Perth to Adelaide (The Nullarbor Ride)

Sunday 26th July to Sunday 16th August 2009

The vast expanses of Australia have always fascinated adventurers and the Nullarbor is the long distance cyclists nirvana.

It’s going to be long, it’s going to be hard and there will be the odd daily withdrawal, but the elation at the end will be something to savour for a lifetime. You may ride on your own or the adrenalin rush of riding in a pack moving as one, head down, pumping the pedals, watching and working with the riders around you when you take on the enormous task, like riding the vast Nullarbor.

We bid farewell to Perth then head east across wheat fields and rocky outcrops to “the worlds richest square mile” Kalgoorlie.

Morning tea and lunch stops are a time to regroup and encourage one another, share a few laughs and prepare for the next leg.

A rest day allows you time to explore the gold mining town, the gold mines and the miner’s way of life, before tackling Eyre Highway with the natural beauty of the so called “treeless plain”, now thriving with mulga, saltbush and wildflowers in burnt orange sands, home to many native wild birds and animals.

The AllTrails ride will be a tough challenge but nothing like Edward John Eyre’s expedition had to encounter on their epic east west trek across the continent in 1841.

The roadhouse overnight stops welcome you with interesting travellers amazed at your decision and ability to get out there and live life to the max. The day’s briefing and the evening meal are real highlights, with boisterous banter before early bedtime.

Explore the sand covered old telegraph station at Eucla, the area of many underground limestone caves. Marvel at the awe inspiring sight from cliffs overlooking the Southern Ocean, or simply revel in the joy of cycling one of the world’s longest highways, with friends you will cherish and keep your years.

Experience the nightlife, the local pubs, accommodation inside or out, magnificent sunrises and sunsets and the camaraderie that emerges with a small group ride.

Eyre Peninsula and Port Augusta, the junction where travellers converge from north and west will be a welcome site before you head south alongside Spencer Gulf to your ultimate destination, Adelaide and the resumption of normal life after your mammoth conquest skirting the Great Australian Bight.

Ride Inclusions:

• Bike mechanic
• Good, healthy meals
• Breakfast, lunch and some dinners
• Morning and afternoon tea
• Detailed ride maps
• Support vehicles en route all day

Need tour updates?

We are doing the complete reconnaissance of this ride in July August 2008. Finer details will be displayed on the web early September.

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Register your interest now and we will fill you in first.

Nullarbor Ride Day by Day

Package A - 4 nights accommodation (twin share) and 17 nights camping
Package B - 11 nights accommodation (twin share) and 10 nights camping
Package C - 21 nights accommodation (twin share)
Package D - 21 nights accommodation (single room)

Day	Town	July / Aug 2009	Distance	Meals Provided	Package A Accom 4 Camping 17 $ 5,250	Package B Accom 11 Camping 10 $ 5,600	Package C Accom 21   $ 6,500	Package D Accom 21 Single Sup $ 7,950 Subject to availability
	Overnight in Perth	Sat 25th July			Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
1	Perth to York	Sun 26th	98 km	BLD		11	21	21
2	York to Merredin	Mon 27th	163 km	BLD			21	21
3	Merredin to Southern Cross	Tues 28th	109 km	BLD			21	21
4	Southern Cross to Kalgoorlie	Wed 29th	224 km	BLD	17	11	21	21
5	Kalgoorlie – Rest Day	Thu 30th	Rest Day	B	17	11	21	21
6	Kalgoorlie to Norseman	Fri 31st	189 km	BLD			21	21
7	Norseman to Balladonia	Sat 1st Aug	188 km	BLD		11	21	21
8	Balladonia to Caiguna	Sun 2nd	178 km	BLD			21	21
9	Caiguna to Cocklebiddy	Mon 3rd	64 km	BLD			21	21
10	Cocklebiddy to Madura	Tue 4th	91 km	BLD			21	21
11	Madura to Eucla	Wed 5th	180 km	BLD	17	11	21	21
12	Eucla – Rest Day	Thur 6th	Rest Day	BL	17	11	21	21
13	Eucla to Nullarbor	Fri 7th	194 km	BLD			21	21
14	Nullarbor to Nundroo	Sat 8th	148 km	BLD			21	21
15	Nundroo to Ceduna	Sun 9th	151 km	BLD		11	21	21
16	Ceduna to Streaky Bay	Mon 10th	107 km	BLD		11	21	21
17	Streaky Bay to Wudinna	Tue 11th	131 km	BLD			21	21
18	Wudinna to Kimba	Wed 12th	101 km	BLD		11	21	21
19	Kimba to Port Augusta	Thur 13th	158 km	BLD		11	21	21
20	Port Augusta to Port Pirie	Fri 14th	92 km	BLD		11	21	21
21	Port Pirie to Port Wakefield	Sat 15th	130 km	BLD			21	21
22	Port Wakefield to Adelaide	Sun 16th	98 km	BL	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional

