Tour and Retreat FAQs

Riding Related

What sort of mountain bike should I bring?

Hardtail? Full Suspension? It comes down to the trips you are on. See individual trip FAQs for more information.

Can I bring an eBike?

Absolutely. Just note that travelling with e-bikes can be complicated. If you need to post your battery forward we can give you an address.

Flats or Clip-Ins / Cleats?

It comes down to personal choice. If you are experienced with cleats then riding with these works well. If you are going to try more technical terrain and enjoy shuttling, flats are preferred. 

Do I need a full-face helmet?*

This is a question we are often asked and it will come down to the sort of riding you plan to do. If you are going to push yourself on difficult terrain, ride difficult obstacles or want to practice jumping, the full face would make sense. If you have a conservative riding style and a more cautious approach, a good open mountain bike helmet is suitable. Ultimately it is your decision. Our guides tend to ride with open-face helmets and all hire bikes come with an open-face. Get in touch if you would like to talk it through further.

*We do recommend full-face helmets on our Maydena Gravity trip. They can be hired.

Do I need protective Armour? (Knee Pads and Elbow Pads)*

If you are sticking to easier trails, it is your call. If you are heading up more technical rides, we suggest knee pads as a minimum. 

*We do recommend knee and elbow pads on our Maydena Gravity trip. They can be hired.

How much water do I need to carry?

We recommend at least 2 litres if you are trying some of the longer trails. For the shorter shuttling days, 1 litre is sufficient as you can fill up between runs.  

What clothes should I ride in?

Bring some layers as the weather can vary. Most of the time a lightweight shirt and baggies/lycra cycle shorts are sufficient. We recommend carrying a lightweight warm top on the longer rides particularly when we go up Blue Tier. In poor weather, a jacket suitable for riding in will also be needed.

Trip Related

I don’t know how to put my bike together or pull it apart for travel, can you help?

Yes! Ok, most of us are guilty of letting our loved ones pack our bikes …. then are clueless at the other end on how to put it back together. On this trip you will need to put it together ….. but we will do it in a supportive group with guides helping ….. we also have a bike mechanic as a backup. When it comes to repacking the bikes, the same applies

How do I pack my bike for travel?

There are many ways to do this. A few are listed below.

1) Head to the airport and buy a cardboard bike box - they used to cost $15 and are available from the Qantas terminal. These boxes are a bit bigger than the ones from the shops so you don’t need to break the bike down as much to fit in. You just take off the front wheel, maybe the pedals (if they don’t fit) and maybe the seat if you don’t have a dropper post. Add padding for extra protection.

2) head to the bike shop and ask for a spare box - the only issue here is the boxes are smaller, so you will need to pull more parts off the bike to make it fit. Provided you can get it in, we can help put it together at the other end.

3) You can buy more expensive versions online - but it would only be worth it if you think you will travel often with your bike.

Is there a laundry to do the washing? 

Yes. Most of the holiday accommodations on the trips have washing machines and dryers.