Perth to Sydney by ebike 2013 - ride diary

[DunkenKBliths]

Hey "Architectonic" prefer your second option

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=204175822756979760320.0004e4ee0cabf151484e8&dg=feature

"FAR SAFER THAN THE EXPRESS WAY...DANGERS !!!, especially at that time of the day !!!"

If we dont don't get permission for a charge for the way back, I wont be coming all the way (only as far as 1/2 battery capacity)
...I don't fancy peddling into the night to get home...!!!

Dunk

I haven't received a reply from the email address on the site. Do you guys have a better contact?

It seems logical that it would be possible, but you never know.

Getting there from the city isn't the easiest thing (since this isn't Holland), the shortest route is:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=204175822756979760320.0004e4ee0cabf151484e8
I actually like Greenhill Road, but the problem is that a small minority of drivers don't seem to like cyclists up there...

But a more common route (with a few bike paths) is:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=204175822756979760320.0004e4edfab0e39250faf

Or you could be more adventurous and ride through Cleland and see the Kangaroos (there are always kangaroos and the trails from Waterfall Gully road up to the carpark at the Wildlife park isn't that bad, depending on the weather...).

 

[Architectonic]

"FAR SAFER THAN THE EXPRESS WAY...DANGERS !!!, especially at that time of the day !!!"

Did you put in the wrong link?

The second link is along the separated bikeway that avoids the freeway, though it is a more hilly route and significantly longer too. After the bikeway ends, it takes Mt Barker Road, which is a main-ish road (though I believe it is 60km/h now). Looking a bit more closely, Google maps recommended taking Ambulance Road as a back way, which turns into a dirt track, so the alternative would be to stay on Mt Barker Road until Onkaparinga Valley Road.

PS, I'd like to thank Maurice for making a post on the Adelaide Cyclists Forum.

 

[DunkenKBliths]

Sorry you are absolutely right !!! DOH !!!

Any news for charging..!?

DUNK

"FAR SAFER THAN THE EXPRESS WAY...DANGERS !!!, especially at that time of the day !!!"

Did you put in the wrong link?

The second link is along the separated bikeway that avoids the freeway, though it is a more hilly route and significantly longer too. After the bikeway ends, it takes Mt Barker Road, which is a main-ish road (though I believe it is 60km/h now). Looking a bit more closely, Google maps recommended taking Ambulance Road as a back way, which turns into a dirt track, so the alternative would be to stay on Mt Barker Road until Onkaparinga Valley Road.

PS, I'd like to thank Maurice for making a post on the Adelaide Cyclists Forum.

 

[Rodney64]

You are going well guys, it looks like Chings suffering a bit in this last photo. Good to see a CEO of a company out of the office.
More photos of Maurice he seems to be getting let out. Sorry guys i accidentally slipped one in of the Phasor but I've removed it now.

Abrahams still smiling

Ching does prefer smooth paved roads, fresh salmon and big steaks but we seem to be giving him dirt roads, big hills and lots of flies instead :lol:

Always happy to see more Phasor photos, even by accident.

Maurice misses out on photos as he's the one taking them on his phone, which is also the only one with reception to easily upload them. Damn Telstra's monopoly on country coverage!

Thanks Abraham you built these wheels on both Phasors and all going well and no flats.

 

[Architectonic]

I received a reply and charging at the venue shouldn't be a problem (unless tons of people rock up wanting to charge :wink: )

 

[Rodney64]

Day 26 photos

It’s a hard life for us, researching electric bicycle hire opportunities along the Riesling trail
Our latest electric bike epic!


Country road electric cycling to the Clare Valley
Our latest electric bike epic!


 

[voicecoils]

I received a reply and charging at the venue shouldn't be a problem (unless tons of people rock up wanting to charge :wink: )

Great, we asked as well and got the same reply. Should be good to go!

Of the various route options suggested, we're happy to be led by the local knowledge and will leave it up to you guys. We'll follow :lol:

See everyone tomorrow! Cheers

 

[DunkenKBliths]

Lol...4 chargers per plug...with a few splitters...

I received a reply and charging at the venue shouldn't be a problem (unless tons of people rock up wanting to charge :wink: )

Great, we asked as well and got the same reply. Should be good to go!

