Australia - Perth to Sydney or vice versa March 2009?

CyclepathToHell

Just trying to pick the brains of the guys who have cycled Oz like David and TT etc.. Although any Aussies - or anyone for that matter - I would be really eager to get some advice and input from.

After 2 years of planning I have finally decided to do this trip in early March 2009.

Initially, i was planning the Perth to Sydney route - taking the coast pretty much the whole way. I intend to spend about 10-12 weeks doing it. This way I can have plenty of rest days and use certain areas as a base for a bit of tourism.

However, there seems to be some factors that might make it better to do Sydney in March and end up in Perth in May. My main thoughts being about head and tailwinds. For example, i am led to believe that on the Nullabor the winds come - more often - from the East in March and April. This means that I have a better statistical chance of getting a tailwind. However, the LP guide seems to say that March is the month that Sydney gets its most rainfall.

I am confused about all the permutations and would be interested to get any advice.

Basically the trip is this: Early March to mid/late May. Either riding from Perth to Sydney or the other way round.

Can you think of anything in those months that would make the trip better either direction? I am going to book flights mid-December so have until then to decide.

Thanks in advance.

synchronicity

I'd do it from Perth to Sydney, if only because of the idea that there's more to look forward to.

But really I have no idea & I assume that most other Aussies don't either. Not many have crossed the entire continent in a car or train, let alone on a bicycle

I do know the 1000km of coastline between Sydney and Melbourne quite well. Lots of bays and beaches, interspersed with towns and more bays and beaches... nicer than the North coast in my opinion.

CyclepathToHell

Thanks for the reply mate. Yes, something just 'feels' right about Perth to Sydney

alfablue

I watched The Man Who Cycled The World, Mark Beaumont's round the world trip. He cycled from west to east and he had quite a struggle against the wind. I think it is predominantly a South Easterly prevailing wind in the summer and NE in the winter, so going Sydney to Perth could be a lot easier.

The prevailing wind in the summer is the S.E., varied by sea-breezes during the day. In the winter there are mostly dry, cold N.E. winds, broken at intervals by westerly and S.W. gales of moderate strength, squalls, and rain.

CyclepathToHell

True. However April, when I'll be crossing the Nullabor, is a kind of transitioning month and it can be harder to predict which way the wind will blow.

Statistically I am probably going to get more headwinds riding West to East though.

synchronicity

But as you're coming up the South coast, the wind will be behind you if it's blowing from the South East. :?

Gordon-T

I did it the Sydney to Perth direction in March/April 2005. In the middle I prayed for a headwind most days because with a tailwind the flies could keep up with me. Don't forget to take a head net!

I don't think the direction makes much difference as the really strong, dusty winds come south from the interior. Do whatever feels right.

swagman

Sods law states that you will always cycle into the wind!!

CyclepathToHell

Very true swagman.

Gordon-T - How did you find your tour? Did you do the coast in WA and Victoria?

daviddd

Yes, I reckon Sydney - Perth would be preferable. Cycling into the wind on much of this stretch would be tough as there's so little tree cover. Check the Oz weather buruea 'wind socks' for the prevailing wind at that time.: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/ ... lect.shtml

Wish I was back out there (:-<)

CyclepathToHell

daviddd wrote:

Yes, I reckon Sydney - Perth would be preferable. Cycling into the wind on much of this stretch would be tough as there's so little tree cover. Check the Oz weather buruea 'wind socks' for the prevailing wind at that time.: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/ ... lect.shtml

Wish I was back out there (:-<)

Thanks for the link DD. It's guys like you and David Holmes over on CGOAB that have inspired me to do this.

All that's left is to book my ticket with Singapore Airlines and then it's set in stone!

daviddd

Good on ya mate - are you going to keep a blog? I'd love to follow you around and relive the trip!
If you want a good read check out this cycling blog http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page ... 0643&v=3MV - this guy has been cycling from Alaska to southern S America for best oart of 3 years; very readable, great pics; very inspiring.

Tourist Tony

Oh gods someone else making me jealous!
I will second Gordon's comments about the flies. They don't bite, just crawl everywhere....
March will be hot, but in the middle of Oz it gets a bit academic.I would reallu suggest Paul Elwood's book about riding around Oz as a source of info, and gives info about seasonal winds, though they have their own minds
The wind is a bastard, it will be perverse, but the real thing is water.
And like everyone else, I wish I was still there

jibi

the wind

it helped me across some of the nullabor, did 260km one day then it changes to the normal . in my face routine for 12 days.

I would recommend Perth to Sydney,
1 because that us the way I did it :-)
2. because you have to Opera house and Bridge and Bondi beach to see while you wind down , nothing much in Perth to do.

have fun

george

daviddd

Don't underestimate the crap driving in Oz, esp from roadtrains. I used a mirror for the first time in my life and could then relax more and enjoy it. You can take full responsibility for your safety by reading the road better. You sometimes have to get right off the road e.g. when 2 lorries are passing each other. It's all in my blog.
UK drivers are angels c/f Oz (and the Aussies admit it!). Oh, and fit the mirror to the LHS of the handlebars then you won't keep knocking it around every time you lean the bike up (if yr righthanded).

CyclepathToHell

Thanks for all the advice guys.

TT - The Elwood book is no longer print it would seem.

David - I've read your blog. Hell of a ride.

Merry Christmas all.

Tourist Tony

daviddd wrote:

Don't underestimate the crap driving in Oz, esp from roadtrains. I used a mirror for the first time in my life and could then relax more and enjoy it. You can take full responsibility for your safety by reading the road better. You sometimes have to get right off the road e.g. when 2 lorries are passing each other. It's all in my blog.
UK drivers are angels c/f Oz (and the Aussies admit it!). Oh, and fit the mirror to the LHS of the handlebars then you won't keep knocking it around every time you lean the bike up (if yr righthanded).

