Bike Aways

22/11/2023

Quote from the 'Australian Town and Country' journal from 1884.

"Touring is one of the strong points of cycling, and one of its grand attractions. Racing is for the few who excel in speed, strength, and endurance, but touring is as much for the ‘mug’ as the ‘flyer’, the old and the young, the clubman and the unattached. The tourist on wheels experiences a sense of freedom hardly possible to anyone else. He is independent of train, coach, or horse; can travel quite as fast as a horse, and cover more miles in a day, and the distance he can travel is only limited by his own physical power."

Source: Australian Town and Country Journal, 12 April 1884, p. 36.

Photo: The Stanmore Waratah Rovers Bicycle Club, 1896.
Frank Walker glass slide collection, Royal Australian Historical Society.

22/11/2023

This is a great new service. Looking forward to trying it out.

New ferry service between Sai Kung Pier and High Island makes journey easier.

18/11/2023

28th Feb — 3rd March 2024 ( or extend to the 7th with a bike ride to Gangtey Monastery) Be an early bird. Book now by emailing [email protected] Join us in Punakha for this spectacularly scenic marathon in the former winter capital of Bhutan. Choose half or the full. All experience levels are we...

17/11/2023

1/2 Marathon anyone?
I'm less running fit than I was 4 years ago when we first listed this trip, and am not sure there are enough months before the Bhutan international Marathon on the 2nd March 2024 to train for the full run.
And I'll probably walk half of it.
But if you're more gungho and ganhuo than me - you are still in good hands. Our Bhutan crew are marathon mad and several have personally run all of the majors this year.
This is a five day trip with bikes provided for both runners and non- runners. i.e bring along your non running friends and partners.

Its a great opportunity having such active fit operators!!!

Bangkok, Delhi or Kathmandu are the usual hopping off points for flights into Paro!

28th Feb — 3rd March 2024 ( or extend to the 7th with a bike ride to Gangtey Monastery) Be an early bird. Book now by emailing [email protected] Join us in Punakha for this spectacularly scenic marathon in the former winter capital of Bhutan. Choose half or the full. All experience levels are we...

05/09/2023

10/08/2023

Dog and bike on the U Bein bridge. Myanmar 2019

20/07/2023

Cycling through fields of wild flowers, this is the road to Lentekhi - coming off Svanetti. A fabulously long downhill road with virtually no traffic on day 10 of our Epic Grand Georgian Traverse.

Next trip is 2nd 13th September - in just 6 weeks.

14/07/2023

Grand Georgia Traverse
2nd – 13th September 2023
12 days/ 11 nights
USD 3500
12 pax max

Tbilisi – Gori – Bakuriani – Tabatskuri – Akhalkalaki – Vardzia – Akhaltsikhe – Godedzi Pass – Batumi – Svanetti – Ushguli (highest village in Europe) – Ushba Glacier – Mestia – Mount Shkhara – Prometheus Cave – Tbilisi.

Balcony of Europe, Cross roads of the Caucasus, and museum of medieval culture.
Tiny churches sit atop dramatic snowy mountains, Imposing watch towers, and a culture that has its own alphabet and completely unique culture unrelated to its neighbours.

Cave cities offered refuge from the Mongols, who still dream about Georgia as a land of milk and honey.
Mosques and palaces remain from the Ottomans, the Azerbaijanies and Armenians along the southern borders.
Stalin was born in Gori, Prometheus was chained to his rock Kazbegi, and the Golden Fleece of Jason and his argonaughts originated in the traditions of Georgians using sheep skins to pan the gold carrying snowmelt of Svanetti – one of the most beautiful Alpine regions in the world.

The oldest wine vessels are from Georgia – and the wine is everywhere and delicious.

Trust us, this route is the bomb and a great combination of the best you can get on a bike – with transfers across anything remotely mundane so you see more of the Georgiousness.

