Resurrecting the old for a new culture

Subsistence: these old bikes are being recycled as trendy single-speeds. Photo: Eddie Barkla

Subsistence is a social enterprise, run by three Long Gully residents, Cam Farrall, Finn den Otter and Ali Turnbull. They build quality single speed bikes from old men’s racers. Most of the old bikes are from steel recycle bins around the place as well as from the council recovery yards. They also receive bike donations from other enterprises run by CVGT and St. Lukes.

The oldest and most simple bikes were fixed gear single speed – i.e. if the bike is in motion, then the pedals are moving. In the past this was more necessity than choice. Now there are a number of reasons people are choosing these types of bike over more complex geared bikes.

Community service cycling

Camaraderie: members of the PROBUS cycling group in Bendigo enjoy companionship and keep fit.

PROBUS is a community service program of Rotary clubs, an association of active retirees who join together to provide regular opportunities for them to keep their minds active, expand their interests and to enjoy the fellowship of new friends. Membership is open to anyone of good character who has had some measure of responsibility or achievement in any field of worthy endeavour.

PROBUS originated in the United Kingdom in 1965. Yes, it was a lady who added the notion that the needs of all people who were in retired families and not just male Rotarians could be met by a new community based club. So it was in England in 1965 and 1966 that PROBUS was conceived independently by two Rotary clubs. The first PROBUS Clubs formed in the South Pacific area were New Zealand in 1974, Australia in 1976 and the Philippines in 2007.

Inspiration from family

Fund raising: the Beechworth Bakery cycle team aims to raise funds for the Special Development School. Photo: Roger Fuller

There are many reasons to get on a bike and ride long distances. It could be for recreation, fitness, social, fundraising, a challenge, or all of the above and even some not mentioned.

After not riding competitively for more than 15 years, in 2004 Roger Fuller purchased an older Norco bike from a work mate with the idea that it would increase his fitness and drop a bit of weight. Getting hold of an old helmet and some plain bike clothes and an old pair of bike shoes Roger rode out of the drive, around the corner and up the very small hill with the realization how unfit he really was. However over the two months with perseverance and commitment in being consistent,  fitness increased along with the enjoyment of riding.

Cycling vision

Bunch of cyclists reflected in a car side mirror. Photo: Eddie Barkla

Wednesday was National Ride to Work Day an annual event, a continuing commitment of Bicycle Victoria’s vision and motto of “More People Cycling More Often”.  The City of Greater Bendigo hosted a breakfast in the Civic Gardens as their contribution and encouragement for Bendigo commuting cyclists.

For some it may well has been a part of the normal riding experience. For others it can be new step onto endless horizons of future experiences and the joys of being a commuter, recreational cyclist. Some have learnt to dream and see visions of the future potential of being a cyclists and the other open and ready to try.

I have a dream and vision for this great cycling region some of which I can share. Can you imagine a community that has adopted cycling as part of its culture of health and well being? It well recognised and documented that cycling is beneficial in reducing obesity and the risk of diabetes for all age groups.

There is a huge push to encourage parents to get their children on bike to ride to school, and Bicycle Victoria have a wonderful program Ride2School offering teaching for cycling skills to assist in this being fulfilled.

Cycling is also a great way of dealing with depression particularly for men as they can be around other men in close camaraderie. Part of the vision and dream contains the following changes of thinking for all stakeholders.

Can we foresee the day when all new buildings having provision for bike parking, locker and shower facilities part of building regulations? Wouldn’t it be great if all the new school buildings could embrace a cycling culture in their infra structure for teachers and students alike having adequate storage facilities for bikes and helmets?

Will there come a time when bike lanes and path infrastructure would no longer be a need for consideration that cycling is an accepted practice and mode of transport and the road is shared accordingly? Instead of the infra structure there could be an emphasis on skills training for people encouraging their cycling confidence.  Employers could recognise the overall health and well being for employees and reduction absenteeism and give support to get more people commuting more often. The return in healthier employees could promote incentives such as memberships to clubs or organisations that give insurance coverage that is sadly lacking for cyclist.

Bike shops showing their appreciation of sales increase by conducting bike related activities as part of their overall service in a more formal role than exists now. Basic maintenance, tyre changing and safety checks and skills training all part of the service offered.

Local government having a cultural approach to being the cycling capital of Australia not because of events but the cyclists per capita being greater than any other City or region.  The region becomes a cycling destination that is inviting all comers to experience all aspects of cycling disciplines being normal life and not just grandstand events that have only a day or two impact.

Already Bendigo is being used as a cycling training destination.  Wineries food and culture are all here ready to be tapped into. Can you image if all clubs were united in their vision of sharing resources such as rosters for Marshalling being reciprocal allowing all club members to be able to participate in their own club events? Clubs could send their Marshalls to support other clubs for the good of the sport and encouragement of growth.

Building sporting venues to be cycling friendly such as perimeter criterium track using existing road way infrastructure, saves on road permits and makes a safe friendly venue for all ages to enjoy and bike parking for venue users.

