A list of all the questions people have asked me about this journey I'm undertaking will be compiled here.

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Questions!

Q: How long is your trip going to take?
Q: How far is your trip?
Q: What are you going to do if your bike breaks down? Won't you be stuck?
Q: Are you taking sponsorship for your trip at all?
Q: Where are you going to sleep?
Q: Do you have a support crew or car that you're taking with you?
Q: What else are you going to do along the way? Won't you get bored?
Q: Aren't you afraid you're going to get mugged or killed out in the middle of the desert or something?
Q: What cycling and camping experience do you have? Can anyone do this?
Q: How much water will you be taking with you? What are you going to do in the desert?
Q: What are you going to eat while you're traveling?

Q: How long is your trip going to take?

A: I am planning for it to take approximately 4-5 months, however this doesn't include any stops i may make along the way - for instance spending a week or two in a city or town that i like, or getting some additional work along the way. Who knows, if i get enough work and don't run out of money, i might just keep going!

Q: How far is your trip? 

A: Currently i have mapped out that it should be roughly 6500km in distance from my starting point to Brisbane. I might or might not just keep going after i hit brisbane - I've never been in the northern parts of Queensland before, so that's something i wouldn't mind seeing. Ofcourse, that 6500km doesn't include any side-trips i might make along the way. For instance, i've not mapped out a trip to Kalgoorlie, however i might decide that it is something i'd like to see - that's another 400km+ in addition right there.

Q: What are you going to do if your bike breaks down? Won't you be stuck?

A: Yep! Well atleast, in some cases i might get stuck. I am planning to take a whole range of spare parts with me for my trip, including tubes, wheel-spokes, brake and gear cables, grease for bearings, etc. There are only a few things that could happen where i would be in serious trouble and might need to hitch a lift from a passerby. If somehow one/both of my wheels severely buckle, only an expert at a bike shop might be able to fix it. Chances are if it is buckled that badly, I'll just need to replace it with a new wheel. But for the most part, I can fix just about everything else on the bike on my own.

Q: Are you taking sponsorship for your trip at all?

A1: Currently I have not pursued any form of sponsorship from gear suppliers or the like, however if there is anyone out there who wants me to test some new piece of equipment in the wild, i'd be more than happy to help out!

A2: If you were talking about taking donations for charity then this is something i had considered, but have not looked into seriously. If you would like to make a donation as a result of my journey across Australia, as i'm going to be out of contact for a lot of this trip, i ask that you simply donate to either Beyond Blue or Heart Foundation and let me know about it in an email!

Q:  Where are you going to sleep?

A: On the side of the road! No, really! Yeah, i'll be camping pretty much all the way, finding any National parks, bushland, forests, or any other sheltered areas in which i can pitch my tent. When i come across a town which has a caravan park I might spend a night there to get a warm shower and a few other luxuries of life(such as electricity!). As i've mentioned previously elsewhere on this site, I also hope that I'll be able to spend a night or two with friends along the way(luckily I know people in most major cities).

Q: Do you have a support crew or car that you're taking with you?

A: Nope! Nothing and no one will be supporting my trip at all, I'll be going totally self-supported. Personally i like this approach as it feels that though it'll be more of an accompolishment for me anyway!

Q: What else are you going to do along the way? Won't you get bored?

A: There is no doubt that there will be times where I'll be incredibly bored! But there will also be the times where I'll be sitting back after a days ride, watching the sun set while i'm cooking over my campfire, and I'll be thinking things couldn't get any better! Those who know me realise how much music is a big part of what keeps me going(infact, i'm listening to some Dan Kelly right now!), and i'll be taking as much music as i can with me to play.

Q: Aren't you afraid you're going to get mugged or killed out in the middle of the desert or something?

A: Are you afraid that you're going to get run over when you head out to get milk and bread? Afraid that when you're driving to work that someone is going to T-bone your car? You're not? Well you should be! The idea with all of the above scenarios is that you want to reduce the risk as much as possible. You look both ways before crossing the road. Twice. You make sure that you're always alert when driving, keeping aware of other cars around you. But there is always the inevitable, there is always going to be a small chance that you don't see something coming. So what do you do? Lock yourself up safe away from the world, or do you get out and enjoy it while you can? I'll take the second option thanks!

Q: What cycling and camping experience do you have? Can anyone do this?

A: As far as cycling experience goes, I can thank my parents for buying me a BMX back when we lived on the farm - I bet they're sorry they did now! After the BMX outgrew me, i have since had two mountain bikes, one flatbar road bike, and now I have a touring bike! It wasn't uncommon for me to get on my mountain bike one weekend and just ride for hours around the country side. The point is, i've been riding for quite some time now, however i wouldn't consider myself to be super fit. I have however been riding to and from work each and every day for the last 5 months in an effort to increase my fitness.
I have a similar story in regards to camping. I think it really began to get ingrained in my life when i joined the scouts at age 11, and followed through into Venturer scouts at age 14, and Rover scouts at 18. The experience i have gained through being involved in the scouting movement is priceless, and I suggest that everyone who is able to get involved, please do so! Too old to join yourself? Maybe you have kids who can join up! Regardless, if it wasn't for the experience and knowledge I have gained through being involved with the scouting movement this trip wouldn't even be possible!

Q: How much water will you be taking with you? What are you going to do in the desert?

A:  It all depends on where i'm going to be. If i am in suburbia, chances are i'll have maybe 2 or 3 litres of water with me for drinking and cooking. When I find myself a day or so between towns, i'll likely be carrying more - perhaps 10 litres or there abouts. When i am crossing the Nullarbor however, I will likely be finding myself taking closer to 20 liters of water with me, depending on the gap between roadhouses and water stations - the longest of which is 262km. I have planned my departure time for my journey almost entirely around the weather so that i will not be enduring 40+ degree days when spanning the deserts.

Q: What are you going to eat while you're traveling?

A: Well that all depends on where I am! If I find myself following the coast, i might throw out a fishing line and catch myself some fresh fish for dinner! Regardless of where I'll be however, my diet will likely consist of lots of carbs(rice, bread, pasta) and protein(beans, meat, etc). My main concerns regarding diet will lay with energy intake and muscle development/upkeep.