Audax rides around Cairns
Peter
Audax rides around Cairns that I'd like to put on the calendar for
2010/11.
I live in Mackay, so I don't have all that much local knowledge. Could
someone from up that way please let me know if I've made any serious
blunders with these draft routes. I'd also appreciate any inside
knowledge you may have regarding alternative roads that may take people
away from traffic, especially in the urban areas at the end of the ride
(ie Gordonvale to Cairns).
The routes are:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tablelands-300
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tablelands-200
Thanks
Peter
Peter
Having just had a look at Google Street View of the Herberton Petford Rd
on the 300km route, I can see on big stuff up already. Single lane
gravel for quite a few km. Oh, well, back to the drawing board.
Geoff Lock
I am told that I am crazy to ride my bicycle around Sydney the way I do
- in the rain, in 43C heat, at night, etc etc but I reckon Audaxers are
crazier than me :)
Maybe one day I'll become crazier than I am today and become an Audaxer :)
Peter
> I am told that I am crazy to ride my bicycle around Sydney the way I do
> - in the rain, in 43C heat, at night, etc etc but I reckon Audaxers are
> crazier than me :)
>
> Maybe one day I'll become crazier than I am today and become an Audaxer :)
Hi Geoff
It's easy to get involved. Just jump on the website audax.org.au and
check out the rides in the events section. Then let the organiser know
you are coming and pay your $10 (or whatever the entry fee is) on the
day. Generally costs are quite low and if you like riding in all
conditions then Audax is for you.
I've only done five Audax rides since I started in October last year.
But from what I have seen so far I would say it's a great way to see the
country and meet some interesting people along the way. Audax is not
racing, so there's generally a sense of comeraderie, especially when the
night settles in and there are still 200 kilometres to go. People
generally try to find a group (which is anything from two riders to
maybe five or six) that will be travelling at the same pace and stick
with them.
The only problem for me is that there are no Audax rides north of
Brisbane in Qld. So it looks as though I'm going to have to put quite a
few on the calendar myself, unless I want to fly several thousand
kilometres every time I want to enter an event. For you, that shouldn't
present a problem.
Peter
Geoff Lock
> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>> I am told that I am crazy to ride my bicycle around Sydney the way I do
>> - in the rain, in 43C heat, at night, etc etc but I reckon Audaxers are
>> crazier than me :)
>>
>> Maybe one day I'll become crazier than I am today and become an Audaxer :)
> you are coming and pay your $10 (or whatever the entry fee is) on the
> day. Generally costs are quite low and if you like riding in all
> conditions then Audax is for you.
Mate, I said, "one day I'll become crazier..." and today ain't the day
:) Git out of here!! What are you trying to get me into? :))
> I've only done five Audax rides since I started in October last year.
> But from what I have seen so far I would say it's a great way to see the
> country and meet some interesting people along the way. Audax is not
> racing, so there's generally a sense of comeraderie, especially when the
> night settles in and there are still 200 kilometres to go. People
> generally try to find a group (which is anything from two riders to
> maybe five or six) that will be travelling at the same pace and stick
> with them.
Hm, 200kms to go and night is falling? I guess that means one would need
to carry some kind of camping equipment. This is starting to sound like
fun. :) I vaguely recall reading something on the Audax website about
rules which limit what one can carry, so I suppose it can become
somewhat of a challenge as to WHAT to bring along.
I did also notice on the website that some of their longer rides allow
for support vehicles, so I guess it does make the ride a bit easier.
> The only problem for me is that there are no Audax rides north of
> Brisbane in Qld. So it looks as though I'm going to have to put quite a
> few on the calendar myself, unless I want to fly several thousand
> kilometres every time I want to enter an event. For you, that shouldn't
> present a problem.
