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.