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.

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.

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.

Domestique is the engine room of racing

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place.  If I quit, however, it lasts forever” ~ Lance Armstrong.

A lead out rider looks over his shoulder to see whether help is coming. Photo: Dean Murphy

I know that a lot of readers watch the tour coverage for the history, the geography and scenic views of country they may never get to see otherwise. There is no doubt that Le Tour de France captures the world’s attention for many reasons.

There are close synergies of professional cycling to many of our everyday humdrum working lives. Professional Cycling is a job none the less when it is all said and done.  Most of us may never reach stardom and occasionally we get recognition for a job well done in our working life but it does not lessen the importance and value we add every day. We may never reach the top of our chosen vocation and be a leader among men but we are the very ones that are an essential cog in the wheels of the industry or work place.

The inevitable fall

“There are too many factors you have to take into account that you have no control over…The most important factor you can keep in your own hands is yourself. I always placed the greatest emphasis on that.” Eddy Merkx

A cracked helmet and torn jersey from Eddie's recent fall.

One of the realities of being a bike rider is the risk/chance of having a fall off the bike whether we are a commuter, recreational or competitive cyclist, falling off the trusty stead will happen, we can be rest assured.  Cycling is reputed to be a “low impact sport” likened to swimming with this one small point of difference, swimmers don’t fall off.

Going coastal: are you up to it?

Good for the soul: cycle touring takes in great scenery with good company. Photo: TopShots

Do you remember your first organised ride event? Whether it be the Around the Bay in a Day the Great Victorian Bike Ride or a local event like Bendigo by Bike or the Whipstick Ride there will be memories indelibly printed on your mind.

Time of life, the people you were motivated by the support of family and friends or just the impact of going with likeminded cyclists on a journey of enjoyment and freedom.Look back how far you have come since this book mark in your cycling experience the many hours of relaxation and roads covered sights seen.

One of the great joys for me is hearing the testimonies of the beginnings and the journey so far and the impact cycling has made on health and well being of individuals and even far outcomes of benefits with romance and life changing decisions. In the midst of these there are many who share the humble beginning of undertaking a Great Victorian Bike Ride with family and friends and are hooked for life.

This year Bicycle Victoria’s  Great Victorian Bike Ride Saturday 28 November – Sunday 6 December 2009 will be along the Great Ocean Road, one of the seven cycling wonders of the world. There are less than 1,000 tickets left for cyclists wanting to take part in the 2009 Great Victorian Bike Road along the Great Ocean Road.

Bicycle Victoria’s Development Director, Nikki Tyler said: “With the ride featuring the Great Ocean Road in 2009 entries have flooded in. We have limited numbers to 5,000 to ensure the best possible experience along the way.” Bicycle Victoria allocated 1,200 tickets for schools and the remainder for the general public.

Organised by Bicycle Victoria, the 546 kilometre cycling holiday will feature the dramatic rock formations of the Twelve Apostles, pass through the Otway Ranges forests, and slow down for a swim at world-famous beaches like Lorne, Anglesea and Bells.

The cycling holiday starts on Saturday 28 November with the first day as a loop ride from Portland to Cape Bridgewater and back to Portland. Overnight stops are planned for:

• Macarthur (29 Nov)
• Port Fairy (30 Nov)
• Port Campbell (1 Dec)
• Apollo Bay (two nights 2 & 3 Dec)
• Anglesea (4 Dec) and
• Queenscliff (5 Dec).
• The ride ends in Geelong at Eastern Park on Sunday 6 December.

Ride Fast Facts:
The entry fee is $750 for adults, $560 for children 13 – 17, $260 for children 6 – 12, and free for five and under. After 31 July add $100.

The ride is a fully catered, tent-based holiday. There is extensive back up including luggage transport, a licensed cafe under canvas, first aid, bicycle repair facilities, entertainment and preparation DVD.

Public inquiries: People wanting more information can visit the ride web site or ring 1 800 616 600

Been dreaming of making a start into cycling and needed a goal that is achievable and has all the right attributes of encouragement and support?

Rides like the Great Victorian Bike Ride are a great starting point. Age shape size is no barrier for this low impact activity of recreational cycling it does not depend on the size of the body but the size of the heart and motivation.

If aging or have not been a vigorous exerciser for many years a check with your doctor will more than likely give you a favourable response and you can do it with the right mindset and commitment and realisation of it takes time and effort but the rewards can be restoring years back that seemed lost.

Develop strategies to reach your goal.

Start with short term then medium and the long term goals being the ride itself with the desire that this will be the first of many longer term goals. Find a bike riding friend to share the strategies with, commit them to paper and place them in a prominent position such as the toilet door, the bath room mirror, or the fridge.

Start with good foundations of getting the right advice on bike setup from others experience and this will be affirmed by your local bike shop that have travelled the path. Don’t be a despiser of small beginnings as from the words of Paul Kelly’s song “from little things big things grow”.

Monitor your development speed is not the objective but gaining confidence on the bike in sharing the road must be a high priority otherwise it can be a daunting experience built on hidden fear and little enjoyment. Need help that the objective of this column and we are only an email away from being available in assisting you find the right help in gaining confidence.

See you on the road soon God willing.

The rail trail passion

Unrealised potential: the trestle bridge at Pyalong could be one of the attractions along the new rail trail. Photo: Helen Cronin

Ask any fan why they’re so excited by rail trails and they’ll probably give you three reasons. There are no cars. It’s a peaceful and quiet way to explore the countryside. You’re riding through history.

For some the longer the trail, the better. People will travel from all over the state, the country and even from overseas to ride a good trail. The O’Keefe rail trail has the potential to become one of those tourism drawcards – if it’s extended some 100 km all the way to Kilmore.

High flying BMX

Dean Benalla gets airborne with his BMX (Photo Connectons BMX)

Do not conform your children to your own learning for they were born for another time -Hebrew Proverb
We see them on the street standing tall over small bike frames the whole time as rarely do they sit on the seat. The bikes are quite often absent of brakes as the riders create their own free style braking method of the shoe over the frame onto the back wheel.

These young riders are athletic and extremely agile and have an extreme sense of fun. They defy all cycling thinking of set up of seat height frame size and gearing yet in their own way it all fits the style of riding chosen but to the untrained eye it is just another BMX.

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.