OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Snigdog on February 10, 2014, 09:23:31 PM
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I used to do a lot of road cycling including a number of the organised rides in Victoria. After getting the ST about 4 years ago I decided to have a go at motorcycle marshalling on these rides...one thing led to another, did a St Johns First Aid course and have now done a number of these rides including the Audax Alpine Challenge, Around the Bay in a Day, Amys Ride and the Green Edge River & Ranges Ride.
Marshalling involves patrolling the ride or part of it providing assistance to the riders and information back to the organisers. Its voluntary but all accomodation, costs are covered and depending on the ride an extra payment is made.
On some of the bigger rides theres about 15 of us, riding an assortment of bikes mostly tourers or adventure bikes, usually not two the same with exception of the Triumph Tigers (popular unit these days). Mine is the only ST to date....its a good bike for this work, good storage (for going away and also on the rides we carry an assortment of stuff, even small road cones sometimes), good gearing, well behaved fuelling (handy when riding slowly alongside cyclists) and happy to run all day, often in high temps.
Weight is the drawback, after turning, parking and generally manhandling the beast on some tight, windey country roads with nasty gravelly shoulders Im thinking a lighter bike would be nice.
From time to time new marshals are required (in Victoria), have a chat to me if you are interested, I will be at the AGM
Regards,
Rick
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I've done it forthe Ride To Conquer Cancer here in Brisbane. It's an over-nighter. They're always looking for m/c support as well. The pushies do about 100 kays out and the same back, and the amateurs need all the encouragement you can give them, especially on the uphills!
I've done it once for the road racers as well. Then it's more a matter of monitoring their behaviour- snagging "drafting" where it's forbidden etc.
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Friend of mine had an ST1100 back in NZ, he did a mobile camera stint during one of the iron men competitions, had a cameraman sitting facing backwards on his pillion and a bike to TV studio link on the bike. The view of the front competitors in both the bike and run legs was interspersed live into the live TV coverage.
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how can do this without wanting to run them over... just kidding.
It would be a fun thing to do, there are always rides around the Castlemaine area