By the end of February, our family will have celebrated our first year of living car-free!  Cycling most of the time and using public transport where needed. And our life has become so much better as a result!

We are a family of five, we own an Aussie-made cargo bike (a Zeitbike) and two road bikes for the teenagers. The younger two (4 and 5) ride in the cargo bike, either in the box or on the child seat behind Mamma. We live in a small country town where public transport is… well it’s adequate. (And my definition of ‘adequate’ and ‘sufficient’ has become a lot broader over the years.)

Rewind back to when I was in my 20’s and I was living a “normal”, hectic, fast-paced life. I lived in a major city, had two children, a job, worked part-time at the school and pre-school, went to a weekly Mum’s group and studied part-time when I could. I took the kids to weekly swimming lessons and piano lessons and choir practice. Got up at 5am to exercise and went to bed after 11pm after doing all the housework. I went out a lot with my friends (when did I find time for that too?).   Basically I was our society’s definition of successful. And I was exhausted.

I was diagnosed with early-onset Lupus in 2003 and deep-down I knew I hadn’t been looking after myself, and began a long journey towards health, most importantly SLOWING DOWN. I’m so glad I got that kick in the pants.

I grew up reading bible stories and had always been fascinated by the simplicity of life back then. People walked everywhere!  Some lived in tents and had very few possessions. And all over the world people still live like that. And something in me began to long for that kind of simplicity, where I wasn’t running from one thing to another 18 hours a day. So my mantra became “Simplify”.

Every Metre Matters ...

(Matt Wakefield)

Two good friends and I have committed to riding up Arthurs Seat (Mornington Peninsula) multiple times on Monday 8th June. We will ascend over 8,848 metres which is the equivalent of Mt Everest.

We are doing it to raise coins for a local riding buddy of ours Dr Mark Sujecki who is a member of TrekMedic (see the link below) a not for profit team of volunteer doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who provide basic health care, education and emergency aid to under-privileged communities worldwide.

Dr Sujecki is leading a volunteer group of medico's to Nepal at the end of June for three weeks. The TrekMedic group will visit remote villages to provide much needed medical care, and your donations will be used to purchase and deliver supplies of food and medicines.

Any donations are guaranteed to be used directly on behalf of the communities in need. https://www.facebook.com/pages/TrekMedic/148696285249209

We are planning to start our “#everesting” of Arthurs Seat from the gate at the base of the 8.3% climb at 4am on Monday 8th June and will give ourselves 16 hours to complete around 36 climbs.

We are asking all our friends (lycra wearers or not) to give up their $3 or $4 coffee money for that day and drop it in one of our tins on the hill, or drop cash donations directly into the Medical clinics at Mt Martha Village or on Dunns Rd in Mornington.

We are not asking for lots of money, just $3 or $4 dollars to help us finish this challenge, please feel free to come down on the day and cheer us on, there will hopefully be lots happening.

Cheers,
Gregory Pratt, Jason Wakely, Matt Wakefield

#climbfornepal #everesting #arthursseat

UPDATES

They started in a cold and windy typical Melbourne Winters day at 3.09am, no rain, roads dry, but bitterly cold.

But nothing could dampen their spirits... And off they went.

When the next update came through, it was a shock to see how far they had done...

Next update 12:30pm: 
5,000 metres deep, great community support. We only rolled the first lap alone. Coffee, bacon and eggs have been running out the door since 4am for a gold donation.

Last update of the day came late with a text message at 9.30pm. It simply said 'Done, tired, going home'

The lads had completed 34 laps of Arthurs Seat, they raised in cash over $1800, and more money online. It was time to call it a night.

A couple of video clips to celebrate the acheivement.

The final words

There is nothing like this event in the World that is more unique yet more the same. it is a climb of 8848 vertical metres. One way or another you climb the height of Mt Everest. So how did the gentlemen feel afterwards.

Jason Wakley:

