Prepare - Cycle Australia 2021

Training - train for a century

These cycle tours can be a challenge for the unprepared. You need to prepare to be able to ride 100 km (60 miles) days comfortably.  You need to manage hills comfortably - uphill and downhill.  The terrain is more demanding than most of our previous tours (apart from Tasmania). Temperatures are likely to be warm with some cooler days later in March- think 9C to 27C (50F to 85F).  Past participants will advise that it pays to do enough training to make the first week as enjoyable as the last. The preparation that has worked best for other participants is to train for a century (100 kms or 100 miles) over 8 to 12 weeks before we start. Be sure to include some hill work and some interval work. The following resources have proved useful in the past.
Equipment and Clothing

It is essential that your bike is comfortable - you will be in the saddle around 100 hours for the 3 weeks of riding for each leg.  Pay attention to getting a good saddle on which you have spent some time training. Padded cycle shorts (knicks) and gloves are essential. Helmets are compulsory. A rear view mirror is mandatory as a condition of joining the ride. A flashing red rear light is also mandatory and a condition of joining the ride. Bicycle bells are now compulsory (sometimes policed especially in Victoria). Wet weather and cold weather gear will be essential. It is essential that your bike is mechanically sound - we suggest servicing before the trip replacing worn cables, chain, brake blocks and tyres. There are bike shops in the major centres but these are far apart.

As we are using 4 star caravan parks (where available) and travelling with a fully equipped camping and cooking trailer, you need only bring the minimum essential camping equipment - a small tent, a lightweight sleeping mattress, a decent sleeping bag, eating essentials, and a torch.

We have scheduled rest days every 2 or 3 days. There is one riding spell of 6 days on the second leg. There are laundry facilities in all the caravan parks we use. Consequently, you can safely limit clothing required to 4 or 5 days wear. However, please be aware that the nights can be cold - a useful way to deal with this is to use several layers of lightweight clothing and a fleece (e.g., pack a thermal vest and a lightweight woollen jersey).

Food and Supplies

You will find that you can get almost any supplies in the main centres along the route - we have rest days scheduled every 2 or 3 days in these to allow ready re-stocking. Unless you have any very specialist needs (e.g., medical or food allergies), you can stock up in a planned way along the way.

Insurance 

Travel Insurance is required. Personal liability insurance is recommended. Cycle Across Oz will ask you to sign a liability waiver form. Medical Insurance is recommended - for Australian residents this includes specific cover for Emergency Ambulance Evacuation (not normally covered outside the state in which you live)

Useful Links

We are very lucky to be able to draw on the experiences of past Cycle Across Oz adventurers, some of whom have committed to ride with Cycle Across Oz again: