Ride Down Under 2 - Greeting

Dear readers

Happy new year and welcome back to the blog. This bolg has been in a long sleep for a year and it's the time to wake up!

This time I am flying to Tasmania to discover the Tasmanian Wilderness of course on the bike. I hope I can spot some Tasmanian Devils alive during the trip.

I am riding form 6th of Jan and I am flying to Hobart tonight. Exciting. Hope the Y2.1K won't hit my flight.

Regards

Yohei

Happy New Year!

The Bike 2010

The Bike

Bianchi Lupo

The bike is same as the last time. I replaced some parts which were worn to new ones and also added some of the touring items. Followings are the major changes:

1. Front Panias

It is important to balance the bike weight even to make a stable ride. I haven't used the front ones before so It's a bit of excitement how the ride will differ from only back panias. Thanks to Darren and Brad for suggestion and the pania supply.

2. Special thorn resistant inner tube

Inner tubes are tend to be afterthoughts for cyclists but I don't want to get pains in a neck with flat tyre and this time I might go on the gravel roads. Found this creazy thick tube at the Ideal Cycle in Fremantle. This tube's is 3 times as thick as ordinal tubes. That's massive man. See the photo below, that the box of the tube comparason with an ordinal tube box.

So she is ready to go. Upgrading is great thing!

A bit more about the bike. The bike, Lupo, is a cycle-cross bike, which is basically a road bike with more clearance for tyres and the wider geometry of the frame. The bike is not specifically designed for cycle touring but it is a bike which enables me to ride long distance without having a pain in my ass. So that’s all I need for the touring.

Here are the specifications of my bike as follows:

Frame Cr-Mo Steel 700C Cross

Fork Cr-Mo

HandleBar : Alloy

Stem: Alloy

F.Derailleur Shimano: TIAGRA

R.Derailluer Shimano: TIAGRA

Shifter Shimano: TIAGRA STI

Brake: Tektro 992AG

Crank: Shimano TIAGRA 52/42/30

BottomBracket: Shimano BB-UN53 113/68

Saddle: Velo VL-1101

SeatPost: Alloy 26.4

Hub : Shimano TIAGRA

Casette: Shimano 13/25 9s

Rims: DA-16

Tires: DURO THE HYPERSONIC 700x23C

Inner Tube:XLC THORN RESISTANT TUBE

Pedal VP-519A

Color : Navy

Size: 55

About the Ride Down Under 2

About the Ride Down Under 2

Introduction

Well, it’s been a year since I completed my first bike touring in Australia. Now, it’s time to come back. This time I am heading to overseas. Passport is needed. Yes, the second destination for the RDU is TASMANIA!

Tasmania has been attracting destination for me since I discovered about the fact that Tasmania is one of the most well known destinations to tour by bike in the world with its mountainous country and world heritage listed wilderness.

I hope to successfully and safely complete my ride and enjoy the Tour as I did last year. I hope this blog will be enjoyable one for you to read.

The Objectives

It is essential to have goals to do anything, even for a tiny thing like riding from work to home. So here are the objectives for this time. I will make them all!!

1.To beat the hills of the Tasmania

2.To visit the major tourism attraction which Tasmania offers

3.To discover and enjoy Tessie wines, daily products and natural gourmet.

4.To make the world a bit more bike friendly

And most importantly,

5.To ride safely and have a killer time there.

The plan

View larger Map

Departure Date: 04/JAN/2010(MON): Perth à(Flight)à Melbourne à(Flight)àHobart

[N] Day 1 (05/JAN/2010(TUE)) Hobart àPort Arthur (105km)

[B] Day 2 (06/JAN/2010(WED)) Port Arthur à Ross (169km)

[C] Day 3 (07/JAN/2010(THU)) Ross à Coles Bay (116km)

[D] Day 4 (08/JAN/2010(FRI)) Coles Bay à Binalong Bay (122km)

[E] Day 5 (09/JAN/2010(SAT)) Binalong Bay à Scottsdale (93.3km)

[F] Day 6 (10/JAN/2010(SUN)) Scottsdale à Launceston (67.6km)

[G] Day 7 (10/JAN/2010(MON)) Launceston à Paradise (85km)

[H] Day 8 (11/JAN/2010(TUE)) Paradise à Cradle Mountain Village (59.5km)

[I] Day 9 (12/JAN/2010(WED)) Cradle Mountain Village à Rosebery (75.2km)

[J] Day 10 (13/JAN/2010(THU)) Rosebery à Queenstown (54.8km)

[K] Day 11 (14/JAN/2010(FRI)) Queenstown à Tungatinah (130km)

[L] Day 12(15/JAN/2010(SAT)) Tungatinah à Westerway(71km)

[N]Day 13(16/JAN/2010(SUN)) Westerway à Hobart (65km)

[-] Day 14(17/JAN/2010(MON)) Spare Day 1

[-] Day 15 (18/JAN/2010 (TUE)) Spare Day 2

Return Date: 19/JAN/09(WED) Hobart à(Flight) àAdelaide

Return Date: 20/JAN/09(THU) Adelaide à(Indian Pacific) à23/JAN/2010(SAT) Perth

*Tour route may change subject to my feeling as usual.

Estimated Total Distance: 1,211km (By Google Maps)

The Bike

Bianchi Lupo

The bike is same as the last time. I just replaced some parts which were worn to new ones. So she is ready to go. It’s a cycle-cross bike, which is basically a road bike with more clearance for tyres and the wider geometry of the frame. The bike is not specifically designed for cycle touring but it is a bike which enables me to ride long distance without having a pain in my ass. So that’s all I need for the touring.

View the Full Specification and photos of the Bike

Special thanks

Deepest gratitude toward the following people and organisations for their support, guidance, and advice to make this trip possible.

P.C.P.(Ash, Brad, Tom, Prawi, Nick, Wally, Robby, Bobby, Darren and all other PCP crew)

Hilton Family (All the our Hilton Family)

Ideal Cycles

Greg Stoyles Cycles (KASPER)

Blue Travel (Sayu-san, Taka-san, Yui-chan, Jyunko-Chan, and Yumiko-san and oll other staff at the BLUE)

Information for Aciton (Rowland)

Kyoto Bike Crew (Sanbo, Kondo-kun, Tabacchan(kimi), Sayacafe-san, Hamutaro, Nanbu-san and other all other crew.)

House Mates (Zoe, Lisa and Mat)

Andraj, Jana, Joel, Juraj, Lucia ,Minna, Paul,and all my mates