 

Training Tips for Nullarbor ride by Phil McDonald

The Challenge
So you've done big rides in the past, perhaps the Audax in Bright on Australia Day, Around The Bay in a Day or Sydney to the Gong.
These rides are great, but nothing like the challenge of consecutive days, through magnificent outback country at a beautiful time of the year, with other enthusiastic cyclists, all out for a sort of working, playing holiday, with a grand finish.
We push off and from then on it's reasonably early starts, big feeds, plenty of carbos & protein, fun evening activities with excellent accommodation and camping spots.  We weave our way through hills, grazing land, open plains & vineyards from city to city.

The Commitment
A Ride like this sounds daunting, sometimes out of most peoples reach and ability.  But it's not.  If you take the challenge and take one day at a time, and concentrate on the smaller package, the other days just fall into place.  You have to want to do it.  Then commit yourself. Now everything becomes easy.  Well sort of easy.  Your enthusiasm will take you a long way.  You'll find it easier to get up early for that training ride, you'll enjoy climbing the hills, you'll find time to do those extra k's, you'll have a goal and you won't stop looking that way until the finish.   Set a plan, write it down, find the time and train.

 Training
It's good to jot down a realistic training plan and stick to it.  An overall plan from now until the start of the ride, including a daily or weekly plan.  Set your route and the distance, at least the night before you ride, and do it.  Your brain and focus will key into that plan, and you will enjoy it.
Don't go further than your days plan, but see how you feel at the end of the ride, and perhaps go further and faster the next time.  At the end of your training ride, you should feel tired and satisfied, but not totally exhausted.  Unless absolutely necessary, don't cut your training ride short because you are tired. 
The reason is that you are building your inner strengths and your confidence, and when tough times come in the future, you know you can push through them, and experience the satisfaction of a determined effort. 
The danger of cutting short your planned ride, weakens your commitment and your promise to yourself.  If it's a realistic schedule, do it.

Handy Hints
Try standing on your pedals when climbing.  It works different muscles, including your back, and allows your seat to see daylight.  Get used to changing your cycling position.  Try your hands high and low on the handlebars, this works different neck and back muscles.
There will be some hills on the ride, big ones and small ones, so enjoy some days cycling where you know you will be climbing, and of course the bonus of descending.  When you know you have a big climb ahead, drink before you start climbing.
Buy your clothing, especially knicks, shoes, helmet, gloves, glasses, water bottle well before the challenging ride.  Train with these on, so that they become part of you and your confidence. 
In your training schedule, it's best to build up gradually over the months ahead with one day of about 150 to 180 km, and perhaps in the last weekend before the ride, cycle 100 to 120 km each day.
After training or a good fun ride with your friends, relax and rehydrate with hot or cold fluids and some good healthy food.  A shower or preferably a bath or spa, does wonders.  The days following a good training ride should be light exercise, or nothing for a day or two.  Let your body get back to normal, although a little bit fitter.  In two or three days you will be itching to get back on your bike again.

The Fun
When the big day comes around, and you have completed your training schedule, you will feel proud and raring to go.  The daily distances will be easy, you will be able to absorb the beautiful countryside, the flat grazing landscape.
You will eat well, enjoy the rolling hills and dales and sleep like a bear in hibernation.
Above all, enjoy your cycling, ride safely wearing light coloured clothing, and if all else fails on the ride, the back up bus is there to greet you.