You're keen, Pete, I'll say that much :)
I must confess though that after I read your opening post, and checked
out the Audax site, I started thinking that Canberra is only about 278
kms from where I am sitting :) Might drop in and say g'day to Kev and
Julie one of these days :)
More power to you Pete :)
Kathy and Steve
We live and ride on the Tablelands. I tried giving Bikely a go but the roads
we ride on dont appear. There are some terrific sealed roads off the highway
which is dangerous, no edges, 100kms suicide routes up here! Just a quick
look at your route for http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tablelands-300
there are many roads between Atherton and Malanda / Millaa Millaa /
Ravenshoe which take in spectacular farming country, ridge top routes where
you are lucky to meet another car. Herberton to Petford is a great day out
if you ride a mountain bike as it is all unsealed and can be rough at
certain times of the year.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tablelands-300 is on the highways and
the ranges. The Gillies is a great ride, fairly safe as it is all bends and
unless you ride on a day when all the idiots are out on their motorbikes it
is pleasant either way.
The Kuranda???? NO way - crazy drivers, no edges, tourist route full of
idiots lol. The road from Atherton to Mareeba is seriously dangerous and
just ask anyone who used to ride it and they say they dont anymore. There is
a terrific circuit from Mareeeba through Chewko which brings you out at
Walkamin or better still you could ride from Mareeba, out to Arriga and back
via a place called Springmount, This also brings you out at Walkamin. From
Walkamin to Atherton your survival rate goes up but still a dangerous ++
road. Once in Atherton you can ride the back roads (sealed) all the way to
Herberton, Ravenshoe, Millaa, Malanda. I would suggest you start and finish
on the Southern Tablelands - some great rides. By the way - I cant see us
joining you - 300kms in one hit without a break????? Not for me.
kathy
Peter
> Mate, I said, "one day I'll become crazier..." and today ain't the day
>
> :) Git out of here!! What are you trying to get me into? :))
> need
> to carry some kind of camping equipment. This is starting to sound
> like
> fun. :) I vaguely recall reading something on the Audax website about
> rules which limit what one can carry, so I suppose it can become
> somewhat of a challenge as to WHAT to bring along.
>
> I did also notice on the website that some of their longer rides allow
>
> for support vehicles, so I guess it does make the ride a bit easier.
>
> I must confess though that after I read your opening post, and checked
>
> out the Audax site, I started thinking that Canberra is only about 278
>
> kms from where I am sitting :) Might drop in and say g'day to Kev and
> Julie one of these days :)
>
> More power to you Pete
Fair enough. Sounded like you enjoy a challenge.
The other thing about Audax is there are rides as short as 35km if
that's more your style.
Peter
Thanks for the info Kathy. I'll try to check out the routes you've
suggested on maps. It sounds like i'll have to do a bit of ground
truthing. Maybe there are a few separate loops that can make up a longer
ride.
Geoff Lock
> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>> More power to you Pete
>
> Fair enough. Sounded like you enjoy a challenge.
NO! NO! Temptation! I must resist! I must resist!! I MUST RESIST!!! :)
> The other thing about Audax is there are rides as short as 35km if
> that's more your style.
Short rides can be fun as well. I should perhaps have a look at the ones
you mention, especially the ones around Sydney as some of those short
rides might have good scenery - I must learn to look a bit more at
scenery rather than the tarmac :)
My daily 30km ride (return) involves looking at tarmac all the time and
it can be really really really boring unless one plays little games to
keep oneself sharp and alive in peak hour traffic travelling at
70-90kph(?). :)
Zebee Johnstone
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>
> My daily 30km ride (return) involves looking at tarmac all the time and
> it can be really really really boring unless one plays little games to
> keep oneself sharp and alive in peak hour traffic travelling at
> 70-90kph(?). :)
You need a recumbent you do!
A nice high racer two wheeled 'bent. fast, aero, good in traffic, very visible,
and you get to look around you instead of at the tarmac.
Oh, and magnificent Audax vehicles.
Zebee
- figuring Geoff should see the ride to Canberra to look at
FlyingFurniture's collection of 'bents for sale as a challenge.
Geoff Lock
> In aus.bicycle on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:26:27 +1100
> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>> My daily 30km ride (return) involves looking at tarmac all the time and
>> it can be really really really boring unless one plays little games to
>> keep oneself sharp and alive in peak hour traffic travelling at
>> 70-90kph(?). :)
>
> You need a recumbent you do!
