Sheba rides Australia for Cancer
Hello friends, family, and really cool strangers!
WHAT THIS IS:
This fundraiser is to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation. My family lost my mum to breast cancer in 2008 a few days before my 20th birthday, and I want to raise money so fewer people in the future have to suffer that kind of irreplaceable loss.
To do this, I will be riding the perimeter of Australia on a motorcycle alone within 40 days.
The route will start and end clockwise from Melbourne and include all major cities along the coast, detouring through the middle.
Melbourne > Adelaide > Perth > Broome > Darwin > Alice Springs > Uluru > Alice Springs > Port Douglas (birthday party!) > Cairns > Brisbane > Sydney > Melbourne.
WHO AM I?
My name is Amanda. I was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and have spent the last 18 months living in Melbourne, Australia.
I'm a strength and conditioning coach and a weightlifter, but I'm also very much an avid motorcycle rider.
Most recently in March 2016, my friend Kate and I rode along the coast from Sydney to Melbourne (1200km) in 15 hours, only stopping 4 times for petrol. We then continued to do the Great Ocean Road (450km loop) and Yarra Valley (350km loop) for the following two days before she rode solo back to Sydney.
PREPARATION
I have already begun the physical and mental training required to do this task alone in a country I don't even live in.
Physical & Mental Prep:
- June to August: 5x 2 hours a day per week of hard strength training, especially for the legs and low back
- Sept to Dec: 3x 2 hours a day of heavier strength training + 600-800km/wk riding
- Jan to Feb: 3x 1 hour a day of strength training, mostly back and shoulders + [phone redacted]km/wk riding, top days being about 900km with minimal rest (approx 10 hours)
Gear prep:
I'm serious about safety and only purchase the best fitting and most suitable gear for all of my riding. I have experience with motorcycle crashes and know the importance of good gear.
Clothing:
- Shoei NXR helmet
- Dainese Nikita leather jacket
- Dainese Pony leather pants
- Kevlar jeans for hotter weather
- Dainese Migs Gloves
- Alpinestars KR-2i back protector
- Alpinestars SMX-3 leather boots
- FlyStreet cooling vest
+ A couple of normal street clothes, casual shoes, hat and sunnies, etc.
Tools/Other:
- Satphone
- GPS
- Tyre puncture kit
- Chain cleaner, chain brush, chain lube
- 2x 5L Desert Fox fuel cell bladder
- Emergency camping shelter
- Full range of standard motorcycle tools, of course.
Mapping:
I am 80% done mapping the cities and towns I will be staying overnight in, and will be calling remote petrol stations to ensure they are still in business. I will be checking in at every police station along the way. I will be registered with a road assistance company in Victoria.
Bike prep:
I will be bringing a full tool kit for the ride, including a flat tyre repair kit and extra fluids. My tyres are expected to be changed twice within the ride, likely in Broome and Brisbane and I will be checking them regularly for punctures and wear. My bike will have a full tune-up before departure and I will be carrying extra oil, fluids, and spare bolts and parts (extra footpeg, clip-on handlebar etc)
Cargo:
For the 30 days I will be away from home, I plan to purchase a universal luggage rack with saddlebags in addition to my Kreiga 30L pack. I will be taking minimal clothes, but will be prepared for all weather conditions from 5deg to 45deg Celsius.
CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES:
If you have ever sat on a sportbike, you know that there is a huge difference from a cruiser style motorcycle! The posture on a sportbike is meant to be aggressive, meaning you are tucked within the bike and around the tank, as opposed to sitting back with your feet forward.
The first things to go during my long runs are my knees. After sustaining 3 hard motorcycle accidents to both sides of my knees, they cramp and are impinged if I stay on longer than 3 hours at a time. I know this about myself so I will rest appropriately. I'm also 5'2" and on a 600 sportbike, so the tank feels quite long and my low back is generally the second thing to start hurting during distance runs. I'm very agile and kinesthetic, meaning I can alter my position on a sportbike while riding. I've even done the entirety of Yarra Valley's twisty Black Spur while in a "Superman" position! I change position every few km's to make sure I don't cramp.
In parts of Australia, the distance between towns (and therefore, petrol, food, and phone reception) can be quite massive. I'll need to plan my trip wisely and somehow carry a spare fuel tank in case I run out. I will have a fairly large supply of food, water, and snacks. In addition, I will be carrying 2 portable battery chargers and several cables to keep my electronics in working order.
In regional Australia (anywhere not close to a major city), kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and wombats are common on the roads. They are most active at dawn and dusk, limiting my riding time to around 7am-6pm every day. This means that if I'm caught at dusk about 100km away from the nearest town, I will have to be extremely cautious of any sudden wildlife coming onto the road. It is even harder to do so when the world is in pitch black darkness.
Being from Vancouver means I'm used to a nice 10-25 degrees outdoor weather. I'm fairly used to rain, but rain + motorcycle riding often calls for trouble. And, a Vancouverite in Australia means that no matter how hard I try, 45 degrees will feel damn hot. I'll have to limit my riding time in northern Western Australia, Northern Territories, and Queensland if I'm going to keep my health up during the hot climate. I'm expected to spend about 16 days in extremely hot weather, and will take the necessary precautions to do so safely. I will have a cooling vest on at all times and be carrying 6L of water with me.
HOW THE MONEY IS USED:
I will be funding $3000 of the trip myself, and using $2000 from this GOFUNDME for petrol, accomodation, and supplies.
Every dollar past $2000 donated will go to the British Columbia Cancer Foundation less GoFundMe and Stripe fees.
If you have been touched by cancer, are also an avid rider, or simply want to fund a crazy girl doing a crazy thing, please hit the DONATE button!
To read my blog, click here !
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Amanda
