Cycle trip around Aus. Leave Jan 1 2013, Anyone interested?

[JamesTK]

Hello,

I am touring around Australia from the 1st of Jan 2013. I depart Melbourne and arrive into Tasmania on the 2nd off the spirit of Tassie. After touring Tasmania for a few weeks I will be returning to Melbourne on the spirit of Tassie to begin my journey across mainland Aus.

To give you a rough idea of dates and locations look below:

Tasmania (Early Jan)
Melbourne to Adelaide (Mid Jan to early Feb)
Adelaide to Albany (Early Feb early April)
Albany to Perth (via Margret river) (Early April to late April)
Perth to Broome (Late April to Early June)
Broome to Darwin (Early June to early July)
Darwin to Alice Spring (Early July to late July)

I am planning to tour along the west coast and then head up north into Darwin where I then plan to head down into Alice Springs.

If anybody else has any plans for touring in 2013 in any of these areas please get in contact with me. You are welcome to join the trip at anytime for as long or for as short as you would like! If any of you have had experience riding in these areas and have any extra tips please feel free to make a comment.


Cheers
James

email: [email protected]

[Tandem]

If you like headwinds you will have lots of it at that time of the year the way you are going. Have a look at the wind roses here,

http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/wind/

[JamesTK]

Thanks for the response. I've read that and spoke to others who have done some roads with reported heavy head winds. The response I got is that it's a little unpredictable yet the probability isn't on my side. Ive planned out for this time/direction so guess its going to require a little extra pedalling when the time comes.

Thanks again.

[Aushiker]

You will probably be okay from Perth to Broome and for some of the leg to Darwin. In July I rode out of Darwin a bit and the winds where from the south east so you will be into them all the way to Alice Springs.

You need to keep in mind that you are riding open country where there is little protection ... the winds are generally much tougher than most people appreciate. Add into that riding in temps on the road up to 40 C and you will have tough days. Do take plenty of water and have fun but

Andrew

[il padrone]

Yes, southerlies were very much the prevailing wind when we rode from the Flinders Ranges to Oodnadatta, in June. Not sure about further north. However you will be highly unlikely to get 40 deg days in The Centre in July. More like 20-25 deg.

[JamesTK]

Cheers, great feedback.
Just out of curiosity Andrew, how many k's were you averaging per day coming out of Darwin into the winds?

Regards

[Aushiker]

Temperature data from my aborted ride in July 2012 recorded on the road riding south out of Darwin ...

July 9, 2012 39 C
July 10, 2012 44 C
July 11, 2012 41 C
July 12, 2012 41 C

The Darwin Airport average max temperature for this time of the year is 30.5 C. What one experiences actually on the road riding along in the sun and with the heat reflecting off the road is around 10 to 11 C above the reporting temperatures which are taken in the shade. From what I recall Darwin was recording max temperatures around 30 C at time I rode.

Based on my experience walking in the Alice Springs area in July 2005 the temperatures can get pretty high, easily above 30 C during the day, again in circumstances where one is exposed to the sun and experiencing reflective heat. Max temps reported by BOM in the shade are not a good measure of what one actually experiences out on the bitumen on a bike in my view; YMMV of course. On the other hand their average overnight temps tied more closely with what we experienced, but again we experienced colder temperatures than the average of 4 C reported by BOM, often getting below zero overnight (we had ice on tents some mornings).

All the above is why I said one can experience temperatures "up to 40 C" with the "up to" being the critical phrase.

The Italian cyclists I met in Adelaide River where also feeling the heat and I don't think expected it.

The bottom line in my view is that Darwin to Alice Springs is 1,500 km and most of that ride even in July will be in hotter rather than colder conditions and into headwinds. Maybe not bad winds but winds still the same.

Cheers
Andrew

[Aushiker]

Cheers, great feedback.
Just out of curiosity Andrew, how many k's were you averaging per day coming out of Darwin into the winds?

I didn't head south directly down the Stuart Highway, instead I went through Litchfield National Park so my average is probably less than what I would have done as I went from campsite to campsite. I think I averaged around 70 to 75 km but I guess one could do 100 km a day okay. I think James did this taking the more direct route. The winds where not to bad for me, the temperatures where the bigger issue.

Andrew

[Aushiker]

Oh, keep in mind that heading north from Northampton, outside of the major towns it maybe harder to get free water. For example none of the three roadhouses between Northampton and Carnarvon will give you water but you can buy it at $5.00 per 1.5 litres or there abouts.

That said about 320 kilometres south of Carnarvon there are a couple of water tanks on the highway, the 200 mile tanks, which have nice fresh water to refill with. The Murchison River BTW is salty; not drinkable.

Sorry didn't get past Carnarvon so no more more details on water supplies through to Broome and beyond.

Andrew

[Aushiker]

If you want to get a taste of touring Australia, have a listen to GJ's new podcast - Esperance Tales: Down at the beach for a whole long summer.

Andrew

[GingaNinja]

so have you departed? how is it going considering all states and territories have reported heat waves, is riding all night viable? do you have a website setup that you are updating - send us the link. enjoy.

[JamesTK]

Thanks for the message. I'm in tassie, just cycled west coast and now in Hobart. I have updates on facebook.com/ausjourney so feel free to jump on and see what ever updates I put on.

Cheers