Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Login or Signup

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.
(xenvaroqil.info/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.
xenvaroqil.info/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.
xenvaroqil.info/collection/1868391/-central-west-cycling-trail-completed-november-2021
xenvaroqil.info/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.
xenvaroqil.info/collection/2721273/-eu24-spain-to-germany
www.polarsteps.com/StephenPodmore

Followers

0

Following

0

Follow

Timeline

went gravel riding

a day ago

EU26_02 (part 3 of 3) to Beauvoir-en-Royans

Time

8h23m

Distance

68.0km

Speed

14.0km/h

Ascent

700m

Descent

760m

likes this.

went for a bike ride

a day ago

EU26_02 (part 2 of 3)

Time

1h10m

Distance

11.5km

Speed

13.2km/h

Ascent

150m

Descent

90m

likes this.

went gravel riding

a day ago

EU26_02 (part 1 of 3) Aoste

Time

0h18m

Distance

5.10km

Speed

17.7km/h

Ascent

30m

Descent

10m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

likes this.

about 6 hours ago

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

went gravel riding

2 days ago

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

Time

11h22m

Distance

114km

Speed

15.8km/h

Ascent

530m

Descent

600m

about 6 hours ago

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 like this.

5 days ago

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

Loading