Ridn4Mates1V
The Leader
It took the loss of good friends to Brain Cancer for Brad Bates to get angry enough to put his heart into doing something about it. Doing it 4 Mates, then Ridn 4 Mates gave him an outlet, a way of contributing to the fight against Brain Cancer.
He'd seen his friend Mark Hughes do something too, he started the Mark Hughes Foundation that now has world wide reach in seeking a cure, initiating scientific research in collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute. A massive $38 million dollars has been raised by the MHF.
Brad's three rides to date in 2022, 2023 and 2024 have raised over $158,000. You'd think that might be enough, but no, not Brad.
He's challenging us, his mates, friends and family to participate in or support his 2026 campaign, ride from Darwin to Bulga, just 4300 kilometres on the bikes.
Behind the Scenes
It takes more than ideas and energetic riders to make this a success.
You need people like Sammy Harris, born in Singleton, grew up in Bulga. Sammy does the invisible stuff, she thinks of things, tidies up the mess. She looks after sponsors, the budget and the money.
What you see is what you get with Sammy, she has a passion to help
Sammy's been with us since day one, a beautiful person with her dads heart. We'd be lost without her.
The Support Crew
Every day this event will rely on the support team to keep us rolling. Its such a tough job, long slow hours between rousing us ot of bed, sorting breakfasts, road supplies, lunch and dinner and tucking us in. Accomodation or camping needs to be sorted, oh and there's the esky.
You have no idea how important these people are. So riders, remember how much they do when you're feeling a bit tired and temperamental.
Thanks so much to you all for getting involved.
The Ride
This is not an event to be taken lightly. Its a huge all round test, mentally, physically, emotionally. The emotional stuff starts when you prick your ears up, hearing about the opportunity at the pub. Is this for me, am I up to it, am I still up to 4,300 ks. Can I crack out 200 k days, a couple in a row, 10 days straight, then 9 then 8. 165 ks average every day for a month. Seems a bit crazy.
The Route
June 27 to July 25th 2026
Camping at Noonambah south of Darwin CBD from your arrival date until we ride out.
1 Sat 27th Noonamah Camping Darwin to Pine Creek RH 183
2 Sun 28th Pine Creek Road House to Katherine Camping at Nitmiluk Gorge Caravan Park 95 ks
3 Mon 29th Katherine to Mataranka (Cabins) 110
4 Tue 30th Mataranka to Daly Water's Hi Way Inn RH 165 (Booked a bed each in a cabin)
5 Wed 1st Daly Waters to Newcastle Waters Camping G RA 133
6 Thu 2nd Newcastle Waters to Renner Springs (Motel) 120
7 Fri 3rd Renner Springs to Tennant Creek 160
8 Sat 4th Tennant Creek to Barrow Creek 205
9 Sun 5th Barrow Creek to Ti Tree RH 100
10 Mon 6th Ti Tree to Alice Springs (G'Day Mate Tourist Park Pre paid) 195
11 Tue 7th Rest Day
12 Wed 8th Alice to Ghan (Motel) 200
13 Thu 9th Ghan to Agnes Creek RA G 170
14 Fri 10th Agnes Creek to Cadney Park RH 165
15 Sat 11th Cadney Park to Coober Pede (Lookout Cave Motel Pre paid)155
16 Sun 12th Coober Pede to Bon Bon RA G T 170
17 Mon 13 th Bon Bon to Pimba RH 200
18 Tue 14th Pimba to Port Augusta (Motel) 180
19 Wed 15th Rest Day Port Augusta
20 Thu 16th Port Augusta to Peterborough (Motel) 130
21 Fri 17th Peterborough to Olary (Camping over the road from the pub) 170
22 Sat 18th Olary to Broken Hill (Motel) 120
23 Sun 19th Broken Hill to Wilcannia (Warrawong Camping Ground) 195
24 Mon 20th Wilcannia to Bush Camp G 200
25 Tue 21st Bush Camp to Nyngan (Pub) 200
26 Wed 22nd Nyngan to Dubbo (Pub) 165
27 Thu 23rd Dubbo to Rylstone(Pub)180
28 Fri 24th Rylstone to Denman 124
29 Sat 25th Denman to Bulga 65
RH means Road House, some beds, food water, showers, power.
RA means Rest Area T means toilets G means generator needed (perhaps only 4 or 5 nights without a mains power source)
4300 ks 27 ride days
Average 160 per day
18 over 150
7 more over 200
5 or 6 campouts, probably more as we try to sort out accomodation.
