2020, 500km Monaro Cloudride Prologue

The 500km Monaro Cloudride Prologue is an annual bikepacking event held in Canberra, Australia over the Canberra day long weekend, in early March. This event is designed to be a pre-curser to the 1000km version or for people just getting into self-supported long distance bikepacking. It isn’t really a race but some people treat it as one. Most people are just happy to finish. That’s the category that I fit into.

After 2019’s attempt of this event (which has a different route each time) resulting in a DNF (Did Not Finish) and subsequent research into what I should have done to be able to finish this event, which was have a nutrition plan and stick to it, get a lighter bike and carry less equipment, I was able to reach my goal and finish.

Below are the Facebook posts from the ride.

Made it to slightly out of Berridale around 205km with 2500 elevation gain on the first day of the 2020 500km Monaro cloudride prologue. Crossed over 16 water crossings some with water over my knees. Was windy on the Snowy Mountain highway from Adaminaby. Day two and I’m in Nimmitabel for brunch then off to Cooma, Numeralla, Jerrangle. The Spot Tracker that was supplied to me wasn’t working the the first part of day one due to the event team having to configure mine and others at the last minute. People could watch me via the Maprogress website link.

  • Everyone ready to begin
    Everyone ready to begin
  • My bike and some others at the begining
    My bike and some others at the begining
  • Lunch at Horse Gully Hut
    Lunch at Horse Gully Hut
  • Brunch at Nimmitabel day two
    Brunch at Nimmitabel day two
Camping spot night 1

Another two big days of riding from just outside Berridale to just near Jerangle (as my lights ran out of power 6km from Jerangle at around 11pm) via Cooma and Numerella for lunch. Rode 150km day two. Got lost after Rose Valley as the owner wasn’t letting people go through his property anymore but eventually made it back onto the route, catching up with Dante and Peter. The final day was 140km from Jerangle back to the start/finish line at Bentspoke, via Rosi, Hoskinstown and Bungendore. Only dropped 3kg of body weight over the ride. Am eating KFC, in record time, for dinner at home right now and am looking forward to having a shower and sleeping in my own bed tonight.

  • Stopped at Nummerella tennis club for a late lunch and some minor bike repairs
    Stopped at Nummerella tennis club for a late lunch and some minor bike repairs
  • Filling up drink bottles at Jerangle public school day three
    Filling up drink bottles at Jerangle public school day three
  • Finish
    Finish
  • This is my Komoot GPS route of the ride
    This is my Komoot GPS route of the ride
Camping spot night 2

The Monaro cloudride prologue 500km bicycle event was up there with one of the most demanding physically and mentally draining events that I have completed, and I loved it. Elapsed time was 62 hours and riding time was 36 hours. Click here to view the entire route on Komoot.

You can view all the posts from the offical Facebook page of the Monaro Cloudride Breathtaking Events here

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