Advice: 5 tips for riding through Cape York Peninsula

If, like many bikers, you dream of riding to Cape York Peninsula it’s good to get some advice before you rush off. I just did a Tassie-Peninsula and back trip on my Aprilia, and here’s a few things I learned on the way.

You can plan all you like on Google, Maps, Me and Waze but you won’t get the real inside scope from anybody but local riders. Several times I met bikers who told me forget the well-known routes and take off on a side road or two to biking nirvana.

Like ditching the usual Cooktown route and taking the advice of Jonno at the Lion’s Den pub and turning off down the Bloomfield track instead of following the Mulligan Highway.

“Mate no problem on that bike if you take it easy,” he said looking at my dirt-encrusted wheels. What a brilliant road. If you go that way just be prepared for a few river crossings and some (very) steep hills on the dirt sections.”

On the more remote/dirt roads, road mending is not a priority. So if you see a sign saying ‘Rough Surface, Slow Down’ or whatever, you can guarantee somebody has driven a couple of hundred kilometres to put it there. And they didn’t do it just to pass the time.

Be wary; some of those bad surfaces can kill you and /or your bike if you hit them too fast. At the same time, be sceptical. I did the Lions Road and Putty Road on the way back and, although they are great rides, they are so well signed and popular they are more a procession than a ride. See point 1…

I was lucky this time, but I have had punctures on previous rides – well up the anus of beyond. You are not going to be able to get to a repair station without a lot of hassle and money.

This trip I misjudged my rear and had to get new rubber in Jerilderie. Mario (thanks mate) told me the nearest other place that could fit, let alone supply a new hoop, was over 200km away; I was lucky.

Also, most of the fuel stops up north have diesel, but not always petrol. I ran out twice, but had enough in a bottle to get me to the next fill. Never count on mechanical or fuel supplies, but don’t overdo the spanners either – the extra weight means more work on the rough.

Once you get north of Brisbane, it gets hot, and very dry outside the rainy season. Riding in a bike jacket (don’t be stupid and take it off – Murphy’s Law says you’ll crash if you do) means you will sweat but not notice as it wicks away super-quick.

I reckoned on at least three litres every day, while riding. That’s without counting drinks and water at stops. I didn’t bother with fancy bottles; just used 1.5-litre drinks bottles from Woollies. Most fuel stops will fill them up no problem.

Also, keep an eye on your urine colour. The yellower it is, the more you’re at risk. If it’s straw coloured and you develop a headache, you are on the edge of dehydration -- cue poor decision making or worse. If that happens, stop and drink, or wait for water if you have run out. Really! https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/news/preparing-outback-travel/

5. Start early

Staying up late on the grog, swapping yarns and generally crapping on with mates is great, but an early start is even better. Pack the tent, grab a coffee and water and get on the road as soon as the sun is up.

It’s cooler, there are less other vehicles (and dust), plus you have a longer day to sort out any issues before dusk brings out those pesky roos. I generally start looking for my overnight spot around 4:00pm. That gives time to check the bike in the light, make a leisurely camp and even scope the area for photos. Up late, rushing out onto the route and arriving through a roo-infested gloom to the worst spot on the campsite just makes the trip a grind.

These are probably the most useful biking tips I can come up with, but every trip will be different; ask a few more bikers if they have been to FNQ. Don’t set too rigid a plan or timetable, don’t over prepare, and keep on smiling. The help you’ll get in the more remote places if things do go wrong will be way more than you can expect in any city.

This article was originally published on October 27, 2019.