NIGE Motorcycle Club

Six go to Bylong on five clean bikes.

“Aww jeez Nige do we have to go if it rains ’cause my mum said I’m not allowed to get wet.” “Yes we do Lucky and I don’t want to hear any more complaints out of you” Lucky’s downcast expression didn’t go unnoticed by his friend Ant. “Don’t you worry about him Lucky. You ride with me and if he says anything mean I’ll rouse on him” So it was a pretty typical start as Nige, DD, Ant, Lucky, Sideways, and Keys left Maccas on a cloudy but promising day. On one of our infrequent stops Nige made a damning confession. Remember how long ago the Superbikes were? Well Nige still hadn’t washed his Ninja since he got back. Nor, he told us, has he washed his GSA since coming back from Tasmania. Meanwhile, Sideway’s and Lucky’s Busas, DD and Key’s Beemers, and Ant’s Firestorm, looked like they had just rolled off the assembly line and all shone beautifully in the glorious emerging sunshine. Keys was absolutely horrified with Nige’s poor sanitary approach to his bikes, “Motorcycles can get germs Nige. Big germs too. Just like people and they get really sick. I know there isn’t a government agency like DOCS for motorcycles but there should be and they’d tell you the same thing and you’d be in big trouble mister.” At this point we all thought that Keys was going to take Niges bike from him but he jumped off it pretty quicksmart because, “It felt all gooey”

All this worrying about Lucky is giving me a nervous condition I'm sure.

Jiminy Cricket! This is worse than I thought

Once all that nasty business was out of the way we continued out to Wollombi with Ant setting a quick pace. On to Broke with Nige pushing hard and Lucky just rearward and to his right and constantly avoiding all the bits of dried mud and branches as well as various pieces of fox, wombat, magpie etc that were flying off his bike; finally reefed free of the Ninja’s paintwork many months after their initial contact. From there Lucky took point with Sideways tucked in behind. They must have been a magical and magnificent sight from behind as those extraordinary machines went quietly about the business of making all others seem a bit more ordinary.

Lunch at Bylong. Hmmmmm…. If you like eating anything that comes in plastic wrap and heated in a microwave then this place has some fine dining for you…. but I think only astronauts should have to do that. DD didn’t eat any of course. “I am not a rocketman”

Plastic coffee....again?

The run back home was fun. Sideways took off first whilst the rest of us were still applying our lip balms and finishing combing our hair and we didn’t see him again till we reached Broke. Keys was out there somewhere too and we found him at Broke as well. Funnily, on the way out to Bylong he didn’t follow us, possibly because he was ahead, and went some other path less travelled or whatever and rejoined us somewhere along the Golden Highway.

Three men desperately concerned where Keys might be

We managed to dodge the rain for the most part and as far as I can tell we all made it home safely. Perhaps Nige called in to the Mingara car wash on the way back but I doubt it.

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Posted on: February 29th, 2012
By: Lucky
Under: Rides

Superbikes 2012 – February 2012

It doesn’t take much to amuse grown men does it? The ride to Maccas at 7 in the morning was fun in itself let alone the anticipation of the adventures to follow. The weather was perfect and all four Niges: Nige, Sideways, Mohawk, and Lucky headed south without a care in the world. That is till we hit Wisemans Ferry Road. Fog so thick there were fish swimming in it. Mohawk nearly hit a submarine. Anyway we eventually found our way back to dry land and steered west along Bells Line and out to Bathurst. Lucky took point for a while and wasn’t aware that average speed cameras check average speeds (He doesn’t teach maths you see) so might have been a little over the limit.

Some manly roughhousing before the ride

Cut it out you two. Remember you’re out.

From here we turned south and wound our way along country roads with most of us enjoying this quiet time by listening to their favorite tunes. At this point Mohawk decided to set a pretty cracking pace out front whilst Sideways was a little unhappy that his new earmould speakers were only working in one ear. As our speeds increased to that point where we started going backwards in time his other speaker suddenly made no sound either. The good news is there was nothing wrong with that speaker and all that had happened was that his brand new wife-bought-birthday-present-Ipod had been sucked out of his pocket and must have shattered on impact with the road. Mind you when he discovered it missing he rode back some 25K in the hope it may have somehow landed gently in a tuft of dandelions or something. It didn’t. We had a choice here to go with him or eat lunch. I had a Chico Roll, Nige had wedges and Mohawk had a nice salad wrap. Someday we will all have a good laugh at Sideway’s misfortune but right now is just too soon. After that he lost his three legged stool off the back. So now he can’t listen to music or sit down. At least his phone was still working so he could call his wife and tell her the bad news. Later on his phone got drenched in the rain and it broke too..Oh mercy how we laughed. Stop it that isn’t funny. Yes it is.