Well what made us do this? Talk of doing something crazy had been going on for many months between the three of us over post ride coffees but we never realised it would have ever amounted to something this big, crazy repeat training in the lead up to 3peaks in March had people saying wow what’s next? You would have thought it had taken months of planning instead of two weeks, the tragedy in Nepal meant that one of our riding mates would be going to help with the Trek Medic relief effort, Strava and Hells500 announced that cyclists would be able to help raise awareness in June and then after a brief phone conversation it was Greg who announced he was everesting Arthurs in 2 weeks to raise funds for Nepal. It took me three minutes and a quick approval from my ever supportive wife to confirm with Greg that it wasn't a solo effort, our riding communities were shocked at the announcement but not shocked that we were attempting it, it only took Matt a few hours more to jump on and the word started to spread. As the day came closer with the help of some key cycling ambassadors pledges and offers of support came flooding in. Arthur’s Seat is such an iconic place, whether your riding, driving , running or walking it you don't really want to do it more than once. The day was such an incredibly magic moment for the three of us, it was only the first descent at 3:15am that we rode without anyone else, for the remaining 18 hours our cycling friends came from everywhere, our families and friends were there to support us at the top of each climb, friends were made, connections were formed, cyclists from all different clubs came together for the one cause, people were inspired and motivated to do more than they had before, some for the first time, for me I just new I had to get to 9000m, at 8000 my body started to shut down, I wasn't able to get fluids in so the repeats became slower, with only one climb to go I got to the top 4m short so had to go to the bottom again, the feeling of seeing the 9k on the garmin was amazing, we’d done it, I would have loved to stay for longer at the finish but my body needed some fluids, thankyou to the lovely
staff at Rosebud Hospital who were as shocked at the efforts as my body was.

Looking back I’m still in shock but for many reasons, yes we did it and that was a surprise in itself, but mostly as we got to see how amazing people can be. Cycling is such an incredibly social sport which has the ability to bring people together, saying thankyou to everyone who helped now just doesn't seem enough!

Finally a quote from the day: At the end it won’t be mowing the lawns or working that you remember but you will always remember the day you Everested Arthur’s Seat

Matthew Wakefield

When a mate puts it out there, what do you? Whatever you can, so three of us committed to rally local support for Mark and TrekMedic.

Half way in I knew something was off but by the time I realised it was too late. Nutrition, I got it wrong and suffered badly. I don’t recall many details of my last three climbs other than the hurt!

I pulled out after 21 repeats, having ridden myself into the ground ... bitterly disappointed that I couldn’t physically continue.

Both Greg and Jason finished as we had started in the dark still surrounded by family and friends.

Mark, take care in Nepal and come home safe ... Chapeau!

(Editors note: Matthew - you did 21 laps, most people didnt leave their couch. you are still a bloody legend, I choose this pic to show you as a human who suffered for a cause, well done my friend - it was worth it and you got back to see it through)

Gregory Pratt

Yes we'd been discussing Everesting on and off for months but the prospect of hill repeats without having an underlying purpose hadn't really grabbed me. I typically like riding my bike to get somewhere, and perhaps to be social at times.

When one of our riding buddies posted on Facebook seeking to raise funds for a humanitarian trip to the earthquake shattered regions of Nepal, the motivation to do something silly, like riding Arthurs Seat to the height of Mt Everest, was realised.

Dr Mark Sujecki is a Mt Martha GP leading a team of medicos to Nepal on behalf of the Not For Profit Organisation, Trek Medic. I rode with him on Sunday 31/5 and popped the question in response to his fundraising post, and he approved. From there, as my buddies have stated, it took them brief moments to jump on board. In short, I gorged myself upon carbs and hydration for the next 8 days, between stints at the computer drumming up awareness and support. Most delightfully surprising has been the incredibly generous response of friends and families prepared to give up large chunks of their time and energy to support us to realise our goal.

The event just unfolded without a central organising committee and culminated atop Arthurs on Monday with hundreds of participants of all ages and backgrounds, and a wonderful sense of sharing and community. I feel sincerely blessed to have been supported by the many strangers and friends, many travelling from distance to contribute. Most of all I'm grateful to my riding buddies Jason and Matt for sharing the vision and pouring in their energy to make it happen, and to Dr Sujecki for the inspiration. As for the ride itself - for much of the day my attention was positively diverted by the social aspects. I remember the sparkling lights of the Peninsula before dawn and as the night descended.

I remember feeling generally fatigued between approx lap 15 and 25, but never too sore, and never in doubt that I would make it. Losing Matty on lap 21 was a big blow but then to see him return in support was rejuvinating. I began to feel stronger the closer we got to reaching our goal and lap 30 was actually my quickest for the whole day! 

Seeing Jase struggle was worrying and I couldn't imagine being the only one left standing. Both he and Matt showed such strength of character and determination. The amazing and continued support and encouragement of all those friends and family enabled me to power on and I was literally jumping out of my skin at the finish. I've been surfing on cloud 9 ever since. The estimate keeps rising but I reckon we're gonna raise more than $3000 for TrekMedic!!! Not bad in 8 days :-)

{imagonx}everymetrematers{/imagonx}

Josh Goyne was 10-years old when his grandfather, Barry Graham, was struck down by stroke. Josh looked up to his grandfather and they were very close. For Josh, Barry was an inspiration and Josh learned a lot from him.

Five years later, in 2013, Barry was paralysed from the chest down after suffering his fifth stroke.

