The heart of Cairns is bustling, sprouting trendy spots for you to kick back and bask in the tropical vibes. Pedal around town on one of our rental bikes and uncover all its hidden gems - the perfect adventure awaits!
Get ready to pedal through a slice of paradise on two wheels! Cairns is your ultimate playground, blending lush gardens, historical charm, and top-notch gin spots into one epic adventure. Swap four wheels for two and cruise through this tropical wonderland with our cool bikes. No need to rush - just chill, sip on cold drinks, soak up the scenery, and let the good times roll!
Kick off your journey at the iconic Cairns Lagoon, where our new store is popping up soon in 2024. Glide along the esplanade, feeling the sea breeze kiss your cheeks and wondering why anyone would be stuck in an office cubicle. As you pedal, remember that you're treading on the traditional land of the Yirrganydji people, adding an extra layer of respect to your ride.
We venture towards the Stratford Heritage Trail to check out a groovy gin distillery nestled in old Timber Mills. Narrow Tracks opened in 2021 and hand crafts its gin onsite, in the amazing 75 year old timber mills, the setup is amazing, a real relaxed feel with a whiff on 1920's Cairns. Bec and Doug are the owners have that natural Far North Queensland instant welcoming flair.This spot is a gin-lover's paradise, with handcrafted spirits and a laid-back 1920s vibe. Don't miss the chance to grab a bite from local food vans and sip on some tropical goodness.
It would be nice to stay but we are heading on to the botanic gardens now for a cool canopy of covering from native palms. If you are keen to see the native rainforest of Cairns, but don't have the time to head to the Daintree or Skyrail, this is the place for you to go. This encompasses all of what we are about. You can ride the left side of the botanic gardens and experience the feel of the rainforest or park the bike and go for a walk through the right hand side of the gardens, its peaceful and tranquil, perfectly timed, and you won't get lost.
There are a few food and drink options, but we love the Wild Bean Cafe which is situated the the Cairns Botanic Visitor Centre. The building itself is mirrored so it blends in with the beautiful tropical surrounds. Its a peaceful place, a place to just sit and enjoy the feel of the tropics, nothing is moving fast, it isn't bustling, it's a place to just.......be.
Heading back into town we are feeling like a cocktail, the sun is fine, but a cool drink and rest is exactly what's needed. We are heading to Wolf Lane, this little gem is the brain child of Barber and Kennis, formally from Sydney. They are all about building community with surrounding small farms, family-run plantations and artisan roasters, for sourcing the tropical fruits, rainforest botanicals, single origin coffee and vanilla beans that put a true taste of tropical Cairns into their exotic range of gins and liqueurs. Yep, that sounds exactly what we need.
The laneway is perched off Abbott street in Cairns, hidden away down a red brick laneway in the heart of the CBD. Behind heavy-set wooden stable doors you’ll find a bright and light cocktail bar and cellar door, where you can watch them work their magic. The beauty of this place is that you can go between the two different styles of drinks, one side of the lane is the gin distillery and tasting and the other side is a gorgeous cocktail bar which has a food pairing available.
We figure this is where we will pull up stumps for the arvo, we cycled and saw a fair bit of Cairns, around 22kms in total, we have enjoyed every minute, now time to relax.
If you haven't been to Cairns before or you are a regular visitor looking for something new to experience, this really is a great way to spend a afternoon. Hire a bike and go and enjoy the tropical vibes of Cairns.
Myola, which is approximately 32kms away from Cairns City Centre, is a picturesque location that can be reached by driving up the Kuranda Range for about 25 minutes. While the roads are winding, the drive is worth it as you'll be surrounded by beautiful tropical greenery. However, it's crucial to be cautious on the way up as the area is home to our beautiful albeit endangered cassowary families that locals are trying desperately to save. So chill, relax and enjoy the twists in the road, ready to spot a road side cassowary.
Our starting spot for our ride was Black Mountain Road, the second turn off North from the Kennedy Highway once you reach the top of the Kuranda Range. Located in the Ngunbay (known as Kuranda) area, home to the to the Djabuguy peoples. Ngunbay translates to "place of the platypus," an area also renowned for camping and fishing. You can see when you ride around why the local indigenous peoples found this area so fruitful.