Of the various route options suggested, we're happy to be led by the local knowledge and will leave it up to you guys. We'll follow :lol:

See everyone tomorrow! Cheers

 

[Rodney64]

Day 27 photos

A great business in Auburn renting bicycles for riding the Riesling trail and winery area. Judith has been working hard promoting and improving the cycle trails in the area. Hopefully they’ll have ebikes in their hire fleet soon!
They’ve started fixing bikes too with their own part time mechanic. It’s great to see a small town gain a bike shop, normally we just hear about how their used to be a bike shop in town “for when people used to ride bikes”. Good work Judith and co!

Made it to Adelaide last night! More info about our day coming up. 
Now off to the Victoria park racecourse to meet some local ebike enthusiasts and ride to the Woodside bowls club for the Adelaide hills electric bike project presentation

 

[pendragon8000]

Great ride today guys,
Abraham, Maurice, Ching, Dunk and Architectonic.
and great meeting you guys, i would have loved to stay and have a few beers as Abraham i think suggested, i bet it would have been a great drinking session. but its good to home. I hope you enjoyed your time in Adelaide and the views from the adelaide hills as we climed. I'm looking foward to seeing the photos .

The bowls club ebike info evening ppl were really nice to. sandwiches, mini pies, coffee and battery charge, awsome!
I ended up doing 99.8km today... for me thats prety epic considering it was majority hills.
good luck with the rest of your jouney and i hope more ppl ride with you for a bit.
peace
Ken

 

[voicecoils]

Maurice, Ching and I had an awesome day in Adelaide, staying at a local reader of our blog's house by the sea, riding into the city to meet the Adelaide E-S crew, riding ~45km out to the ebike meeting in Woodside and now being hosted tonight nearby by more enthusiastic new ebike riders.

Would love to hear from Ken, Duncan and Andrew that they all made it back safely tonight after the recharge? Hope you got home with watt-hours to spare and it was great to meet each of you!

EDIT: glad to hear you made it back OK Ken! Great to meet you & doing nearly 100km on a home built high power ebike is epic indeed!

 

[Rodney64]

Day 28 photos Friday

Met up with Duncan, Andrew and Ken at the Victoria Park Raceway in Adelaide this afternoon and ride with them up to Woodside for the presentation by the Hills Electric Bike Project.
It was much hillier and windier than i had imagined! Over 40km of huge ups and awesome downhill plunges, which of course leads to more climbs! Mix of nice separated cycleways and some hairy night riding with high traffic.
We stayed up in the hills for the night but these three took off at 9pm back home in the cold and dark and are hopefully home safe now!

Rodney64
Nice to see 200 watt sticker

It was a packed house at the Woodside bowls club for the presentation put on by the Adelaide Hills Electric Bicycle Project. They lend out electric bike kits on a short term basis so that hill dwelling people can experience the benefits of electric assistance first hand.
We introduced ourselves and fielded a few questions. Ching stole the show, as an international expert, able to answer anything about the bikes that he’d not only ridden 3800km to Adelaide but had designed and made himself.

 

[DunkenKBliths]

Wow...what a great Afternoon/Evening guys...

Great to meet all you guys local and Interstate... (Abraham, Maurice, Ching, Ken and Andrew.)

Was very apprehensive about the Stealth Bike making the Hills climb, but after adding a good bit of Human Power to the mix,
was very surprised by its battery capacity (considering the bikes 50KG) , finally made it to the meetup with just under 1/2 a tank of juice left...

Thanks to the guys in the " Hills Electric Bike Project" for letting us charge our bikes...was a real joy to meet you guys and thanks for the pies and sandwiches...

The ride home in the dark was really fun, not too much traffic, and we flooded the road with some good quality LED lighting...and wow what a great run down from the summit...I loved the part as we blasted past a couple of Lycra boys !!!

Big Kudos to the guys doing the big ride...as my "ASS" is a little sore this morning...after only doing I think about 120kms in total yesterday...
Anyway...keep up the good work guys...peddle on through to the Other-side..

DUNK

P.S. Just downloading some Video off my Go-Pro...will post a very short video if it comes out ok !!

 

[Rodney64]

Day 29 photos Saturday

We haven’t got far…
Our latest electric bike epic!


Adelaide Hills to Tailem bend via Jervois. The riding in the Hills area was superb. Uphills just as fun as downhills by electric bicycle!
Our latest electric bike epic!


We’ve been seeing a lot of photovoltaic systems on this trip, particularly in South Australia. Many nights we have been charging our electric bikes up at houses or motels that have solar on their roofs
Our latest electric bike epic!


 

[DunkenKBliths]

Not the best video in the world...!!!

Anyway....here it is... Run to the Adelaide Hills or a very little bit of it !!!

