DO IT YOURSELF

Southbound or Northbound?

Since the first year of Terra Australis in 2018 the event has been promoted as southbound only. However with only modest rider support and no finishers [since 2018] past riders were canvassed for their opinion on a window for a Nouthbound start that would avoid the southern alpine winter snow season, the north Queensland tropics wet season and get riders to Cape York before the challenge of the excessive Far NthQ summer temperatures take hold.  Taking account of the constraints May 1 has been set for the 2025 start date. A September 1 Southbound start may remain a possibility for those who like their riding hot.

 

Terra Australis is a solo un-supported challenge. There are some notes and cues to support the .gpx file of the route to follow on a gps navigation device. Riders contemplating registering for the TABE need to be prepared to undertake a detailed comprehensive study of the route to identify the food re-supply and water resources that meet their intended ride pace needs and include a contingency for delays in remote locations or circumstances. If you are in anyway uncertain about signing on feel free to contact me [Steve] with an expression of interest.

 

If you’re technologically challenged and don’t understand the basics of combing through hours of route, logistics planning using mapping/satellite image programs and a spreadsheet [for distance and cue notations] then it’s best you cease any thoughts of undertaking this challenge. If you’re lazy, time poor or just think you can ‘wing it’ then, ditto. If after taking account of these considerations you wish to register for TABE the information and resources below will be available on confirmation of your Registration.

 

The specific intent of not providing volumenous route detail goes to the heart of the principals of solo un-supported race preparation. Do It Yourself.  Each rider in undertaking their own process of discovery will become aware and fully informed of the resources available along the route and accordingly have the confidence to embark on the challenge….. and succeed!

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Rider Registrations open January 1 each year here...

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RIDE TRACKING FEES

Registration includes the GPS tracking fee on the event tracking page. Breathtaking Events will facilitate and upload all rider data on the event tracking page.

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RIDER RESOURCES

TRANSPORT TO START

Air, Sea, Road … the options used by previous years riders travelling to Cape York for a southbound start will be available in the general support notes for the event. For the northbound start in 2025  travel to the Wilsons Prom start is less complex.

 

SAFETY

Potential wildlife and fauna hazards are identified with current best practice advice to avoid the danger and procedure protocols to follow in the event of an accidental encounter.

 

WATER

The Course Notes will provide some known water resource information that is not readily available from a general Google Search. Guidance instruction is provided on the identification and preparation of a more detailed water plan that will enable riders to replenish water at manageable intervals along the course.

 

FOOD

The Course Notes will provide some known food resource information. Specifically this will identify some small town services or roadhouses with limited options that fall into the ‘local knowledge’ category and to some extent avoid the need for multiple enquiry from riders asking the same questions.

 

NAVIGATION

The ITT route .gpx file will be provided as five [5] seperate files broken into shorter legs to avoid accumulated kilometre error in identifying navigation points. NOTE:  eTrex 20/30 users will need to split and reduce the ‘points’ in these legs to ensure the full route distance is downloaded to their device.

 

ACCOMMODATION/CAMPING

The Course Notes will provide some known accommodation/camping resource information not readily available from a web search. 

 

BIKE SERVICE

The Course Notes will provide some known Bike Service resource information. 

 

BIKE/GEAR/TRAINING

This is not an event to be discovering these mysteries however no doubt there will be the need to fine tune one’s approach to this epic journey and there will be a opportunity to draw on the experience of riders who participated in previous years. 

 

ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS

The Course Notes will identify some road surface conditions however these can change dramatically with the weather riders encounter. In general there is about 25-30% of paved road along the race route.

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