The Decision
This is not just another gentle tour, it's a challenge to all you cyclists who have done big rides, but want bigger.  Twenty one  days of it.  You've got to prepare.  Think about it.  Take it through day by day.  Look at the  map, familiarise yourself with the towns, and imagine the terrain.  Yes, you can do it, with your friends.   But first the important training.  Sure some of you might not need as much as others, so here is a program that hopefully will suit all.  There is ten months to go.  Jot down a realistic plan and stick to it.

October, November,  December      
Flat road cycling from 20km to 40km per outing with a couple of 80km rides or your normal weekend or midweek rides of the above or bigger distances. 

January
Increase to 60km perhaps twice this month, with smaller rides in between and varying your training route with hills. The hills will use different muscles, increase your heart rate and make you a more complete cyclist, with added strength.
Break these big day rides into three, with a snack stop each time.  Make sure your body gets plenty of water and try to restart on flat or downhill sections.  Vary your route with some hills.

 

February
Now it's up to 60km - 80km once, perhaps twice, to get the feel of it.  The other weekends should be 30km
to 50km, with short mid-week bursts.
March
Now 80km–100km, once or twice with a good hilly course included.  Rides should vary between the big stints with 20km or 30km rides a few days after, and longer ones when you can.
April
This is the month when you really hit out, and go for a 100km -120km solid ride, with some hills.  When you do the big ride, mentally and physically you will feel strong.  Really think about it, and try to do what you expect of yourself.   The other rides this month can vary, as long as you put hours on the saddle.
May 120 – 140 km
Rides over 100 km should be broken into three brackets, perhaps a 40, 30, 30.  May be a toilet stop, water snack or lunch.   Your average cycling time should be about 25 kph, if the conditions are fair and not too hilly.
June  140 – 160 km
These long day rides will test you.  See if you can have a friend or two join you and ride together in a group, helping each other and getting used to close encounters.  Perhaps 2 big rides, with shorter but faster rides in between.
July 160 – 180 km
One of these big distances, preferably on a fairly flat course, carrying what you would expect to carry on the Nullarbor ride.  Once again, perhaps on your smaller rides try and work with others in a group.  The importance of working with others gives you confidence to ride close, concentrating on the wheel in front, feeling the adrenalin pumping while chatting away and doing the ks.

Preparation
Training rides are when you try out new clothing and equipment or fiddle with bike adjustments.  Road riding means
hard tyres.  Soft and under inflated tyres create extra drag and often more punctures.  Road tyres with very little tread are needed.  Some tyres have a smooth tread in the centre and fine tread each side.  Maintenance is important with chain and moving parts well lubricated.  Brakes also play a big part, so ensure pads are fresh and chunky.  Warm your body before training with leg, arm and back stretches. The right clothing makes you feel good, and remember to carry a wind proof jacket for those big down hills after a mountain climb and the early morning breezer. 

Food and water
Before each training session, get your mind and body switched on the night before.  Know where you are going and fuel your body with carbohydrates.  May be a pasta meal, bread, corn or potato.  A day break start after a good breaky will take you 50km before you know it.  Bananas, buns, fruit or chocolate bar are always good to reach for when you are feeling flat.  Take two water bottles and drink often.  Don't wait to get thirsty, it's then too late, just constantly drink water and perhaps Gatorade or similar at intervals.  Some mixtures and cordials constantly over a long day can leave a terrible taste in your mouth.