I would have gone but this wrap is just delicious.

Anyway we stayed overnight at a pub in Collingullie and had some beers. Then we slept and got up again. Got to give it to Mohawk and Nige here because they really did find some great roads and set a good pace. Victorian roads were fun but they have cops and cameras everywhere so we stayed close to the limits most of the time.

Silverwater Resort was close to the island and the weather was so warm we rode in T shirts and shorts even after 9 at night. Race days were hot but not enough to stop Lucky and Nige touring the pits on our special pit passes. We were told we would see the crews at work; we were told the riders would be signing autographs; we were told it would be an unforgettable experience. What we got was the occasional bike with its seat off and a few apprentices staring as blankly at us as we were at them. Nige did make comment of this to some aged crew member of some no-name team who smiled and replied “si bueno si bueno” or something like that. Lucky got a nice blister on his heel as a memento of this exciting part of the adventure.

Look at heem. Ze seat she is off.

Speaking of those pit passes. They were part of a pair of freebies that included entrance tickets that Nige had finagled from Image. He clutched them to his bosom like a Superbiked Smeagol. “My lanyards, my precious lanyards”. As it turned out Sideways and Mohawk showed no interest at all and Lucky was mortified by the demands set by Nige to earn the precious….still..they were free and Catholics can always go to confession.

Do you think Nige will know we wore his lanyards without permission.

Sullied reputations aside the racing was okay for what it was and we watched it.

Sunday night the storms moved in. By Monday morning it was raining heavily as we made our way northwards. Water came in at all angles including upwards and we were soaked through. Trying to get ahead of the weather felt hopeless as mud and water washed across the roads in front of us and heavy rain turned torrential. It stayed with us till we crossed the border and remained overcast till we arrived at Temora for the night. Here we met one of the colourful locals, Pete. Imagine the skinniest man you have ever met; take another 10 kilos off him and put a beer in his aged arthritic claw and you have Pete. A friendly character all the same who steadily drank and laughed along with us and confiscated Mohawks XXXX stubby holder for his own collection. Might have attached it to a lanyard, who knows.

Tuesday morning and it was raining again. Just kept riding north towards Bathurst and then along some really nice backroads to Tarana where we had lunch. It had stopped raining. There were more pensioners here than at a Russell Morris concert which was okay as long as they didn’t slow down the making of our meals and departure with their pureed devon and broccoli in a bowl (or whatever it is the elderly eat). Fortunately for them they didn’t. From here it was pretty plain sailing.

The pensioners are napping out back

All in all it was good. Nobody fell off (sorry, knocking on wood here) or got cranky or wearied of our company.

Now that’s just rude.

A Few Extra Photos

: Some manly roughhousing before the ride

: Cut it out you two. Remember you’re out.

: I would have gone but this wrap is just delicious.

: Look at heem. Ze seat she is off.

: Do you think Nige will know we wore his lanyards without permission.

: The pensioners are napping out back

: Now that’s just rude.

: Muscle Bike meets SuperBike.

: A couple of happy campers before lift off.

: More punters and more mist.

: Sideways on the ferry shrouded by the mist.

: Serious discussions over YAMM (Yet Another McDonalds Meal)

: Lucky basking in the splendour of the lanyard up on the pit roof.

: Gratuitous shot of gratuitous girls in a gratuitous clinch.

: The fans on ‘The Hill’.

: Somehow Suzuki just didn’t cut it.

: Nige sporting the very in vogue ‘Kawasaki Look’.

: Lucky doing the Chicken Dance on Gardner Straight.

: Safety gear, what safety gear?

: Even the bikes were hot.

: Not quite the bacon and eggs experience of my previous visit.

: When 4 became 3 … Where’s Bobby?

: Is this not the saddest and loneliest thing you have ever seen?

: Sideways looking for the main road.

: Lucky doing his Scary Spice impersonation.

