This year, we once again set off across the dirt to our destination – Karumba – enduring all that the Savannah Way has to offer. The dirt option is for experienced mountain bike riders only – with high quality, well serviced bikes, and will challenge the most hardy of skilled riders with long, corrugated and sometimes sandy and dusty terrain. It is impossible to ride dirt the entire way, and we do our best to maximise dirt time.
The premise upheld by the Dirt Riders is enjoyment, and the shared passion of seeing remote, untouched places. On any day, our permits run from 7am to 5pm, and we are not allowed to ride outside these hours. It is understood from the outset, that:
The planned route:
Day One – Cairns to Dimbulah
- Cairns to Kuranda, via the Kuranda Range Road
- Kuranda to Koah Service Station – Palm Valley Road
- Palm Valley Road to Barron River – QR Access Road – Bibhoora
- Bibhoora to Mareeba for Lunch
- Mareeba to Dimbulah via Skybury
Day Two – Dimbulah to Mount Garnet
- Transport Dimbulah to historic Lappa Junction Railway Siding – 40km
- Ride Lappa Junction to Mt Garnet across historic railway line track – 70km
- Mt Garnet to Camp grounds – 8km
Day Three – Mt Garnet to Mt Surprise
- Transport 16km Mt Garnet to Savannah Way dirt section
- Ride Savannah Way dirt route 112km through Station properties – avoiding the mine transport trucks
- Savannah Route dirt to Mt Surprise 16km
Day Four – Mt Surprise to Georgetown
- Transport to Mt Surprise Station turnoff
- Dirt through Junction Creek to the Einasleigh River 40km
- Transport to lunch at the Newcastle Range lookout, ride bitumen to town perhaps.
Day Five – Georgetown to Croydon
- Transport to Mt Turner turnoff.
- Dirt to Mt Turner Station 38km loop / Tonks Camp to Forest Home Homestead
- Lunch at Gilbert River
- Ride 13km to Inorunie St turnoff then 20km to homestead and loop back to highway
- Transport to Croydon
Day Six – Croydon to Normanton
- Ride across Dam Wall onto road to Tabletop Station to check out old cemetery and other historical relics from Gold mine era. Loop back to highway. 50km
- Transport to Shady Lagoons turnoff 70km
- Dirt through Shady Lagoons station and loop back to Normanton. 34km
Day Seven – Normanton to Karumba
- Bide the bitumen to Karumba
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Some of the dirt sections are upwards of 140km, which is a massive distance to cover cross country
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Some parts of the ride must traverse bitumen sections between dirt roads
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We will often have to ‘transport’ between the overnight camp and the start of the day’s ride, and similarly, at times during the day
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The Dirt Riders will present as a united voice, and that at any stage during the day, if the consensus amongst the group to opt to ‘transport’, then this is what will happen
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The Dirt Riders wont ride in packs as such, however, will all stop together at designated places enroute, usually every 30-40 minutes or as required
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Our support vehicles carry the navigation gear, spares, food and drink, and ultimately, makes the final decisions on the groups movements
Standard Minimum Equipment:
- A recently serviced, maintained mountain bike – minimum Deore/Sachs X-7 components
- Front suspension fork, such as Rock Shox Alpha 2/Fox 100mm with lockout preferable
- Relatively new tyres, such as Specialised ‘Ground Control’ or Maxxis ‘Larsen’ 26 x 2.00 max size
- One bidon, preferably two
- Spare parts network, including spokes, chain, tubes, tyres, and service kit for each night, including TF2 lube, Rag, track pump and basic tools like allen keys, tyre levers etc.
Contact Mark Allen on malle47@eq.edu.au or
Dale Brouwer on rordondale@optusnet.com.au
Phone: 0413 223 765
