Crafting a Route

Hello and welcome to the second edition of RIDE WITH IAN,

I am in Budapest now, spending my time sending emails and preparing a plan for 2024. It’s cold here - not polar wind cold but plenty below freezing. I woke up before sunrise and got a short run in. Followed by 100 pushups and 100 sit-ups. Basically the David Goggins of Budapest.

In the coming weeks, I'm excited to take you through the nitty-gritty of planning a transcontinental bike ride. I have never tried to put something like this together before, typing it out I’m learning it better along with you.

Week #1 - Crafting the Route

When it comes to planning, the initial hurdle is figuring out the route. So many choices. I'll walk you through how I go about it; evaluating wind, traffic, road conditions. I really only have one rule though.

Week #2 - Financial Maneuvers

If you’ve been curious about how much it costs, I’ll show you how I create a budget. How and where I save money and places that I don’t. I have plenty of tips and tricks that I've gathered during two and a half years on the road.

Week #3 - Gear Essentials and Staying Connected

Discover the essential gear — and the not so essential. From the sturdiest bikes to crucial camping equipment, we'll get into my packing list, what has proved most dependable.

Week #4 - Fueling the Ride

Attempting to cross the middle bits of Australia demands careful attention to food and water. I'll share my personal strategy, covering everything from meal planning to staying hydrated in the sometimes challenging Australian climate.

Week #5 - Preparing Physically

Executing a ride of this magnitude does not require any baseline fitness. Just start with a flexible schedule. Some folks ride 200km/week bashing away for months and months before setting off. I don’t recommend it but everyone has preference. I’ll share what works for me.

Week #6 - Unveiling Key Stops

Australia is a gold mine of unique destinations, and I'll share some key stops that I’m looking forward to. Tarantulas the size of dinner plates are enticing me into the north for example.

Week #7 - Your Questions Answered

I'm eager to hear from you. Send in your questions about the journey, and I'll answer them in a special Q&A issue. Whether it's about the route, gear choices, anticipated challenges, or personal stories, I'm here to help. (Feel free to respond directly to this email.)

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Week #1 - Crafting the Route

Today, let's dive into the intricacies of route planning. Planning can be a delicate balance between overthinking and underthinking. I lean heavy on safety, scenic hot spots, and weather, then let the rest sort itself out. I have a hard time with too much research on the front end but can easily tear through news articles and travel books after I get going. Nothing better than cold beer and a good book after a day in the saddle. As a younger man I would include valium in the formula.

As a starting point for my route through Australia I check the wind. Having pedaled mostly downwind across North and South America, then upwind through Africa, I've learned why truckers and sailors all prefer tailwinds. Sailors cover more ground in less time, truckers save money on fuel. In terms of biking, tailwinds just mean more fun and less effort. Headwind allows for more relaxed, shorter days.

So, our first stop is this wind visualization. It's the prettiest website that I have seen. Below snips show wind direction in April, May, June, and July from 2023. Click into the site for the full experience.

The beta here is telling us to go west to east. I've had a few folks reaching out to me with the same suggestion, so we can consider this information validated. Start on the west coast, finish on the east. Hunt and peck for interesting bits in the middle.

April to July in Australia sees a transition from late summer to early winter. Temperatures cool down, rainfall decreases, except for possible tropical showers in the north. June marks the official start of winter, with cooler temperatures and possible snowfall at elevation. Overall it should be a big improvement over the weather conditions that Australia is dealing with now.

My only rule in choosing a route, is to make a moderate effort to see as many interesting things as possible, given the fact that I will likely never travel this route again.

A few additional considerations that aren’t rules: 1) Traffic is the biggest threat, I opt for tertiary roads whenever possible. 2) I prefer a 50/50 split between paved and dirt roads.

The image below was sent to me by a helpful man named Kyle. I’ll use his information as a general starting point while I get more precise. The app that I like for route planning and rural navigation is called OsmAnd. I have tried most mapping apps. I think for most people in most situations, Osm is the best choice. (It’s completely free, simply uninstall and reinstall as needed.)

That’s all for this issue, next week I’m going to get into the budget.

Australia fun fact of the week - Australia is the number one most sexually promiscuous nation in the world.¹

Onwards,

Ian

1. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-promiscuous-countries