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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

2 days ago

EU26_11 Embrun to 'Les Rives du Drac - Bonnette

Friday 3/7/3026

I had a nice camp spot at Embrun and the owners said I was the first Australian to stay with them with a bicycle. They let me stay for free and also gave me a croissant and a coffee gratis as well 😊
Straight out of the caravan…

Time

7h01m

Distance

59.1km

Speed

11.6km/h

Ascent

1,270m

Descent

1,150m

and like this.

went gravel riding

3 days ago

EU26_10 Briancon to Embrun

Time

5h25m

Distance

58.3km

Speed

15.2km/h

Ascent

620m

Descent

1,030m

, , and others like this.

went for a bike ride

4 days ago

EU26_09 Le Bourg d'Oisans to Briançon

Wednesday 1/7/2026
I’m sleeping so well in my tent nowadays, so good 👍👌
Not sure why but I guess fatigue helps.
I managed to get away at about 7:30 which is good for me and with no errors in packing at last!
Today I have one climb, the Col du…

Time

8h26m

Distance

70.6km

Speed

12.2km/h

Ascent

1,520m

Descent

1,010m

and like this.

went gravel riding

5 days ago

EU26_08 Allemond to Le Bourg d'Oisans

Tuesday 30/6/2026

I only made one mistake today packing up the tent, a pretty obvious one. I was meant to put the tent poles into the rack pack because it doesn’t fit comfortably in the handlebar bag and I really don’t want to damage the handlebar bag with the sharp…

Time

6h19m

Distance

36.4km

Speed

9.2km/h

Ascent

1,210m

Descent

1,270m

and like this.

went gravel riding

6 days ago

EU26_06 Grenoble to Allemont

Grenoble peak hour is very different to Sunday sleep in. The city was buzzing but with bicycles blending into the traffic with separate lanes and relaxed rules for cyclists not having to stop at stop signs and red lights so long as it’s safe to not do so. It works…

Time

5h35m

Distance

56.3km

Speed

14.1km/h

Ascent

660m

Descent

150m

, , and others like this.

went gravel riding

June 27, 2026

EU26 _04 27/6 Beauvoir-en-Royans to Grenoble

Time

4h14m

Distance

53.6km

Speed

16.2km/h

Ascent

230m

Descent

280m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

and like this.

went gravel riding

June 25, 2026

EU26_02 25/6 (part 3 of 3) to Beauvoir-en-Royans

Time

8h23m

Distance

68.0km

Speed

14.0km/h

Ascent

700m

Descent

760m

, and like this.

went for a bike ride

June 25, 2026

EU26_02 25/6 (part 2 of 3)

Time

1h10m

Distance

11.5km

Speed

13.2km/h

Ascent

150m

Descent

90m

, and like this.

went gravel riding

June 25, 2026

EU26_02 25/6 (part 1 of 3) Aoste

Time

0h18m

Distance

5.10km

Speed

17.7km/h

Ascent

30m

Descent

10m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, and like this.

June 26, 2026

I was lost... Komoot didn't update day 2 correctly when changing the route yesterday

went gravel riding

June 24, 2026

EU26_01 24/6 Villars-les-Dombes to gîte À pied à bicyclette Aoste

Time

11h22m

Distance

114km

Speed

15.8km/h

Ascent

530m

Descent

600m

, , and others like this.

June 26, 2026

Well it’s day 1 of the adventure and the plan for the next two days has already changed. The month long heatwave is not breaking until 1/7 with temperatures between 39 and 40 for the remaining days of June.



I will eventually be following the Rhone River so I can be near water and services geared for

went mountain biking

June 18, 2026

Blue Mountains National Park - Anderson and Oaks Fire Trails

Time

4h17m

Distance

62.7km

Speed

17.9km/h

Ascent

1,170m

Descent

1,820m

, , and others like this.

June 21, 2026

Water level is low in the creek even with recent rains. I got my feet wet last time.

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