Help - raising money for a charity!

Hey there,

Right, let's hope my first post isn't crap!

I am looking at raising money for a charity very close to my heart. I have managed to convince a friend to cycle the east coast of Oz with me, which I think works out at about 2,500miles.(Please correct me if I'm wrong)
However, I have never travelled to Australia before so don't really know what the road conditions, weather, etc. are like.
To give you an idea about me, I used to weigh close to 21st, so I'm certainly no lean mean fit athlete, I now weigh around 13st and am aiming to get to around the 12st mark. My fitness levels are reasonably decent, I cycle and go to the gym everyday.

We plan to camp, hotel, and stay with friends when possible whilst on our trip.

So basically I would just like a bit of advice and guidance.

Thank you for any help.

Where do you want to start and finish?
2500 miles takes you from Melbourne in Vic to Cairns in Qld and that's a decent trip. (Everything in Oz is measured in Km - make sure you don't confuse the two).
Distance is more a concern as it can be a long way between stops - there isn't a village every few miles like in the UK.
So around 4000km, at 100km per day its going to take you a couple of months.
The East coast has been done to death - Try the West Coast between Darwin and Perth - Less traffic.

Road conditions vary from one extreme to the other so careful route planning is required. Most of the East coast roads will be sealed (tarmac) Detours from main routes could find you on dirt roads - not an issue if you're prepared.

Weather - totally dependant on the time of year - as it is anywhere. The location will affect the climate.
Tropical in FNQ with a lot of rain in the wet season - hot, humid at other times.
During winter in Vic, the weather is more like the UK - Hotter in summer obviously. Freezing in Winter - just right for most poms.
Don't forget the sunscreen - skin cancer is a b1tch.

Plenty of camping available along the way - watch your step in Northern Queensland. I'd be asking the locals before testing my luck with the native wildlife - Some silly bugger decided to go for a swim at night last summer - It was a short swim!
Try this <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy_TB6onHVE>- it sums the issue up nicely.

Forget about Kangaroo and Koala attacks that you hear doing the rounds - we just make that sh1t up to sell souvenirs to tourists.
Ask your Doctor about getting shots for Devil Facial Tumour Disease if you plan to visit Tasmania.

This is the best thread in which to ask Oz related questions.

It also adds to the cost of getting there/about, plus....isn't there some sections where it's like hundreds of kilometers between 'civilisation'??

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THYLACINE CUSTOM CYCLES <click for info • " I love how people quote a work of fiction like it's the bible." - Anonymous

That's why there's less traffic....

You don't want him doing an ordinary charity ride and raising mediocre amounts when an epic ride with meedya coverage will do wonders for his cause.

Which blog are you going to be more inclined to follow?
The one down the East coast - yawn
or
The one thru

Thanks for the response peeps.

My ultimate trip would be to ride the whole way around, however my business commitments won't allow that, so I had to choose between three choices - across oz, west coast, or the east coast. I have friends that live up along the east coast, so free accommodation for a couple of nights and seeing a friendly face to boost my morale won the vote.

Well, I think a road bike is out of question, so I'm either going to have to use my Giant Talon 2 bike, or try and find out what would be best suited to do this.

At the moment I am hoping to start in Melbourne, then do Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Forster, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane, and finish in Cairns.
I have been discussing with a friend who might join me, and we are looking to go next February.

And for the record, the wolf creek blog might attract you, but it would **** me up whilst cycling. Although I suppose it means I will go like **** of a shovel to get it finished!haha.

Well, I better get cracking and get registered with my selected charity, and start my blog. Didn't realise how much crappy admin work needs doing when trying to do something for charity!

I found a thread of an Irish guy that did some of the route you're thinking about - have a read - it'll cover some of your questions. I believe he was using a Long Haul Trucker.