10/07/2023

Georgian art from early twentieth century that gives you a bit of an idea of the starring role of food and wine in Georgian culture. This was an exhibition in the national gallery in Tbilisi. Its such a great city to explore.

08/07/2023

Beautifully made doco on the last Ethiopian Emperor Haile ( Selassie descended from Israelite King Solomon (990BC).

I never quite got the references to Zion by Bob Marley who was referencing Ethiopia as the promised land, and Haile Sellasie as the second coming of Christ.

An incredible figure for African pride and resisting colonisation - he then blew it by invading neighbouring Eritrea, and allowing non Amharic areas of Ethiopia to fall into famine - and holding the worlds most lavish party in the midst of starvation.

Its a perfect historical nugget to begin an intellectual journey to Ethiopia - not to mention Rastafarianism.
Definitely worth a watch.

King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and Elect of God, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I. These were the titles bestowed o...

07/07/2023

Loved the adventure of getting to Kars from Georgia on my post tour journey of discovery. It’s right on the Armenian border as you might deduct from those Ararat like flat top cone temple tops. I am planning to pop over there again this September enroute to Cappadocia riding the Dogu Express.

06/07/2023

Another stunning photo essay on Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is home to more than 100 million people and is composed of wildly varying landscapes and an incredible diversity of ethnic and religious groups.

04/07/2023

Been there done that got the tea towel.

I've not previously researched Bike Aways destinations remotely, and as in depth before going, as I am doing so for Ethiopia, and its now beginning to feel like I have already been there and done it.

Discovering a new country is such a buzz.

In 2017 - a few of us in the travel business (Scott, Mandy, Timor, Rachel and Tiff), picked the country Georgia to travel to with the rule that we weren't allowed to read the guide book before we got there. We wanted to be hit in the face with discovery.
And we absolutely were!
Not to mention the punch from the Saparavi red wine.

For me it was trying to get back some of that sense of freedom of hitting the road, not knowing where you would end up.

But I'm loving discovering Ethiopia digitally - and hope you are too. We have an experienced guide and a reccy trip lined up for late September early October, and will release tour dates very soon.

PS
This image was a bit of a random discovery. It's not my work or anyone I know, but the seller does get good reviews

This Drawing & Illustration item by RootsSeychelles has 10 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Seychelles. Listed on 21 Jan, 2023

04/07/2023

Rugged highlands on either side of great African Rift Valley in spectacular relief.

We bike-up at the Blue Nile headwaters at Lake Tana - the big blue splotch, to the northwest of the map.

We cycle under Ras Dashen (45550m), Ethiopias highest mountain in Simian Ranges.

We don't visit the Danakil depression which are salt pans 124 metres below sea level near the opening of the rift, but its mentionable for its extreme topography.

Like our other mountainous destinations i.e Georgia, and Bhutan - we use vehicles to bring you to altitude where gravity assists in experiencing the most sublime rides on some of the countries most remote roads.

This is the link to the map creator to credit the photo
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/912239939/ethiopia-relief-map-printable-decor?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_au_en_au_-art_and_collectibles&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjwho-lBhC_ARIsAMpgMofixVjLs-u6_h4Eecxzil_lVpQcMrphhtRLpEcvNZdv9s8caJCfL8UaAl1qEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_12664275110_118655343765_511655696113_pla-314954651933_c__912239939enau_102845289&utm_custom2=12664275110&gclid=Cj0KCQjwho-lBhC_ARIsAMpgMofixVjLs-u6_h4Eecxzil_lVpQcMrphhtRLpEcvNZdv9s8caJCfL8UaAl1qEALw_wcB

03/07/2023

Have you heard of the African Rift Valley?
It starts in Ethiopia - hence the highlands and incredible landscapes.
This map of the horn of Africa - also really looks like a horn.
I never quite got the reference in the past.

Enjoy this little flight, and imagine layering it with a few undulating bike rides.

