The Making of a Randonneur

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In the world of long distance riding, the Audax club challenges the bold to be bolder still. Sarah Chaplin tells her story of taking on her biggest challenge. The Great Southern Randonnée (GSR) is a 1,200km event that’s held every four years in Victoria’s south­west and is one of Australia’s great Audax long distance rides. It begins
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Into the heart of Australia

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From the city to the deep outback, the Mawson Trail is a unique Australian bike ride. Leon Hill makes the tough journey on the Outback Odyssey event. There are some experiences that are unmistakably Australian—climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, gazing on Uluru at first light and cycling the Outback Odyssey. While the latter mightn’t be
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James of the Jagungal

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How deep into the wilderness can you get and still be back at work on Monday? Very far indeed, finds James Garriock.    Any proper adventure has a low point, and this looked like it. Legs frozen and dripping after my seventh river crossing in less than three kilometres and craning my neck skywards to
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Goulburn gold

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The Dookie Rail Trail is a short trail that is perfect for families. Jason Watts is our guide. Way back in 1994, a little known punk band called Green Day released an album titled ‘Dookie’. One of the songs on the album was called ‘Welcome to paradise’. Now I’m not sure if Green Day have
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Good beer and mountain bikes

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Peter Foot finds flow in Victoria’s high country – on the single track and in the breweries. Question: how would you like to go on a free brewery tour and mountain biking road trip? This was really asked of me, in my real life, on a Tuesday in winter at the Bicycle Network office in
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Blood, Brains and Bikes

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Giles Graham and Michael Haynes report on ‘Bloody Cyclists’ taking to the streets to raise money for neurological research. With Halloween as inspiration, Jason Fisk took the opportunity to bathe in blood and gore and raise some money for The Brain Foundation – an Australian charity dedicated to funding research into neurological disorders and brain
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Brew2Brew moves Perth

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Michael Haynes reports on a grassroots, bike-powered movement to stimulate cycling in Perth. Picking up on the concept of a previous ride, Brew2Brew, which started with coffee and ended with beer, urban planner Giles Graham initiated Brew2Brew 2. He was inspired by his experience at VeloCity Global 2016 and designed a ride from Northbridge to Fremantle. Taking in high quality shared
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The world’s greatest bike adventures

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Have you got a bucket list of bike adventures? Simon Vincett compiled this haphazard collection of rides that have wheedled their way into his daydreams.  Like the best daydreams, these ride suggestions are not constrained by issues of access, logistics. Instead they are put forward for their promise of grand scenery, high adventure and fascinating encounters. It’s
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Riding the Road of Bones

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Ro Privett recounts his epic adventure on Siberia’s Kolyma Highway through Far East Russia—otherwise known as the ‘Road of bones’. “You will definitely meet bears,” remarked our drunken Russian guide. After a pause and a reflective look away, he followed up, in a concerned voice, “I hope you escape”. Needless to say, the three of
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Wrong side of the Track

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Getting caught in a flood was the last thing Peter Foot expected when he cycled South Australia’s Oodnadatta Track. The man is regarding us as if we are slightly deranged. “You’re mad,” he says flatly, as if it were an unequivocal truth. I try to think of a witty riposte. “Tell us something we don’t
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