That will have to wait until I can clear out a bit more space to keep one :)
> A nice high racer two wheeled 'bent. fast, aero, good in traffic, very visible,
> and you get to look around you instead of at the tarmac.
Hmmm, I have not seen many recumbents around the suburbs but I am told
that there are quite a few out in Sydney city. Apparently the company
running them is looking for, what they call, pilots.
> Oh, and magnificent Audax vehicles.
I am sure, I am sure. :)
> Zebee
> - figuring Geoff should see the ride to Canberra to look at
> FlyingFurniture's collection of 'bents for sale as a challenge.
Even more temptation!! Get ye behind me, etc etc etc :)
Zebee Johnstone
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
> Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>> In aus.bicycle on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:26:27 +1100
>> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>>> My daily 30km ride (return) involves looking at tarmac all the time and
>>> it can be really really really boring unless one plays little games to
>>> keep oneself sharp and alive in peak hour traffic travelling at
>>> 70-90kph(?). :)
>>
>> You need a recumbent you do!
>
> That will have to wait until I can clear out a bit more space to keep one :)
That's what the bedroom's for isn't it?
>
>> A nice high racer two wheeled 'bent. fast, aero, good in traffic, very visible,
>> and you get to look around you instead of at the tarmac.
>
> Hmmm, I have not seen many recumbents around the suburbs but I am told
> that there are quite a few out in Sydney city. Apparently the company
> running them is looking for, what they call, pilots.
There are human powered sort-of-taxis, which are trikes. Heavy and
hard work I'm told.
My Bacchetta Giro isn't light - theoretically 32lb (being American
that's the units) and adding kit makes it heavier, but it is one of
the heaviest Bacchetta make. Their more speed oriented bikes are
lighter.
(The Giro is a great commuter. I've swapped the 20" front for a 24"
which has made it a bit faster without sacrificing much ability to put
the feet down. The lighter bikes are like lighter bikes everywhere:
not much good for a commuting packrat!)
>
>> Zebee
>> - figuring Geoff should see the ride to Canberra to look at
>> FlyingFurniture's collection of 'bents for sale as a challenge.
>
> Even more temptation!! Get ye behind me, etc etc etc :)
I doubt you are under 5'4" tall else I'd offer you a ride on mine....
Maybe you should just hop a bus if you don't feel like a day there and
a day back.
Because really you need a recumbent you do. Throw the sofa out of the
living room and set up a trainer in front of the TV. EAsy to watch TV
from a recumbent seat!
Zebee
Peter
I reckon:
cairns malanda millaa millaa ravenshoe
herberton atherton yungaburra cairns
looks ok as the basis of a 300. Google maps says it's 283 so I just have
to find a detour here and there for the 300.
How does that sound to you safety wise?
Peter
Peter
> In aus.bicycle on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:14:20 +1100
> I doubt you are under 5'4" tall else I'd offer you a ride on mine....
> Maybe you should just hop a bus if you don't feel like a day there and
> a day back.
>
> Because really you need a recumbent you do. Throw the sofa out of the
> living room and set up a trainer in front of the TV. EAsy to watch TV
> from a recumbent seat!
>
> Zebee
Damn bent riders taking over my cairns Audax thread. Away ye demons!
And don't any of you fixie riders get any ideas either.
P
Geoff Lock
Well, I confess that I sometimes ride my road bike like a fixie - ie I
stay in the one gear for the whole day. I cheat a bit cos I usually know
the route I am taking and the fixed gear I have selected can handle the
entire ride. But don't worry, I'll stick to the Audax topic here, mate. :)
Geoff Lock
> In aus.bicycle on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:14:20 +1100
> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>> Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>>> In aus.bicycle on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:26:27 +1100
>>> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>>>> My daily 30km ride (return) involves looking at tarmac all the time and
>>>> it can be really really really boring unless one plays little games to
>>>> keep oneself sharp and alive in peak hour traffic travelling at
>>>> 70-90kph(?). :)
>>> You need a recumbent you do!
