Australia
Big Rides
Big Rides happen all over Oz but they are all basically the same – event rides in different areas of different States of Australia each year usually covering 600 odd km spread over ten or so days with one non-riding 'rest' day
Bicycle Victoria is a very energetic bicycle support & advocacy group and seems to have a finger-in-the-pie in Big Rides in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia – and as of recent years a sometimes ride in New Soth Wales now that Bicycle NSW no longer organises these rides
I started out with the '96 New South Wales Big Ride, backed up for the '97 took a break until I rode again in '00 and '01
º '96 the route was Albury to Bathurst (We rode the tandem)
º '97 we went from Tamworth to Newcastle (We rode the tandem)
º '00 it was the biggie, Tweed Heads to Sydney (I rode the hybrid)
º '01 was Oberon to Forbes (I rode the trike)
In 2007 I backed up for another ride, this time putting something back into the bike world by volunteering to assist with the running of the ride. Maybe it'll be worth a story...
º '07 NSW mid-north coast
The NSW Big Ride route isn' usually that hard. Tho there's always one BIG climbing day – remember this is Oz and climbs are relative which means for lot's of you the climbs are small(!) – and a combination of rain, cold, hills and headwinds all together can prove a tad trying and so a 'sag wagon' follows the route to collect & transport those in need, or those who just want to take it easy and those who indulge a little too heartily in the pubs along the way
The ride is supported, that is all you have to do is ride each day and all your gear is hauled from one campsite to another and all the usual facilities, hot showers, meals, medical and bike support is provided
The logistics of it all are are wonder to behold. Each nite, a 'tent city' springs up in a small country town. As 1800 (or more, give or take a few) riders end their cycling day, they set-up a tent, usually on an oval – a cricket or football field – and then head off to the shower trucks (a prime mover with a trailer with 6 men & 6 women's showers), or the loo (again a prime mover with a trailer filled with chemical toilets) that have been set-up on the perimeter, or, head off to the bar that has been set-up on the oval, or to one of the many food stalls that the local community set-up to raise funds
After a day on the road, appetites are usually pretty good so the evening meal is served early. Feeding so many could mean that the meals would be a bit mass-produced, but the variety and the quality are great. You supply your own plates and cutlery and wash your own dishes and so-on. Entertainment is often provided, or there's the great Australian past-time, a (longish) vist to the pub, to fill in the rest of the evening. Tho early nites are often the go. The next morning it all starts over again, pack up the tent, queue for breakfast, load your gear onto yet another prime mover/trailer combo and then hop on the bike and off you go while the support folks knock down the rest of the campsite, whizz off to the next destination and set everything up again before (most) of the riders arrive
Each day's ride usually has heaps of water stops & a couple of 'tea-breaks' plus of course a lunch break. An easy paced day mostly, with plenty of space to 'smell the roses', to chat with other riders, to gaze at the myriad of different participants and their bikes. These days there are usually a few recumbents (both two + three wheeled varities), heaps of tandems (back in '96 when we did the Ride on our tandem, there was only one other tandem)and all manner of other bikes from the extremely fancy (& very expensive) thru to the simplest single speed clunker. And the riders? Just as diverse; usually plenty of young kids on bikes, dads with infants in a bike trailer, every permutation of mother-daughter/father-son combos, you name it... Ages range from 10ish to 70ish
