Waterbike Across Bass Strait

NOTE: WATERBIKE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. MORE ADVENTURES TO COME.

Many of you will know Phil & Susan McDonald as the original owners and founders of AllTrails Bicycle Tours. And anyone who knows Phil will know of the many adventures and challenges that he has set himself over the years…well just because he and Susan have retired it doesn’t mean that they have stopped the adventures. See below for Phil & Susan’s latest epic challenge, fundraising for RUOK.

Waterbike Across Bass Strait

Since the day I saw a waterbike online, I thought “this could be the bike to take me across Bass Strait”. That was early 2022, so I eagerly searched the numerous companies and their efforts at creating a waterbike.

I thought Chiliboats were the best at half the price of the most expensive, so we bought a few.  Yes, they are great, but had to buy a Schiller for comparison. I have ridden both over some wild water in Port Phillip Bay, testing for strength and maneuverability. 

The action reminds me of the many years I rode my Yamaha TT600 trail bike, with a group of mates through the biggest and best mountains from Jamieson to Walhalla and everywhere in between. I am constantly on the edge, every two seconds another wave tries to buck me off.  I have to push down on lower pedal and lean over as far as possible to the high side of the wave to stay upright as it goes over the crest. I then immediately lean back towards the passing crest as I drop down the back of the wave to meet the next again and again.

Riding the waves is also very challenging, because the waterbike is pointing down, the nose often going under with the force, wanting to tip me over the top, or swivel left and flip me off as I am at the base of the rolling wave. The Bass Strait is renowned for big winds from east and west, while currents, tidal flow, shallow bottom often lead to tall waves, with confused swell conflicting in direction.

The word ”swell” was an adjective when I was a boy, now swell on Bass Strait is something else.

I look forward to it.

 Phil – thanks for your support

 Phil & Susan McDonald

To read more about the challenge, check out the link here.

To donate, go to the fundraising link here.