Barry needed around-the-clock care, which put a strain on close family and friends. Josh travelled from Canberra almost every week to his grandfather’s farm on the Sunshine Coast to be by his side.

‘I took time out of my holidays and schooling to fly to the Sunshine Coast to look after grandad’s farm,’ Josh said. ‘When money was slim, I caught a ride with a trucker, and when I couldn't make it up there I organised for my mates nearby to look after his farm every day after school.’

During that time, Josh realised that more needed to be done to help people become aware of the signs of stroke and to help those suffering from stroke to function more fully.

Josh said, ‘Last year, an Australian suffered a stroke every 10 minutes.

‘I started the “Barry’s Army” ride, in honour of my Grandfather. Now the ride is formally known as “Tour De Stroke” because I couldn’t register a name with “army” in it as a charity.’

Since starting to campaign as a stroke ambassador, josh has raise some $30,000 for charity by cycling on long rides.

In August last year, Barry died from his sixth stroke, and that propelled Josh to work even harder to help stroke victims.

Yesterday, Josh received the papers for his newly incorporated stroke charity, Stroke Support & Awareness Australia Inc. (ABN: 75 203 032 882)—even though, at 17, he is legally too young to run it.

To launch the new charity and to raise more funds, Josh will commence his longest ride yet. He will cycle over 2,200 kilometres from Total Tools in Fyshwick, Canberra to his late grandfather’s farm at Peachester on the Sunshine Coast.

This will be Josh’s third stroke awareness ride and he has a fundraising goal of $30,000. ‘Funds from Stroke Support & Awareness Australia are not for research but will be used to help in a very practical way,’ Josh said.

‘The funds will go to provide stroke ward’s with vital lifesaving equipment, help rehabilitate stroke victims with an emphases on rehabilitation in their own home with the love of their family around them.

‘And, most importantly,’ he said, ‘it will go to raise awareness of stroke and of the vital first signs that are critical to know to save lives.’

‘This is by far my hardest ride so far,’ Josh said. ‘When I undertake these gruelling rides, I always carry a locket of my grandfather’s ashes around my neck as a constant reminder of my purpose in honouring my grandfather and all stroke victims.’

To further help his cause of raising awareness of stroke, Josh aims to set a record during his charity’s inaugural ride for “longest distance ride in two weeks by an under 18-year old” for Guinness World Records.

 Tour de Stroke 2015

Ride commences at:
Noon, Saturday 10 October 2015 from Total Tools, 103 Gladstone St Fyshwick.

Ride ends at:
Noon (1:00 pm local time, Queensland), 24 October 2015 at Elsa Court, Peachester, Sunshine Coast.

Contact details
Josh Goyne
Mobile: 0477 906 100 or 0467 089 468
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrysarmy

For Donations Text “Josh” to 0437 371 371 or follow https://fundraise.giveeasy.org/campaigns/josh-goyne-tour-de-stroke-awareness/

Instagram: @TOURDESTROKE

Background

• Stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer after coronary heart disease and is a leading cause of disability.
• Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer.
• 1 in 6 people will have a stroke in their lifetime. But behind the numbers are real lives. These people are someone’s sister, brother, wife, husband, daughter, son, partner, mother, father… friend.
• In 2014 about 51,000 Australians suffered a new or recurrent stroke—that is 1000 strokes every week or one stroke every 10 minutes. In 2014 there were over 437,000 people living with the effects of stroke. This is forecast to increase to 709,000 by 2032.
• 65% of those living with stroke also suffer a disability that impedes their ability to carry out daily living activities unassisted.
• In 2012, the total financial costs of stroke in Australia were estimated to be $5 billion.
• The burden-of-disease costs for stroke is estimated to be $49.3 billion.

Source: Deloitte Access Economics

Why Women Ride

On Saturday the 4th of October 2014, Cycle, Cycling Victoria and Con Chronis Photography went out for a photo shoot.

The idea was to ask why women ride their bikes and to collect some images to promote this.

Well, we have collected dozens of images from all over Melbourne. It was a bit strange having three men and a young boy asking women to stop and ask why they choose to go around on a bike, but it wasn't long before people were queuing up to tell us their stories.

We started at Port Melbourne, moved to Alexander Gardens before finishing the day at Docklands. What we can tell you and what we have learned is many things.

Women ride because they want to, they enjoy it, and the want to feel safe doing something that is normal. The ride for fun, freedom, enjoyment, fellowship, fitness and see the sights. The ride fast bikes, slow bikes, even Melbourne Bike Share bikes. It doesn't matter what they are riding and it doesn't matter how fast they ride. Every one we saw was out having a great time.

