Tweed Coast and Hinterland to Mudjimba by Bicycle

Summary

Distance - 488 km

Average distance - 88 km per day

Riding time - 22 hours 20 minutes

Ascent - 2118m

Difficulty - Moderate

If you are based in south-east Queensland and you have got about a week off, it's a good ride. I wouldn't be travelling here especially to do it though. The distance between towns allows you to average 100 km a day easily enough, and if you want to, you don't need to camp, there is plenty of accommodation along the way. The major towns have all the facilities you would ever need.

While they were a couple of really good days cycling, for me there was too much suburbia and covering roads that I travel anyway. It didn't hold the interest that I'd hoped for.

Nevertheless it was still great fun and a way of getting out and about and connecting with the world and the people around you.

The route

The roads are generally okay. There is often a lot of traffic. You need to keep your wits about you all the time, make sure you have a mirror and know how to use it. I don't consider the Lindesay Highway safe for cycling, you should try and find an alternate route. Interestingly, I did not see one other touring cyclist.

The equipment

Chain (SRAM 991), cassette (SRAM 991) and rings (FSA) had approximately 5000 km on them before I started this trip (which is a lot). While they don't change gear as well as they used to, there was no skipping. I reckon they've still got thousands of kilometres left in them.

Tyres were Scwalbe Marathon Supremes, again with about 5000 km on them. These things are not cheap but their puncture resistance is amazing. They are great value. I've never had a puncture with these which is remarkable given the glass, wire, prickles and other crap that covers the roads.

I'm a big fan of hauling gear on a trailer. Low centre of gravity and distributing the weight across an extra wheel. If you are thinking about touring, toss the panniers and spend your money on a good quality trailer. I can even get my brother to make you one like mine (quality second to none) but will cost you more than something from CRC.

I use a chain protector on the non-drive side to protect the frame from being scratched by the brake rotor should I need to ake the rear wheel out. It has melted. I'm guessing that on day three, down those 20° descents that the rotor got that hot. Never experienced that before, those descents were long and steep.

According to the internet (the source of all truth) this stuff melts somewhere around 250°C

Day 5 - Taringa to Mudjimba

Distance - 92 km

Ascent - 198 m

Average speed - 22.9 km/hr

Difficulty - Easy

I cheated twice this morning. First, given my traffic issues yesterday I decided to commute to Strathpine and ride from there. Second, I left most of my gear at Taringa.

I've done this trip numerous times. You need to be careful in the section between Strathpine and Caboolture. It's a main road with plenty of traffic. I then take the Old Gympie Road to Stevin Irwin Way and then cross the Bruce Highway on the way to Caloundra. The Steve Irwin Way can be dangerous. There isn't much verge in places and the bridges are skinny, but when the traffic is light, its fine, as it was today. About half way to Caloundra you turn left towards Kawana and then just take the coast road all the way to Mudjimba.

I arrived just after lunch, and in good time. It's amazing the difference not having to cart a heap of gear and a tailwind will make.

Arrived and in good shape (kinda)

Resting

Day 4 - Beaudesert to Taringa

Distance - 68 km

Ascent - 360 m

Average speed - 19.4 km/h

Difficulty - Easy

View the ride here:

http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20140703-0703

Another fresh start at about 2°. On the road by 7 AM. The Lindesay Highway is an arse and it gets worse the closer you get to Brisbane. A dangerous road......... and that's all I have to say about that (thought I would drop that in given it is the 20th anniversary of the movie Forest Gump).

It was a pretty uneventful day as expected, bar the traffic. The road undulates but has no hills to speak of.

Final day tomorrow. 130kms through Brisbane, then taking the old Gympie Road through to the Sunshine Coast.

There were reports of a hobo riding a stolen push bike

Ready to go out the back of the Beaudesert pub. Lock the door on your way out.

Guess where

Good guess

Day 3 - Kyogle to Beaudesert

Distance - 93 kms

Ascent - 740 m

Average speed - 18.7 km/hr

Difficulty - Hard

View the ride here:

http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20140702-0658

Off the back of what the lads were telling me at the pub last night, I needed to prepare for a brutal day. It didn't turn out that way. It was tough but not stupid. In fact, I enjoyed one of the most scenic days cycling I've had in a long time. In particular, the Grady Creek Road and Lions Road section just south of the New South Wales border is something special to ride. The Lions Road section was built by the Lions Club 40 years ago (see photos). What a massive community effort that would have been, it is difficult terrain.

