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.

Pedalling to a peaceful outcome

Lighten up: riding a bike can do wonders for your abilty to handle and resolve stress. Photo: Vanessa Barkla

I have so many riders share how they can feel anxious, stressed, angry or frustrated prior to starting a ride and yet at the end have a better perspective on handling what was the conflict in the mind. Others also share that they suggest that their partners (when feeling a bit tense) get out on the bike and regain some composure.

Many start off a ride feeling pressure of the competition of life where emotions can be anywhere from low moderate to fever pitch that can cause stress and result in motivation for life being low.

It starts with a good thought

Cycling in bunches can have such a diversity of people from all walks of life culture and vocations. You may have no idea who is on a bike beside you when they are clad in lycra with helmet donned cruising along side by side in front and behind. There is little indication to their mental well being and state of their heart, but by just being there they are having a need met.

This type of group dynamics draws some back again and again despite feelings of inadequacy or intimidation by the strength and capabilities of others in the group that are sometime perceived as cycling giants and gifted with the strength of Samson or there is mountains they feel they could never conquered yet are prepared to face and engage the challenge.

When the going gets tough …

Eddie Barkla and Kevin Hall tackle the Alpine Classic

Head winds, heat, hills and long distance is not the combination that any rider would deliberately set out to face unless they are well prepared with a mental capacity that stares at these four challenges shouting loudly “bring it on”.

Most riders have a reasonably capacity of mental preparation and can get their mind around a 200 km ride but add one or two of the additional challenges this capacity may well wane somewhat.  There is an increasing call it seems of the mountains and extreme distances as a challenge for the recreational rider.

Clipless pedals add power and efficiency

All clipless pedals help you pedal more efficiently

Clipless pedals add power and efficiencies in moving the bicycle forward up hill and down dale. It is interesting to note that, road, track, mountain bike and recumberant riders use a clipless pedal system albeit they are not necessarily the same.  BMX riders use a larger platform pedal with no locking system to the pedals. The large majority of commuters and weekend family rider’s use an open platform pedals these being cost effective allowing flexibility of foot wear choice. 

Age no barrier to freedom

It's never too late to enjoy free-wheeling freedom. (Photo Eddie Barkla)

Was asked recently to share a story to encourage seniors to get on the bike and maintain a healthy life style. This brought to mind two adages: “You are never too old to start” and “If you don’t use it you lose it”.

A very dear friend of our family while in his eighties participated in his first Great Victoria Bike ride and returned each year until he contracted prostrate cancer and had to miss out yet maintained his cycling to aid recovery. His aim every week was a solo 100klm ride as well as commuting around town most days. He has now passed on still vividly hear the resonating joy of his life’s journey of being motor mechanic by trade and garage owner, an amateur photographer and member of the local photographic club and a devoted field naturalist and how cycling was added fulfilling life’s end with many hours of freedom and enjoyment till the very end.

Don’t be a despiser of small beginnings

 

One of the great joys of cycling is being free to roam the open roads if one so chooses and this is something that we should never take for granted in this City or for that matter Australia.  We are truly a blessed City and Nation to be able to experience such freedom. Another aspect of the joys of cycling is other people of like mindedness that you can meet on the road any where at anytime. Everyone is a great achiever because they have made the step of “having a go” a great Aussie tradition and legacy of our fore fathers.
When coming across what is evident of a rider that is new to the experience when you come up beside them the conversations usually go something like this . The shocked rider who has slowed down might well be thinking and hoping that you will keep going and not spoil the moment of courage it may well have taken to be sharing the road with other vehicles, After assuring that you are happy to ride at their pace for a while and have no motive but to share a moment in time. The speed might pick up again but not to the point where conversation is not undertaken with ease.  “G’day how are you going?” response “Oh hec where did you come from?” “I am not as good or fit as you must be” which now opens up a wider conversation to address their perception. 

Tools to measure your progress

One of the first tools any cyclist considers is a basic Speedo which will measure the distance travelled the time taken average speed and top speed. These are a great encouragement to monitor your progress and improvement over a set course. Many riders utilise the same tried and proven route to train on or just to commute to work on. Keeping track of the average speed and top speed for a distance can have many variances such as the riders health on the day to a side, head or tail wind that can assist or hinder the progress. Over a few weeks one can see a pattern and makes some mile stone pegs in the sand to measure against. 

Being prepared for time in the saddle

Preparing for a long distance ride such as the Bay in a Day requires a base of sustained fitness that can be draw on. Time in the saddle is your preparation; most riders have the fitness but not necessarily the conditioning of the mind and body (bottom back and neck condition). 
Anybody that undertakes to ride in excess of 100Klm must be able to count the cost and know how to prepare and take account of their recovery; crossing some of these boundaries prior to a long ride gives some insights to building confidence. A simple philosophy that under pins such preparation is: If you have been doing things that work for you then be at peace and not seek too many improvements. Learn to break down the ride into achievements and celebrations of reaching each set goal.
If you have prepared right the objective of a long ride does not change much. You ride to enjoy the company of others, to increase your fitness and increase your health and achieve a sense of being an over comer of past mountains of the mind to reach set goals and to celebrate the achievement of all you share the ride with.

Bendigo’s growing cycling community network

Bendigo Cycling Community meeting place

Bendigo’s growing cycling community network

There could be no doubt left in anyone’s mind that Bendigo’s cycling community has grown amazingly over the past few years. The health and well being of Bendigo has certainly been improved, many kilo’s many with depression have found freedom many have formed lifelong friendships and partnerships for the future.

There is no hidden agenda when groups meet to have fellowship and a healthy camaraderie it’s beyond understanding. It is hard to imagine where you could meet such a diverse group of people that share a common interest and yet come from such demographically opposed places within community. Have heard it likened to a church without the roof and four walls.