Bikeabout: An Outback Adventure

A Canadian couple conquers the Australian Outback on tandem tricycle. Their exploits are recorded in great, and often humourous detail on their website: http://australia.beimers.com

September 1, 2002 - Australians are familiar with the spiritual urge to escape from civilization by going walkabout. A Canadian couple is adding a new twist to an old custom with their upcoming Bikeabout journey, set to begin September 2002.

Leaving from Sydney, Aimee Lingman, 26 and Kevin Beimers, 25, will spend the next nine months completing the nearly 15,000 kilometer ride around the coastline of Australia. They plan to battle the elements, as well as the mental and physical strain that comes with biking through desert and deserted conditions.

Adventure is no stranger to this Thunder Bay, Ontario couple. Last year, Kevin and Aimee dedicated themselves to almost seven months of highway travel visiting all 48 continental United States. The result was a 200-day epic journey into the wacky wilderness of Small Town USA, documented through their popular website, http://roadtrip.beimers.com.

From start to finish, the Bikeabout is an expedition that requires very careful planning and survival skills. Only the first quarter of the trip (up the east coast) will be in populated areas. Once they begin to cut into the outback, the true isolation begins. Roadhouses are an average of 4-5 days apart (with nothing in between) so theyve got to make sure that theyre carrying enough water to last with additional in case they get hit with a flash flood that obscures the road for a few days.

Aside from the psychological hardships of isolation, starvation, extreme heat and the occasional leg cramp, we have to remember that Australia is home to the largest number of nasties on the planet: spiders, snakes, scorpions, jellyfish, crocodiles and backpackers.

To get around Australia, theyll be riding in style on two modern masterpieces thanks to their equipment sponsor, Penninger Recumbents. This US-based company has generously provided two recumbent tricycles designed for extensive touring. In addition, Penninger Recumbents has provided a tandem attachment to allow the bikes to hitch together, sure to draw a few stares on the highways. Theyre a high-tech pedaling machine with the addition of a flip-up laptop arm attachment on the rear trike (perfect for the trip across the Nullarbor), custom built by Charles Penninger himself.

Colibri Sports is providing biking jerseys and Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice is ensuring that their food is as hot as the weather.

They've also equipped themselves with a portable solar panel, just big enough to power a laptop and a digital camera in all the hidden corners of the Australian outback.

"Were not speed riders," they add, "Far from it, actually. We're here to stop and smell the wildflowers along the way. Theres no better way to experience the full scope of a country than on a bike. Especially a comfortable one."

They'll continue to report their adventures on their weekly website: http://australia.beimers.com.

Available for publication immediately.
Photos available on request.

Due to the nature of this trip, we can only respond to online requests for additional information at the moment. Additional information and photos are available online at: http://australia.beimers.com/media.html

Aimee Lingman & Kevin Beimers
http://australia.beimers.com
aimee@beimers.com
kevin@beimers.com