>> That will have to wait until I can clear out a bit more space to keep one :)
>
> That's what the bedroom's for isn't it?
Hahahah :) Good one, I had not thought of the bedroom :)
>>> A nice high racer two wheeled 'bent. fast, aero, good in traffic, very visible,
>>> and you get to look around you instead of at the tarmac.
>> Hmmm, I have not seen many recumbents around the suburbs but I am told
>> that there are quite a few out in Sydney city. Apparently the company
>> running them is looking for, what they call, pilots.
>
> There are human powered sort-of-taxis, which are trikes. Heavy and
> hard work I'm told.
I bet it'll be.
> My Bacchetta Giro isn't light - theoretically 32lb (being American
> that's the units) and adding kit makes it heavier, but it is one of
> the heaviest Bacchetta make. Their more speed oriented bikes are
> lighter.
>
> (The Giro is a great commuter. I've swapped the 20" front for a 24"
> which has made it a bit faster without sacrificing much ability to put
> the feet down. The lighter bikes are like lighter bikes everywhere:
> not much good for a commuting packrat!)
Hm, 32lb for a bike? That's lighter than my poor old Huffy!
>>> Zebee
>>> - figuring Geoff should see the ride to Canberra to look at
>>> FlyingFurniture's collection of 'bents for sale as a challenge.
>> Even more temptation!! Get ye behind me, etc etc etc :)
>
> I doubt you are under 5'4" tall else I'd offer you a ride on mine....
> Maybe you should just hop a bus if you don't feel like a day there and
> a day back.
Not exactly a short-ass I'm not. Thanks for the offer of a ride though :)
If I did do a Canberra trip, I'd ride down there and catch the bus back,
or do trains run Canberra-Sydney?
>
> Because really you need a recumbent you do. Throw the sofa out of the
> living room and set up a trainer in front of the TV. EAsy to watch TV
> from a recumbent seat!
Ahem, the living room is chockers with bike frames and bike parts already :)
I guess I do need a recumbent one day - simply for the novelty value.
Thanks for mentioning them as it is something new I can look at now.
John Henderson
> If I did do a Canberra trip, I'd ride down there and catch the bus back,
> or do trains run Canberra-Sydney?
Sure do: http://www.countrylink.info/promotions#syd_can
John
Zebee Johnstone
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
> Hm, 32lb for a bike? That's lighter than my poor old Huffy!
It's heavier than a lot of the new hybrids.
And when you add the umm... essential items that I carry, it's
heavier still! (Those damn multi tools weigh a lot. honest!)
>
>
> Not exactly a short-ass I'm not. Thanks for the offer of a ride though :)
'bents are very sensitive to leg length. Called "X-seam", it's the
distance from back to heel. You sit with your back hard against a
wall legs fully extended and measure the distance from the wall to
your heel. That length determines the frame size. Most manufacturers
only have 2 or 3 frame sizes and you fit the bike to your X seam
by adjusting either the boom the bottom bracket is attached to or
where the seat is on the frame.
I am a shortarse so the Giro 20 was the only two wheeled 'bent that
Ian at FlyingFurniture had that fitted.
I was very lucky - one of the Oz HPV (ozhpv.org.au) guys is also a
sufferer of Duck's Disease and let me ride his Greenspeed trike and
his low racer. The trike hooked me within 30 seconds those things
are magnificent hoon machines. Hopeless in traffic as all you see
is hubcaps but riding one is like driving an Italian sportscar
compared to an EH Holden. You go looking for corners to speed around
while giggling manaically.
I had a knee/bar problem with the M5 low racer though... But another
OzHPV member let me ride his cheap TW bent and I knew I had to have
a bent..
So I went to Ian and he set the Giro to fit then sent me out to ride.
He started his usual "this is how you get used to it" but I'd already
had that talk so just headed out once he was sure I wasn't going to
come to grief. Compared to the cheapie the Giro flew! And was
sinfully comfortable. Ian's a good bloke with a wide range of bikes
and very knowledgeable indeed. www.flyingfurniture.com.au
>
> If I did do a Canberra trip, I'd ride down there and catch the bus back,
> or do trains run Canberra-Sydney?
