Expedition advice: long days, grim nights - getting to the TdU by bike

Riding Events & Challenges
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I have a plan to get myself and my bike from Melbourne to the Tour Down Under in time to catch Stage 2, 3, and 4 before getting on the train back to Melbourne on the Sunday morning.

It looks great on paper: 4 days riding averaging 220kms per day, with very little elevation gain.

BUT I’ve never backed up distances like that day after day, and in fact I’ve never bikepacked at all. Looking for experienced types to poke holes in the below plan for me.

I’ve already abandoned the idea of just free camping near public toilets and adjusted my daily destinations to towns that have a caravan park - I realised the importance of a hot shower for myself and, more importantly, the kit I’ll have to wear every day due to cargo limitations.

Here’s the summary:

Day 1 Sun Jan 18 : Home to Lake Bolac (via Ballan, Ballarat) campground, 251km, 1053m

Day 2 Mon Jan 19: Lake Bolac to Penola (via Dunkeld, Hamilton, Casterton) 226km, 659m (CMCA RV park)

Day 3 Tues Jan 20: Penola to Tintinara (via Lucindale, Petherick, Mt Charles) 212km, 137m

Day 4 Weds Jan 21: Tintinara to Frewville-Norwood (via ferry at Tailem Bend, Woods Point, Kanmantoo, Verdun) 214km, 1151m

Day 5 Thurs 22: Stage 2, Norwood to Uraidla

Day 6 Fri 23: Stage 3, Henley Beach to Nairne

Day 7 Sat 24: Stage 4, Brighton to Wilunga Hill

Day 8 Sun 25: Train home first thing (7.45am)

GEAR:

Tent (Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3): on handlebars

Snacks: in bento/or buy a frame bag?

In Saddle bag (Oxford AquaEvo - 10L):

  • Tent Footprint? (probably not given caravan parks only)
  • Sleeping bag (Macpac Firefly 200)
  • Sleeping mat
  • Rain jacket
  • Anti-smell merino tee shirt (for casual/evenings)
  • Spare cycling jersey
  • L/weight fleece (Katmandu 100 weight)
  • Casual tech shorts (for casual/evenings)
  • Thongs (for casual/evenings)
  • Power bank(s) + 2 cables
  • Solar pad (mini)? For recharging power bank while riding?
  • High calories
  • T/brush
  • T/paste (mini)
  • Usual puncture kit with electric mini pump
  • Extra TPU tubes/co2s
  • Sunscreen
  • Non-cycling Glasses
  • PawPaw ointment
  • Wet wipes & TP

Very much open to advice. Thanks!

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Hey Joe

If it helps at all I’ll be driving over so could take a bag there and back with back up clothing etc

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Good luck fitting all that stuff into 10 litres! Given the prevailing winds are west to east I think you need to be prepared for potential headwinds; IME flat = windy and more chance of saddle sores, and there’s no equivalent of downhills with headwinds (or crosswinds), unlike with climbs. It could also be extremely hot…

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Thanks Stephen. Yes, the winds are a concern and of course the heat. I’m allowing for a very slow average speed - around 23kph.

I’ve done a trial packing of the 10L seat bag. It’s tight for sure. But that sleeping bag is tiny. The sleeping mat is also small and will be on the webbing section of the bag’s exterior. Might also need to fasten the thongs to the outside.

I’ve decided I definitely need a frame bag as well, which will have food and also power packs etc, taking a little bit of pressure off the seat bag.

Good call about the type of riding adding more risk of saddle sores. I’ve never used a chamois cream but definitely looking to get some!

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Hi Kevin. Thanks so much for offering! Would definitely be good to have a few more clothes etc at the other end. What an awesome thing the cycling community is!

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Stephen_Poole’s comments regarding heat and headwinds are backed by experience. He has done plenty of long brevets that exceed those daily distances and elevation gains, typically >350km/day.

Think about some lighting to give you some flexibility to dodge excessive heat. I usually find the second day of long brevets to be the toughest but YMMV.

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You may already have this covered, but I’d highly recommend aero-bars…not so much for speed but for the comfort of having an additional position that takes the weight off your hands. Numb hand are a real problem on back to back long distance rides. They also make a big difference if you are pushing into a headwind. I had these for a LEJOG trip doing 200+km a day, and they saved my ride.

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Great call! I’ll look into some add ons

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+1 for aero bars. Really makes a huge difference on these long rides. I run 5cm of spacers to raise them a bit, beause as Andrew said, it’s a comfort thing. On pavement and smooth gravel, I spend most of the time in the aero bars.

Re: solar pad, I would assume that you would be able to charge your electronics at the campgrounds, so probably no need for this.

Some essential spares such as chain links and a derailleur hanger.

Lastly, I bring a tiny bluethooth speaker that fits in my top tube bag for music so I don’t get nuts when pushing for hours in a headwind. I prefer this over in-ears, you’re still aware of traffic and it’s just a different vibe overall.