[youtube]t0zDQl8Q8kc[/youtube]

 

[Rodney64]

Saturday photos continued


We met Jack from About Bikes, a bike shop at Woodside. Jack has been involved in the bike industry for all of his working life, including a role at bicycle SA as a bicycle educator, 15 years (and counting) of his About Bikes business doing all types of bicycle hire, bicycle education at schools and even training camps for elite athletes, where he’s brought many a footballer to tears. Hopefully you’ll see some of our electric bicycles for sale at About Bikes before too long. The Adelaide Hills is a great place for them!
It was all happening at About Bikes at About Bikes. Mountain bike rentals going out, we met Mick from the AEVA showing us some electric bicycles that he imports. And we saw a couple (and dog) out on their Greenspeed recumbent trikes. We’d seen the gent at the ebike project presentation the night before, he’s interested in putting our rear wheel ezee conversion kit onto his trike.

 

[Architectonic]

Would love to hear from Ken, Duncan and Andrew that they all made it back safely tonight after the recharge?

I made it back fine, I only did 96.3 km for the day though.

 

[pendragon8000]

nice vid Dunk, your music by the sounds of your other stuff? I didnt realise why you guys were so long on that corner at the top of the eagle, old freeway bit... battery change... that explains it, I started counting time in my head to decide to turn back, but there were no turn offs so.. anyway makes sense. i just wanted to keep my momentum going up that long long incline.

 

[DunkenKBliths]

Yeah some of my electronic music fun as "BLINDSKUNK"
yeah, wondered where you had gone then !! lol

nice vid Dunk, your music by the sounds of your other stuff? I didnt realise why you guys were so long on that corner at the top of the eagle, old freeway bit... battery change... that explains it, I started counting time in my head to decide to turn back, but there were no turn offs so.. anyway makes sense. i just wanted to keep my momentum going up that long long incline.

 

[Rodney64]

Day 30 - Coonalpyn to Natimuk, 257 km (4396 km to date) Sunday.

Short stop at Keith. Next stop bordertown SA
Our latest electric bike epic!


rodney64 first guess its a 1960 model

 

[voicecoils]

Charging at Bordertown SA at the moment, so I finally have a chance to update my stats which have fallen behind the past few days:

Day 24 - Hawker to Wilpena Pound, 105 km (3460 km to date)

33.1 Ah
1227.3 Wh
58.9 ave pedal RPM

Day 25 - Wilpena Pound to Orroroo, 159 km (3619 km to date)

27.9 Ah
1044.3 Wh
67.3 ave pedal RPM

Day 26 - Orroroo to Clare, 132 km (3751 km to date)
27.9 Ah
1010.9 Wh
65.3 ave pedal RPM

Day 27 - Clare to Seacliff (suburb of Adelaide), 157 km (3908 km to date)

36.2 Ah
1262.6 Wh
58.7 ave pedal RPM

Day 28 - Seacliff (suburb of Adelaide) to Lobenthal (suburb of Adelaide Hills), 85 km (3993 km to date)

24.6 Ah
878.8 Wh
58.5 ave pedal RPM

Day 29 - Lobenthal (suburb of Adelaide Hills) to Coonalpyn, 146 km (4139 km to date)

34.1 Ah
1225.8 Wh
63.3 ave pedal RPM

 

[voicecoils]

Here's our map of recent stops, left most stop is Ceduna and it ends at last night's destination of Coonalpyn.

Yesterday we ticked over 4000 km, another thousand kilometers which have become my favorite markers of progress.

 

[Rodney64]

Day 3" continued

Big day today. 256km travelled takes us to Natimuk by 10pm (Mt Arapiles). If only I had my climbing shoes.
Crossed the SA Victoria border today, our second border crossing on this ebike trip.
And we forgot to boast about completing 4000km! That was yesterday leaving the Adelaide Hills
Our latest electric bike epic!


Rodney64: guys good to see some wildlife

Rodney64: good to see Ching on the other side of the camera

 

[Samd]

Great photos!
Looking like nice weather for Castlemaine to Ballarat on Weds gents. See you when the bus gets in about 9.45am.

Cheers.

 

[Rodney64]

Day 31 - Natimuk to Avoca, 170 km (4566 km to date) Monday

Had a go of Horsham’s separated cycleway. Doubles as a dirt jump track and disappears before you get to the busy part of town. Some things never change. Maybe when the electric bicycle craze reaches Horsham, more people will ride and they’ll think about paving it and connecting it to somewhere
Our latest electric bike epic!