|
What would you bring?
Howdy All,
My plans for freedom from work tyranny and excessive sunburning across Australia are progressing and I was wondering something - What should I bring? I am planning on picking up a bike over there (anyone have a used bike they want to sell?) but am wondering if it would be cheaper for me to buy protective gear/camping equipment/sunblock (joke) in the U.S./Canada or just wait until I get to Oz? I hope that this isn't too dumb a question, it's just that I am now living in England (mucho expensive) and have realized just how different prices can be between countries. As I am hoping to take as much time off as possible, I am going to have to make my savings stretch as far as possible. Thanks for any hints/suggestions. Mike |
My suggestion? Don't forget to pop over the ditch and visit New Zealand as well!
Cheers! Nigel Marx ------------------ "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page"- St Augustine |
Things are generally cheeper in the US than 'ere. And you have more variety of choice in products too. But I think our insect replent works better on our insects :P
|
Nigel - Of course! I just figured that people knew when I said I was going to Australia that I would be visiting NZ as well. Isn't it a province of Australia or something? Kidding! I figure that as a Canadian I get to make jokes like that - tell me if I am wrong. Frank - Whoa. You have insects? That's it, I am not coming over anymore. Next thing you are going to tell me that there are lizards and stuff. Ick. One particular question I had was what sort of jacket/pants do you all wear for the super duper heat? Will I just boil in an Aerostitch Darien jacket? I would rather be hot and safe than cool and dangerous, but I figure that there has got to be riding clothes down there that are suited for the local conditions - any suggested brands I can check out on line? |
Local riding gear designed especially for the heat can be seen often enough, but I don't know if I'd wear it: rubber flip flops, nylon running shorts and a blue singlet. Why do they bother with the skid lid?
Other than that, it's just like anywhere else: leather, waxed cotton, Dririder, fluoro motoX and any combination of the above. You just get used to the sweat. |
Mike, check out BMW and Rukka Airflow suits - amazing ventilation, but both are pricey - and worth every penny imho. I LOVE my Rukka Airflow. Cool, and waterPROOF liner you zip in when needed.
There are many copies, cheaper, becoming available in the US and Europe as well. ------------------ Grant Johnson Seek, and ye shall find. ------------------------ One world, Two wheels. www.HorizonsUnlimited.com |
Hi Canadianmike, Don't forget that it can get cold here too! Not Canada cold, but still cold enough on a bike depending on the time of year and where you go. Inland areas, particularly desert areas can be very hot during the day and drop below freezing at night - like most desert areas. But at least this usually occurs with clear skys and low humidity - ie no rain. The southern parts of the country and alpine areas can be cold and wet and snowy. Just so you don't think its always hot.... although its bloody hot and humid here in Queensland at the moment, not at all comfortable on the bike unless you use the gear recommended by Carlos....
Having said all that, there is a lot of flow through mesh gear available now - for the hot weather of course! BMW gear is great, the best IMO, but expensive. Here is a link to a recently released Dririder jacket that is very good for the price (about $300A), not as good as BMW stuff, but not too bad and at 1/3 price its good value I think. Its a mesh air-flow type, comes with removable waterproof liner and other features you can check yourself. I am considering getting one. Skillo http://www.mcleodaccessories.com.au/...allycross.html [This message has been edited by SKILLO (edited 19 January 2005).] [This message has been edited by SKILLO (edited 20 January 2005).] |
You do get used to the heat. It is a dry heat in most places - except in the tropics during the monsoon season (when everyone sweats so you won't be alone).
I've had a look at the new dryrider jacket - don't like the protection at all - one fall and the jacket will be damaged - no good protection on the external surfaces. Also no matching pants. There may be alternatives to it coming out in a month or two. I'll wait and use my old jacket and pants till them. RJays IIRC. Think you will find something suitable can be had for less in North America. |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frank Warner:
There may be alternatives to it coming out in a month or two. I'll wait and use my old jacket and pants till them. RJays IIRC. mmm ineresting Frank, do you have some secret inside info, or is it well known? Come on let us in on the secret - we wont tell - honest. Seriously though I am in the market, so what is it? [QUOTE]Think you will find something suitable can be had for less in North America. Yes, I would be surprised if it was cheaper here in Oz. Skillo |
Howdy, I just did a lap round Australia.
Darien was fine for me as long as I was moving. When I stopped, I'd pull it off before the helmet. I bought Aerostich pants and a jacket off eBay which was cheaper than Australia. I'm happy with the Aerostich stuff. My best purchase was a 3 liter generic Camelpack. A backpack that holds water with a straw that goes under the helmet. It's great in the outback. Every Australian town with a population of 2 has a camping store (the other guy runs the pub). I'd buy camping supplies and insect repellant here unless you can get good stuff cheap where you live. Hit the garage sales and used gear stores. Australian customs checks over stuff but when I showed up, it was a 30 second check. I said I had a tent but didn't spot it right away. I told her I'd used it once so the lady said nevermind. ------------------ Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/ |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by chimpo13:
My best purchase was a 3 liter generic Camelpack. A backpack that holds water with a straw that goes under the helmet. It's great in the outback. Ah yes, the Camelback and now also numerous immitations - I have used them for years for dirt bike riding and now would not ride anywhere here in Oz without one. Funny how you take some stuff for granted, I didn't think to mention it. You can dehydrate really quikly in the heat with riding gear on, but keeping up fluids becomes second nature when you live here. Plenty of colder climate visitors run into problems because they aren't used to drinking enough (water) frequently enough. Sunburn and Surf both fall into the same category (sort of)- all seem to regularly catch out our northern visitors, sometimes with very unpleasent consequences. Caution with all these is usually drumed into aussies at a young age. Have a great ride. Skillo |
Quote:
|
Thanks for the replies everyone!
