Blair's Nullarbor by Bike

The Golden Pipeline, a Cycling Staycation, and some Gears and Beers

Well, now the dust has settled, here I am! My Nullarbor bike ride turned out way different to how I’d imagined. I made it 600kms from Perth to Kalgoorlie, where with mixed emotions I chose to abandon riding any further after 6 days on the road.

I am fit, well and safe. The one and only mitigating factor was the sheer frequency of the road trains. I had read widely about accounts of cyclists’ experiences and how best to manage this risk, but none wrote about how many there were, constantly, 24/7. (May I note, though, that the drivers of these big vehicles are brilliant, for which I now have great respect.)

I was well-prepared, my decision making on the road and for the whole journey was sound. As, I felt and still do, that the tough decision to end my ride was the right thing to do, despite my intense want and capability – mentally, physically and mechanically – to continue. For safety.

And so, I rode the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trial, end to end, 600kms, solo and self-supported, the length of the Great Eastern Highway. It was an awesome experience and I am so proud of myself.

But it didn’t end there as such. I returned home and continued my time off as a ‘cycling staycation’, going on some brilliant rides in and around Sydney. Then, on the date I had originally planned to roll into Adelaide, I went to Wagga Wagga and rode in the Gears and Beers Festival – three days of riding, culminating in the 130km gravel ride: the ‘Dirty 130’. It was a fitting way to conclude this time of my life, so much fun, I’ll definitely be back to do the Gears and Beers in the coming years.

All up, I rode around 1,400kms and to date this experience has raised $5,394 for the Lifehouse. I received so much positive support and kind words from family, friends and loved ones right from the infancy of this event some two years ago, during it, and in the weeks following to the present. And I am humbled and glassy-eyed just thinking about all of it. I thank everyone with all my heart.

So, what next? We’ll just have to wait and see…

Abstract -> Tangible -> Real (Yikes – 2 weeks…)

Thanks once again for your miraculous and overwhelming donations! Now at $3,255 and well over my original goal of $2,850, I still get a little tear in my eye and tingle in my tummy whenever an email notification arrives for yet another donation received. 

I have joked that at $1 per km, I should continue riding east from Adelaide towards Sydney and home – so far per dollar I would need to ride an extra 405km which would get me well into Victoria, to the township of Kulwin, and nearly across the Murray River and into NSW.

So, my Lifehouse donation goal has now been reset to $4,000 – $1 a km: Perth to Sydney, why not? (What next: New Zealand? I’ll need to strap floaties to my bike for that one 😊.) Please jump on board and keep the $$ going to a good place.

Anyway, with 2 weeks to go this abstract concept is becoming a reality I can touch. I am ready. Next stop Perth, then the long and winding job of riding east begins.

Overwhelmed and Humbled (4 weeks away)

Most is in readiness with 4 weeks to spare. Paniers and bags have been packed and repacked and packed again; bike is serviced; training kms accrued.

I’d like more than ever to thank all who’ve donated thus far! A big shout out to:

BOWY Cycling Apparel

Safe Zone Locksmiths

Metrolock Locksmiths,

Lock Rite Locksmiths,

Raine and Horne Unlimited (Balmain),

Planet Properties (Croydon), and

Ray White Real Estate (Dulwich Hill)

…for backing me and the Life House on this adventure. I am indeed humbled and overwhelmed.

Thanks yet again – safe riding as always, Blair out 

Butterflies and Brazenness (6 weeks ‘til it begins)

Happy to report that all is progressing well, 6 weeks until my big ride begins.

 Many kilometres have been banked pedalling my trusty bike Goldilocks, and while the tummy butterflies are furiously fluttering, I’m actually feeling confident I can really do this. 

The route has been earnestly planned – with my arrival in Adelaide scheduled for October 5, some 29 days on the road. I’m aiming to cover around 100km a day. My longest day is on September 22: 196km from Border Village to Nullarbor Roadhouse (which serendipitously happens to be my 55^th birthday so hopefully a big tailwind blows that day), and several rest days will be taken along the way.

I’m also taking three golf clubs with me to play the famous Nullarbor Links, the longest golf course in the world – 18 holes across 1,300km between Kalgoorlie and Ceduna (for which I have not practiced at all).

Big thanks to the lovely people who have donated thus far. $910 by $1 per kilometre gets me to Day 9 and just passed Norseman, just shy of $2,000 to go to get me all the way to Adelaide!

Please I urge you to keep the donations flowing – keep my wheels rolling, and keep the dollars coming to the Lifehouse.

Thanks again – keep riding safely – seeya soon. Blair out.

And so it begins (in less than 3 months…)

Yes, less than 3 months now until the beginning of my bicycle ride from Perth to Adelaide - some 2,850kms - and my excitement and nerves are growing daily.

 While I have actively been training and planning for coming on 2 years, the idea for such an adventure has been brewing in my head for much longer, and I feel lucky and privileged to have the opportunity, will and health to give it a red-hot go come September 7^th, the day I ride east out of Perth.

 While I'm doing the ride solo and unsupported, I am hoping to bring others along, to spur me forward 1 kilometre at a time, though donations and good will. That’s why I have set my Donation Target at $2,850 - $1 per km, but I’m sure we can go beyond that!

 Why Chris O’Brien Lifehouse? We’ve all been touched by Cancer and its horrors. I recently lost a dear friend and football teammate – Marin (Muddy) Sardelic to this disease, and before his passing he was monumental in his fundraising exploits for Lifehouse, a cause I would like to continue. I have recently been cared for myself at Lifehouse, having had a nasty BCC cut out of my neck, thankfully I am all fine now (don’t forget your suns-smarts kids!).

 And so, in the lead up to my journey, there is still much training and planning. With this first post on my very own Lifehouse Fundraiser page, I look forward to seeing the dollars roll in even before my two wheels out.

Thanks for now – ride safe – seeya on the next post. Blair out.