Where ever your dreams want to take you - make sure that you go - Brisbane Australia

TUESDAY SEP 2 / 2014 / by Andrew Talati
0 Comments 6 Comments

Follow your dreams - the ride across Australia

Michael had a dream that one day he would ride a bush bike around Australia. At the tender age of 56 he found a sponsor for the car and started living the dream with his wife as the support driver. The aim was to raise money for the charity Kids with Council Foundation (KWCF).

This amazing journey started in Brisbane heading north to Rockhampton, then Mount Iza, the Northern Territory border to Three ways near Tennant Creek, Katherine, Port Headland, Carnovon, Geraldton, Perth, Nullabor Plains to Adelaide, Midwest Hwy to Bendigo down to Melbourne onto Grithith in NSW and back to his home town of Nowra NSW. In total her covered 13500kms over 5.5 months. Michael informed me that without stopping, the journey may take 3.5 - 4 months but the world record for going around Australia by bike is 38 days based on covering 300kms/day. 

Where ever your dreams take you

A simple change to the gearing of the big chain ring meant that Michael could increase his top end speed by 10km/h. He wished he had this higher gearing earlier as on some flat sections he was getting up to 60km/h. The biggest day was across the Nullabor Plains covering a staggering 301kms, while riding for 7.5 hours, averaging 41km/h. He hit the 10,000km mark with great excitement - see photo (Courtesy of Michael)

Changing the bike gearing

So to manage these enormous distances day in, day out, Michael would break every 60kms. If he was completing a 200km day, he would require 5 meals per day in order to replenish his water and food. "It was energy in versus energy out. I needed to eat so much food."

Michael's secret is his peanut bars which he purchased in packs of 4, as they are high in protein and energy. He consumed high GI foods such as rice, sweet potato and porridge for breakfast as the energy lasts 8  - 10 hours as this type of food is slow releasing.

The great thing is that Michael is blessed with a supple muscle system so he can ride day in, day out without incurring the wrath of stiff muscles and cramping. 

The challenges

Michael: "The most scary things are the road trains, what we have in the cities are Tonka toys compared to what they have up north. They have between 80 - 100 wheels over 5 rigs and the back end swings around a lot. I have been run off the rode many times, they're like a ship, it takes them a while to stop".

Most Australian roads have nice wide shoulders with bitumen but in South Australia it's gravel so you have to be very careful.

So with so much time, Michael tends to focus on how far he has to ride for the day while keeping focused on optimistic things and marvelling at the scenery, taking joy in nature and the surrounds. Where it was boring and flat, the aim was to ride 250 kms/day. It's about creating micro goals of completing a particular distance in a particular time.

Like the Tour de France, Michael has rest days and will do a small 30km ride in the area on these days off to keep his legs moving.

From the humble mileage of 100kms/day and as Michael's confidence increased, he got a few 170's in, then 200's, a 250 km through Broome, then 300km was the longest. To achieve such vast distances, it's a question of gaining experience. "Whether the body can do it is like anything in life, you have to be confident in whatever you do. Once you have the confidence it's amazing what you can achieve in life".

After the desolation of the Nullabor Hwy, the rolling hills of the Clare Valley were a welcome site.

Where ever your dreams take you

Like anything in life, you have to be confident in whatever you do.

"Wherever your dreams want to take you, make sure that you go. You cannot be an armchair dreamer".

Michael: "Follow the 4D's in everything that you do and you will be successful":

  • Decisive
  • Determined
  • Disciplined
  • Dilligent

 You're not alone

Well Michael is not alone in performing epic cycling trips. He met a woman from Holland who had just ridden 1000kms solo unassisted, travelling through eastern and western Europe, all the way through the Russian federated states of China, Singapore and then flew to Darwin to continue her trip across Australia. Most amazing is the fact she rode from the Southern tip of South America, through America, Canada then Alaska. When Michael asked what was the one thing that scared her the most and it was China as she didn't know what was there.

The next chapter

After an amazing 5 months, Michael will continue producing his landscape photography book based on the trip and a documentary about the ride... and restore his bank balance.

So to add another level to the challenge, Michael would like to do the trip on a motorised skateboard with speeds up to 50km/h. 

Michael is an award winning author who wrote the Journey of hope based on a true story.

www.jorneyofcharity.com.au

Feedback
Email
Name
Send