A_R_R_2015_04

LETTERS

130 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER

ordinated footwear appears to be only

a pair of casual gym boots/joggers.

Correct me if I am wrong but are these

the latest type of lace-up motorcycle race

footwear?

Paul Norris

Swansea, NSW

You’re right, they’re sneakers. It’s the

kids these days, I reckon. But seriously, I

checked the KTM catalogue and cannot

fi nd anything that looks like those shoes,

which appear to have a KTM logo on

them. At a guess (an educated one) I’d say

they’re a new product similar to the many

other sneaker-styled riding boots now on

the market. I have tested a very similar

pair from DriRider which have ankle

and toe protection, padding up over the

ankles etc etc. Just the thing for a stylish

boy-racer on his Ls, as is implied in the

KTM ad, and not bad for an old bugger

like me too. — Matho

YOU EXPERIENCED?

Love this mag we’ve just been given by

our daughter’s friend. I ride a Ducati

Monster 696. I would like to ride a bigger

bike but there aren’t many choices in

sportsbikes for a 160cm, 51kg female out

there. The issue is that when you are an

everyday city rider parking on the street,

the grade can fall away so sharply into

the gu er that when you return to ride

away, sometimes you need awesome

strength to get the bike off the peg to

upright again.

I’m very interested to hear how other

women riders cope with this. Also, I’ve

been wondering how many female

riders are out there in my age group, late

50s, as I don’t see many on the roads.

Have they all retired and become pillion

riders?

Chris Suff olk

Brisbane, Qld

OUR NEXT PCH RIDE

A couple of suggestions for you the

next time you ride from LA to SF or

thereabouts. As you leave Ventura to

the north, turn east on the 33 heading

to Ojai, where we lived in the mid-‘90s

(well worth a visit). Just before the

town, the 33 swings north through the

Topatopa Mountains around 5000

elevation with some wonderful curves,

climbs and descents.

Stay on the 33 on the other side of

the mountains and if it is still there, the

Half-Way House in Ventucopa serves

great BLTs. Checking the internet, I

think that it is now called “The Place”

as the photo looks familiar, but it is

still a good rest spot. Turn west at the

junction of the 166, which will take you

back to the 101.

Alternatively, continue from Ventura

to Santa Barbara and take the 154 east

up over the San Marcos Pass. About

15-20 minutes along the 154 is the

Cold Springs Tavern, a rather famous

local stop for a beer and some food.

Continue to the junction of the 246 and

turn le taking you through Santa Inez

and Solvang.

Heading to Buellton, you will come

back on the 101 again and you can

continue north from there. I have

explored most of the roads criss-

crossing from Highway 5 to the 101

north from Santa Barbara and there

are some wonderful alternatives to

following the PCH the whole way, not

that that is a bad thing, particularly

when the “June Gloom” has the sea fog

covering the ocean and you have the

feeling that you are riding on top of

the clouds.

Wayne,

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