: Mohawk discovering his reflection in the camera.

: Lucky and his iPhone.

: Collingullie where hats have lights.

: Lunch at Yarrawonga (maybe).

: Sideways in preparation for the ‘Rapture’.

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A Chookie in the Watagans

What again? Yeah nice pun Lucky. Anyhoo Nige and Lucky headed off to the hills for a nice dirt ride on Sunday. Mohawk was an early withdrawal suffering a flat rear tyre. Etiquette dictates that good friends and long time mates would wait with him till the NRMA arrived. We didn’t and both of us felt pretty bad that we didn’t. We got over it though. The road itself was a mess having been washed out by the rains but Nige appeared blissfully unaware of the horrific ditches and exposed boulders threatening to turn us upside down and simply set his usual devil-may-care pace. Lucky meanwhile spent two harrowing hours crying quietly but manfully into his helmet and only wiped his tears aside when Nige, who waited patiently at various intervals (I told you in an earlier report how that new GSA had made him a kinder and gentler man), would ask him how much fun this was. “Every rides a good ride Nige” But Lucky was just putting on a very brave face. I should point out in my own defense that there were pools of water so deep across the roads that they had their own tides and I’m pretty sure one of them had a jetty.

I think we might find some road over there Lucky.

I think if we ride up this log Lucky we'll be back on the road

Here we are after riding to the top of the log

We made it through to the main road and immediately headed to Jerrys like two muddy homing pigeons. “Maaaaaaate” Jerry announced happily on sighting Nige before suggesting he should ride on to the next cafe. It’s strange how often that happens. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a few coffees and talked further about the superbike trip before heading home to our beloveds. Lucky immediately washed and polished his KLunker and deeply apologised for the abuse it had endured that day, wrapping it in cotton wool and then gently covering it with its blanky. Nige probably beat his almost to death with a tree branch and then just bullied it to the dustiest corner of his garage without so much as a howdyoudo.

It was still a great ride.

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Superbikes Anyone?

Some time ago noises were made by some Niges about riding down to the WSB on 24th ~ 26th February.
Anyone still interested?

UPDATE: Sideways, Lucky, Mohawk and Nige all signed up …. any more interested parties?

Leaving Thursday afternoon (23rd Feb) and returning on Tuesday (28th) and staying at the Silverwater Resort outside San Remo.

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The Gentlemens’ Ride – January 2012

Blue skies and fair winds welcomed five gentlemen setting passage for the rustic hamlet of Walcha; as fine a group of gallants that e’re trod this federated land. Motoring north we tarried in Gloucester where the local peasantry proffered us with fine Italian coffee imported, I assume, for just such an occassion. “Crumbs, this coffee is jolly good” announced Lord Scrounger. ” Oh indeed” Replied the Earl of Keys “But mind the language old bean, there are ladies about.” To which we all tittered gleefully given the rather weathered and homespun appearance of the local lasses.

With all the pomp and ceremony of a royal visit

“I say, this coffee is marvelous”

With a hearty wave and hail-good-fellow-well-met the gentlemen continued west along the Thunderbolts Highway presumably named after some local rapscallion with little regard for manners and clearly of poor breeding. We didn’t encounter that scoundrel I’m pleased to say. In good time and having taken in some of the local sights along the way we arrived to a tumultuous and enthusiastic greeting from the kindly mid-western peasants who lined the streets in anticipation of a kind word or small token from the gentlemen. They smelled a little unwashed so the gentlemen paid them only cursory attention. “That fellow there has never seen a can of Dapper Dan in his life” Former President Lucky was heard to utter quietly under his breath upon sighting a rather unkempt example of farmlife cheering from the stands especially erected for the visit.

” My word I wish my manservant were here to tend to my face wiping”

Lord Scrounger, The Earl of Keys, Former President Lucky, and Archbishop David of Denham all proceeded directly to their previously arranged lodgings in the towns finest Hotel whilst, to our astonishment and admiration, the Right Honourable Brizzer elected to rub shoulders with the populace by making safari to the local camping grounds ” I’m quite keen to observe the yokels from close quarters. I may even converse with them, see what cultural aspects of rural life interest them; the theatre, opera of course, they fascinate me.” Given that he rejoined the rest of the gentlemen in fairly quick order we presumed he had learned little. “Wretched fellows scoffed at my cravat” was all he would say and we let the matter rest there.

