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Lano - Cervantes
Who - H, Acid Gloves Eddy and Colin McCaughey Where - Lano to Cernvantes When - July 8th 2007 With Howard away supporting his lads soccer career and Col wanting another day to beat the cold, a 2nd Lano ride was called for Sunday. The weather forecast was not meant to be that flash and perhaps this put some other takers off. Good ole Acid gloves was there to make sure we all behaved. The Lano car-park was deserted by the time we were ready to take off and H was chomping at the bit to get his new WR450 run in. As usual with H, his promises to take it steady all evaporates inside a couple of corners and we were left chasing him the whole way to Wedge again. The conditions were excellent and we only came across a few 4x4's. There was a lone rider on what looked like a TTR or similar bike and he seemed to be loaded up pretty good. I reckon he got a fright as we came tear assing round a corner towards him. A couple of "head and chest clearing" stops were required, as Cols cold tried to make a bid for freedom!. A quick stop at the nurses hut and we were off up the beach. The tide was right up and that did not bode well for the return leg, with thoughts of using the beach at Cervantes. The sky was starting to turn very grey and we headed straight off the beach for the final part to Cervantes. It was here that Col started to notice things were not all well with his chosen partner for the day, as the front brakes started to become soft and there was a couple of small overshoots and dodgy moments. H in the meantime seemed to be enjoying the extra cubes of the bigger WR and judging by the tyre marks, he was cutting some decent lines and exploring its capability. Just as we came off the very last short off-road section in Cervantes, a police traffic car came the other way. He instantly put on the flashing lights as soon as he saw us and we just knew he wanted words. We pulled straight over and he was there in a flash and out of the car. But his face was a picture as he clocked H's rego number and then moved onto Cols, who also politely pointed out the rego. Unlucky pig! In fairness he did say (and this was confirmed by a guy in the servo) that they have been having problems with unlicensed bikes tearing up and down the roads in the area. We almost laughed when he said he was surprised we stopped, as the youth normally just take off! We took the opportunity to turn the tables on him and question the options open to Col, to try and progress his case when he got knocked off by the mad woman at Wedge. "Go right over their heads and contact the complaints dept". Sounds fair and lets see where that gets things. So to the return. The beach was a non starter on the way out of Cervantes, where we were able to get about 1km along, before the ocean was right up and there was just huge deep piles of seaweed. So we headed back down the bitumen and onto the track. It was here that the rain started and things began to go pear shaped for Cols KTM. He stopped after he could feel a clunk from the front end and with Peters handlebar experience, did not fancy that himself. Nothing seemed amiss and we carried on. The rain came harder and soon the goggles were more hindrance than help. By the time we got to the beach at Wedge, Col had no front brake at all and the lever was back to the bars. An inspection at the Nurses shack did not reveal anything and we just waiting out the heavy rain before heading off. the run back was "interesting", as the pace picked up as usual, but Col did not feel happy about the slower corners and hard braking. Back at the cars and we had a classic comedy moment, as the guy parked next to us had locked his keys on his car and wanted to know if we could help. Well you know the answer if you have heard the RAC advert on the radio - yep "house brick" is the only option! The pie shop was empty and Howards obvious celebrity precedes him, as the woman behind the counter must have recognised him, as she was heard to say "Two pies"? "Not today love, one pie and a big cream donut will be fine". So a good safe ride by all and no SOTD or ROTD awards. The after ride wash-up by Col when he got back home, revealed a loose dust seal on the front wheel bearing. When the brake lever was pulled and the whole wheel was moving side to side. On closer inspection after removal of the front wheel, the whole bearing and spacer assembly in one end just fell out of the wheel. No wonder the brakes didn't work, as all they were doing was pushing the wheel from one side to the other. The wheel was able to wobble from side to side by approx 20mm and that would explain the clunking sound. A close shave! |
