2024 Indian Pacific Wheel Race

[g-boaf]

The law must get tough on these bad drivers, be it cars, trucks or buses. Put almighty fear into them so that they are much more cautious.

What makes it so hard for these Australian truck drivers to do the right thing versus their compatriots overseas in heavy trucks who have to navigate often tricky, winding roads and manage to do so giving bicycle riders plenty of space? Yes, I've done a lot of riding overseas and have plenty of safe experiences of trucks giving me lots of room and passing carefully.

Answer: Nothing! It's just that our truck drivers are wound up full of BS from the usual right wing sources telling them to target riders or any other similar types on their roads.

And for what it's worth, there is a history of driving large trucks in my family as well.

[Dodgy-Knee]

Riding across the Nullabor from Perth to Adelaide has been on my bucket list for ages but it seems that things have become so dangerous out there that it could quite literally be the end of me…. A hood ornament on a truck radiator is not quite how I plan to go out… major bummer.

[elantra]

I have done this ride twice in my Rotovelo, both times carrying and using a handheld CB radio ..(to listen in to road traffic & give my position regularly to others, in the hope that it would keep me a bit safer) ..and can confirm many of the truck drivers do indeed speak absolute vitriol about anyone cycling on "their" road... both rides across the Nullarbor I had to turn the radio off as I could no longer handle their crap!

Yeah I know a Lady who now retired but a decade or more ago she spent a few years driving Road Trains between Darling Downs Qld and Darwin.
She said she quickly got tired of listening to all the obscenities on CB radio.

Her strategy to cope with long hours and tedium was listen to “CD books” that were quite popular in that era. She could borrow them from her local municipal library.

Prob bit similar to listening to podcasts these days.

I sometimes listen to the “Seek Travel Ride” podcast by Bella Molloy. She has very interesting interviewees.

About a year ago she interviewed young woman (Claire Wyatt) who at the time I think had ridden from Melbourne to Darwin
Clare said that she had actually found the Truckies CB (Channel 10 i think) very useful while she rode across the Savanna way from Cairns to the NT Border
She did say there was some crude content but on the radio to her, most of the Truckies were appreciative and supportive when she announced her locations on the road

But that would be a very different road environment to the road between Perth and South Australia.
Probably very much less traffic and much less CB radio traffic and perhaps the factor of her (Claire) being young foreign woman in the outback

[Rando]

I always get tempted by this ride, and always get put off by the danger.
I attempted to ride from Perth to Whyalla back in May '85, and gave up after a handlebar scrape with the last trailer of a road train. I went down behind him after he'd passed. A few things caused it. One was I was only hearing the approaching truck, and didn't look behind. His sound was covered by the headwind and the approaching. Yes he should have slowed, but they don't. I was carrying 14 litres of water in the front panniers and that made some difference to steering response. The last trailer, (I guess there were three) had a bit of lateral movement and that is what touched me. Felt pretty horrible and ended my long distance cycling. I pedalled on to Madura and found a truck driver willing to throw the bike up on the load and take me to Iron Knob. I'd had it with the head winds anyway, and my knee hurt.
These days I only go on the road with a 300 lumen flasher and a good mirror. If they don't move over, I get off.
Soon will buy a radar.
Does anyone know what flasher Chris was using? Not that it makes any difference if a rogue truckie is trying to hit people.

[Peter A]

Very relevant is tiredness of drivers, nobody, but nobody is well rested driving the Nullabor, this tiredness brings out the idiot in them and we've seen the results. Devastating !

[foo on patrol]

The tally is now three killed in this years event, that's just madness.

Foo

[P!N20]

The tally is now three killed in this years event, that's just madness.

Really? I can only find information on Chris Barker's death, which is still one too many.

[recumbenteer]

The tally is now three killed in this years event, that's just madness.

Really? I can only find information on Chris Barker's death, which is still one too many.

can't be!.... I'm following the Dot Watchers FB page...

there's only been mention of Chris, and one other rider, (PK Koala) ending up in Perth Hospital. ...

many others have made their own personal decision and withdrawn from the ride.

[cavebear2]

I was never tempted by this ride though some of my associates have.

[find_bruce]

A workmate is doing this ride from Fremantle to Sydney:

Has your mate continued? It's a tough decision & I can understand people making either call

[foo on patrol]

The tally is now three killed in this years event, that's just madness.

Really? I can only find information on Chris Barker's death, which is still one too many.

I was reading it on a news site early this afternoon, I'll see if I can find it again.

Foo

[foo on patrol]

I can't find the article now but possibly a stuff up with the comments.

Foo

[MichaelB]

It's a really sad situation that too many people have been injured and/or killed.

But I am surprised that there isn't tougher rules re support (and protection) for those participating, especially on major highway stretches like the Nullabor.