Darwin to Port Augusta 2700
Port Augusta home 1500
The Touring Team
Riders whole ride
Brad Bates. Driving up June 19
Ian Kidd. Flying up June 24
Matt Harris. Flying
Dane Macdougall Flying
Martin Parker. Flying June 24
John Gillard. Bus up June 13
Noel McCutchan. Flying June 24
Bob McGuiness. Bus June 13
Gavin Vickers. Flying June 24
Danny Hanley. Flying June 24
Ben Heil. Flying June 24
Liam Bates. Flying June 25
Mick Tanner. Bus June 13
Steve McAllister. Bus June 13
Matt Staley. Flying June 24
15 Riders
Riders Port Augusta to Bulga
Jamie Prior
Steve Rae
Support Crew
These people are our lifeline. They are not slaves or servants they are there for the journey, the experience, just like the riders.
They will drive the vehicles and trailers every day. They'll probably give us the morning call to get out of bed. They'll put out our breakfast and pack up camp after we've left to ride. They'll follow or get infront of us to make drink stops ,morning tea, lunch and arvo stops work. The bus and trailer will follow last to deal with any issues at the back.
When the ride pulls into town they will have located our accommodation, plugged in the cookhouse, prepared dinner or booked a pub. Most importantly they'll be there to join in the madness, have a few beers and enjoy themselves.
Car 1 Pat O'Hara. Flying. Paul Rubie lives In Darwin
Car 2 Muz and AJ Drive to Darwin
Car 3 Bus Jack and crew up to Darwin then hand over to Darren Heil as support crew and bus driver.
Or any mix of the above support crew on any day.
So we are all team of 20 departing Darwin on the adventure of a lifetime. We pick up two legends, Jamie and Steve at Port Augusta and head for home.
Costs and Budgets
Riders will bear the cost of all transport up and back, bus rent, vehicle fuel, ride food, ride clothing. At this stage expect $1500 to $2500 but it's an unknown, we'll keep working on it.
Accomodation on the road and flight up costs are yours to pay.
Benny and Muz will handle on road expense through a separate rider account
There are flights out of Newcastle on June 24th departing 7.10 am arriving 1.40 pm $300 to $400
Travelling up
Those flying might be leaving on June 24 or earlier.
Vehicle departure dates to be confirmed , at this stage departing on June13th, Brad later on the 19th.
The three trailers will depot at Murray's on a date to be decided to pack everything prior to departure, it will be before June 13th.
Other bits and pieces
At this stage we are talking, planning, thinking.
Things that need to be or have been sorted
👍First Aid Kits, we now have two new ones donated by Maddison Safety and one already in our kit donated by them, thanks heaps Tim Maddison.
👍Defibrillator Benny has secured one
👍Epipens we have two plus Jacks personal ones
👍First Aid Practioners, Gav Dane Mat and Mick are all will and able to step up
Sunscreen, we'll buy some.
👍Benny has suggested a battery powered chainsaw for firewood, brilliant. Jack has one.
👍Do we need a small welder, yep Mick Tanner has it sorted.
👍Tyre repair kits Muz has got it covered
👍Fire extinguishers, Mus has secured two and there is one in the Bar B Que trailer with a fire blanket.
Water
Each rider might consume 10 litres of water over the whole day. There is a 60 litre tank in the cookhouse and a keg hot water system. Plastic 10 litre containers might be best for the rest, distributed between the three vehicles. We need at least two days water, more when it gets remote. 500 kilos of water for 2.5 days spread over 3 cars and trailers.
Communication
👍 Starlink Brads got it
👍 Eperb Gav has one
Car radios
Vehicles
👍 Muz is the fleet manager.
On the way up
Muz has sorted bus rental options with Hertz, they have been great, we just need to finalise details, well done team.
1 Brads ute with the Camping Gear Trailer leaving the 19th. This luggage trailer has been kindly donated by the great John Limond, from Funcoach4u. Thanks so much John, if you ever need a bus for a fun trip John is your man.
2 Muz ute with Westpac Cook House Trailer leaving around June 13th. Again a big thank you to Richard Jones from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service for their support providing this trailer.
3 Bus with Bike Trailer and 4 or 5 passengers leaving on June 13th. Cheers to the Kurri Mongrels for the use of the bike trailer.
On the ride
1 Brad's Ute with Camping Gear.
2 Muz ute with Cook House trailer, up front setting up the stops, lunch and arranging accomodation
3 Bus with bike trailer, always at the back
Who drives what will sort itself out.