Our turn off from Black Mountain Road is West onto La Road (however you want to pronounce it.... La as in sing or L.A as in the USA. Following La road we are careful not to miss our turnoff onto to the "Forresty Road" as named by our friends at Google! Maybe we will have to give this road a name for the sake of cyclists!!!
Don't follow the road to the township of Mona Mona, make sure you turn South East onto the Forestry Road, this will eventually have you meet Armstrong Road which will bring you back towards the Barron River.
Continuing on Armstrong Road for km's of stunning gravel you eventually will reach Oak Forrest Road. Not sure how its call "Oak" as this is the pure rainforest tropics.
Just a slight pedal and you with reach the causeway crossing over the Barron River, definitely a spot for a photo and a rest snack stop (don't forget your mozzie repellent!)
Need a bike to start your journey? CAIRNS BIKE HIRE by Biked -
We can get you sorted here> https://biked.com.au/pages/bookings
Keep reading to find the other part to the loop 🌴
The complete loop is mainly gravel, situated amidst a mixture of rainforests, farming, and forestry. The well-graded roads are perfect for X-Country Riders as a fantastic training route or for gravel grinders, who can enjoy a nice 43km ride. Unfortunately, we couldn't cross the Barron this time due to the high water flow from Lake Tinaroo after the Cyclone Jasper flooding.
Our tour manager, Nichole, who has crossed the river previously, suggests that the opposite side, through Kowrowa and beyond, is a great workout for the legs, especially if you're up for rolling climbs or riding an eBike. The road on that side of the Barron is mostly sealed, and if hill climbs aren't your thing, Nichole recommends riding the loop in reverse and having a support vehicle pick you up at the Baron river where you could freshen off with a dip (of course abide by all the swim safety rules when doing this!). On any normal riding day, the crossing is a simple causeway where you wouldn't get your wheels wet.
The roads are generally quiet however it's important to be aware of logging trucks passing through the forestry area. Most of the drivers are courteous and will acknowledge you as they drive by. Keep an eye out for the "K" markers that indicate your progress along the way.
Although part of the loop does take you over the Barron River via the Kennedy Highway, we are going to push this as an opportunity to take your time and enjoy the sight, instead of the usual quick drive over which you probably have always taken for granted. The river bridge crossing is an opportunity to actually take in the sights of everything around you, looking west further into the Tablelands or East towards the beaches, this river means a lot to the locals and is majestic.
Once over the Barron River again its time to head back up Black Mountain Road to your starting point.
Overall, the Myola Loop is an excellent route for intermediate gravel and XC riders who have a good level of fitness. We recommend bringing a hydration pack and some snacks for the journey, as there aren't any corner stores or servo’s nearby.
Grab some friends and enjoy a grind ride through the scenic Myola Loop.
Total Loop - 43kms - Approx. 3hrs on Gravel Bikes
CAIRNS BIKE HIRE - Hire a bike or book a tour with the Biked crew here> https://biked.com.au
The whole team here at Biked are counting down the days until we can set out on our first 4 day tour with our MTB Super Pass starting on the 15th of April, and our Gravel Tours starting on the 29th of April.
Planning these tours has been an amazing journey in itself for us, as they both offer such different experiences. So what is it that we’ve been working on over here at Biked HQ? What’s all the fuss about?
]]>Planning these tours has been an amazing journey in itself for us, as they both offer such different experiences. So what is it that we’ve been working on over here at Biked HQ? What’s all the fuss about?
Our MTB Super Pass tour is a hands on, no holds barred adventuring experience, taking our experienced rider guests through the most thrilling mountain bike parks that the great Far North has to offer - starting down in Smithfield (and if you’ve ridden at the Smithfield Park before, you would know why we call it The Mother Of All Mountains).
We ride out, go hard, then take a rest to prepare ourselves to get back out again tomorrow. On our second day, we ride some local hidden gem trails at the Atherton MTB Park, and stay up there for the night with one of our accomodation partners. The very next day, we’re bringing our adrenalin levels to a peak with the Davies’ Creek tracks, then we’re taking our 4th and final day to ride through the she-oaks and eucalyptus trees Bump Track at Port Douglas, ending our tour with a ride along Four Mile Beach.
