Bicycle Queensland is pleased to announce it has entered into an exciting partnership with Mater Foundation to propel the iconic Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge into the future.
The flagship cycling event returns in 2024 on Sunday 13 October and will be known as the “Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle for Cancer ”. It will continue as a highly credible, respected and safe bicycle ride from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, utilising the Brisbane busway for a traffic-free rider experience.
In addition to benefitting cyclists, the new partnership will improve the health of communities across Queensland by supporting Mater’s world-class cancer research and patient care initiatives across an extensive network of hospitals.
Under the partnership, Mater Foundation will be the primary organiser of the event, backed by its considerable experience and existing resources delivering major community events and cycling activities, including International Women’s Day Fun Run and Mater Smiling for Smiddy.
Bicycle Queensland will remain an active contributor to the continued success of the event by delivering cycling safety and education initiatives, along with maintaining exclusive benefits for BQ’s 15,000+ members.
This partnership is committed to delivering on Bicycle Queensland’s vision of strengthening cycling participation to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, while also supporting Mater’s mission to improve the lives of people fighting cancer.
Our Membership Coordinator, Amanda, decided to add learning how to swim to her goals list! Her recap is below.
Learning how to swim as an adult is probably the second hardest thing behind parenting (in my opinion). There’s so much to concentrate on – the right action, how fast or slow should I kick my legs and move my arms, staying afloat, and most importantly, taking in air and not water.
My first memory of swimming is of a four year old me, wearing floaties in my neighbour’s pool. I would hang out at the shallow end, although I do remember feeling like a big girl when I made it to the deep end. My formal swimming training growing up consisted of five hours once a year in primary school. I learnt to tread water and tried all the different strokes. Everything was ticked as satisfactory so maybe the instructors had some confidence I could keep afloat.
Fast forward a few decades to 2017, and I entered the Brisbane Triathlon Pink – the ultra distance because it had the longest bike ride – 16km! Apart from raising money for a good cause, you swim in a pool, can use a noodle, and walk as much of the run as you want! I couldn’t swim freestyle, but I had my version of breaststroke. I was last out of the pool and got a big cheer from the next wave of entrants. Maybe they were encouraging me; maybe they were excited they could finally start their race!
For my 2022 goals list, I added three swimming lessons. After contacting a few places without luck, I was about to give up when I was given the details of a coach. I started weekly lessons one night after work and in addition committed to two sessions of ‘homework’ each week.
My poor coach. Had he known what he was in for, he probably wouldn’t have taken me on. I turned up in a long-sleeved rashie and gym shorts, couldn’t swim 25m freestyle with flippers and probably consumed more than 8 glasses of chlorinated water each swim. While I consider myself to be fit, swimming fitness is another level – I was so out of breath!
Coach quickly identified I needed a nose clip and I changed the terminology from swimming to ‘not drowning’ lessons. He was very patient and tried to teach me gradually. I couldn’t get the hang of turning my head to get air, so I learnt how to corkscrew down the pool – two freestyle, two backstroke. The light bulb moment was when he said “imagine you’re taking a nap on your arm”. I was terrible at kickboard drills, in particular one arm drills because I had to figure out which side to breathe on, and anything that involved counting. I learnt many things, like elegant fingers, trying to breathe on both sides and imagining I was swimming through a field of flowers! We gave somersaults a go, but they were not for me.
Eventually I went from having to stop three times in a 25m lane with flippers to no stopping – still gasping for air at the end. It took quite a while to achieve this, but the next big milestone was 25m without flippers. I never thought I would see the day I could make it 50m without flippers, but the morning I did, I was super proud. Apparently you’re supposed to ‘feel the water’. I’m still trying to figure out what this means, because I certainly have felt the water – going down my throat and up my nose.
I tried open water swimming in October in the mates and family wave of the Noosa 1000 Ocean Swim. It was super choppy but there I was with my flippers and nose piece giving it a go. I was so out breath swimming to the first buoy that I didn’t have the confidence to freestyle, which I was disappointed about, but swimming with an encouraging person got me through. I have another open water swim on my list this year – let me know if you have any suggestions about which one! I have also thought about a long distance triathlon next year where first timers can use flippers, but I’m not committing – yet.
