen , Warren & Natalie enjoying the morning sunshine before leaving Klein Plasie