Ol’ Mate

This entry is part 6 of 22 in the series Adventure Rider Issue #10

Here’s an adventure rider chosen at random from the thousands who read this magazine. Probably not many like distance riding as much as this bloke. Everyone, meet…

Ed Brown

Q. Where’s home?
A. Cambridge Park, NSW.

Q. How old are you?
A. 44.

Q. Do you feel that old?
A. Never. I always said I didn’t want to grow up, so my mother still only puts 12 candles on any birthday cake she makes for me.

Q. Your mother still makes birthday cakes for you! Are you registered on the AdvRiderMag forum? If so, what’s your handle?
A. Yes. It’s ED535

Q. What bike do you ride?
A. I ride a 2013 Kawasaki KLR650 and a 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour.Both bikes being 2013 models is just a coincidence.

Q. What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
A. It was a long weekend. On day one I rode from Sydney, NSW, to Murray Bridge in South Australia via Benalla, Mildura, Willmington and Port Augusta. On day two I rode to Toora, Victoria via Kingston, Mount Gambier, The Great Ocean Road, and Melbourne. Day three was home to Cambridge Park for dinner via Bairnsdale, Narooma and Kangaroo Valley. It was about 4200km.

Q. What’s your favourite place to ride?
A. I love being away from the cities, riding the backroads or uncrowded highways, watching the scenery pass by with nothing to worry about except if the next servo is open.

Q. What do you like most about the mag?
A. It’s Australian, it’s about Aussies, where and how we ride, not which chalet to stay at and which boots the rich kids are wearing in Europe.

Q. What’s something that really peeves you on a ride?
A. Cafés, and ride routes that go from café to café. I don’t drink coffee or tea.

Q. (Gasp!) Have you ever raced or ridden competition?
A. No, I have only ever ridden for the love of riding.

Q. What’s the most boring ride you’ve done?
A. A group ride from Ashfield in Sydney to Pie In The Sky at Cowan and back to Ashfield. It was 114km, and with the café stops, toilet breaks and Sydney’s Sunday traffic, it took five hours.

Q. Are you going to Ironbutt it on the KLR?
A. Absolutely. It’s a great bike and won’t have any trouble with the time and distance.

Q. What’s your favourite music to listen to while you ride?
A. I like a variety: Rose Tattoo, Trace Adkins and Rob Zombie.

Q. Heated grips: Yes or no?
A. Yes. Wet and cold hands can get painful, but wet and warm hands are okay.

Q. Maps or GPS?
A. Definitely GPS. I have three and use active and static maps on them. I sometimes cover three states in a trip and it would be very difficult to carry and use all the paper maps needed.