Roadtrains.....
Look ahead and, as David says, read the road. Most roadtrain drivers pull out for you IF THEY CAN, and you can hear the engine hammering (really hammering like dang-dang-dang) for a long way.
If there is anything coming towards you, or a blind summit or other pinch point, GET OFF THE ROAD.

exmoor explorer

Hi - in case you're still looking for advice on your planned ride across Oz ... I did the Perth to Sydney in August/September 08 and it was fantastic (but tough at times!). I thoroughly recommend the experience. Doing Perth to Sydney does mean, as someone else commented in a reply, that there is more variation of scenery to look forward to in the second half of the journey. The main reasons we (my brother and I) went in August/September iare firstly that it was meant to be mostly tail winds. However, as it turned out we had headwinds for the first 1,100 miles! Secondly, there was no problem with flies or snakes as it was early spring. The major pieces of advice I would give are:
1. Ensure you have a rear view mirror on your helmet or handle bar. The big trucks and road trains can appear out of nowhere, particularly if you have a headwind in your ears or you are tired towards the end of the day.
2. If you think that two road trains coming in opposite directions are going to pass each other anywhere near the point where you are on the road then get off the road completely! It can take a road train 1km to stop. Most behave very well but they will obviously hit you rather than hit another vehicle.
3. If you are flying your bike over with you, I went British Airways and they were excellent ... no extra charges and no problems at all with the bike , which I packed in a cardboard box from a bike shop.
If you are interested, I have a diary of the ride with lots of photos at www.riscombe.co.uk/cycleride08.htm
Good luck and happy New Year,
Brian

dpiper

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/ ... lect.shtml

Wind direction seems to indicate Syd - Perth better in March

rb1956

daviddd wrote:

Don't underestimate the crap driving in Oz, esp from roadtrains.

While I'd be the last to claim that Aussie drivers are the best, road-train drivers are not "crap". They're among the best-trained and most experienced drivers out there. The thing with road-trains is that they mass up to 200 tonnes, and once they're rolling, they can't stop or steer much at all. They push a huge bow-wave of air in front, create powerful suction and turbulence alongside, and trail a cloud of dust, stones etc. behind. Even in a car, if you see a road-train coming, it's best to pull over to the left shoulder and stop until the train has passed.

The road across the Nullabor, like most Australian rural highways, comprises a quite narrow metalled single-carriageway flanked by graded dirt shoulders. Cyclists are like hen's teeth so drivers won't be looking for you, and the heat-shimmer may obscure you from view. A mirror is a very good idea.

This is Australia mate, not Surrey. Leave ya Pommie whinging at home...

daviddd

rb1956 wrote:

daviddd wrote:

Don't underestimate the crap driving in Oz, esp from roadtrains.

While I'd be the last to claim that Aussie drivers are the best, road-train drivers are not "crap". They're among the best-trained and most experienced drivers out there. The thing with road-trains is that they mass up to 200 tonnes, and once they're rolling, they can't stop or steer much at all. They push a huge bow-wave of air in front, create powerful suction and turbulence alongside, and trail a cloud of dust, stones etc. behind. Even in a car, if you see a road-train coming, it's best to pull over to the left shoulder and stop until the train has passed.

The road across the Nullabor, like most Australian rural highways, comprises a quite narrow metalled single-carriageway flanked by graded dirt shoulders. Cyclists are like hen's teeth so drivers won't be looking for you, and the heat-shimmer may obscure you from view. A mirror is a very good idea.

This is Australia mate, not Surrey. Leave ya Pommie whinging at home...

After cycling for 11 months with road trains around me I can say for certain that they are not the best-trained drivers out there. Neither is it true that they can't stop - this is an urban myth - they do have brakes, and can see a cyclist wearing bright colours from many km away on long Outback roads. Just ask the 100's of caravanners driving around Oz what they think of roadtrain drivers! A cyclist I rode with for a few days suffered a badly cut arm where a cement lorry brushed him at a spot where there was no shoulder - I saw the whole thing in fron of me and the driver didn't slow down despite a truck coming the other way.

As for Pommie whinging - I am at home thank you!

I reiterate what I said and mostly agree with rb1956 that you shouldn't tangle with road trains.

rb1956

daviddd wrote:

After cycling for 11 months with road trains around me I can say for certain that they are not the best-trained drivers out there. Neither is it true that they can't stop - this is an urban myth - they do have brakes, and can see a cyclist wearing bright colours from many km away on long Outback roads. Just ask the 100's of caravanners driving around Oz what they think of roadtrain drivers!

Pommies... :roll: I'll see your eleven months, and raise you... well... a lifetime? Including a round-Australia trip (on a 125cc dirt-bike admittedly) back in the late '70s, before Highway One was fully sealed. You're not a real Australian until you've been pelted with stones by a passing road-train on a dirt road. Now of course I've never actually driven a road-train myself, so I couldn't say how far off I could see a cyclist from the cab, but I'll bow to your greater experience...

Sure road-trains can stop and steer. Just like super-tankers can stop and steer. Road-trains take a kilometre or so to come to a halt from highway speeds and folks who expect major manoeuvres from them are like the "admirals" who sail dinghies across Sydney Harbour shouting "steam gives way to sail" at the container ships. Whatever the shortcomings of road-train drivers may be, I wouldn't look look for their qualified judges among caravanners. Jeeze mate, you want to hear what other drivers say about them wandering all over the road!

Tourist Tony

I would add that most of the road trains I saw were three-trailer units. Be aware that the third trailer usually wags like a dog's tail.