Two gentlemen observe the common citizenary from a safe distance.

As any gentleman knows one does not imbibe prior to 5 bells. At exactly 5 bells the gentlemen entered the Apsley Tavern. “My word, what is that horrid odour?” Asked the Archbishop of Denham holding a lace kerchief to his face. “Greetin’s gents, pardon me but all’s we eat in these parts is cabbage and corned beef an’ it do tend to escape the nethers unexpectedly like” The ruddy cheerful face of the tavernkeeper seemed to float down from between the aged and dusty bottles lining the shelves behind him. “We don’t often get toffs from the city in here so please excuse my manners” “Five ales for my good friends and comrades” Gentleman Brizzer demanded dismissively. After a steady flow that remained within the boundaries of common decency and topped off with a rather fine red wine the gentlemen were ready for bed.

A gentleman knows how to drink tea.

The new day warmly greeted the gentlemen and, after finally coaxing Former President Lucky’s mount to life, the gentlemen left Walcha and headed east to Wauchope along the Oxley Highway. “As fine a colonial track as you would ever see” Commented Lord Scrounger whose beautifully prepared ride glistened in all its original livery.

A gentleman’s mount in original livery

From here they turned their handsome faces south with a detour along the Bucketts Way and Gloucester leaving it, “A better place having felt the tread of our leather.” “Oh well said Lord Keys” and “Yes Rather” said the gentlemen.

Two gentlemen consider their choice of companions

Home at last the gentlemen gathered for tearful farewells. A collective “Hurrah” from all and promises of further travels together. “I say” said Former President Lucky “Wouldn’t it have been grand if that tall glass of sherry Viceroy Mo of Hawke could have come along. He loves to mix with the commoners” “Perhaps we could even invite that rather bawdy chap Nigel along.” suggested some of the gentlemen who often enjoyed Nigel’s hearty and earthy banter . “Yes, perhaps” replied Former President Lucky in a thoughtful yet pensive tone. “Perhaps”

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Posted on: January 8th, 2012
By: Nige
Under: Rides

Impressed or What?

The big trip to Tassie has made it to Lakes Entrance in the rain (what else).

Tomorrow heading to Melbourne and to get the GSA serviced before heading to the ferry.

VERY happy with the Beemer and it’s 600k + range from the 33litre tank.

Rolling through the hills like an ocean liner, it is a big unit.

Posting this on my new iPad so not able to post photos yet but we made it across on the ferry.

Thousand foot high waves did nothing to dampen the trip over ….. Much.

Wandered around Devonport for a while before heading across to Burnie and a ramble around that section of the west coast.

Off to Cradle Mountain and Queenstown tomorrow.

In Hobart where the sun is trying to shine, went to Salamanca Markets, up the hill to Mt Wellington and out for a gawk at Richmond.

A garage full of bikes

On the waterfront at Strahan waiting for a boat ride up the Gordon River.

The smudgy view through the window of the Hobart harbour from our motel window.

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A Ride to Walcha

Lucky and Black Santa have planned a ride to Walcha on the 12th and 13th of Jan. We have booked rooms at the Walcha Hotel so if you are interested book yourself some accommodation and join us. There were rooms still available as of today at the motel but there are pubs etc if you prefer. At this stage we are leaving from Lucky’s house at 9 but can meet you at maccas Tuggerah at about 9.30 if that helps. We will head out through Gloucester and make our way to Wauchope then along the Oxley. Home via Thunderbolts. Leave us a comment here if you are keen.

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A Whole New Nige

With little fanfare Nige entered a new phase of his life today. A kinder, gentler man I’d like to suggest. Not that we haven’t loved and admired the former scallywag with the daring-do attitude and the mischievous twinkle in his eye but now it is a more mature, more centred and soulful man who will ride majestically astride Germany’s greatest technological masterpiece waving graciously to bystanders who can but dream of the pinnacle this man has climbed. If the Nazis had these in the big one the march through France would have been over before the Vichey government knew what hit them. But I digress.
A quiet celebration with many active members of the Nige club was held in Lucky’s garage…in between the lawnmower and Mrs Lucky’s car. It was unforgettable. We drank a beer. Then Nige went home. So did Dave. I stayed here because I live here. The end.