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

About the Ride Down Under

About The Ride Down Under

Welcome to The Ride Down Under.
This is the official blog of Yohei's bike tour, The Ride Down Under. (Well, no one make unofficial blog for my trip though,,,)
This time I'm riding in Western Australia from Perth to Esperance from 17 December for about 3 week.

The Objective
The objectives of the RIDE DOWN UNDER are:
-To explore WA tourist sites,
- To find hidden and unknown secret sites, restaurants, pubs, etc
-To challenge myself,
- To make people more bicycle and environmental friendly,
-and of course to have heaps of fun :)

The Course

(A)Perth – Mandurah (73km)

(B)Mandurah – Bunbury (106km)

(C)Bumbury – Busselton (49km)

(D)Busselton – Cape Naturaliste – Dunsborough – Yallingup (56km)

(E)Yallingup – Margaret River (41km)

(F)Margaret River - Augusta (50km)

(G)Augusta – Nannup(83km)

(H)Nunnup – Bridgetown (45km)

(I)Bridgetown – Pemberton (67km)

(J)Pemberton – Northcliff – Walpole (125km)

(K)Walpole –Parry Beach – Denmark (78km)

(L)Denmark – Albany (51km)

(M)Albany – Boxwood Hill (118km)

(N)Boxwood Hill – Jerramungup (60km)

(O)Jerramungup – Ravensthorpe (110km)

(P)Ravensthorpe – Esperance (186km)

*the course may change subject to my feeling

The Distance

Perth - Esperance

1,249km
(According to the Google Map)
*the distance may change subject to my feeling.

The Bike
Bianchi Lupo

This is the bike I use for the Ride Down Under. As it is a cycle cross bike, it is not particularly designed for touring, but I'm sure she will do the job well. I put a pair of pania bags on the back of the bike and place a tent and sleeping bag on the carrier. In this trip I use the tyre of 700x23, it might be too thin but hope it will work well as well.

Special Thanks

Thanks heaps for your guidance and encouragement. Can't imagine I'm able to do this without your help!
Information for Action (Rowland)
Fleet Cycle Perth (Jack)
Ideal Cycle Freo
Sunday Fix Crew (Ashley, Alex, Prawi, Eric, Nathan and all other crew)
Kyoto Bike Crew (Sanbo, Kondo-kun, Tabacchan(kimi), Sayacafe-san, Hamutaro, Nanbu-san and other all other crew.)
Paul, Mark, Nishimoto, Yana, Betty, Dee and my mother and brothers.

Well, hope I will safely back Perth alive.

Back to Main Page

About Me

About Me

It's time to reveal the time line of my sort of average life in brief. It is interesting to see how one's life switches. It has not been a perfect life but I think it is not too bad, can't complain, mate!

1985

Born in Nara, Japan

1991-1992

Spend some portion of Childhood in London, the UK

1992-2000

Become a hopeless and naughty kid at school.(I very good at getting 0 score in any subjects.)

2001-2004

Re-think my future and start playing badminton and studying accounting, and vocal training.

Being obsessed with karaoke

Badminton: Become the best 16 of the city.

Accounting: Pass the 1^st grade certificate in Accounting.

Vocal training: Give up due to Financial Reason

2004-2008

Move to Kyoto, Japan

Become a business student at Kyoto Sangyo University in Kyoto.

2005

Fly to the California and Delaware USA, realise that there is oxygen in the rest of the world.

Start clubbing.

2006

Fly to Christchurch, New Zealand.

Start being obsessed with traveling.

Complete the diploma in tourism at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT).

Start being addicted to the Korean Cuisine.

Travel all around NZ

Travelling and partying becomes my favorite activities.

2007

Stop playing badminton and start riding bike.

Get a cyclo-cross bike (Bianchi Lupo)

Travel the whole length of Japan with Sanbo by bike

Get a fixie (Katakura Silk) from Nanbu-San of Eirin

Win the speech and debate contest of the university.

Become a part-time hotel man.

Travel in Korea taste the hottest Korean dish, Fire Chicken.

2008

Travel in India end up with hospitalisation.

Fly to Perth, Australia.

Become a tourism student at a college in Perth.

20xx

Complete the world bike touring.