It was a frosty start but turned into a warm sunny day with very little wind - perfect. I reckon it took me about an hour just to warm up, crickey it was cold. There were patches of frost still in to the mid-morning. I turned off Summerland way onto Grady Creek Road after about 15 kms. The next 30 Kms of road to the border were a combination of skinny two lane, one lane and bits of dirt. There are numerous creek crossings, most with single lane wooden bridges. Not knowing what to expect and after the scaremongering of the previous night, I decided that any really sharp bits I would walk, to avoid blowing up at the end of the day. As it turned out I probably didn't need to but glad I did because I got in to Beaudesert feeling pretty good.

The ride up the range had bits of really sharp stuff, but generally those were short. The rest was 10 kms of slowly grinding away to the top.

The way down has some scary descents, you really need to be careful when hauling a load. There are a series of 15 to 20° ups and downs for a few kms including numerous creek crossings. The lancscape then opens up into The Scenic Rim region of horse paddocks and cow country with a slow descent pretty much all the way to Beaudesert.

A great days cycling !!

Pretty easy day tomorrow. 70 odd kms, about 450 m of climbing. Might even sleep in, expecting a cold one again tonight.

Scared the bejesus out of one of the early morning pub staff

Ready for action, outside the Kyogle pub.

The turnoff to Grady's Creek Road

Not suitable for fat old cyclists towing a heap of gear either.

There are numerous creek crossings just like this

The fun begins

A steep road

Road is down there somewhere

Near the top

This road was built by the community

The top and the New South Wales Queensland border. Look closely at that sign, it's warning a 19° hill.

A creek crossing on the way down to Rathdowney

The Beaudesert pub - what a cracker!!

The Beaudesert pub. 30 bucks a night including access to the balcony to watch the trucks go past. You can't beat that.

Day 2 - Byron Bay to Kyogle

Distance- 94 kms

Ascent - 540m

Average Speed - 17.4 km/h

Difficulty - Moderate to hard

View the ride here:
http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20140701-0716

A subdued night at Byron Bay. Only a couple of beers had before going home for a good nights rest. Asleep at about 6pm.

It was a freezing cold night. I was out of bed early and packed up and on the road by a bit after 7am. There was quite a strong southerly blowing. Other than that it was a magic day for cycling. The roads were pretty skinny and very hilly though, a lot of traffic between Byron and Lismore. Two long grinding climbs in the first hour or so. From Lismore on it was cycling heaven. Quiet undulating countriy roads through beautiful scenery, with the odd big hill just to make things interesting.

Kyogle is a bustling country town. Met a bloke in the street who told me not to camp as there was a big frost the previous night. Took me the local pub, even introduced me to the publican. 50 buck's a night, what a bargain (see the pictures). Counter meal of chicken snitty and chips.

A very hard day expected tomorrow with nearly 1000 m of climbing. Better get hydrated.

Ready to go

View back over to Byron from the top of the first climb

Big hills

Pumpkin anyone?

Middle of nowhere

Not quite sure how to describe it

Upstairs lounge at the Kyogle pub - guests only, very exclusive

Kyogle pub, what a bewdy!

Day 1 - Broadbeach to Byron Bay

Distance - 92 kms

Ascent - 312 m

Average Speed - 20.55 km/hr

Difficulty - Easy to Moderate

View the ride here:
http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20140630-0710

Was going to catch the train to Robina and start from there, but in the end Tracie and I drove down and stayed at Jupiter's Casino the night before.. It's been a life long dream of Tracie's to stay on the Gold Coast, so I thought we should just splash out and do it.

Woke up to perfect cycling weather - about 12°, clear sky, no wind. Got away about 7 AM, The route today would be the Gold Coast Highway and then onto the Tweed Coast Road. The Gold Coast Highway was pretty busy, but there are big verges and cycle parths on the roads to work with so I felt pretty safe. The Tweed Coast road was quiet, great cycling right along the beach. The roads were flat to undulating with a few sharp hills close to Byron Bay. A very strong south-westerly kicked up about mid morning just to make things interesting. The last 10 km is along the Pacific Highway. There is a dedicated cycle path, but holy smokes, there is some traffic, so you have to be really careful.

Got into Byron about 12.15 pm feeling pretty good. Right knee is a bit of a sore, a couple of Celebrex tonight (and a few beers) should fix that.

Off now to rehydrate at one of the local establishments. Some big hills tomorrow.