Secunda To Durban

So how was this trip born? Well, it all started with our yearly AGM meeting which, it so happened, we scheduled over the long weekend. At first we planned to go by car but you know how it works - the bikes always win.

We booked a place in Ballito for the weekend and our Secunda Harley friends Christo and Carin joined us for the ride as did our travelling buddies from Pretoria, Andre and Janeke.

Our group is growing very well with five bikes in total. The group consisted of:

Christa - 2008CBR600RR	Cobus - 2009 CBR1000RR
Andre/Janeke - 2002 CBR954RR
Carin - 2010 model 883 Iron Sportster Harley Davidson	Christo - 2002 Softail Deuce 1450 Harley Davidson

Roaring Wheels proved again that they're the best when it comes to service. For this trip we bought the Pillion bags (Oxford Sprints), Sidi Vortice Boots , XKulcha Riding Jeans and they also installed a Hyperpro Lowing kit on Christa's bike. If you need anything for your bike, contact these guys.

ROARING WHEELS
11 LAING STREET
SECUNDA
2302.
CONTACT ANDRE or LEANDRA ON 017 631 1838
EMAIL: roaring.wheels@gmail.com.

Thanks for the great service.

Well here is the report back from Christa, Carin and Christo - enjoy!!

Christa:

My first long trip, a whole 670km from Secunda to Ballito. We left around 9:00am the Friday morning; it was a beautiful winter morning, blue skies with a slight breeze, perfect for biking. The team was made up of myself and my hubby on our Superbikes and Christo and Carin on their Harleys. I was a bit nervous because it was quite a few kilometres we had to do and I knew there were some twists coming. Janeke (my supposed rotation rider) was late thus I had no choice but to do it on my own. I must say Carin was my inspiration; seeing her handling that Harley so comfortably gave me the courage I needed.

We stopped after 100km just to stretch our legs. Then, still full of life, we headed off to Villiers. I felt a bit of strain in my neck after only a few kilometres on the N3 to Durban. This worried me seeing we still had more than 500km to go. I knew that this wasn't due to stress so I couldn't understand where it was coming from. When we stopped at Villiers for a little snack, I admitted to my hubby I was struggling a bit and he said, "Well it's windy - ofcourse you'll struggle a bit." Not knowing my bike that well, I thought it was something I'd done wrong - just shows you how new to biking I am.

The ride from Villiers to Harrismith was boring and cold. I knew the twists were getting closer and luckily I didn't try to over-analyse it; I just took it as it came. I didn't feel comfortable at all - I was trying to follow the apex (as Janeke had explained to me after her intermediate course) but I must have misunderstood it. I just could not find my line and had to brake in the turn a few times and let me tell you, it's not the most comfy feeling. I found myself squeezing the handlebars every time it happened. The other thing that made me nervous was the other vehicles on the road. Above all, I concentrated on making sure no one hit me. All I can say is I was happy once we got down from Van Reenen's Pass.

Luckily the wind stopped blowing and the weather turned nice and warm. I actually started to relax more and found I could enjoy the ride without concentrating so hard on keeping the bike on the road. It was as if my bike and I became one and somehow I knew I'd be fine on the next twists. I also realised that I preferred following to taking the lead. And with Carin behind me, I almost felt protected. When we reached Pietermaritzburg I kept up with Cobus in the turns and understood for the first time what following the apex means. I realised I should look as far ahead as possible; not too close or at the rider in front of me. We hit some traffic between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Having to go through that traffic, seeing that the Harleys are air-cooled, was another not-so-comfortable experience on my bike.

We only reached Ballito at 17:30pm, in the dark, after a long and instructive ride. I was very pleased with myself and Carin for doing so well without incident, like me forgetting to put out my stand, etc, etc.

The ride back was more difficult, although I enjoyed it more. I felt that I was becoming a real biker. I decided up front that I wouldn't be blamed for keeping the others back so I kept up with Cobus with some motivation from the back with Andre and Janeke following me. The Harleys had a slight head start so we really pushed hard on the Superbikes. The wind and traffic were horrific but once again I'd learnt a lot and just kept going. It was the most satisfying feeling when we stopped in Secunda at the garage to say our goodbyes to Christo and Carin. I am so proud of us girls - we did not once complain we just kept going with a smile!

I cannot wait for our next long trip; the more you ride the easier it becomes. I love my Superbike and I am glad that my hubby can now relax a bit as he has said "jy kan maar bike ry".

Live Fast!!

