16 September 2023 Ride

A little cool start for the start of the day but quickly warming up by mid morning. Sunshine has been promised with a little wind. Depart from Darnum at 8am.

It is forecast to be sunny with winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching between 19 and 26.

9 September 2023 Ride – inclement forecast

It’s been very windy and wet most of Friday and it is forecast to be similar tomorrow with high winds and cold temperatures. Given this prediction it might be best to call off the ride. Think positive. Use the extra time for a much needed sleep in.

West and South Gippsland area

Cloudy. Very high chance of showers in the west, high chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 700 metres. Possible small hail in the morning and afternoon. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h turning northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 5 with daytime temperatures reaching between 8 and 14.

2 September 2023

Better weather with a cool frosty morning getting sunny later is forecast for tomorrow. Dress appropriately. Depart from Darnum at 8am.

Thanks to Lyndon’s persistence with the organisers it is pleasing to report the 10 day Japanese Cycling trip is materialising. We now have around 14 potential DSR riders registering for the trip.

As reported previously Kirsten has a team called Team Cranked Up riding in the Around the Bay on Sunday 8 October 2023. Kirsten invites us to join her and her team on this ride. Register:

https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=48304&G=183908

Saturday will be mostly sunny. Patches of morning frost. Light winds becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 3 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 17

26 August 2023 Ride

Forecast for a cool but dry morning. The ride will start from Yarragon as it is the last Saturday of the month. Prepare for an 8am start on our Westbury course. Coffee at Fozziegobbles after.

It will be cloudy with medium chance of showers about the ranges, slight chance elsewhere. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 14.

19 August 2023 Ride

The freezing weather over the last few days are turning to be quite a damp one tomorrow, especially in the morning. Hopefully there will be a window of opportunity for a small weather break for a ride. Prepare for a damp ride. Coffee if it will be too wet. It’s still in Darnum for a 8am set off.

By the way, Kirsten, who some of you have met previously has a ride team called Cranked Up and invites those interested to participate in the 100km Around the Bay in the Day event as part of her team on Sunday 8 August 2023. Ian is planning to join in. It would be a great opportunity for social event to ride in Melbourne – Lara area. Link to Kirsten Cranked Up team and to register:

https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=48304&G=183908

Forecast for a cloudy day with a verry high chance of showers in the west, medium chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1100 metres. Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 16.

12 August 2023 Ride

Although rain is forecast tomorrow it is not expected to arrive until latter in the day. Morning temperature is slated to be a reasonable 10 deg C so let’s take advantage of the morning for a ride. Depart at 8am from Darnum. Please have you lights on for your and our safety.

The BOM map shows a continuous group of shower cells passing through. It will be a wet ride I’d say, so I will turn up for coffee instead.

It will be cloudy with high chance of showers in the west, medium chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1300 metres. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 9 and 15.

Japan Biking 14 to 25 April 2024

Here are the details and message from Lyndon who is planning this cycling tour in Japan.

Click on all the tabs to see details of the trip and Japan. Reviews on their site are old but good. More recent reviews are on Trip Advisor and are also good. I will link the Trip Advisor reviews in the next message. One of the Trip Advisor reviews was from a Florida woman who I rode in Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand with.

Some info on the Japan bike ride I am interested in. It would be good to have some of our DSR riders for this event. We tried to get on the ride waiting list for 3 years prior to COVID and now it is available next year 14-25 April. It is the Japan Highlights 10 day 11 night tour and is at about the same time as the cherry blossom season I think – though I am not sure of of it’s intensity where we are riding.

All meals are included. Start Izumi, end Kyoto. Cost ¥310,000/A$3,238 plus eBike rental ¥5000/A$33.35 per day. Add 5% for payment through PayPal or credit card. Concludes after breakfast on 25 Apr.

I plan to fly into Osaka and get a domestic flight to Kagoshima for the start. At the end I would get a train from Kyoto back to Osaka. Air China (Taiwanese) seems good to for the international bit – modern Airbus A350 with above average legroom in economy ~$1,296, yet to look at reviews. ANA for the internal flight $142, train on last day $42.

Historic weather: April Japan/Kyushu average 20°H & 8-10°L, but there is a 50% chance of rain. April is considered a perfect month to visit Japan – the best weather-wise.
I have been to Japan a couple of times and it certainly is different – ultra clean, and very nice people. A lot of positives.

The tour I have talked about is not a guaranteed departure – I guess they need bookings for that. I am keen to commit soon so that it is still available, ie not booked out.
Have a think about it and chat or ask questions.
Lyndon
https://www.japanbiking.com/tours-2/tours/

5 August 2023 Ride

Arctic blast today and probable extending to tomorrow. This means it will be cold with a high chance of very light rain, if any. Look forward to the 8am start from Darnum. Warm gear, including thick or skin gloves will be order of the day.

Saturday is forecast to be cloudy with high chance of showers in the west, slight chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1300 metres. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 9 and 14.

29 July 2023 Ride

Last Saturday of July and there last on this half of the calendar year. Ride the Westbury loop from Yarragon setting off at 8am. It will be a cool start with light winds so dress appropriately. Hopefully we will see more of you on this ride as the recent cooler and wet weather has kept several of us preferring their dooner rather than fronting up.

It will be mostly sunny with a slight chance of a shower about the ranges, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 19.

22 July 2023 Ride

Cool to cold day, very little change of rain tomorrow with a little fog, so come rugged up appropriately. 8am street from Darnum.

Ian won’t be riding as he has has a procedure on his back to stem the depilating pain in his left knee, but will be over for coffee after your ride.

Saturday if forecast to b partly cloudy with patches of morning frost about the ranges. Medium chance of showers near Wilsons Promontory, most likely in the early morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the morning then becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.