BQ Member Profile: Chris and Cheryl

Bicycle Queensland members Chris and Cheryl have seen the world by bike. From long tours on their bikes or even on a folding tandem. Living in Innisfail, the two Queenslanders don’t neglect adventures right in their backyard either. During Bicycle Queensland’s 2024 Regional Tour, we caught up with them in Innisfail and even got out early for a ride – on some bikes that Chris graciously lent us.

Our ride took us through the back roads of Innisfail, through cane fields and across cane train tracks, as a mix of other riders joined us either on the ride, or for coffee and breakfast afterwards. 

‘For me, bikes are about coffee, cake, a bit of exercise and fun,’ Cheryl told us as we waited for our coffees post-ride, ‘Nothing too dramatic.’ Her partner Chris has a slightly different stance around bikes however. 

‘It’s about getting out, getting outside and seeing the country at your own pace, and just exploring. That’s why I prefer fat tyres. So I’ll get out and explore dirt roads, tracks and forestry roads. If there is a road that I can ride on I’ll see how far I can get and then turn around and come back. Having that freedom to get out and explore is important.’ 

You only need to look at the bike Chris is riding to see that he doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. Or rides the bike? His custom Titanium frame uses a belt drive and a Rohloff hub gear, two systems known for their ultra-long service life and reliability. The handlebars are adorned with accessories, serving a mix of safety, convenience, and the ability to get out – and stay out.

‘When mountain bikes got invented I thought “this is it, this is really cool”. So in 1988 we both got mountain bikes and we rode anywhere we could get on a push bike around Rockhampton.’ 

If you haven’t been to Rockhampton, you may not appreciate how rugged the surrounding countryside is. Ruggedly beautiful, but not short of hills and valleys – with countless backroads and trails to explore from farming and timber getters. However both Chris and Cheryl explore far and wide – well beyond their own expansive backyard in Far North Queensland.

‘We’ve ridden in a fair few countries now which is a lot of fun,’ added Cheryl. ‘We normally take our own bikes which can be a bit of a challenge. It is great to have that freedom to go where you want, when you want.’  This includes pedalling a tandem half way up the Rheine, and down the Danube to Vienna. Hearing about their tandem, with a suitcase that becomes a trailer,

‘We have also taken our mountain bikes to the UK, and ridden around the bottom end of Devon and Somerset, along with taking the tandem to New Zealand’ Chris explains. ‘It is a great way to see the world, and slightly cheaper while doing it at your own pace as well.’ 

‘I’ve been a member for years, my BQ membership number was one hundred and twenty something. I joined when I was a young man and I have been riding bikes since then.’ 

‘Seeing Bicycle Queensland do this outreach to regional Queensland means a lot to me as a member. It’s all fine getting the emails, but it makes a difference when you see people visiting – the outreach is important’ Cheryl told us. ‘We are heartened after discussing opportunities for improved cycling conditions in Far North Queensland with BQ, having advocacy from an organisation like BQ boosts our local efforts and having that support is very positive.’ 

‘As Bicycle Queensland builds, that builds a greater impetus for the government to listen to a big group of people, which helps the smaller places to get more momentum to get more people riding.’ 

Bicycle Queensland membership supports our advocacy work to make Queensland a safer, more connected place to ride. It also provides peace of mind via insurance, and allows access to discounted events and services.

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