Each vehicle and trailer will need a decent tool kit, spare wheels, a supply of water, emergency food, communications, a first aide kit, puncturerepair kit, any other suggestions.
👍Catering
Cooks and support Pat O'Hara, Rubes, Muz, AJ, Darrin. And all riders are expected to do their share when required.
On the road. Breakfasts will be light, cereal, toast, maybe spaghetti etc, tea and coffee to allow us to be on the road riding as early as possible. On short days we might get the luxury of a sit down breakfast but generally we need to be on the bikes as early as we can.
Stops will be biscuits, lollies,fruit, cakes.
Lunch will be simple wraps, sandwiches, fruit, soup. Stuff we can get into on arrival at the stop, quickly rest then go again.
Dinner will be meat and vegetables in camp, a pub or a roadhouse.
We now have a 7 day cyclical menu and a shopping list to support it.
We have had an offer from Bidfoods, via Alan Moyle to provide some of the bulk of our shopping list, it can be sourced from their depot in Darwin. A full shopping list had been sent to Bidfoods on March 12th and they have replied and negotiations are underway. We will arrange for a pick-up between June 24 and 26th at their warehouse 94 O'Sullivan's Cct East Arm
Each town or camp has variable food availability. Here's a list of where food is available or scarce,
Darwin Major Shopping Centre ****
Pine Creek Shopping Centre
Katherine Major Supermarket ****
Mataranka Small Supermarket
Daly Waters Basic essentials
Elliot Basic essentials
Renner Springs basic essentials
Tennant Creek IGA ****
Barrow Creek not much
Ti Tree basic essentials
Alice Springs Major Shopping Centre ****
Ghan basic essentials
Agnes Creek nothing
Cadney Park basic
Coober Pede Small IGA ****
Bon Bon Nothing
Pimba Basic essentials
Port Augusta Major Shopping Centre****
Peterborough Foodlands
Olary nothing
Broken Hill Major Shopping Centre****
Wilcannia Basic essentials
Bush Camp Nothing
Nyngan IGA
Dubbo Major Shopping Centre ****
Rylstone IGA
Denman IGA
Bulga
**** Means its essential that we stock up until next ****
Other stuff
We will also need;
👍 Tables Muz and Brad have this sorted
👍 Chairs, Brad had purchased 20 chairs
👍A marquee, Muz has one, maybe take three
Cooking equipment needs sorting
Food storage tubs, containers to be sorted
Washing up gear to sort out
👍Eating utensils, we've got enough plates bowls and personal cutlery in the kit.
Handwashimg station to sort
👍 Bush toilets, Marty has two, Muz has a privacy shelter and a post hole shovel
👍Steel cable with plastic coating for bike security. Dane on this
Bike Spares. Bring your own
Spare spokes to suit both wheels on your bike, you'd be surprised how different they can be.
Bike Tools Gav has a kit
Bike Mechanics, Gav will help but be self sufficient
Lights, especially a reliable rear light , this is most important.
👍Vehicle/trailer Tools and spares. Muz is all over this
👍Jerry Cans for water and fuel, the crew are looking at this
👍Camping
Gav, Danny, Matt and Benny are happy to camp every night. Everyone else will be equiped to camp but would prefer a bed when its available. When demand for beds is greater than supply we will roster beds or allocate to anyone who might be suffering.
But, there will be a lot a camping so be ready and able to put up, take down and pack your own tent or swags, we need to be on the road early every day.
Gear, pack light but take what you need. For example Marty's Tentcot, Sleeping bag, sleeping mat weigh in at 17 kg. If we assume 20 kg each that's 440 kgs of personal camping gear to carry.
👍 We'll need a chair each for stops and camping, we'll sort out small packable ones later. 👍 Brad has purchased 20 for us.
Riding Clothes
Bring the essentials you need, it will be hot up north but will get colder after Alice Springs and very cold in the early mornings towards the end.
👍Ebike Charging
About 4 hours to fully charge a battery.
We have mains power every night except 3 or 4 camps. So plug in when we get in.
We have 3 generators.
There are 8 or 10 Ebikes on tour
A generator can charge 8 batteries at once
It might take 6 to 8 hours to charge the full Ebike fleet , two batteries each on two generators. But this is only on 3 nights, mains power otherwise and on road charging in the Cook House is also an option.
The Cook House has power points available for on road charging. The generator on this trailer has been tested and it comfortably runs the cool room and charges up to eight batteries at once. Charging on the road won't be a problem.
We've had a couple of sessions teasing issues out, here are the records from Rylstone and Wollombi
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