On the other hand, our Road Less Travelled Gravel Tour guides our guests of all riding ability around the Tablelands over four full days of adventuring through the region - beginning from the Gillies Range and riding up to the history-steeped Herberton and into the heart of the Tablelands, Atherton.
From Atherton, we ride around Lake Tinaroo with its expansive waterfront sights, and power on through to the charming country town of Mareeba, where we stay for our second night. The lush green mountain village of Kuranda is our destination for the third day of riding, before we finish up in the one and only Port Douglas on our final day, a truly tropical end to the journey.
We were incredibly lucky to have Vin on our tours team - Vin has mapped out quite a few tours before in his home country, taking cyclists of all kinds out to see the beautiful islands of Sicily and Sardinia in Italy, and even taken tours through the Alps and Himalayas.
He came into this role prepared to show off all the region has to offer, and knew he would have to take a different approach in how we created our routes - taking our guests through destination spots while managing the distance covered in each day to find that perfect sweet spot between the amount of energy spent, and the amount of fun there is to be had. Finding ways to ride through ancient bushlands, dense rainforests, and along the sun-soaked beaches.
Our team carefully plotted out routes on our maps, taking into account all of our transport needs, accomodation, and the sights that would become the highlights of our days. Once we had a rough guide plotted out, Vin and Nick would take days out from the shop to follow the routes, considering any areas that may have presented issues, and then working together to improve the overall experience.
Once we had our routes finalised, we got in touch with our accomodation and catering partners to put together some top tier hospitality services, allowing us all to fuel up and recover in between those magical days on the trails. We’ve put together our on-board mechanic kits, got our standby vehicle sorted, and ensured that our e-mountain and e-gravel bikes are in the best condition for the adventures ahead.
We can’t wait for you to join us on our MTB Super Pass and Road Less Travelled tours. For more information on these tours and how to reserve your seats, please click here for the EMTB tours, or click here for the E-Gravel tours.
]]>The Great Queensland Getaway promo is now on until the 31st of October - get $200 off our legendary full day Bump Track E-mountain bike tour from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, or our EMTB tour for advanced riders at the mother of all mountains, Smithfield Mountain Bike Park.
Get your promo code here to save on your next ride with us.
]]>Get your promo code here to save on your next ride with us.
In order to redeem your promo code, place a booking with us before October 31st for a tour before January 23rd 2022. You can place your booking with us online, or by giving us a call or email and quoting your promo code.
What tours are on offer?
Bump Track - An immersive rainforest E-mountain bike experience through one of the most breathtaking ecosystems on earth. Ride through undulating rainforest with coastal views to Palm Cove and Port Douglas along the way, crossing flowing freshwater creeks and the biggest downhill thrills in the region! $200 off with the Great Queensland Getaway promo, now $199
Smithfield MTB Park - Experienced riders can alternatively try their hand riding at the mother of mountains, Smithfield MTB Park, with a world-class guide taking you down a range of exhilarating trails tailored to your ability.
Promo code eligibility criteria as listed by the Queensland Government:
For full terms and conditions click here. For answers to frequently asked questions click here.
]]>Yes, that's a vacation and 4 sweet days of fun trails, cold beers and good mates all rolled into one, and we like to call Reef to Reef!
Yes, that's a vacation and 4 sweet days of fun trails, cold beers and good mates all rolled into one, and we like to call Reef to Reef!
One day riding more your style? Entries for the 30th edition of the iconic Triple-R will also be opening - and the birthday plans we have in store are nothing short of epic! After all, 30 is a big one...
Get the good times rolling in 2022!
Click here to enrol at the R2R website:
https://reeftoreefmtb.com/rider-info/news/entries-open-tomorrow/
Can you swim without floaties? Do you own a bike that isn’t covered in cobwebs? Were your running shoes made this century? If you answered yes to at least one of those questions, then join in some of the most sole-crushing, tyre-popping, heart-racing events you can find anywhere in the world. From IRONMAN Oceania events to marathons and multi-day cycling challenges, these are some of the best Queensland endurance events.
