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Jodie's first camp was back in 1989 and she was the first camper to bring a mountain bike! Before then, everyone had road bikes with drop handle bars. Jodie has always been a trail blazer and since that first camp has always ridden an MTB which is now the norm for camp. Jodes has been a leader on camp for many years and now co-directs camp with her husband, Pete. Bike Camp is no fun without Jodes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are the most common questions that we are asked. If you have a question that isn't covered here or in the About Bike Camp section, then contact us.

I'm thinking about coming on camp but I'm not sure if I can keep up as I don't ride my bike much. Will the pace be too fast for me?
We average about 10km per hour which isn't very fast and we make sure that everyone gets all the rest they need. We also plan the ride route so that it's not too hilly. If you have average fitness you will be fine. We take breaks every 5 to 7km and sometimes we hold the faster riders back so that you won't feel like you're coming last!

I do a lot of riding and other sports and am really fit. 10km per hour sounds too slow for me. Will I be bored?
If you are a super-fit cyclist, have no fear, your need for speed will be satisfied! No one has ever gone home from Bike Camp saying we rode too slow or not far enough. Sometimes we send the faster riders on a detour so that they cover more kilometres and more challenging terrain. Sometimes we give the slower riders a big head start and the faster riders have to try and catch up before the end of the section. Usually by the end of camp everyone is riding together at a very similar pace.

I don't have a bike but I still really want to come on camp. Can you help?
You need to provide your own bike but there are back yards and garages all over Australia with bikes in them that are not being used! Try asking a neighbour or school friend if you can borrow their bike, but make sure it is the right size for you and that the seat is a guy's seat if you are a guy and a girl's seat if you are a girl. If you have no luck with friends or neighbours, you can hire a bike from some bike shops. Alternatively, contact the camp directors as we may be able to arrange a bike that we can lend to the right size people if you ask nicely!

What is the best type of bike for Bike Camp?
You don't need anything fancy, but you will need a bike with gears. You will not be able to make the distance on a BMX or a three-speed cruiser. This is a cycle touring camp and we cover a lot of kilometres. This isn't stunt bike camp! Racers or road bikes are fine as are mountain bikes. The perfect "dream" bike for Bike Camp is a light weight 21-speed mountain bike or hybrid with a comfy seat and "slick" tyres. Big knobbley tyres will slow you down on sealed roads. You don't need suspension or anything fancy like that.

Do I need cycling nicks to ride in?
Your butt will be grateful for the extra padding but you don't have to have cycling nicks. Most of us just ride in shorts and a T shirt. Cycling gloves are good to have but also not essential. Make sure all your clothes are comfortable for riding. A tip from us: jeans are not comfortable riding gear!

Do I need to bring any tools for my bike?
You need to bring one spare inner tube that fits your bike. Other than that, we carry all the gear we need for minor repairs. It is handy to have a pump and puncture repair kit on your bike but not essential.

I don't have a tent. Is that OK?
No problem. If you have a tent of your own then bring it but if you don't, we have some extra tents or you can share with someone who does have a tent. Guys and girls pitch their tents separately and their areas are out of bounds to each other. If you have a swag you can bring it and sleep in that.

I can't live without my iPod. Can I bring it on camp?
No. Get a life! Bike Camp is about getting out of the city and into the country for an adventure with a bunch of other young people so leave any electronic entertainment devices at home. You'll be too busy peddling for solitary entertainment.

My parents want to visit me during the camp. Is this OK?
This is your week away and we do not recommend that your parents pay you a visit. It kind of changes the mood of camp if we have parents dropping in. It is also a danger to the cyclists on the road to have extra cars following them.

I would like to use Bike Camp to contribute to my Duke of Edinbrough Award requirements. Can the camp directors sign my book?
Yes, we can sign off your D of E book but you need to contact the camp directors in advance and let them know that you would like them to assess you. This is so that we can be assessing you all week. Don't just produce your book on the last day of camp for a signature or we will have to decline.

I would like to come on camp but I'll be on my own. Do I have to bring a friend?
Absolutely not. Most of the kids on camp come on their own and make friends on day one. Some people bring a friend with them but we're all friends by the end of camp. There have been friendships formed on Bike Camp that have lasted for decades!

I live closer to the start of the ride than I do to Sydney. Can I get someone to drop me off at the start of the ride rather than travel all the way to Sydney?
Good idea. You can meet us there and have a sleep in on day one! We are usually at the start of our ride by 12-1pm on the first day of camp. Please let the camp directors know that you will be meeting us at the start rather than in Sydney because they need to know this for transport logistics. We will then let you know exactly when and where to meet us in that town.

I live a long way from Sydney and a long way from the start of camp. Can I travel to Sydney the day before camp starts and be put up for the night?
Yes. We can arrange for you to stay over night at the home of one of the other camper's families in Sydney, the night before camp. Just let us know well in advance.

I have something else on and need to start camp a day later or leave camp a day or two early. Is this OK.
We recommend that you make the time to come to the full week of camp. If you start a day or two later, you'll always be the new kid, no matter how hard the leaders try to include you in the group. If you leave early, you will miss the best part of camp which is achieving the impressive goal of reaching your destination by your own peddle power. If there is no way around it, you can join camp late or leave early but you will have to arrange your own transport and cover the cost of this. There is no discount for the days you do not spend on camp if this is what you decide to do.

I am in year 8 and REALLY want to come on Bike Camp. Is this possible?
If your parents believe that you are mature enough to handle a full week away from home, under challenging physical conditions, pitching tents every day, cycling for most of the day and then helping with camp chores at night, then we will consider applicants from year 8 kids. They need to be competent riders with the emotional maturity to cut it with the big kids. If they have an older sibling on camp, this is ideal. We cannot consider applicants in year 7 or under.

Just how churchy is this camp? Will we be talking about God and the bible all day and all night?
The format for the camp includes a bible study each morning after breakfast, before we start peddling for our next destination. This is the only formal Christian element to the camp, other than saying grace before dinner! The leaders are willing to talk to you about how having a relationship with God makes their life so much better, but it's not something we ram down your necks. We think that living by example is a better way to go.