There have been so many times I wanted to stop learning how to swim. Slow progress and constant overthinking about why am I doing it, I don’t have to do it, it’s too hard, I’ll never get the hang of it. However, I’ve realised that I don’t have to be good at it, and it’s okay if progress is slow and to keep using swimming aids. Maybe my purpose has now changed from learning how to swim to swimming as best I can with the ability and tools I have. At the end of the day, swimming is a good cross-training activity for bike riders, providing low impact, whole-body exercise while maintaining endurance for riding.
During February I’m taking part in the Starlight Super Swim, raising money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation to put a smile on the faces of sick kids. My target is to swim 7km and raise $500. You can track my progress or donate here!
As always, keep challenging yourself and never give up – unless you hit your head on the pool wall doing backstroke. Then it’s time to get out for the day and try again later.
If swimming is not your thing, you might like to try other cross-training activities that will benefit your bike riding such as running, hiking, strength training, yoga or pilates. Depending on the activity, these will help build your core, overall strength and fitness and bone density!
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to cover yourself with a value packed BQ membership.
Bicycle Queensland members Nellie and Richard Logan embarked on a bike ride of more than 4000km over 28 days, to help raise funds for children facing poverty. Read the recount of their amazing journey below:
On 17th September 2022, Richard and I headed out with a team of 22 cyclists and 15 support crew from Cottesloe Beach, Perth to begin a 28-day ride across Australia. Our final destination was Bar Beach in Newcastle NSW, 4200km away and our goal was to raise $1 million for Compassion’s Critical Needs Fund and see 150 children sponsored.
We were an odd assortment of riders from all over the country, some had done this ride previously and others had never ridden in a group. A few cyclists used to race in their younger days, one even at an elite level. One man had ridden across a few continents. Then some had never done a multi-day ride before training for this event. Our backgrounds varied from businesspeople to teachers to physios to working in IT, we were a mix of ages and sizes.
Team riding
The accommodation was also a bit of a mix. We would find ourselves in caravan park cabins, or roadhouse motels (sometimes squished in because there weren’t enough rooms to accommodate us). Many times we would be bunking down together in church halls or sports centres. Occasionally we got billeted out to locals. We stayed in a few delightful old buildings, such as the Catholic Convent in Coolgardie, a beautiful 120-year-old plus property in Muswellbrook, and the town hall at Burra that is now a museum.
There were many tests along the way, headwinds of 30kph, crosswinds up to 50kph, sickness, rain and rain mixed with coal dust (we were filthy dirty that day). Even icy winds coming straight off the Southern Ocean. There were long days in the saddle, sometimes arriving just as the sun set. We dodged kangaroos, emus, and snakes on the roads, we came across the occasional cranky truckie who would decide to pull in a little too soon after overtaking. There were plenty of highlights, seeing the beautiful landscapes, like the green rolling hills near Burra, meeting the townsfolk who would openly welcome us and feed us.
Each morning Richard would give us the numbers for the day, distances to each stop and the elevation report. We’d also get a weather report and a reading of a child story. These child stories would tell us of the hardships faced by children living in poverty and how Compassion has made a difference in their lives. These child stories were powerful reminders to us of why we were riding.
Riding along the highways and through the towns sparked plenty of interest. Truckies would honk in encouragement, some would even ask how to donate. Caravanners would come and visit us in the evenings, telling us they had passed us along the way and would then give us a donation to the cause. Sometimes people would even pull up on the side of the road to pass on a donation. Richard had a local come and chat with him one lunchtime. The guy told him not to leave town just yet, the fellow took off and came back 10 minutes later with some cash in his hand. In Port Pirie, the local bakery donated pallets of bread and donuts to the team after one of the team members popped in for a pie and told them what we were up to. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of people and their kind hearts.
We met plenty of characters along the way. 10-year-old Ethan from Minnipa was quite enamoured with what we were doing, he rocked up on his bike the morning we were leaving Minnipa. One of the team gave him their jersey, Ethan put on his new jersey, jumped on his bike, and led us out of Minnipa, despite the rain. We later heard from his Mum that Ethan had been saving for a phone but he would now like to donate his savings to the children of Compassion.
