Tweed Coast and Hinterland to Mudjimba by Bicycle: June 2014

Tweed Coast and Hinterland to Mudjimba by Bicycle

This covers a solo unsupported bike ride through the Teeed Coast and hinterland to Mudjimba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The distance is approximately 500 kms with a bit over 2000 metre of climbing over 5 days. The trip takes a coastal route to Byron Bay, then inland thru Kyogle and Beaudesert to Brisbane and beyond. The equipment is a Cannondale Caffeine hard tail "lefty" MTB, a home made trailer, a bit of camping gear, some spare undies and not much else.

Monday 30 June 2014

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!

Sunday 29 June 2014

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.