Introducing Cycling Expeditioner Ian Wallis
Against the Wind Co-Rider
Against the Wind with a Riding Buddy
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I am delighted to announce that I won't be riding solo Against the Wind to Perth. A good friend and training ride colleague, Ian Wallis (a.k.a. Wal or Ian) is going to do most of the ride. He is unable to begin the tour with me, but the plan is that we will meet at Wagga Wagga which is about four days ride from Canberra.
Ian and his wife Cora are truly intrepid travelers and have done many remarkable journeys by bicycle and motor bike. It's great to have such an experienced cycle tourer coming with me on the Against the Wind ride. He and I share a similar philosophy to cycle touring however Ian has done many more international adventure and expedition rides than I have.
To introduce Ian to readers of this journal, I asked him a few questions. The questions, his answers and a few photos follow.
Ian what was your most memorable cycle tour?
It’s impossible for me to name a most memorable cycling trip. They have all been good in a variety of ways. England to Singapore in 2011 is obviously notable because I cycled through so many tough places, often alone. But, the first long ride with Cora across France was terrific. I am not particularly interested in bikes. I ride them, fix them, build my own wheels and so forth but rarely do I look twice at someone else’s bike; I’m interested in the person and not the bike unless, of course, it’s of poor quality!
Ian if you were to give a beginning cycle tourer three, short sentences of advice about cycle touring, what would those sentences be?
- Get a bike and go. Don’t agonise over the specifications because it will stop you going.
- Devise a rough plan only. Plans are things that fail.
- Have the attitude that the only bad outcome is serious injury. I don’t mean fractures; I mean life-changing stuff. Anything else is an inconvenience.
Ian why on earth do you want to cycle from Canberra to Perth? You could go by plane, bus, train or car.
The place is irrelevant. With little planning and a non-caring attitude I know that the ride will be one filled with surprises and laughs. I probably would not go if I knew where I was staying each night and if everything was set in stone. I relish the unknown. Of course, there is far less unknown for me in Australia because I have been all over it by car, motorcycle and bicycle (not to mention some fabulous hitchhiking trips). I’d go by plane to get there quickly. I would not go by bus. If I drove I would find as many back roads as possible. I like the idea of the train.
Ian what is your philosophy about cycle touring?
My trips (most with my wife Cora) have followed the same philosophy. We typically do little planning and prefer to camp and to cook our own food except in Asia where camping is difficult. We don’t want any support and have never been on an organised ride. I can’t imagine repeating a long ride; returning to a place means missing out on visiting a new place.
Ian what journeys have you done?
Ian and Cora's Trip List in no particular order:
- Scotland, including many islands and parts of Ireland mostly in short rides
- Across France
- Across the USA (east to west) and down the west coast (8000 km; 90 nights consecutive camping)
- Jordan and Israel
- Vietnam and Cambodia (4000 km)
- Japan (4000 km)
- England to Singapore (18000 km)
- Pamirs and Kyrgystan (4000 km)
- Uluru to Canberra (3200 km)
- Snowy Mountains
- Gibb River Road The Kimberley far NW Australia
- Winter ride: Canberra – Araluen – Tathra – Cooma – Shannons Flat – Canberra (or reverse).
- And one of many motorcycle trips: going to India with Cora, buying a Royal Enfield and riding across India and then through the Indian Himalaya including many of the World’s highest passes including the Khardung La (5602 m).
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3 years ago
Many thanks for the donation to the ARLP scholarship and for this comment.
Yes Ian has talked about his plan to visit you in WA. He’s an extraordinary cycle tourer. I’m a much slower rider than him.
I’ll try to keep the blog updated regularly.
3 years ago
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