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Stephen Podmore

I started bikepacking & touring in 2020 after being relieved of my employment during Covid & immediately decided I would retire & explore what was possible on a bike by myself or with anyone willing to tag along with me or possibly me with someone.
My first trip was from my home in the Blue Mountains NSW Australia to the Gold Coast of Queensland over 15 days or so including zero days.
(komoot.com/collection/1068536/-glenbrook-nsw-to-the-gold-coast-qld-completed-december-2020)
Next tour was in 2021 starting from Buderim with the intention of completing a big loop in country Queensland. Again my naivety saw this not eventuate after a knee problem (pushing too hard too early) & restarting from Proserpine with the guidance of a mate (Neil) who was already touring & offered to teach me a lesson or many. Thank you Neil. My equipment & water carrying capacity was too restrictive to head into the Queensland outback where Neil had been & would return to after we reached Cairns. I would have loved to have done that.
komoot.com/collection/1283372/-poddys-qld-tour-completed-in-2021
2022 saw a short tour in the Central West of NSW & then the first of a few more tours in Europe. I learnt a lot from these trips; what I really needed to take, how to take, where to pack & to take in the sights, sounds, aromas & delights & to slow down.
komoot.com/collection/1868391/-central-west-cycling-trail-completed-november-2021
komoot.com/collection/1666523/-eu22-tour-of-europe-completed-july-to-september-2022
It was this tour that I started writing my quirky narratives each day. Amazingly I stuck to my planned routes in the main except where I found or was told of better places, routes & to catch up with a mate near Lyon.
In 2024 I ventured into Spain starting from Madrid with the intention to again make my way to my son's home in Germany via some of the Montanas Vacias route. My gravel bike was fine for the bits done.
komoot.com/collection/2721273/-eu24-spain-to-germany
www.polarsteps.com/StephenPodmore

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went gravel riding

Yesterday at 06:04

EU26 30 Herrenberg to Spielberg

19/8/26
Good morning everyone, the day looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day after a rainy night. I slept pretty well, again with earplugs, because the room was a bit noisy as I had the windows open to allow some fresh, cooler air into the room. Breakfast was…

Time

7h06m

Distance

74.7km

Speed

13.9km/h

Ascent

1,030m

Descent

1,140m

, and like this.

went gravel riding

August 18, 2026 at 06:16

EU26_29 Großbottwar to Herrenberg

18/8/26
Last night was pretty good, dinner was roast beef with gravy and spätzle, no sign of vegetables or salad though. I also slept well, with the ear plugs in this time because the church nearby chimed every hour through the night. At least one chime for each hour after…

Time

6h55m

Distance

80.2km

Speed

14.8km/h

Ascent

880m

Descent

670m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

August 17, 2026 at 08:47

EU26_28 Spielberg to Großbottwar

17/8/26

Embarking on a short tour with a much lighter setup replacing the tent, camp, sleep, rain and shower gear with a credit card 😂
That translates to no handlebar bag (just the small companion bag), no panniers, 1 less bottle, no power banks, no Exposure D-Max light (only taking…

Time

6h49m

Distance

84.6km

Speed

15.7km/h

Ascent

770m

Descent

890m

went for a bike ride

August 10, 2026 at 05:28

EU26_ 10/07/2026 Pirmasens to Contwig return to Spielberg 😞

10/07/2026 Pirmasens to Contwig return to Spielberg 😞

This trip was not originally planned and to be honest, probably the planning I did was pushing myself too hard. I had an inkling that I had maybe picked up a virus but I felt better than reasonable. Yesterday was so hard…

Time

11h38m

Distance

138km

Speed

16.4km/h

Ascent

950m

Descent

1,040m

and like this.

went gravel riding

August 9, 2026 at 06:20

EU26_ 09/08/2026 the first day of riding to the UK or that was the plan.

I’m 65 km in on a ride that was meant to be 98 km. A number of factors will blow that out to 123k; climate change is the big one as the Rhine River, which borders France and Germany, is so low that the small ferry I was going to…

Time

10h19m

Distance

123km

Speed

16.2km/h

Ascent

650m

Descent

590m

likes this.

went gravel riding

July 29, 2026 at 15:00

Gravel ride to Flo’s Garage Bike Repairs

Time

1h48m

Distance

17.2km

Speed

16.6km/h

Ascent

250m

Descent

250m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

July 17, 2026 at 06:52

EU26_25 Kehl to Spielberg

Friday 17/7/2026
The grand finale for this wayward adventure. I’m disappointed my grand tour plans didn’t work out but that’s more the ego that has to deal with that. It has taught me that family is more important than some of my more indulgent adventures as this one really was.