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Can you swim without floaties? Do you own a bike that isn’t covered in cobwebs? Were your running shoes made this century? If you answered yes to at least one of those questions, then join in some of the most sole-crushing, tyre-popping, heart-racing events you can find anywhere in the world. From IRONMAN Oceania events to marathons and multi-day cycling challenges, these are some of the best Queensland endurance events.
Start cooking a batch of carbs and get your training plan in order, pronto.
When: March – April 2021
Where: Anna Meares Velodrome and the streets of Brisbane
The Challenge: The Brisbane Cycling Festival has a range of events, so you can pick the challenge that suits you. The highlight is the Tour de Brisbane’s 110km Gran Fondo (part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series) on completely closed roads throughout the city. 110km sound a bit tough? Maybe the 60km Medio, 30km Piccolo or 8km Community Ride is more your style.
Also part of the festival is the Six Day Final and Track National Championships.
What you need: Quads of steel are recommended; but a bike, gels and steel-like determination are the only mandatories.
How to reward yourself: Bikes, beers and beats at the final of the internationally-renowned Six Day Series at the Anna Meares Velodrome. Watch the world’s best track cyclists compete across madison, time trials, derny racing, team eliminations, scratch races and points races.
When: March 2021
Where: Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
The Challenge: The main event of the Mooloolaba Triathlon is Sunday’s Olympic-distance triathlon: 1.5km swim, 40km ride and 10km run, but the real challenge is prying yourself away from Mooloolaba Beach to start the cycle leg.
The day before isn’t just foam-rolling and smoothies on the beach. Head track-side to watch the pros tackle a sprint distance triathlon in the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup.
What you need: First time triathletes don’t need to own gear like the professionals you’ll watch on Saturday. A bike, swim suit (a tri-suit or two piece that can be worn for all events is ideal), goggles, swim cap and running shoes are all you need for your first go.
How to reward yourself: Dining in Mooloolaba is continuing an upward spiral, driven by local seafood and access to the nearby food-bowl of the Hinterland. Check out 11 of our top picks from the Sunshine Coast, with special mention to Pier 33 and Rice Boi in the heart of Mooloolaba.
When: 16-24 April 2021
Where: Alexandra Headlands, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
The Challenge: Australia’s 314 Surf Clubs come together to compete in more than 400 beach and ocean events spanning beach sprints, Ironman events, board races and everything in between at The Aussies – this is Australia’s finest Surf Life Savers at their peak.
What you need: For the competitors, years of practice and dedication. For everyone else, a loud cheer and a firm clap to encourage the athletes to the finish.
When: May 2021
Where: Noosa, Sunshine Coast
The Challenge: As one of Australia’s newest marathons, the Runaway Noosa Marathon is a flat and fast course that meanders alongside the picturesque Noosa River.
If you’re not ready for a full marathon just yet, there’s also the option of a 31.6km, half marathon, 10km, 5km and even ocean swims.
What you need: Enough energy left to boogie your way through the seven live music stations, you’ll encounter on each of the four laps of the marathon course.
How to reward yourself: After slogging through 42.2km treat yourself to Noosa’s best food and wine options.
When: 27 September 2020
Where: Cairns, Tropical North Queensland
The Challenge: There is a difference between IRONMAN 70.3 and true IRONMAN. Both are difficult, both are exciting and bring the best talent in the world… but the true IRONMAN is a whole new beast.
Think 3.8km swim, 180km bike and then a full 42.2km marathon. All in one day. All in under 10 hours for some Captain America-looking people. Not to mention the whole race is stunning.
If you don’t feel like pushing six months worth of exercise into 10 hours, there are loads of other events, including a 70.3 option, Quicksilver Reef Swim – Green Island, The Cairns Post Bright Night Run and McDonalds IRONKIDS Cairns.
What you need: Years and years of practice, zero body hair, webbed toes and fingers and of course… a bike. If you’re not a competitor, it’s worth coming to watch the spectacle yourself from the sidelines, sans-sweat.