Most of what has been shared above has potential to come to reality as there are glimpses of all these things happening in isolation.  The hope of the dream and vision is that with co-operation and commitment to a cycling culture, barriers and boundaries can be reduced across Road, Track, Veterans, Triathletes, BMX and recreational and commuter disciplines.

Cycling can well be a family affair a business incentive and a schools program with the whole community benefiting.

‘Vision, like courage and discipline, is a trait that can be developed by anyone willing to work hard at making it part of their everyday life.’ The poet wrote: ‘Two men looked through prison bars; one saw mud, the other stars.’

We must energise our vision through faith and give it momentum through hard work!  Even if these don’t come to fruition there is nothing wrong with dreaming of good to come from being a united community of cyclists.

See you on the road soon God willing.

Spring into the Bendigo bush

Trail ride: the Spring in the Bendigo Bush ride introduced the delights of getting out of town on a bicycle. Photo: Frank Kinnesley Rail Trails Australia

Exploring the forest around Bendigo can be daunting if you don’t already know your way around. The Spring in the Bendigo Bush ride was a great opportunity to get out in the forest – without getting lost.

The City of Greater Bendigo usually organises a walk in the forest for the spring event. This year was a bike ride along the O’Keefe rail trail and back to Bendigo through the Wellsford forest with marshalling help from the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail.

Drizzle did not deter the 30 riders who set off on the 45 km circuit from the Pratts Park Road car park. We had visitors from Melbourne and Kilmore and two nine-year-old girls who completed it quite cheerfully as they do a lot of riding. So it’s a good ride for a family used to those sort of distances.

Mental health awareness gets bike riders inspired

The full distance: Roberta, John, Gonny and Tom were the four riders who completed the whole distance

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund co-ordinated an ambitious bike ride around Australia. A relay of 9 stages – starting 21st March in Melbourne and ending 10th October 2009 back at Melbourne. The purpose to raise awareness of Mental Illness with one in five suffering from the illness per year.

Rotary clubs of Bendigo are supporting the bike ride on the 7th of October with a community luncheon held at the town hall around 12.30pm on the day and in the evening holding a dinner at the Rotary youth camp at Axedale to raise funds. Four riders who are cycling the whole way around Australia (almost 18000 km’s) and will be joined on the Adelaide to Melbourne leg by around another 20 riders. On the morning of the 7th they leave St Arnaud to ride to Bendigo, local riders are encouraged to meet the group at Marong around 11.30am.

Jacques Olivier a Rotarian from Bendigo shares his experience of the Great Australian Bike Ride.

Trials of life make for a strong trials rider

Lucky 13th: Lachlan Sens hopes to improve his placing at next year's World Titles for MTB trials in Canada. Photo: Sens family

Lachlan Sens has just returned from the World Titles held in Canberra for Mountain Bike Trials and posted a creditable 13th place in his first event on the world stage. What is required of a young rider to be able to balance life in this highly skilled sport and an education and sustain a family connection?

Lachlan spends 6 to 7 hours per week trials training on his trials bike balancing, jumping up and across obstacles like old 44 gallon drums, piles of pallets and big rocks (all over his mothers garden!). This year he saved enough money with a part-time job to get a gym membership where he trains with weights 4 to 5 hours per week. Lachlan also puts in 3 to 4 hours training on his road bike per week. He is extremely self motivated and sets high standards and personal goals and is quiet and unassuming of nature off the bike.

Bendigo MTB Club history continues on a marathon event

Off and racing: the Bendigo MTB Club caters for all ages and levels. Photo: Steve Blake www.akunadigital.com.au

The Bendigo Mountain Bike Club had its beginnings in 1986 when a group of nine riders used to meet regularly on a Sunday morning at the Spring Gully General Store and head off for three hours of tough riding in the bush. This small group saw the potential for MTB riding in the state forests surrounding Bendigo.

They rode the tracks on One Tree Hill and in the Spring Gully Reserve, following trails already there and creating new ones. There was no club affiliation at this stage; it was simply a group of blokes looking to ride for fun and for fitness training for road competition.

Volunteers make the wheels go round

Lynch pins: many cycling events wouldn't happen without volunteer help. Photo: Bicycle Victoria

There would not be clubs and organisations if it were not for volunteers, people that freely give and give again, going the extra mile getting satisfaction out of seeing others enjoyment.  Cycling in Bendigo has a wonderful background of volunteers supporting and making events possible.

Sharing your air space

Aerial attack: magpies are only aggressive for about six weeks of the year

As cyclists we place a high priority on sharing the road in a safe manner and respecting others with the hope of gaining respect back. There is one shared road space user that we have trouble with every year around this season on gaining a reciprocal response on our road usage in a safe manner.

Magpies are no sharers of respect when it comes to cyclists and from the reading that was undertaken for this weeks message it seems that single cyclist could well be a main antagoniser of our feathered friends.