Time

5h00m

Distance

83.9km

Speed

19.2km/h

Ascent

400m

Descent

190m

went gravel riding

July 16, 2026 at 06:31

EU26_24 Bantzenheim to Kehl

Thursday 16/7/2026
I had a nice Italian meal last night, not fancy, not pasta, but a balanced meal.
Sleep was ok, albeit a bit warm and with regular storms passing through.
I see it is Europe v South America for the World Cup; I was going to watch the match…

Time

5h55m

Distance

98.6km

Speed

19.1km/h

Ascent

180m

Descent

250m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

July 15, 2026 at 06:12

EU26_23 Montbéliard to Bantzenheim

Wednesday 15/7/2026

I didn’t go out for dinner last night, mostly because there was only fast food because of the festivities, so I just ate my remaining bread with berry jam.
I should’ve made time to do some stretching last night and I didn’t. I spent the time cleaning out…

Time

6h25m

Distance

78.6km

Speed

16.5km/h

Ascent

220m

Descent

320m

and like this.

went gravel riding

July 13, 2026 at 06:27

EU26_21 Beaurepaire-en-Bresse to Routelle

Monday 13/7/2026

Well I didn’t get away early this morning, check out and breakfast were only open from 7 o’clock as it turned out. I had breakfast, a couple of strong cups of coffee, cereal, yoghurt and some hot bread buns with berry jam. I wasn’t able to pocket any…

Time

6h25m

Distance

91.9km

Speed

18.3km/h

Ascent

270m

Descent

260m

, , and others like this.

went for a bike ride

July 12, 2026 at 06:27

EU26_20 Nivigne et Suran to Beaurepaire-en-Bresse

Sunday 12/7/2026
Good morning. I had a really, really good sleep. The campsite was very basic but good though I had to provide my own toilet paper at this one.

So today I was going to head off early but given that it’s a shorter day, I enjoyed the sleep…

Time

4h29m

Distance

60.2km

Speed

15.4km/h

Ascent

680m

Descent

780m

went gravel riding

July 11, 2026 at 06:03

EU26_19 Morestel to Nivigne et Suran

Saturday 11/7/2026
It’s about 3 o’clock in the morning and there is a huge storm. It had been threatening since I’ve turned the light out at about 21:45. There was lightning in the distance and rumbling but at 3 o’clock it certainly came over with loud claps of thunder, probably…

Time

6h53m

Distance

81.5km

Speed

16.7km/h

Ascent

520m

Descent

420m

, and like this.

went gravel riding

July 10, 2026 at 05:54

EU26_18 Voreppe to Morestel

Friday 10/7/2026

Well I had a really good stay last night in this Ibis hotel in Voreppe, the staff really looked after me nicely really very personal. The attention was very nice.
It’s now 7:45 and I’m on the on the road.

There were three couples I met this morning…

Time

8h27m

Distance

90.5km

Speed

15.5km/h

Ascent

800m

Descent

780m

, and like this.

went gravel riding

July 9, 2026 at 05:37

EU26_17 La Motte-Fanjas to Voreppe

Thursday 9/7/2026

Even if I ride the 15% climb, which is not that long (about 700m) and even if I ride it at 3.5 km/h, it’s still riding right? I’ve actually ridden this hill before after staying at the castle campground on day 4 when I rode back to Grenoble…

Time

4h21m

Distance

58.8km

Speed

15.8km/h

Ascent

360m

Descent

390m

, and like this.

went for a bike ride

July 8, 2026 at 05:26

EU26_16 Le Pouzin to La Motte-Fanjas

EU26_16 Le Pouzin to La Motte-Fanjas
Wednesday 8/7/2026

Woken up to a beautiful morning it belies what is going to eventuate today but I’ll take it for what it is at the moment. It’s 20°. Just beautiful. It would be great if it was like this all day but it’s…

Time

6h40m

Distance

79.3km

Speed

15.9km/h

Ascent

470m

Descent

340m

, and like this.

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