(Past Ride) Cairns to Cape York 2010

Pre & Post ride Accommodation

Motel rooms are available on the days before, or after the ride, at $150 a room for single supplement, or $90pp twin share or double, booked through AllTrails with booking fee included. 25th & 26th June are not part of the accom. package, allowing you to explore Cairns and if you wish, take an overnight tour on 25th or stay with friends or other interesting places. (During these days the AllTrails crew will be coming back from Cape York overland with your bikes.)

Bikes in Flight

Qantas and Virgin will usually take your bike free, providing your luggage does not exceed 15kg.  Exceeding 15kg, a charge of $11 will generally apply.  Bike shops provide boxes free or a Qantas bike box is approx $16 at airport.  Phone Qantas 131313 or Virgin 136789 for confirmation.

How Tough is the Ride?

Although the distances look fairly easy on paper, each day is a new challenge.  The first few days are through rainforest with some short hills as steep as you’ve ever seen, then there are corrugations and sand, corrugations and sand and beautiful gravel.  The different surfaces constantly test your skill and are sometimes equivalent to half as far again if you were on bitumen.

Weather

The days are 12 hours of daylight, average temperature around 28c with some humidity.  There should be little wind, because most days you are riding between rain forest or some trees. We expect no rain as this is one of the driest and coolest months of the Cape year.  As you know, rain comes any time.  Be prepared with suitable jacket and sleeping equipment, like waterproof tents.

Training

As you will be riding on most types of off road surfaces, try and practice on similar terrain, especially sandy beach back tacks.  The sandy conditions will really zap your energy and teach you to power on, even though you feel like you are about to fall off.  The best part about the sand, is when you do fall, you laugh and hop on and ride again!   More day’s riding more k’s.  Once you have committed yourself to the ride of your life, start training with a promise to yourself to be fully fit and competent that you can handle all variations. 

Fitness

The fitter you are, the further you ride without fatigue.  Spend your time, enjoying the challenge, confident of your ability and not spending the first week getting into the groove.

Other Cyclists

The great part about your energetic holiday is that you share it with intrepid people, all ages, average about 40.  The usual 60% male & 40% female composition makes for an interesting group of adventurous characters with a great variety of employment, or if you are lucky semi retired, who come from all walks of life mostly from Australia, some New Zealand and a few from overseas.

Food

A true fact is the cyclists always rave about the food.  As you can see we provide nearly all meals.  We pride ourselves on good healthy well balanced food for energetic people and plenty of it. Breakfast is a wide range of cereals, fruits and sometimes fully cooked.  Lunch is sandwiches or something not too heavy and dinner is a good cyclist sized meal.

Remoteness of Cape York

The beauty of this ride is the total detachment from everyday life, propelling yourself through lush nature, the only habitation being the local store, modern technology is only a memory.  The reality is sharing your life with others and enjoying missing your home comforts in outback Australia. (Internet & ATM available sometimes)

Communication

Vehicles will have CB radios and we will have at least one satellite phone enabling us to contact the outside world for any special reason.

Health & Safety

Vehicles display signs “Caution Cyclists Ahead”.  Food carried is refrigerated if need be and dishes are washed in hot water and rinsed before storage.  We strive for a high standard of safety, while cyclists can enjoy the natural environment.  Please help us help you.

Bikes return to Cairns

AllTrails vehicles depart Seisia early Friday 25th June with bikes, allowing 2 days for arrival at Aspect Motel in Cairns late Saturday.  Please do not arrange your flight to depart from Cairns before Sunday 27th morning.

Bike Tyres

As we expect dry roads and sandy roads, past experience shows cyclists prefer very little tread, allowing the bike to roll freely, not hindered by big nobby chunky tyres.  However, any good tyre will get you there.

The Bike

The bike must be in excellent condition and recently serviced.  Mountain bike or hybrid with wide tyres and wide handlebars.  Front and rear suspension is good, but not essential.  There are a few very steep short hills, but mostly slight undulations so the amount of gears is your choice.  Creek crossings will totally saturate your bike, or you can carry bike.

Duration of Ride

The distances are sometimes decided by the next store on the route.  Many days we try and finish riding by lunch time and average cycling speed is 20 kph.  We allow plenty of time for stopping, photos, swims or whatever.  We start the day cycling between 7 & 8am till 12 or 2pm or thereabouts.

Ride at your own Pace

A departure time is suggested and after breakfast usually the slower cyclists leave allowing time for stops, photos or just cruising.  The faster leave whenever, all aiming to get to m/tea or lunch at somewhere near nominated time.