This flyover shows the tectonic features of the Gulf of Aden and the African Rift Valley through Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. The impressive volcanic high...

29/06/2023

Part of getting to know a country is to check out how Anthony Bourdain did it. I love love love his Parts Unknown in Ethiopia with celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson and model Maya Haile as his guides. I'm loving the look of the Injera bread that looks like a massive floppy crumpet, a complex spice mix called Berbere which I have not had the pleasure yet to taste, and the ritual of roasting coffee before brewing and serving it to guests. And the music!

Bourdain visits Addis Adaba to sample injera bread, beyaynetu platters, coffee and music with chef Marcus Samuelsson.Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown follows h...

28/06/2023

Getting to know Ethiopia

25/06/2023

Ethiopian Food P**n.

Day 15: Ethiopian Food P**n (safe for work). Amazing food in an amazing country. Note: heading to Northern Ethiopia tomorrow with choppy Internet. Should be ...

24/06/2023

I'm reading "In Ethiopia with a Mule" by Dervla Murphy written in 1967.

Dervla Murphy favoured travel by bike (she rode from Ireland to India in 1963 penning Full Tilt along the way) - but opted for a mule in the rugged highlands of Tigray, as roads were something of a rarity. I'm loving her bold beer drinking cigarette smoking total reliance on the locals attitudes to travel and the descriptions of Eritrea and Ethiopia at this time.

RIP Dervla, this attached piece reflecting on Ethiopia and isolation during lockdown is worth a click for the photos alone.

Dervla Murphy remembers a different kind of isolation in Ethiopia.

23/06/2023

Ethiopia!
Roof of Africa!

Addis Ababa,
Bahir Dar,
Gondar,
Simian Mountains,
Lalibela.

Roll these names around your tongue as you work up an appetite for an adventure in the land of King Solomon, The Ark of the Covenant, Gelada monkeys, Ibex and hippos, not to mention Lucy - our three million year old ancestor.

This 2018 Sydney Morning Herald travel article is a good overview of where we are developing our next and newest off the beaten track cycling adventure!

And its the birthplace of coffee!

Check out the incredible photo of the Gelada overlooking the Great Rift Valley in the Simian Mountains.

Dates are still under discussion - but don't let that stop you from reaching out and letting us know when you want to travel. Best Season is late September to March.

https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/ethiopia--africas-next-hot-destination-20180205-h0to4k.html

08/06/2023

Good morning.

A little slice of Ushguli to roll around your mouth whilst appreciating what a great name this is for Europes' highest continuously inhabited cluster of villages.

That's if you consider the Caucasus part of Europe.

Shkhara is the mountain in the back ground also a fabulous name to throw around a conversation.

We drove into the Shkara Glacier on our last trip to contemplate its beauty and diminishing ice before a stunning ride back to our Ushguli Guesthouse, which itself is in one of the Svan towers that make this part of Georgia so distinctive.

Svan towers dating back to the 10th century have been preserved in this area due to its remoteness, and reflect a culture of long standing feuds - such is the medieval vibe of Upper Svanetti.

We drank Saparavi, ate Chakapuli and cheesey kachapuri cooked by Reza our host in the Svan Tower guesthouse.

Though its not an overly tough cycle getting there (we do drive a fair way up the range) - it really feels like a total summit experience getting to Ushguli and the Shkhara Glacier and then descending on the wonderful long downhill to Lentekhi the following day.

I'm definitely adding this to my world wide top ten rides list - and not just cause it has a cool name!

It's exciting to be relaunching Post Pandemic Bike Aways Rides with our first trip in Georgia this coming September.

and .

29/03/2022

Sydney rides coming soon. With the finest pubs to refresh your legs.

28/05/2021

shaman photoshoot

13/02/2021

Happy Lunar new year of the iron ox. Strong, solid, stubborn, placid, meditative, and handsome being that it is, I wish you some of all these things and more. And that 2021 be an enjoyable ride.