Christo en Carin in Afrikaans:

Dit het begin met n winderigheid eers vanaf Carin se maag voor die groot vertrek Ballito toe regdeur Cobus tot en met die terug kom slag Secunda toe. Carin kon dit fix met 'n single Lennon's se peppermint en n dubbele Lennon's se Jamaica gemmer drupels. Cobus het hom Vrydag nog diep gevoel draai met ons rit af. Hy het twee skyt-stop pille gesluk maar die stimulasie van die spoedfiets het hom laat gaan van pit-stop tot pit-stop.

Christa het haar Engele-tannie gevra om ons te beskerm en so het ons die pad aangedurf. Om 9uur vertrek ons vanaf Secunda en so ongeveer 5:30uur in Ballito ge-arriveer. Sussie Janneke en fox terrier Andre kon ons nie inhaal, al het hulle 200km/h gery. Die pas vanaf Harrismith tot in Durban het ons Harleys so 130-140km/h gery, die spoedfietse voor ons dieselfde spoed. Vir ons Harleys was dit die vinnigste nog om 'n draaie en vir "hulle" die stadigste.

Donker daar aan gekom en dadelik 'n Whiskey gesoek om die "dors" te les. Ons het in 'n vreeslike mooi plek geby. Op die strand naby loop afstand vanaf twee heerlike eet/kuier plekke.

Saterdag het ons 'n heerlike onbyt genuttig terwyl ek Ritchy McCaw met die een oog dop gehou het. Daarna het elkeen sy eie ding gedoen. Andre het vir ons gebraai Saterdag-aand met Cobus wat oor sy skouer 'n oog gooi en toe het ons heerlik om die tafel gesit en stories vertel.

Sondag het ons dames bietjie agter die mans se rue ingekruip weer af Margate toe. Eers by Cobus se neef gestop en 'n vars gebakte muffin gehap. Tienie het al vier uur op gestaan om die muffins en konfyt vir ons te bak (ha-ha). Tienie en Ronel het saam met ons Margate toe gery op hul V-Rod. Die wind was ROF! Ons het by Christa en Cobus se eet plekkie "Larry's" gestop. Die naam bordjie van Cobus-hulle lees toe "Cobus en Christo" ipv "Cobus en Christa". Nou weer die pad terug aandurf hierdie keer wind in! Vreeslik ongemaklik op die Bikes met die winde van veranderings. Dan van die kant, dan van voor, dan van agter (Baie min kere) . . . net wind!

Sondag middag na die wind ons verwaai het, gaan soek ons koek om die lus te blus. Ek was moeg van die winderigheid wat nie eens in my maag was nie. Sondag aand 'n lekker Hilda-konkoksie van eiers en repies 'steak' van die vorige aand aanmekaar gegooi en gesmul. Maandag oggend was ons gepak, ge-'gear' en op ge-'charge' vir die rit terug.

Die Harleys het 'n 'head start' gekry van so 'n half uur tussen vriende! Darem nog nie veel verkeer gehad nie. Wel baie koue deur die pas en weereens die WIND! Ons het in Estcourt gestop vir ontbyt. Skaars gesit toe is die Spoedfetse daar. Christa het die pas afgery 170km/h, Janeke was so verveeld dat sy maar beginne sing het. Gelukkig kon Andre haar nie hoor nie. Ons is weer eerste klaar en besluit toe om ons voorsprong te hou. Baie verkeer en meer wind toe gehad. Harrismith baie koud. Pad reguit en vervelig. Weer eerste aan gekom by Villiers. Ons wou net wonder waar is die res toe is die klomp daar, net 10min agter ons. Middag-ete genuttig en toe die pad huis toe gevat. Nog steeds wind. Ek het so lekker gery my fiets wil net 140km/ph ry deur daai wind. Christa se ook hoe vinniger sy ry hoe minder voel sy die wind en hoe minder 'effort' is dit.

Ons kom veilig in Secunda aan en stop by 'n vulstasie om die rit te mee af te sluit. Almal is dit eens dat ons dit geniet het ongeag al die ongure wind. Die mans is trots op die "Cherries" hulle het goed gery en sien kans vir enige-iets?

Dit was 'n goeie ondervinding en ons het 'n paar dinge van mekaar geleer soos spoed, voorkeure en manier van ry.

Die Kaap kan maar kom, ons sien uit!

Cobus:

To round things of I would like to thank everybody (Andre, Janeke, Christo, Carin, Tienie, Ronelle and Christa) for this weekend and for Tienie and Ronelle that joined us on Sunday for a "Lekker" cruise to Margate. Congrats to the Harley's that was willing and able. But a special thanks to my Wife who made me very proud, well both the girls did very well and they can be proud of themselves.

WELL DONE!!!