[Cyclophiliac]

It's a really sad situation that too many people have been injured and/or killed.

But I am surprised that there isn't tougher rules re support (and protection) for those participating, especially on major highway stretches like the Nullabor.

As someone else already mentioned I think, the event hasn't been an official one for several years now, which means there's no official support. Even when it was an official event, there was never any support provided.

[MichaelB]

It's a really sad situation that too many people have been injured and/or killed.

But I am surprised that there isn't tougher rules re support (and protection) for those participating, especially on major highway stretches like the Nullabor.

As someone else already mentioned I think, the event hasn't been an official one for several years now, which means there's no official support. Even when it was an official event, there was never any support provided.

Whether it's official or not doesn't absolve any of those that created the event in the 1st place.

The current one may not be official, but it has some organisation

[Cyclophiliac]

It's a really sad situation that too many people have been injured and/or killed.

But I am surprised that there isn't tougher rules re support (and protection) for those participating, especially on major highway stretches like the Nullabor.

As someone else already mentioned I think, the event hasn't been an official one for several years now, which means there's no official support. Even when it was an official event, there was never any support provided.

Whether it's official or not doesn't absolve any of those that created the event in the 1st place.

The current one may not be official, but it has some organisation

Not any more, it doesn't. This is from the website:

Please note that we, Team Dragon Face, no longer have any involvement in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race.

Any person deciding to ride the IPWR course as their own endurance or bike touring challenge chooses to do so individually. No information to assist or facilitate such pursuits will be provided. Dragon Face Pry Ltd has no association with GPS tracking companies that riders may use while undergoing the IPWR. This web page is purely a historical and informative reference to the 2017 edition. Thanks for your understanding. Stay safe out there. Respect and look after each other.

[MichaelB]

Fair enuf.

Still think it's wrong, morally.

[g-boaf]

It is sad that that support is needed but I really wonder if each rider should have a van (or some huge USA pick up truck) with them not “supporting” but as a safety measure to keep trucks away from them.

Of course that would upset some about the idea of it softening the “event” (or personal challenge) but it seems necessary.

[cavebear2]

When we did our 24hr 671km Opperman All Day Trial in March 2012 from Widgiemooltha to Fremantle we had a support vehicle that drove behind us with a trailer featuring a large sign warning traffic of us 3 Audax cyclists. It worked a treat with trucks taking a wide berth down the other side of Great Eastern Hwy. Kudos to our support lady driver for driving most of the distance at cycling speed! We averaged about 32.5 kmh moving average outside of meal and other stops.

[Mububban]

A workmate is doing this ride from Fremantle to Sydney:

Has your mate continued? It's a tough decision & I can understand people making either call

Yeah he withdrew immediately upon hearing the news, as did several others. His wife drove the ~700kms he'd covered to go pick him up. So rather than 5 weeks spent on the adventure of a lifetime, he's gone home after one week. But he gets to have a lifetime

He'll be back at work in a couple of weeks. All the riders had met each other before the start so I imagine this will be something he'll be processing for quite some time.

[recumbenteer]

First rider, Omar Di Felice has arrived at the Sydney Opera House... earlier this morning... just beating the first dose of heavy rain..

Those behind are in for a few wet days if they continue on... a good excuse for a rest day

[queequeg]

It is sad that that support is needed but I really wonder if each rider should have a van (or some huge USA pick up truck) with them not “supporting” but as a safety measure to keep trucks away from them.

Of course that would upset some about the idea of it softening the “event” (or personal challenge) but it seems necessary.

It was a few years ago now, but the rider doing a round the world bike ride had a support van and I believe it was in QLD where a motorist ran straight into the back of the van with a big sign on it saying "Caution: Cyclist ahead"

[antigee]

think referring to Mark Beaumont "around the world in 80 days" and photo was captioned as "near Melbourne"



(poor quality) crop of photo that should be credited to Johnny Swanepoel from Mark Beaumont’s “Around the World in 80 Days” Bantam Press 2018

[LG]

Saw ridedanride and the Vegas near Tumut pond dam this morning, fair bit of climbing on their agenda yesterday and today

[Mububban]

think referring to Mark Beaumont "around the world in 80 days" and photo was captioned as "near Melbourne"



(poor quality) crop of photo that should be credited to Johnny Swanepoel from Mark Beaumont’s “Around the World in 80 Days” Bantam Press 2018

This sort of collision simply boggles the mind


My mate popped in to work early (he's still on his leave time) and he mentioned he and some of the others who withdrew but are still feeling the itch might do something like Adelaide to Sydney in December (yes, despite the heat). He learned a lot from the more experienced riders and the sense of freedom and adventure has really got him hooked, so he might also do rides like Perth to Albany etc.

But not until he gets fitted for a different saddle apparently!