Perth Albany Perth - for UK based rider

[terry2wheelz]

Hello
This is my first post to your forum "Down Under" I'm an active Audax UK rider who's planning on riding the next PAP & I'd welcome any help / tips / info that you could proffer for me. I've ridden LEL 1400km & I'm riding it again this year, so I'm well aware of the suffering that riding for 100HRS brings, I've no idea however of riding anywhere other than Europe & no experience of shipping my bike to other side of planet either, so whilst It's ages away from next PAP ride - I'm probably best to start proper planning any time soon - If you can help with info I'd appreciate. Thanks Terry.

[LateStarter]

Hi Terry, you would be most welcome.

Rather then getting info second hand you could just contact the President of the Western Australia Audax region, Wayne Hickman http://www.audax.org.au/public/index.php/component/contact/contact/47-wa-contacts/109-wayne-hickman who not only organised the 2014 PAP but did it , largely unsupported, two weeks before the scheduled ride on the volunteers ride.

The WA Region site has some details of the last PAP http://www.audax.org.au/public/index.php/audaxregions/wa and you will find various pictures / descriptions around the web with a search.

Seeing that you are already so well prepared you could consider also doing the Sydney-Melbourne 1200 which starts 19th Nov 2017. Alexander Neumann from Germany has a nice video of the 2013 edition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3p-5BB4xnE, and for a bonus you get a glimpse of me, with my back to the camera, at the Lake Hume control at 7:16.

No big dramas regarding getting your bike here, Oz riders going to PBP 2015 reported very few problems, only hint is make sure the airline you pick has a generous (say at least 30 kg) baggage allowance so you don't have to pay excess. If you are not familiar with bike box packing there are lots of sites (like this https://viventebikes.com/travel/bike-packing-instructions/) with instructions, practice a few times before the real thing. You can generally fit much of your other clothing etc in the bike box , reduces the number of luggage items and helps to protect the all important bike.

Good luck.

[terry2wheelz]

Wow ! Very many thanks "Late starter" I really appreciate your help, superb level of assistance

Since posting the plea I've also found an Australian guy living over here who's also ridden PAP, so with both of your help. I should be OK - once again THANKS.
T.

[LateStarter]

There are some pictures of PAP 2014 and a story in Checkpoint 62 (download the PDF)

A lot of great stuff in previous Checkpoint editions too going back to 1982!

http://www.audax.org.au/public/index.php/checkpoint-magazine