TANUNDA FIRST TIME FLASHPACKING

THE RIDE

A two-day gravel ride from Salisbury to Tanunda, South Australia.

Depart/Finish: Sat 7:30 am Salisbury Interchange, South Australia
Overall distance/ascent: approx 200 km/ 1800 vm
Surface: Sealed and Gravel, non-technical singletrack.
What bike: An off-road capable bike with a minimum of 700 x 40mm off-road tyres is best for this ride. If you are unsure if what you have will work for this adventure, just ask!

WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?

This two-day social pace flashpacking trip is aimed at people who are new to flashpacking. A good guide as to whether you’re ready to join this party; could you comfortably ride the distances and vertical meters advertised without gear on your bike with a few short stops? Carrying gear on your bike adds a little challenge and that’s just what we are after on this journey; just the right amount of challenge, with like minded people. If you’re unsure if this journey is for you but you’re interested, let’s talk! April would love to hear from you april@curvecycling.com

RIDE ITINERARY

Day 1: Salisbury to Tanunda 111 km / 900 vm
First-time flashpackers will meet at the Salisbury Interchange at 730 am. A train arrives at the Salisbury Interchange from Adelaide Train Station at 7:18 am.
We make our way out of the heart of Salisbury via a mixture of bitumen back roads, bike paths and flat dirt roads. As we approach the halfway mark for the day, we may get our feet a little wet (if we are lucky!) as we cross the Light River on our way to Hamley Bridge. The Hamley Bridge Friendly Grocer and General Store is our main resupply point for the day; it closes at 12 midday. The remainder of the route to Tanunda is comprised of champagne gravel roads, including some low-gradient climbs and vineyard views.

Day 2: Tanunda to Salisbury 90 km / 900 vm
Roll-out time for day two will be decided by vote at dinner on day one.
Spring in the Barossa Valley can be crisp in the morning, but that won’t be an issue for long because the day's first climb starts about 5 km after rolling out. The Steingarten Hill climb is a Mawson Trail highlight. The full climb is approximately 3.5 km long with an average gradient of 6.4%. The climb is largely unsealed and can be a little loose but it is all rideable.
This highlight is followed by a taste of the Kidman Trail with the Ross Fire Track. This short section also includes paddock bashing and sheep herding fun.
The resupply point for day 2 is at the Sunrise Bakery in the town of Lyndoch, approximately 38km into the ride. We will enjoy a series of gravel back roads and bike paths to make our way back to the Salisbury Interchange, where we began. Trains to the Adelaide CBD depart every half an hour.

ACCOMMODATION

Shared cabins at the Barossa Valley Tourist Park in Tanunda.
Tanunda information;
Foodland Tanunda is open from 7 am until 8 pm every day.
Darlings Cafe, 3/56 Murray St, Tanunda, is open from 6 am every day.
Dinner at the Tanunda Hotel; the beer garden is lovely, and the menu is varied.

ATTENDANCE

The cost to attend is $90 plus the Eventbrite fee ($ ). This is the total cost of your shared accommodation for the night. In addition, you are responsible for the cost of all snacks, meals and drinks. There will be 14 places available (7 men/ 7 womxn). The only way to secure a place is to buy a ticket. If needed, a waitlist may be available.

This is a first timer trip, if we have spaces leftover we will open it up to our regular riders.

CANCELLATION

If you can no longer attend, you must let us know so we can take another rider. We organise all costs upfront and have to cover all riders in the event of no-shows.

The refund policy is as follows:
Two weeks out - full refund
One week out - 50% refund
48 hrs out - no refund
If Curve has to cancel the event due to any circumstances you will be fully refunded, including fee.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

We always prepare for any situation, be it weather or mechanical. Have appropriate clothing and tools/repairs kit for any mechanicals. Please remember there is NO support car. You are responsible for your ride and your gear. Once registered, we will supply all riders with a list of appropriate clothing and kit.

Your bike must be in fully working condition, brand new condition tyres (minimum 40 mm) and new brake pads recommended. Make sure you’ve got an easy gear to get up the climbs.

We need to be aware of any allergies you have and have emergency contact details supplied in case of injury/accident.

You are responsible for your own transport to and from the ride meeting and finishing points.

We will carry a SPOT emergency device and a complete first aid kit. Curve staff have a current First Aid qualification too.

There should be zero excuses for not having the ride files on the weekend. Please do not rely on someone else to do it. If you need help or take a wrong turn, you must know how to return to the course. If you don’t have a bike-mounted device, you can always download the ride files to the Ride with GPS App or Maps.me.

We cannot control the weather; our rides always go ahead, rain or shine. However, we will check the week before to see if there are severe weather warnings and may make necessary adjustments to the course.

We will aim to keep the group together as well as possible, but it sometimes splits, especially on climbs. The Curve crew will oversee groups if they split, and we will typically regroup at the end of longer climbs and at meal/water stops. There are no prizes for finishing first. So please don’t race off - no one will chase you. This is not a race.

Finally, these weekends are a success because of the combined effort of everyone who attends. Riders come from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and ages. Please respect each other and help each other out if you see an opportunity arise. Any of us can have a bad day, just like any of us can get a string of bike mechanicals. So, let’s look out for one another.

If you have any questions, we are always available. There are no dumb questions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact sarah@curvecycling.com

In the spirit of reconciliation, Curve acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.