-
Great that you are doing it on fixed!
I think it would be much harder without flip-flop, for two reasons:
Firstly it's like two separate events - a virtually flat ride from Freo to Melbourne then a ride through the mountains.
Secondly, the wind will make a big difference to what gear you'd want across the Nullarbor, and you can't predict it well enough to decide: I watched the forecasts closely last year and I never expected that it would be 6 days of headwind. So I averaged under 20km on most days. For the few hours I had with still air (overnight on the 90-mile straight) I was doing 28-30km.There are a couple of ramps right before the SA/VIC border that you will have to walk. I almost had to walk them on 34x40. Very short but must be 2o+% (or else I was completely shagged at that point!). Otherwise, I can't recall anything steep before Geelong - apart from a couple of switchbacks on a road going into Torquay. They felt vv steep but was dark so couldn't see.
Are you trying to do it vegan? Other than the couple of hours when you pass through the big cities, that will be tough. I had to eat a lot more meat on IndyPac than the TCR.
I found there was meat in things I didn't expect to have it (eg do you want beef pie, steak pie, mushroom pie, potato pie? - I ordered the last two and they both had meat in anyway). When there were veg options I found they were often out of stock. Also, my mouth got so fucked that I needed mushy food so, at Eucla RH, I ordered the spag bol as there was no other pasta/rice dish, and chips would have been like eating razor blades. And finally, chocolate milk is a big thing in Australia.
I am so looking forward to dot-watching this!
You are reading a single comment by @frank9755 and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
frank9755
hippy
Indian Pacific Wheel Race official Facebook page made this post today:
'Arthur Richardson was the first to cycle the Nullarbor in 1896. It was a feat he completed solo. Alone. Aged 24. Back then there were no roads and Richardson had to pick his way along terribly rough tracks and wade through miles of sand or try to navigate around them. He relied on remote stations, the few established towns and railway work crews to survive. There were no reliable maps, no GPS devices, no passing cars, no communications, no reliable food / water sources, no gears and no fat tyres. The #ipwr riders will have it easy in comparison.
The first Overlanders rode fixed wheel bikes. Freewheels weren't yet available. Will anyone ride the Indian Pacific Wheel Race on a fixed wheel bike? Now that would truly honour the spirit of the Overlanders!
Australian ultra-endurance cycling legend, Rod Evans has ridden huge distances on a fixed wheel bike amongst his massive list of records and achievements. Rod is so keen to see folks honour the original Overlanders that he is putting up his own prize (nothing to do with us!) for the first fixed wheel rider to make it to Sydney. The prize is the weight of the rider's bike and gear in beer. If you don't drink beer, I'm sure Rod will organise something else. Once again, this has nothing to do with us but honouring the achievements of the original Overlanders is very important to us. Thanks to Rod for doing the same.
#ipwr #bikepacking #fixie'
Looks like I'm doing it fixed after all!