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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 21:31

Glenbrook National Park Gravel ride

Time

1h53m

Distance

29.7km

Speed

19.1km/h

Ascent

550m

Descent

570m

went gravel riding

September 30, 2026 at 22:38

Glenbrook National Park Gravel ride

Time

1h59m

Distance

29.3km

Speed

18.0km/h

Ascent

560m

Descent

550m

and like this.

went gravel riding

September 24, 2026 at 00:04

Glenbrook National Park Gravel

Time

2h16m

Distance

40.7km

Speed

18.4km/h

Ascent

720m

Descent

700m

and like this.

went gravel riding

September 16, 2026 at 10:24

NW Moosalb Stream Trail – Epplesee Forchheim loop

Time

4h33m

Distance

50.9km

Speed

15.8km/h

Ascent

680m

Descent

670m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

September 9, 2026 at 09:00

EU26_34 Spielberg - Altstadt Gernsbach Loop 87km SE Loop

9-9-2026

Windy and wet overnight and this morning’s had a couple of showers and it’s very cold, 15°C and my nose keeps running. My hands are cold because I’m not wearing gloves and I’m hoping it warms up to the forecast 20°C, it may not get there if I’m in…

Time

7h25m

Distance

81.2km

Speed

14.5km/h

Ascent

1,680m

Descent

1,710m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

August 27, 2026 at 08:47

Pfinz River loop from Spielberg

EU26 _34 Pfinz River loop from Spielberg
27/8/2026
Another very relaxed start today, I slept in, which is unusual for me but I had decided I wasn’t going to ride today. While having breakfast and looking at the weather forecast it would be best to ride today. I quickly found…

Time

5h59m

Distance

78.5km

Speed

16.1km/h

Ascent

830m

Descent

820m

, , and others like this.

went mountain biking

August 24, 2026 at 06:57

EU26_32 a 63.55km loop - Trail to the Stahlbrücke & View of the River Enz

24/8/2026
It’s a chilly start to the ride today in the forest away from the sun feels like it’s about 10°. I’m heading in a different direction today. I’m heading east across towards the big wind turbines. I have ridden in that direction before but this is the first time…

Time

5h42m

Distance

63.6km

Speed

13.4km/h

Ascent

1,220m

Descent

1,230m

, , and others like this.

went mountain biking

August 23, 2026 at 07:12

EU26_31 a 60 km mountain bike Loop. Spielberg-Gaggenau-Ettlingen-Spielberg

23–8–26.
I’ve scoped out two versions of this loop, one being set to mountain bike, which is what I’m currently doing, and the other is set to gravel, to be used if I run out of time today because that one will certainly get me home quick if I need…

Time

6h11m

Distance

61.8km

Speed

13.3km/h

Ascent

1,170m

Descent

1,170m

, , and others like this.

went mountain biking

August 22, 2026 at 09:43

EU26_MTB Dietenhäuser Mill, Karlsbad Loop

Time

4h06m

Distance

44.1km

Speed

14.4km/h

Ascent

810m

Descent

820m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

August 21, 2026 at 06:20

Gravel ride to the Butcher and back

Time

1h42m

Distance

19.2km

Speed

14.3km/h

Ascent

350m

Descent

350m

went gravel riding

August 19, 2026 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

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

and like this.

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