Then there was 84-year-old Doris. We met Doris in Parkes at a church meeting, and she also came down to see us off. Doris was on her red push bike, and once again led the team out!
Ethan
Doris
One of the most heartfelt was meeting Linda from Kenya. She told us that her brother had been sponsored through Compassion and proceeded to tell us how it had made a difference to her brother and their family. We also found out that this woman was born in the same town as one of our support crew. Wow, to hear first-hand the work of Compassion.
Our last days were our biggest in elevation and some of our longest in kilometres. We had to cross the range to reach the coast, and what a welcome we received as we road into Bar Beach! The footpath was full of friends and family and all the Compassion Staff from all over the country, there to greet us and cheer us in. It was a very emotional moment. We had done it, we had made the journey across Australia. We fostered awareness of the great work Compassion does in developing nations, and we had raised much-needed funds for children living in poverty. We aim to reach $1 million, the current tally is almost $950,000.
Thank you Bicycle Queensland and members for your support.
Nellie and Richard are keen to reach their target by the end of 2022. To help break the cycle of poverty you can sponsor a child or donate to Compassion’s Critical Needs Fund.
If you’d like to become a member and help support more people riding more often, join us here.
Our very own Amanda Hernandez, Membership Coordinator completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast on 11 September 2022. A swim that started on the beautiful Mooloolaba Beach, followed by a fast and furious ride and a picture-perfect two-lap coastal run. What an amazing effort, below you can read Amanda’s recount of the day.
Last year I rode the bike leg of the IRONMAN Sunshine Coast 70.3, and I thought anyone who runs a half marathon after riding 90km had to be crazy. Then I thought, I wonder if I could do it? I had run a few half marathon distances on road and gravel. Next minute, it was on my goals list for 2022! I needed a swimmer and luckily I knew a good one who kindly stepped up. Learning how to swim is also on my goals list for this year!
I knew nothing about how to train. I didn’t understand the training plans, they were all about the length of time and effort. I normally work on distance, and go as fast or as slow as I feel like on the day. I asked a few people who had done Ironman events for advice and devised a plan. I started using gels and Gatorade, a change from post-ride hot chocolates and pastries. Most of my training was done solo, and with early winter starts, it was tough.
While I’m a confident rider, my main concern was not being able to fix a flat, and not making it to the run leg. I knew the steps involved, but my hands are not overly strong or dexterous, and I’ve always needed help to get a tyre off and on the rim. I didn’t know how to take the rear wheel off a bike – also on my goals list! A week before the event, I managed to take the rear wheel off and put it on. Once you understand the mechanics, there’s no turning back. Three nights before the event, for the first time, I installed new tubes and tyres, front and rear, all by myself with supervision and coaching from my bike handler.
Race day nerves weren’t present, because I was a little stressed about my delay in arriving at transition. I had to pump my tyres and unpack my gear bag before transition closed. Then, I lost my swimmer after dropping off the pump – so many wetsuits, everyone looked the same, and I didn’t have my glasses. Off to the beach I went to wait for the start and hoped to see her run into the water. Once I thought I saw her I went back to transition to prepare for the ride. The bike leg went well although I rationed my fluids too much. I hit the same small patch of glass and pothole on each lap, at least I was consistent! I couldn’t stomach a gel until I was 12km into the run leg, and that was the only one. The rest of the leg was done on water and Gatorade. I need to work on different nutrition for the next 70.3.
That’s right, the next one. There will be another 70.3 on my goals for next year. Challenge yourself and step outside of your comfort zone. You will learn and grow.
Bicycle Queensland would like to announce an exciting new partnership with White Cloud Foundation. White Cloud is a charity organisation that provides free tele-mental health services to Queenslanders struggling with anxiety and depression. White Cloud also provide an incredible meals for mums service which support women at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression.
This partnership enables Bicycle Queensland members to access support without a diagnosis, no referral, and at no cost. White Cloud’s services include mental health nursing and counselling, psychology, social work, dietitians, and exercise physiology.
