just4tehhalibut

The 5th edition of this event is on later this year, on 6-9 October which is mid-Spring down here in Australia. This event is getting more popular and already more than half the expected 100 riders have registered, the majority of riders having come from interstate or overseas. The course is still being tweaked but you can find more details and updates on the Audax Australia website. There's also 1000km and 200km options.

I'm down as a volunteer so you'll see me on the sidelines at the main event, probably at the checkpoint at the end of Day 1. This means that to do the ride my only option is the PAP Recon ride for vollies and that's coming up in 4 weeks. That's also when the final course gets tested. I've done a hilly 1000km Audax before but that was years back, of late I've been a bit lazy and only done 200kms and a 300km. So I'm in for a real test.

I know that there's other readers here who'll be doing the PAP, want to step forward and say what you're doing as preparation? Or ask about it'll be like on the PAP course?

LWaB

My partner and I rode PAP in 2010. Despite a mellow-looking course, I found it fairly tough. One night was surprisingly cold and there was a fair bit of headwind early on which made it hard work to get to our planned sleep stops. There was worthwhile scenery and good folk but we're riding events in other countries this year. Have fun out there.

Weatherby

I would love to be able to do PAP if the body is ready. I'll see how I fair on a 600k later this Spring. It is still winter and the roads are finally clear of snow.

I just checked.....the entry deadline is April....a bit far from the October event. Looks like it will be a bust unless there are leftover entries in June. Isn't PBP entry in June just 6 weeks before the event if I remember. Anyways. Bummer.

just4tehhalibut

I'm going to query the deadline, I'm not sure how they did it last time but yes 6 weeks would be better. On the other side of our big island they did a 1200km with a month's notice, there's also one coming up with 2 weeks grace (but that course is flat, hot and windy in an area that I simply remember as The Flatness).

just4tehhalibut

I've been told that the deadline is still 30th April, sorry. If they don't get their 100 riders by then maybe you can register but that's a maybe, I couldn't get a definite on that, nor if the registration website will allow that, you might have to contact the organiser directly after this month to enquire. The other thing that I've been told is that the course will have some unsealed roads, no idea why but the organisers will be testing their route on the volunteers' ride next weekend.
That'll be the weekend maybe that I build my new Audax bike having just cracked the frame on the current beast. So I'm out.