Women are an indicator species (worth watching this video), that means that the more women ride, the more of all people we will see riding. Jess Mathews says "We have to move beyond the vision of the bike being seen as an athletic sport only for the physically fit; and into the vision of the bike being seen just to move around freely."  To some people the bike is a family car, it is the daily service vehicle. It is how women get the kids to school, the shopping and by 27% of bicycle commuters, it is the work vehicle.

Please enjoy our slide show of #WhyWomenRide and give feedback. We had so much fun that day and met so many great people. We hope to see more of you next time.

{imagonx}whywomenride{/imagonx}

So today I did a short ride in Canberra. 22k's 210m elevation.

I started in Palmerston with a destination in Deakin. Leaving a quiet street in Palmerston I followed Kosciuszko Ave, into Grampians st, turning right at the roundabout to turn down Nudurr Dr. I had a ute with a couple of young fellas rev it up a little as they came around the outside of me. I thought I might be about to get my first bit of city abuse, but the driver just looked at me and kept going on his way.

As I approached Gundaroo Dr I jumped onto the cycle path, that lasted all of 20 seconds. I changed sides and followed that cycle path to the Barton hwy. I thought do I follow the path and hope to find my way through Belconnen, or take the Barton and ride the road. I took the road option. Approaching the GDE I got a lucky break, the was no traffic behind me and a green arrow to turn right down the GDE. the GDE was uneventful other than having to cross the merging lanes, which was okay except on the fast down hill sections on the run down to the Glenloch interchange. I got a wave from a fellow cyclist at the interchange, he was on the other side of the road, 6 lanes and a traffic island away. I turned off the Tuggeranong parkway at Lady Denman Dr, and found another bike path.

Taking the path towards the zoo, and then onto the Scrivener Dam wall. I followed the bike path for a while. I passed several bike ridders along the paths, I gave a wave off the right hood, but I got not one wave or hello back. I found this disappointing. Even while I was pulled up to take the picture, I was rummaging through my saddle bag and 7 or 8 bikes passed me, and not an offer of "Are you ok?"

I got to an intersection, City to the left, Woden to the right. I took the Woden turn and followed that until the 'Old cotter road path' There I turned left and found myself back on a roadside cycle lane. I was marvelling at just how wide and smooth the cycle lanes had been. This one was as wide as a whole lane in my home town, that's on 100km/h roads, and I had this as my whole bike lane! As I was thinking that a bloody magpie swooped me, yay. I turned left into Dudley street, onto the only narrow bit of road I had ridden. I turned right at the Kent street path and bunny hoped a few gutters to my destination.

Overall it was a great ride, I only wish I could have spent more time ridding the cycle paths. I really enjoy the cycle paths, even the roads I rode on were awesome, there was a little debris, nothing that hurt my Gatorskins though. I sometimes think you guys in the Cities don't realise just how lucky you are having endless cycle paths. I am sooooo looking forward to when I move to a city, in hopefully 4 or so years time. Great paths, good smooth roads with cycle lanes, sure beats the rough as guts narrow country roads I have.

Alanna sent this wonderful story about her Penny Farthing.
This is ‪#‎WhyWeRide‬

"I love cycling, full stop. Whether I’m on my road bike, mountain bike, fixie, it doesn't matter. Of all my bikes though, the green monster known as Grasshopper definitely gets the most attention. You don’t go for rides on this bike, you go for adventures.

I was lucky to win Grasshopper in a competition and thankfully they gave me a few lessons. It’s the perfect bike for me - no brakes, no gears, no inner tubes - a girls dream, nothing needs repairing.

The best part is, it makes people smile. It starts conversations about cycling and they’re all positive. It’s amazing the change of attitude. If I’m on the road, drivers will literally escort me at 5km/hr just to say they drove with a Penny Farthing. When I’m on a train people gather around, and ask me a million questions ("yes, its new" "yes, its a penny farthing" "no you cannot have it"). Perhaps Grasshopper is the missing link between pedestrian, driver and bike rider? All I know is that it generates a kind of infectious happiness.

Grasshopper is more than just a bike for me, it has given me the courage to talk to people about cycling and how much fun it can be. Furthermore this has inspired me to go and do things I would have never done before and this year I was given a position as a cycling ambassador with the Roxcycl team. Which is amazing considering I ride in a BUG (Bike North) and I’ve never been in a race, but I love cycling. Roxcycl saw this in me and have inspired me to ride more and create new goals as a part of their ‪

#‎mygoalrox‬ program (ladies go check it out). They saw in me what I didn’t see in myself and I think Grasshopper makes people see in cycling what is so often missed; cycling equals HAPPINESS."