Training
Training is pushing yourself further although you might be feeling fatigue.  You've set your course, it should be
achievable, so do it.  You sometimes get to a "I've had it" point or "hitting the wall" as it's sometimes known.
Training is pushing past this point, not getting off, but thinking of something different, like your partner or your
bank account. This will distract the pain and before you know it you're feeling like you can do another 20km.
The danger of cutting short your planned ride weakens your commitment and your promise to yourself.  If it's a realistic schedule, do it. This gives you a buzz, confidence and inner strength to go on and move into the next phase.  Ensure your body is well watered, sipping frequently. A circuit is a good idea, where you ride to a certain point, then perhaps across then return by a different road.  This means you are seeing different scenery, and there is no short cut.  Train at a comfortable pace. Remember this is a long distance ride, and calculating your fitness level for the day's ride is important, enabling you to ride the planned distance and finishing with a bit to spare.  You should feel tired and satisfied but not totally exhausted.  Hills should be included with a determination to climb what ever comes your way.  Gears are great, but don't get down to granny gear unless essential. Although it might feel easier it is very slow.  The distances set on your program should be achievable, do them, and if you find you have reserve energy, push harder and faster, and increase your distance next outing.  Training should be tough and fun in achieving what you have set out.  Cycle with a friend or group to increase your ability to ride in a peloton.  The skills and concentration required for this are exciting, with satisfaction ensured.

Handy hints
Know your bike.  Familiarise yourself with the gears changing, and importantly, at the right time.  On small
undulations it's often better to not change, but push harder and perhaps stand up and move about.  Your
brakes are important so know their capabilities using front and back.  Ensure your seat is correct height, too
high will result in a sore lower back.  When coasting downhill, try keeping your pedals level, not one long leg and one folded.  With this level stance you have more control if anything unexpected happens, and your weight is distributed more evenly over the bike, roughly 1/3 on your feet, 1/3 on your bum, 1/3 on your hands.

Group or Peloton Riding
If you don’t ride with a group, try and ride when other groups train on weekend and latch on to the back.  Concentrate on the riders, and move through the pack taking turns in leading.  If the group is too strong, stay amongst the back riders.  It’s fun and the K’s go quickly.  Concentrate for your safety and that of your fellow cyclists.

The fun
I know it's been tough but it's worth it.  You feel great and proud of yourself.  Those long k's on the ride, they'll be easy .  Well easier.  You can now cruise along, talk to your new found friends, check out the magnificent country side and breathe in the fresh country air. You will eat well and curl up in comfort at night.  Enjoy your riding, wear light coloured clothing and look forward to the day when we all take off from Perth to Adelaide across the Nullarbor.  
The last weekend before Nulla, try and do two big days together, perhaps 100km each day.  A little 30km mid week ride to keep you trim before the day.  The last three days before the start should be no cycling.  Allow your body to build up, eat plenty of carbohydrates and protein and take it easy.  You’ve done the hard work, now enjoy it from the start.

What’s Included

Accommodation
The best available and the most suitable.  Usually in 3 or 4 star, but sometimes 5 star and in tiny towns maybe 2 star cabins or motels.

All Meals
The most delicious breakfasts and dinners in restaurants.  Lunch, morning and afternoon tea usually under shelters in parking bays along the road with seats, sun and salubrious snacks.

Bike Mechanic
Friendly, competent, driving a 12 seater bus with tools and parts for most makes of bike.  Always on the look out to help a bike in distress.
Advise us if you have a rare or unconventional bike.

Masseur/First Aider
Relax and unwind at the day’s end, with a short gentle massage from our wonderful resident masseur.

Fantastic People
You and your fellow cyclists who support us time and time again.

Profile Maps
Showing elevations, times allotted for distances between snack stops, lunch and finish times and lots of other particular details.

Support Vehicles
AllTrails Landcruiser troop carrier with luggage trailer, especially set up for Susan & Phil to serve lunch, morning and afternoon tea. 
12 seater bus with mechanic at hand for tired bikes and may be riders! Station wagon with masseur for that extra pick up.

National Parks
Permits and entry forms. The above notes apply to all tours, however they might change slightly due to unforseen circumstances.  More detailed data will accompany trip notes of each particular tour.

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Multiple Sclerosis Australia - AllTrails Charity Partner

Phil & Susan McDonald AllTrails Bicycle Tours Victoria Australia
145 Cruikshank Street Port Melbourne 3207
philsusan@alltrails.com.au
(+61 3) 9645 3355

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