White Cloud was created to remove the barriers to accessing mental health treatment, identifying that getting access to early support when you have the speed wobbles is incredibly important.
BQ CEO Rebecca Randazzo said, “We know that some of the reasons why we ride a bike is for that social connection and wellbeing and we are really excited to partner with White Cloud and bring about great outcomes for our members”.
If you need support, you can access White Clouds service by calling 07 3155 3456
The Bicycle Queensland (BQ) board and members gathered online on September 22 for the Annual General meeting. The Annual report can be accessed here.
BQ welcomes Richard Buning to the board. Richard has a love for all things cycling. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise both as a bike rider and academic expert in active lifestyle. In his role as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland Business school, his research interests reside at the intersection of physical activity, travel, and events. Outside of work, Richard can be found pursuing his passions of mountain biking, running, rock climbing, and hiking.
The board thanks departing directors, Rob van Manen, Audine Bartlett, and Craig Davis for their years of service to BQ. The board wishes to acknowledge the leadership, care, and commitment of Rob van Manen who has served as a management committee member, President, and Chair of BQ over the past four and half years.
Opening of the Mt Debatebale to Mundubbera rail trail.
The Boyne-Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT) is a great success story of grassroots actions by communities a long way away from the seat of power. Last weekend a second section was officially opened, 30km of trail from Mt Debateable to Mundubbera.
This is the “Bridges” section of the BBIRT, as the rail corridor runs beside the mighty Burnett River, and crosses the many creeks feeding the river as they run off Mt Gayndah and the Binjour Plateau. The bridges which cross these creeks are listed by Engineers Australia as being of heritage significance.
Unfortunately floods have seen off two of these bridges, Reid Creek and Philpott, making it difficult for the rail trail to run along the corridor the entire distance from Gayndah to Mundubbera. At present, the trail starts 10km out of town in Mt Debateable siding, as the Reid Creek crossing prevents the trail from connecting into Gayndah. However, there is a detour around the site, where the bridge across Philpott Creek once was, adding a few kilometres to the journey.
Like many Queensland rail trails, this is an adventure experience. There are sandy sections, bumpy sections, and a few steep pinches out of gullies. The trail is best suited to a mountain bike (e-mtb is becoming popular too).
But for the adventurous who attempt the Bridges section of the BBIRT, you are rewarded with great views, and several plaques marking historical sites of interest.
‘Packs and Pedals’ runs a shuttle service on the BBIRT, and they can help you explore either the Bridges section or the Tunnels section from Kalpowar to Ubobo in the Boyne Valley.
For the first time, Bicycle Queensland’s advocacy team (Rebecca Randazzo and Andrew Demack) attended the annual Local Government Association of Queensland conference held in Mackay.
We had a prime location between the rugby league and AFL booths on the way to the refreshments area! As a result, just about every Council in Queensland stopped for a conversation. We had prepared three posters with our main talking points: cycle tourism, education and schools, and building the cycle network.
Cycle Tourism
Cycle tourism was clearly the top priority for councils. Many councils are already working on attracting mountain bike riders, following the example of the Wangetti Trail, now under construction from Palm Cove to Port Douglas in FNQ. Mackay Council is also building a trail of similar epic quality, from Eungella to Finch Hatton — that will be amazing.
We are working through our follow-up contacts with councils including Mareeba, Mackay, North Burnett, South Burnett, Scenic Rim, Cassowary Coast, Livingstone and Ipswich. Most of these are interested in either developing rail trails and other cycle tourism opportunities, but also getting the best value for money in cycle infrastructure.
Local Counterparts
On the way to Mackay, BQ’s Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack arranged meetings in Maryborough, Bundaberg and Rockhampton, meeting up with bicycle user group representatives and Councils. In Maryborough, we were delighted to see and experience the remarkable progress being made by Fraser Coast BUG on the Mary to the Bay rail trail. In Bundaberg, we met with Council staff to encourage progress on the Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail. In Rockhampton, we met with the local cycling group to discuss our collaborative response to the Council’s just-released Walking and Cycling Strategy.
