Is the Border Run XL a Race? Is there an entry fee?
You'll need to take everything you need on the ride or buy it from towns along the way. Don't worry, there are a few of these along the way, which makes the ride manageable. We'll cover this later.
You also have the freedom to decide how you'll tackle the ride. Ride it straight through or ride it over two or three days staying accommodation in towns or camping along the way.
What sort of bike should I ride?
A gravel bike will be best for this ride. Tyres at least 35 mm wide are recommended. The roads are not particularly rocky, but tyres at least 35 mm will help make any corrugated sections more comfortable and reduce the chance of punctures.
As with all of our longer rides, we strongly recommend using robust tyres that are near to new. We also strongly recommend running tubeless. Make sure you start the ride with freshly topped up your sealant.
Where can I get food and water along the way?
The route has been put together with plenty of resupply options in mind to help you get through the ride. Here's a brief rundown of towns along the course:
- Kinglake (70 km)
- Alexandra (157 km)
- Bonnie Doon (194 km)
- Swanpool (243 km)
- Benalla (269 km)
- Wangaratta (318 km - includes a 24hr service station)
How do I get back from Albury?
There is a V/Line train service that runs from Albury to Melbourne. As I type this in Sep 2024, there are regular V/Line trains leaving Albury at 6:45am, 12:51pm and 5:27pm every day. When looking at the train timetable you'll see an XPT train - ignore those trains - they are regional trains run by NSW TrainLink and they are MILITANT about bikes needing to be in boxes before letting you on. It's crazy, I know! I repeat, do not try to catch an XPT train! You can find V/Line train timetables here or you can jump straight to a PDF here. These links will change from time to time, so if they no longer work when you see this, Google will be your friend!
Are there any bailout options?
If you want to call your ride short there are some bailout options along the way but you will need to get to Benalla (270 km) for an easy exit option. At Benalla, you can get a train back to Melbourne. The course also passes through Wangaratta (318 km) which is on the same train line.
Other than that you might be forced to phone a friend, unless you get lucky with a coach service that will let you on.
Will people ride together?
A 400 km ride is not like a Wednesday morning social ride! With a huge range of fitness, experience and skill levels riders will be riding at a variety of paces. Different riders will have different approaches too. Some are leaving on Friday (instead of Saturday). Some are planning to camp along the way. Some are planning to flashpack booking accommodation at towns. Some are planning to ride straight through in one go.
This all means that riders will be split up very early on and smaller groups could form. Rope in some riding friends to join you, or you might make some new friends on course riding at a similar pace along the way. We just provide the idea, a course and some logistics information; the Border Run XL is a blank canvas for you to create your own adventure!
Where should I stay if I want to flashpack?
There are plenty of towns with accommodation along the way. If you want a 2-day option with an even distance split you do the following:
- Day 1: Melbourne - Bonnie Doon (194 km)
- Day 2: Bonnie Doon - Albury (203 km)
Another 2-day mission with a big first day which gets most of the climbing out the way would have you stay in Benalla:
- Day 1: Melbourne to Benalla (270 km)
- Day 2: Benalla to Albury (127 km). Recovery ride!
A good 3-day option would have you staying in Alexandra and Benalla:
- Day 1: Melbourne - Alexandra (158 km)
- Day 2: Alexandra - Benalla (112 km)
- Day 3: Benalla - Albury (127 km)
The Border Run date doesn't work for me. Can I do it some other time?
If the published date doesn't work, give it a shot when it does. The course is entirely public access, so you can do it whenever works for you.
What is the course like?
We have prepared and tested a mostly gravel course from the old Melbourne GPO on the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke Streets to Albury. The course is available here.
This course has significantly more climbing than the original Border Run course. It's XL in distance both horizontal and vertical in comparison. Most of the climbing is packed into the first 240 km. The first major climb on the course up Bowden Spur is perhaps the most challenging, so don't let that scare you too much.
After a bike path commute along the Darebin Creek, a nice safe exit from the Melbourne CBD (please be mindful of walkers on this section), we've picked quiet backroads and some of our favourite gravel roads heading north. It's an interesting course with some climbs you may not have done before and regular services along the way.
There is some lovely scenic riding on this course. As you climb Bowden Spur towards Kinglake don't forget to wave goodbye to the distance Melbourne towers if it's a clear morning. There's some nice forest riding, big gravel climbs and some lovely views of Lake Eildon as you head north. While the route flattens out towards the end, there are some rollers to tackle through the farmland in the final 150 km.
What do I need to take?
What you need to take depends on your approach. Here's what we recommend taking for a flashpacking trip over a couple of days:
- Lights: Bring a good rear light and a front light that will allow you to see on the road, not just be seen. Depending on how quickly you go you may need lights at both ends of the day. Plan for the unexpected! Good quality lights with a long battery life are increasingly important if you are planning to ride through the night.
- Repair / emergency: tubeless repair kit, small sealant bottle, spare tube, puncture repair kit, pump (check that it still works), chain quick-links, and multi-tool (with chain breaker). It's also wise to take a space blanket - if you are planning to ride straight through this is a good safety option in case you need to stop and stay warm!
- Food / water: take enough food and water to travel the distance between towns. The longest distance between towns is 87 km. We suggest at least two large water bottles, but you may need to carry more in hot conditions. If you're planning to ride straight through there is a 24-hr service station in Wangaratta where you will be able to get some snacks.
- Clothing for the ride: take clothing suitable for the weather conditions (arm warmers and leg warmers if needed, and wet weather gear if the weather is looking average). A light weight wind jacket is always a smart thing to take - you can wear it after your ride too. If you're planning to ride through the night make sure you bring warm clothing - you'll feel the cold more as you tire. Keep in mind that it can dip below zero with frosty mornings quite regularly in the towns along the course, especially further north.
- Gear for off the bike: this is always tricky. Any comfort items you want for after the ride or for overnight stays need to be packed on your bike and lugged up all the climbs. A change of clothes and shoes might be nice, but you will have to carry it. In the Curve squad, some of us err on the side of grottiness, taking only a change of underwear, maybe a spare T-shirt (we will walk around in our bike shoes, and wear a wind jacket if it gets a little cool) and some basic medication and toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush). Don't forget to take a wall charger and cables for any electronics you need to charge overnight.
- Bags: Make sure you have sufficient storage on your bike for what you need to carry. Standard bikepacking bags are a good choice. A saddle pack is a smart option and can fit a lot of stuff. Feed bags are a great option for carrying food in a way that's readily accessible on the bike. A top tube bag is also handy for carrying your phone, wallet and snack.
- Please, please, please be cautious on the shared use paths early on the course. These paths are used by walkers even very early in the morning. Be courteous and say hello to other trail users!
- Please, please, please, please be extremely cautious on descents. This is meant to be a fun social ride not a long trip to a hospital. We don't want to see anyone riding beyond their abilities and crashing by overcooking a descent. Even if you have all the skill in the world something you may not have experienced is the dense animal populations common outside of the city. You DO NOT want to hit a wombat, wallaby, kangaroo or deer on course, especially at pace on a descent. It is very likely you will come across these animals. Animal encounters are more likely at night. So please be cautious and take the descents SLOWLY, especially at night.
- With a course this long, there could be some unexpected road works or closures even with recent course testing. If that happens please let us know so we can check the duration of the closure and update the course if necessary. Out in the field, if you face a road closure, you will have to find your own way around and try to rejoin the course as soon as possible!