Trains do run. More expensive than buses, run twice a day, catch them
at Central or Strathfield. www.countrylink.info No idea what the
bike carrying rules are.
>
>>
>> Because really you need a recumbent you do. Throw the sofa out of the
>> living room and set up a trainer in front of the TV. EAsy to watch TV
>> from a recumbent seat!
>
> Ahem, the living room is chockers with bike frames and bike parts already :)
You can get these pulley contraptions that lift the bike up to the
ceiling you know. Or a bike tree that holds 4 bikes 2 onthe ground
and 2 above them. Besides, once you have a good 'bent you'll find you
don't need the other bikes :)
>
> I guess I do need a recumbent one day - simply for the novelty value.
> Thanks for mentioning them as it is something new I can look at now.
Beware... as far as I can tell from the Bacchetta forums if you get a
'bent you will find yourself doing 300km Audaxes as a regular weekend
recreation.
Zebee
Kathy and Steve
If you have a look at http://www.tablelands.org/mapView.html?locationId=40
and follow the road that runs from Millaa to Ravenshoe there is a loop on a
road called Maalan Road - this is a terrific sealed road that takes in
rainforest/farming lands/ very little traffic, hills ups and downs. If you
wanted a couple of extra kms then that is one alternative. Another one would
be http://www.tablelands.org/mapView.html?locationId=38 from the road above
the Gillies swing a left and go past Lake Eacham - this road is good seal
and from there you would go via Topaz Road and into Malanda via Glen Allyn
Road. All these roads are very suitable for you roadies on your skinny
wheeled bikes, but there are hills! That is if you want hills when out for
300kms. Anyway, if you need to actualy get to 300kms for the ride, that is
just a couple of extra side trips that we really spectacular country and off
the highway.
Kathy
Peter
> Hi Peter,
> If you have a look at http://www.tablelands.org/mapView.html?locationId=40
> and follow the road that runs from Millaa to Ravenshoe there is a loop on a
> road called Maalan Road - this is a terrific sealed road that takes in
> rainforest/farming lands/ very little traffic, hills ups and downs. If you
> wanted a couple of extra kms then that is one alternative. Another one would
> be http://www.tablelands.org/mapView.html?locationId=38 from the road above
> the Gillies swing a left and go past Lake Eacham - this road is good seal
> and from there you would go via Topaz Road and into Malanda via Glen Allyn
> Road. All these roads are very suitable for you roadies on your skinny
> wheeled bikes, but there are hills! That is if you want hills when out for
> 300kms. Anyway, if you need to actualy get to 300kms for the ride, that is
> just a couple of extra side trips that we really spectacular country and off
> the highway.
> Kathy
>
Your are a champion Kathy. Those suggestions sound great.
What about Theresa Creek Rd near Millaa Millaa? It looks like a nice
loop too. Do you know that one?
Peter
Kathy and Steve
stunning scenery. There are just so many "country"roads up here. Cycling
paradise as long as you love hills!
Kathy
Peter
That's great. I'll have to get up there asap and have a look around.
P
Peter
I have re=examined the maps and think I have a couple of reasonable
alternatives based on your advice Kathy. They are on bikely as:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tablelands-300 and
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tablelands-300-2
I'm going to drive up on the Anzac day long weekend and drive/ride the
routes (well ride one of them anyway).
I'm inclined towards second option via Port Douglas because the scenery
should be fantastic and there's less climbing. I'm hoping that between
5am and 8am on a Sunday morning the traffic shouldn't be too bad on the
Captain Cook Hwy. By 8am most people would have arrived in Port Douglas.
My main concern is the section between Mt Molloy and Mareeba. There
doesn't appear to be an alternative but it does have a shoulder all the
way from what I can see.
The other route is more or less straight up the Gillies Range and back.
It has about 1000m more climbing for the day but has that beautiful
section of the Palmerston Hwy before Ravenshoe.
What do you think?
Peter