Based on your responses, I am going to dig around for some good used gear here and in the U.S., but if I don't find anything I'll wait until I get down there. Nice to know that I'll find some snow along the way - save me the trouble of trying to make sandmen and have sandball fights. |
Don't worry, most of the time chances are there'll be plenty of sand, soil, grit mixed up in that snow anyway. Generally a lot like snow fall around Vancouver. It doesn't fall very thickly and doesn't stick around very long unless you actually get into Kosciusko National Park and the surrounding "Alpine Region".
|
Hi everybody. Im going to Oz this July..
In hot days I will ride with a Dainesse protetion jacket (the mesh thing with back, shoulder, elbow protection) and a long sleeve sweather over it.. What do you think abouth that? Will it be any god? Plenty of air and ok protection..I think.. |
hi every1, i have been riding all thro winter, watever summer and thunderstorms (ride bout 200kms/day)all with just rjays jacket and dragin jeans/cargoes.all i need is to slip on a wet weather pant over the jeans(has knox armour inserts+kevlar)/ very happy bout the rjays jacket . does not have gr8 protection but has worked absolutely fantastically till today( zip out the thermal layer if hot)/ and in pouring rain find the 10$ rubber over boots over my alpinestars smx3 boot keeps me dry as a bone.think will use the same fer my desert travels this year(maybe get an evt pressure suit armour(200$ approx, designed fer enduro riding to wear inside the jacket). camel back is a gr8 buy too.
|
Oh yeah, another weird thing that I didn't expect. After being in the heat around most of Australia for a few months, I about froze to death when the temps dropped to 25c (77f).
--Dave ------------------ Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/ |
Yngeever - I ride with a dainese mesh protection jacket every day. I would say it won't help you too much in a high speed tarmac abrasion crash but for lower speed spills, it will save a few knocks.
Most aussies look at me strangely with it on but its much much cooler than a jacket. Try and get a white or light grey one if u can though. it may look a bit strange in the shop but u'll be glad in the heat. oh and camping gear is much much much cheaper in us and canada... especially online at REI etc... |
REI? That place is pretty pricey and if you have problems with their stuff, you'll be overseas.
There's stores that sell used camping gear. If you fly out of San Francisco to Sydney, there's a really good store across the street from the REI in Berkeley called Wilderness Exchange. And there's tons of camping equipment places around that area. http://www.wildernessexchange.citysearch.com/ ------------------ Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. In New Zealand now. Japan in April. http://nokilli.com/rtw/ |
From skimming I can't see that anyone mentioned it...
DON"T BRING A HELMET! Australia has it's own safety standard, if you get caught wearing a helmet without the Australian Standard Sticker it is a fine equivalent to not wearing a helmet. Also if customs pick it up on the way through they may take it off you. I have a KBC road helmet which is cheap but good AUS$290. Expect to pay AUS$500+ for a bigger name brand |
Yes Australia has its own special rules for helmets, like pretty much everything else, but it is unlikely you will have any trouble with you own helmet unless you are going out of your way to anoy the policeman who is by this time booking you for exceeding the speed limit by a paltry 3 kph. If you have upset him/her that much they will no doubt find something else to get you for as well.
Australian heads being much softer than those in the rest of the world....what you mean they dont make Arai and Shoei helmets in a factory especially for Australia!!! |
I brought my Shoei with me on the plane. No problems.
I thought it was just me having a tent that bugged customs but I forgot some stuff. I was wondering more about the epileptic drugs I had on me, but customs didn't care about the big ol' bottle of Keppra I had. They did care about my misdemeanor conviction in 1990 for discharging a firearm in a prohibited area. But as soon as they asked about it, they didn't care. I was on the wrong side of the road in the middle of nowhere in Yolo County, California and a new cop ticketed me. After the fact, another cop apologized and said he should've just told me to cross the street. Still had to pay my $200 fine though. ------------------ Random attempts have been made at RTW on a '65 Ducati 250cc |
Hey Mike
Sounds like you have all the info mate? Enough to have you totally confused now as well I think. What I suggest mate is just come down here and get what you need here. I travel around the world for work and check out items and prices in other countries for bike gear and we are quite reasonable here. I know that we don't have some of the stock that you do in other countries but hey you don't need some of this really chique gear! I have ridden across Australia 3 times now and am on my 4th trip and use a BM jacket and light pants, you get used to the heat just like I got used to the cold in Ft McMurray up your way! Frank, do you think your going to get run over everytime you walk out your front door or fly in a plane? Yes we all know that you can fall off a bike but then why do we ride them. There is nothing wrong with the Dririder summer jacket, my wife and I both use one in Bali where we live so it is great for the tropics and is also light enough to strap on the bike as an alternative. Ok Mike, I hope that we run into you down this way (not literally of course. Oh by the way did you find a bike and what kind were you chasing? Cheers Ivan |
Ivan;
What time of year were you in Ft. McMurray. I've lived hear 50 years and still haven't gotten used to the cold. LOL Rick |
Hi Rick
I was there just b4 Xmas -34 in 2002 then beginning of March -38 2003. I work in the NAdes as well and that gets to 40 below with wind and that I don't like at all. Do you work in the mines there Rick? I was there with an OEM. Cheers Ivan |
Quote:
No. At least I hope not. Quote:
I'm thinking about the www.motoport.com gear - Ultra 11 Air Kevlar or somesuch. Pricy and you have to wait for them to make it to your size. |
Ivan;
I used to work on the construction crews in Ft. Mac as an electrician. We saw more than one -40 day. All in all not to my liking. I have now found a nice warm office position for the winters. If you find yourself traveling through Edmonton in the future give me a call. There is always time for a beer. 780-478-0113 Rick [This message has been edited by Riq (edited 09 November 2005).] |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:55. |