How to reward yourself: Not only will you be able to tell everyone you meet about how you conquered IRONMAN in Cairns that one time, you’ll also have the superhuman ability to swim to most of these island resorts. Well maybe not, but pretty darn close.
When: July 2021
Where: Gold Coast
The Challenge: The Gold Coast Marathon brings in more than 26,000 participants of all ages and abilities to compete across multiple formats. The marathon is the premier event, but you can’t go past the wheelchair marathon for sheer excitement and inspiration.
These men and women are true champions as they travel 42.195km with their arms faster than most of us could do on a motorcycle. The other events include 2km and 4km Junior Dashes, a 5.7km challenge, a 10km run, and a 15km wheelchair race.
What you need: The ability to pace yourself and not go too hard when the gun fires, the ability to grab cups of water on the run, the ability to pretty much sprint the 42.195km if you want to win!
How to reward yourself: Thrills. That’s right. Head up to Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild to rest the legs and enjoy an exciting ride of a different kind. If cuddling cute koalas is more your thing, grab your selfie stick and follow these tips to make the most out of a day at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
When: August 2021
Where: Tropical North Queensland
The Challenge: The Tour of the Tropics is back in 2020, pedalling its way through the Atherton Tablelands and the Wet Tropics Rainforests over three days of cycling action.
What you need: The ability to focus on the road in front of you while riding across lush rolling hills and the oldest living rainforest in the world. This is an event for multitaskers.
How to reward yourself: Swap the cycling tights for a wetsuit and enjoy a day exploring the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef.
When: August 2021
Where: Tropical North Queensland
The Challenge: As one of Australia’s newest mountain biking stage races, Reef to Reef MTB is less of an endurance slog and more of an exhilarating adventure on two wheels.
Starting in Cairns and finishing four days later in Port Douglas, the terrain is challenging without being too technical for the average rider. There are plenty of flowing tracks through tropical rainforests that will have you screaming in delight.
What you need: The ability to focus, peddle for four days and execute the perfect shakas while riding a bike.
How to reward yourself: You can’t complete a race with reef in its title twice without visiting the holy grail of reefs. Here’s 8 epic ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef.
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Organisers in Germany finally confirmed the unsurprising decision to not proceed with this year’s event in the wake of more COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia and across the world. The famous race will instead begin on 15 October and finish on 23 October 2021.
The 2020 event would have marked the 26th edition of the gruelling multi-stage race across Far North Queensland with riders starting in Cairns and finishing in Port Douglas. While the race attracts pro riders from all over the globe, anyone wanting to test themselves is able to register with three categories available (Solo, Duo and Team) as well as subsequent age ranges for Solo and Duo entrants.
Riders will cover roughly 700km and 14,000 vertical metres over the 2021 event across eight stages and a prologue.
Event organisers released a short statement on Wednesday confirming the news and revealing registrations for 2021 will open on 16 October, 2020.
Regarding the worldwide development and the strict entry regulations in Australia, we unfortunately saw no alternative but to postpone the event to 2021.
The new date for the 26th edition of the Crocodile Trophy is: start October 15th in Cairns - finish in Port Douglas on 23rd 2021.
Due to the high demand (also from e-bikers) we decided to increase the maximum number of participants to 200 in 2021.
There will also be a 4 days Crocodile Trophy and other innovations.
Registration is open from October 16th 2020.
**Originally Printed in MTB Direct - By Dominic Unwin
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Over recent weeks we have remained positive and worked towards being able to deliver the third edition of Reef-to-Reef and 30th edition of Triple-R on 6-9 August 2020.
The Queensland Government, however, has recently extended the Queensland Public Health Emergency to 17 August 2020. This means that mass gatherings will still be restricted during our planned date and as a result, we will not be able to hit the trails in the beautiful tropical North together in 2020.
Please know that we love putting on these events as much as you love riding in them, and we share in the disappointment of this news.
All registered riders have been sent an email explaining their options, but if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team via reeftoreef@ironman.com. We thank you in advance for your understanding and your patience through this process.
Until we see you again for some Good Times Rolling, please stay safe.