Would you like
to write a fact sheet ?
Bicycle touring information
about
The books can be relatively
expensive, are likely to become out of date and are often too heavy to carry on
a long trip.
Magazine articles are often
written more to entertain the "armchair traveller" than to help the
real outback traveller. Magazine articles also tend to focus excessively on the
personality of the writer rather than on the journey or the region.
Compared to the usual methods of
publishing, the advantages of the www based fact sheet are :
* no literary talent required -
no need for an "interesting" narrative.
* direct involvement of grass
roots cyclists - decentralised control of the process
* cheapness - free distribution
to anyone who asks!
* flexibility - don't need to
rely on magazine space advertisements/commercialism
* easily up-dated at any time
* builds gradually into a loose
leaf, all-Australia collection
* feedback from users direct to
the author via e-mail (or s-mail !)
Constraints are :
* one sheet of paper - easy and
cheap to copy , for cheap or free distribution (in hard copy if required, eg
via bike shops in the area concerned)
* double sided - more compact,
more durable than two pages !
* no maps or complex graphics
makes it easy to reproduce, saves space
* www links - desirable but not
essential
* www listing - likely (via my
home page if necessary)but not certain !
So , if you would like to
contribute a fact sheet, youre very welcome.
The essentials are
* a short history inc.
Aboriginal if possible, explorers etc ( 100 words or so max)
* description of the physical
environment, weather, terrain etc
* resources : maps, information
etc
* roads & traffic conditions
sealed shoulders ? speed ? surfaces ? trucks ?
* camping possibilities
* food & water supplies
* services in small towns
large towns are usually well described in tourist information
* any bicycle links shops,
people, home hosts etc.
Optional features are
* Your contact details
e-mail or other
Useful information and www links
on Australian towns and regions can be found
at :
"Anypoint" Australian
travel guide www.OZpedia.org
"
OK ! It's your turn
look
forward to hearing from you.
Grace Newhaven
01 Jun 2008