Outbike :: Australia & EUROPE
LOOKING AHEAD...
2016's Bike 'n Wheels Expedition and the inaugural Tour de Front were both successful events and we'll be running them again, respectively in 2019 and 2017.
RAIL TRAILS are a fantastic re-invention for old rail lines.
Up front are USA, NZ, Europe, Victoria and SE Queensland.
In 2015 two of our events followed rail trails and we're keen to offer more such rides at an easy-medium level. It's really enjoyable cycling to be off the roads and avoiding steep grades.
Some rail trails are smoothly sealed, some have fine firm gravel and others can be a bit rough requiring MTBs.
Our bus transfers riders and bikes between trails then carries your luggage while you ride.
So no hassles arranging transfers and getting to the next trail. Plus you've got a fab bunch of fellow riders to hang with.
As well as Victoria and SE Qld, we're planning to add USA.
NOOSA is the premier Queensland resort town. In 2017 we're adding a one-week Noosa-based programme with ride days and rest days, staying in 4-star townhouses.
This will follow on from 7 day rides along the rail trails corridor Ipswich-Kingaroy-Gympie and on to Noosa.
Map route shown is not exact.
With Flinders Ranges,Mt Isa we cover 2200km.
RIDE BEYOND THE BEYOND...
Born in the Outback in 2004, Outbike is all about developing and offering innovative, enjoyable rides.
Our first event was 900km Alice to Coober Pedy, running several times a year, all on outback tracks. In 2005 we added an annual south-to-north ride of 2200km across Australia from Port Augusta to Birdsville and on to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Riding the Outback is magic and many riders did both events.
Rebooted in 2014 by founder Ralph Jackson, Outbike now offers a range of original rides, including rail trails, outback and international.
If it looks enjoyable, fits the themes and not done before, we're interested to try it!
What are our themes?
SCENERY - great landscapes to explore
ESCAPE - the sense of getting away
PEACE - goodbye to busy traffic and noise as we ride back roads, rail trails, outback tracks etc
PACE - the time and flexibility to allow riders to achieve at their own ideal pace
CHALLENGE - an average M for Medium
TIME - from 1 to 5 weeks
TASTE - eating well whether we do the catering or eat out
COMFY - camping or accoms, either way we'll rest well
ATMOSPHERE - still feels like a holiday, hopefully one of the best you've ever had!
Our rides are supported with vehicles. This could be just a luggage transfers while on remote rides we may have several vehicles providing full support. Conveniently, we're also small group tour operators so we have our own mini-coaches, trailers and extensive camping gear. Our crew are cyclists too.
Images from past Bike 'n Wheels rides:
Images from 2015 rides
rail trailS
OF VICtoriA
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10 to 21 Oct 2016 FULL
31 Oct to 11 Nov 2016 AVAILABLE
21 Nov to 02 Dec 2016 AVAILABLE
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Ride up to 500km of Victoria's excellent rail trails. Our bus+trailer carries our gear while we ride - and transfers riders and bikes between the trails.
Our 3 events in Oct-Dec 2016 are identical, 12 days linking together the Murray to Mountains RT (Wahgunyah to Rutherglen, Beechworth to Bright), Great Victorian RT (Mansfield to Tallarook), O'Keefes RT (Heathcote to Bendigo), Ballarat to Skipton RT, Bellarine RT (Queenscilff to Geelong), Camperdown to Timboon RT and the Port Fairy to Warrnambool RT.
The itinerary includes weekend freetime in Ballarat and a drive (or ride) along the Great Ocean Road.
Camping is included however you're welcome to upgrade to campsite cabins by contacting the campgrounds directly (see our list of sites).
RIDER STORIES, IMAGES & media 2015, 2016
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
2016-17 EUROPE
TOUR DE FRONT
RIDE THE LINE: BELGIUM & FRANCE
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23 days, starts 14 Jun 2016 COMPLETED
Next rides: 4 Jun 2017, early Jun 2018
ACCOMMODATED RIDE
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Commemorate the tragic sacrifice of millions of lives on the Western Front.
The Tour de Front traces WW1 from the Belgium coast to the Swiss border.
We covered 1500km all up.
