EXTENDED RIDES IN EUROPE
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2020 TOUR DE FRONT
Ride WW1's Western Front from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border, Nieuwpoort to Basel over 3-4 weeks via Ypres, key battlefields, memorials, Reims, Verdun and The Vosges.
Operated by Outbike and local guide Carl Ooghe (on bike).
Carl is the #1 battlefields cycle guide and author of a popular cycling guidebook on the subject.
2020 could be May-Jun, 28 days, milder pace, mix of camping in countryside and nice character hotels in towns.
See our Tour de Front page (2020 info coming soon).
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Carl's website:www.cyclingthewesternfront.co.uk
Email: carl.ooghe@gmail.com
Emma Thomson from the UK Independent goes riding with Carl. http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/flanders-fields-pedal-into-the-past-9608055.html
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THE RIVERS RIDE DIY
Over 3-4 weeks, basing in Zell-Mosel with some Fri & Sat nights away. Tour on canal and river paths 700kms all the way from Strasbourg to Rothenburg riding the Mosel, Rhine, Main, Saar and Tauber and more rivers. Add the Venn Rail Trail and Hesse Rail Trails.
This is a DIY idea but we hope to start to run small groups on this and other itineraries using Europe's terrific network of 'greenways'.
- For now, see our Europe page.
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RIDER STORIES, IMAGES & media 2015-16
The Border Mail reports on our 2016 series of Victoria rail trail events
Outback Rail-Road Ride Jun-Jul 2015, ABC journalist Chrissy Arthur finds us on the road to Longreach
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-06/riders-sample-cycle-of-life-in-outback-qld/6596830 (dead link, will search web archives)
RIDER STORIES, IMAGES & MEDIA 2004-6
Photos from the Bike 'n Wheels Expedition:
www.flickr.com/photos/outbike/
www.flickr.com/photos/outbike/sets/72157594518637635
Chistine's story and photos / Wayne's photos
Helmut's epic and photos / Lucy's story and photos
ABC on the Bike 'n Wheels Expedition: to be tracked down in web archives
MY EUROPE BASE
mosel, RHINE riverS & RAIL TRAILS
Enjoy the continent from our delightful riverside holiday apartments in a key cycling spot, Zell on Mosel, Rhineland.
Zell is midway on the Mosel River Bike Path that runs from Trier to Koblenz and popular for downhill and x-country riding.
In easy one day reach by train are bike paths along the Rhine Gorges, Saar, Sauer, Kyll, Lahn, Nahr, Ahr and Main Rivers.
Rail trails within reach include the Venntrail (125km), Hessen network (245km) and shorter trails in neighbouring Eifel and Hunsruck regions.
Our bikes are free for guests staying one week or more.
Fly Ryanair all over Europe from nearby Frankfurt-Hahn Airport.
Visit Outbike's Europe page and website myeuropebase.com
Outbike :: Australia & EUROPE
Epic (and shorter) rides of Australia's Outback, Rail Trails, France-Belgium Western Front and Europe's Greenways
SOME OF OUR HIRE BIKES (EUR):
Cube drop-handlebar racers x 2 (L)
Cube straight-bar/cyclocross x 3 (S-M-L)
SOME OF OUR HIRE BIKES (AUS):
Anaconda Fat tyre bikes x 2 (M)
Gary Turner 27.5 MTB x 5 (S-M-L)
Giant 27.5 MTB (XL)
E-bike Bolt (S, suit 150-180cm)
UPDATE JAN 2019
2019 Rides
Love Our Darling (new) is a proposed ride following the Darling River from Bourke to Wentworth, covering over 700 kms in 12 days, starting 15 April. Overnights will be camping on stations, national park campsites and in the small towns and settlements. Transfers in our bus from Brisbane via Moree (connects with rail from Sydney) and transfer out to Adelaide. Details are being firmed up in mid-Jan, no web page yet.
Gulf 2 Gulf is back in May-June 2019 (The Bike 'n Wheels Expedition!) 30 days across Australia's remote outback from Port Augusta SA to Birdsville and on to Karumba Queensland, 15 riders are entered - just a handful of places left.
We can also accept riders for 15 days Port Augusta to Birdsville or 14 days Birdsville to Karumba.
Brisbane Valley & South Burnett Rail Trails 5 days
With the completion of the last link in the 160km BVRT in July 2018 and opening in late 2017 of the 90km South Burnett (Kingaroy to Kilkivan) RT, we'll be offering occasional rides of differing duration that link up the 2 trails.
From later in 2019...
SE Australia Rail Trails 1-2-3-4 weeks
As Australia's network of rail trails grows, we're keen to link rail trails, back-road cycling and touring/sightseeing on our mini-coaches in South Australia, Victoria, NSW and SE Qld.
This concept will appeal also to international visitors who would like to cycle in Australia free from traffic worries.
Each week would feature 200-500 kms riding.
Destinations may include:
SA: Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, McLarenvale, Coorong, Mt Gambier region
VIC: Port Fairy, Great Ocean Road, Goldfields, Gippsland, Dandenongs, Alps, Murray River, Portland region
NSW: Eastern Riverina, Southern Highlands, Great North Road, New England, Northern Rivers (in NSW there's movement at the station!)
SE QLD: Brisbane Valley, South Burnett, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Boyne Valley (inland from Gladstone).
Hope to get the wheels rolling later in 2019
OUTBACK RIDE POSSIBLES 2019-2020
Eyre Peninsula West Coast
Flinders Ranges
Lake Mungo, Darling & Murray Rivers
Ride on quiet outback roads, sealed and dirt.
Spectacular scenery.
Accom at farms, holiday homes, pubs, cabins, camping etc.
Transfers will be offered from/to major centres (depending on ride, Sydney, Adelaide, Alice etc).
Suit MTB, cross-country or hybrid bikes.
Small numbers.
Months Aug to Nov. More info to come early 2019.
Need ride support?
Mini-coaches + trailers: We have 3 sets now, with coach seating and extended legroom for 18 to 21 passengers. We also have special trays to secure bikes. They run around between Noosa, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Alice (mostly on tour with European groups), sometimes with weeks spare and/or relocating. More availability April to Sep.
4x4 + trailer: We have a Nissan X-Trail.
Coaster camper + trailer: From early 2019 our camper will be available for hire or charter, seating/sleeping up to 5 and equipped with shower/toilet, tanks, solar/elec/batteries, big freezer, annex, outside cooking gear etc.
Suitable to support remote rides.