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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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Recent Activity

went gravel riding.

5 days ago

Mountains to Murray River rail trail Day 5 Rutherglen to Beechworth via Everton

05:06

75.1km

14.7km/h

640m

270m

View

went gravel riding.

6 days ago

Mountains to Murray River rail trail Day 4 Wangaratta to The Murray River then to Rutherglen

04:40

74.2km

15.9km/h

320m

290m

View

went gravel riding.

7 days ago

Mountains to Murray River rail trail Day 3 Myrtleford to Wangaratta

04:11

70.1km

16.8km/h

330m

390m

View

and went gravel riding.

February 10, 2026

Mountains to Murray River rail trail Day 2 Bright - Harrietville - Myrtleford

04:34

83.5km

18.3km/h

270m

400m

View

went gravel riding.

February 9, 2026

Mountains to Murray River rail trail - day 1 Beechworth to Bright

04:47

85.4km

17.8km/h

450m

630m

View

planned a gravel ride.

January 28, 2026

Day 4 - Wangaratta to Rutherglen

05:29

56.5km

10.3km/h

110m

90m

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
View

planned a gravel ride.

January 28, 2026

Day 3 - Myrtleford to Wangaratta

04:07

58.3km

14.2km/h

180m

240m

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
View

planned a gravel ride.

January 28, 2026

Day 2 - Bright to Myrtleford via Harrietville

05:17

74.9km

14.2km/h

300m

460m

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
View

went mountain biking.

January 26, 2026

Oaks Fire Trail Up and Down and Singletrack MTB

04:39

71.0km

15.3km/h

1,520m

1,490m

View

went gravel riding.

January 21, 2026

Long Angle Gully - Blue Gum Swamp, South Grose Head Gravel

03:01

47.7km

15.8km/h

830m

820m

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