Along the way, we're biased towards: sites significant to the Australian and Commonwealth forces; minor roads; towns of historical and scenic interest; nice places to overnight; character accommodations and regional food and beverages.
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Route and key points:
Nieuwport, Dijksmuide, Ypres and surrounds (incl Passendale), Armentieres, Fromelles, Vimy Ridge, Arras, Bullecourt, Bapaume, Pozieres, Albert, River Somme, Villers-Brettoneux, Peronne, St Quentin, River Aisne, Route des Dames, Reims, Verdun, Meuse, Pont a Mousson, St Die, Vosges Mountains, Grand Ballon, Haute-Alsace and on to Basel (Switzerland).
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Shorter options to finish in Reims (11 days) or Verdun (14 days).
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The June-July 2016 ride was accompanied as far as Reims by Carl Ooghe riding, an expert Belgian-based battlefields cycle guide.
Outbike's Ralph also rode much of the way to Reims, then provided the vehicle and navigation support through to Basel.
Carl is now extending his expertise further east and we plan to co-operate again in 2017 and beyond.
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More details on our Tour de Front page.
Groups, talk with us about
providing support for your ride!
2016 OUTBACK
BIKE 'N wheels
Expedition #4
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23 April to 24 May 2016 COMPLETED
Next ride planned for May-June 2019
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Going Gulf to Gulf, we'll ride Spencer Gulf all the way to Gulf of Carpentaria in 30 days via Birdsville!
In 2005, 2006 and 2007, an annual band of riders set forth from SA's Port Augusta to ride 2200kms to eventually reach Karumba, Queensland - crossing the continent on the way.
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In 2016, we went again with a fabulous bunch of 12 riders, 3 crew and 2 helpers.
Next event is planned for 2019 - start letting us know if you're interested!!
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You need to be ready to cycle many days of 80km on dirt roads (altogether 700km) of varying surfaces! On the sealed roads (altogether 1500km), many days are 100-120km. About 200km has been sealed since our earlier events a decade ago.
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Ride includes 31 nights camping (11 at bush sites), daily hearty breakfasts and lunches, most dinners, extensive rider support and transfers (from ADL and to CNS).
Entry 2016 was $6000 per rider.
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PLACES LIMITED TO 20. DON'T MISS OUT!
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More details on our Bike 'n Wheels page.
RIDER STORIES, IMAGES & MEDIA (2004-6)
Photos from the Bike 'n Wheels Expedition: https://www.flickr.com/photos/outbike/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/outbike/sets/72157594518637635
Chistine's story and photos:
Wayne's photos: http://wayne-morris.smugmug.com/Sports/Outbike-Trip-September-2005/875638_HN7wSS
Helmut's epic and photos: http://web.archive.org/web/20060821210143/http://prl.anu.edu.au/Members/cxc112/.personal/Outbike-ride/gallery/HelmutEPIClow.pdf
Lucy's story and photos: http://web.archive.org/web/20060820155418/http://prl.anu.edu.au/Members/cxc112/.personal/Outbike-ride/storyLucy
ABC on the Bike 'n Wheels Expedition: http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/sa/stories/s1387194.htm
newsletter - NEXT IS SEP 2016
Like to hear when we post new rides? Email with our form and we'll add you to our mailing list.
2017-18 rides will include:
* Rail Trails Ipswich-Kingaroy-Noosa 7 day supported rides along the developing rail trails corridor;
* Noosa Week - supported rides on back roads and trails (and a couple of free days);
* Tour de Front - an end-to-end ride of the WW1 Western Front in Belgium and France
* Rail Trails Victoria - more events;
* Rail Trails USA - transferriing by bus/van between trails;
* Rail and River Trails Europe (transfers by rail).
MY EUROPE BASE
mosel, RHINE riverS & RAIL TRAILS
-------------------------------------------------Enjoy the continental life from our delightful riverside apartments in a key cycling spot, Zell on Mosel, Rhineland.
It's midway on the Mosel River Bike Path that runs from Trier to Koblenz and also a popular centre for downhill and x-country riding.
In easy one day reach are 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 the neighbouring Eifel and Hunsruck regions.
Visit our Europe page and