“Safety of riders & volunteers is paramount, and therefore with the information provided we have no other reasonable course of action to take other than to cancel the race. This view has been supported by Cycling Victoria, our partner in the event with rider safety the primary consideration.” Stated  the Tour of Bright.

Obviously, this was a very difficult decision for their team. Cycling in wet conditions can be dangerous at the best of time, let along when there is torrential rain with flash flooding. We applaud them in making the right decision for the hundreds of cyclists who entered the event.

Our thoughts are with the Tour of Bright team and we are looking forward to the 2018 event!

You can read the full press release from the Bright Brewery Tour of Bright here.

Travis, what is your role is Pedal Advocacy Against Poverty this year?

I am the “apparel guy”! The hard work for me was making sure the kit looked the goods and that everyone was able to place their orders knowing their sizes. The gear is due to arrive well before the event so the hardest part of my role is now done.

As you excited for the adventure ahead? 

I am excited but also apprehensive. I’ve never undertaken a ride of this size before, so hoping the legs hang in there and I don’t slow everyone down.

What is your main drive in riding the 1,600 km in 8 days?

To support the charities is obviously most important. The personal challenge is the second. To challenge the limits of what you think you are able to accomplish for a good cause is something I can really get behind.

What do you think is so important about the Vulnerable Children’s and the Bicycle NSW Environmental Trust charities (let me know if you’d like help on these ones)

Any way that you can help struggling children is always something to support. Being able to give money directly to charities that help real children to live a better life, away from poverty and abuse, is the reason behind this ride.

As a bike rider, I know Australia has a long was to go to make it’s roads safer for cyclists.  That is why we’re also supporting the Bicycle NSW Environmental Trust. Anything that we can do to get more people riding is a bonus!

What are you most looking forward to during this trip? 

Riding in places I’ve never ridden before and the camaraderie on the bike. Having done similar rides to this (albeit less intensive) I’ve found the relationships you forge out on the road help get you through the tough patches. I’ve made some great friends on rides like these and I hope this is no different

What training have you been doing in preparation?

I’d like to say I’ve been doing specific preparations but I’ve just been focusing on doing what I’m doing… keeping the k’s up as much as possible, doing some longer rides, adding intensity into my workouts and hoping like hell it’s enough to get me through the 8 days.

How did you get into long distance bike riding?

I got into this event via Jon Leighton… Ask me after the event whether I want to thank or curse him. Riding long distances in general has just been an evolution over time of wondering how far I can go, set a goal- accomplish it- and then set out to better it. As someone who likes to set goals this naturally lends itself to keeping me interested and motivated.

Any advice for people out there looking to start riding?

I think there is a misconception that you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on your first bike to get into the sport, but that’s just not true. There are definite benefit that accompany expensive bikes, but you need to develop a love of the bike before you worry about how much it costs. Once you decide cycling is the sport for you, then think about how many internal organs you need to sell to fund your newfound obsession.

What about those wanting to start doing longer trips?

Ask questions of those who do longer rides. It becomes more than just how many km’s a week you ride- you have to plan and consider nutrition, hydration, recovery, the weather and spares requirements. Failing to plan ahead can have some serious consequences.

Why did Blackchrome decide to support PAAP this year?

We met Jon at Velothon Sunshine Coast this year which is where the initial idea was formed. This event was a good fit with our brand because of its support of a worthy cause and the opportunity to really become a part of the ride. We like to be more than just a company that supplies cycling apparel- we like to form relationships with our customers and really engage with them to understand the requirements so we as a company can learn from  the experience and improve as a result. Not only was I given the opportunity to ride the whole event as National Cycling Manager, but we have our Managing Director providing support on the logistics vehicle and our Marketing Manager in charge of PR for the ride. It’s given the entire company a real sense of pride to be partnering with some amazing people and we hope we can share what is sure to be an incredible 8 days on the bike with the wider community and contribute to the event’s success.

The 2017 Spring Financial Group Spring Cycle was one for the history books with the appearance of some of Australia’s A-list athletes.

8 time BMX and Mountain Bike World Champion, Caroline Buchanan, opened the 105km Challenge with Spring Financial Group’s Managing Director, Keith Cullen. Australian cycling hero and 12 times Tour de France rider, Robbie McEwen along with SBS cycling commentator, Mike Tomalaris, led out the 105km Challenge Ride to start the 2017 Spring Cycle.

Everyone from the once-a-year rider to the daily commuter and even centurions came out in force to enjoy a scenic and safe ride. Thanks to the advocacy work of Bicycle NSW, the many voices of Spring Cycle participants were on show.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jon. 

So Jon, how did you get into bike riding?

Always loved the bike. It is a metaphor for life, the more you put in, the more you get out, the more people you meet and healthier you feel

What type of riding do you do? 

For events like Pedal Advocacy Against Poverty 1300K 16000m of climbing leading others I need to be fit and on top of my game.  I use Training Peaks to plan my riding. I mix it up between long rides, shorter intervals and of course rest days.

What is your most memorable ride?

My favourite ride each year is the Bicycle NSW Spring Financial Group Spring Cycle. To ride with thousands of other riders across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge is both a privilege and fantastic experience.

What is your go-to weekend ride?

My local HKGG’s Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Gorgeous Gorges 4 Gorges Ride – Bobbin Head, Galston Gorge, Berowra Ferry and Climb and back through Bobbin Head with a bunch of great mates

Now, soon you are embarking on an epic bike ride fr a great cause. Would you like to tell us a little about it? 

PaaP (Pedal Advocacy Against Poverty) was born 2 years ago as a ride from the Gold Coast to Sydney to raise money for the Vulnerable Chirldrens Fund. We repeated that in 2016.  We have raised around $170,000. But we have also created an amazing riding experience. We have a pro peloton experience with ride captains, support cars, mechanics, KoM’s, rolling pace lines, massage and even your expresso ready at each rest stop.  In 2017 we have expanded the Peloton Charity Challenge to a challenging Melbourne to Sydney via the Snowy Mountains, Canberra and Southern Highlands. We have expanded the Charity platform to 2 charities and have the ambition to expand this by one new charity each year.

How did you decide on those 2 charities?

Vulnerable Children’s Fund is the foundation charity however the advocacy for a Better Environment for all Cyclists is really important. So we made the decision to support Bicycle NSW through the Bicycle NSW Environmental Trust this year.

Who will be joining you on this adventure? 

5 ride captains, 6 support volunteers and 20 riders

What are you most looking forward to?

It will be amazing ride but it is the life long friends that the many hours of suffering in the saddle and the laughs off it that will make this adventure truly memorable

For those who want to donate to the ride or riders, where can they go to pledge their support?

Go to the website  click on sponsor a rider to this page  choose a rider, any rider, donate and add a comment. If you choose Flying Scotsman, Travis Eddie or Ride Captains I would be delighted but it really does not matter who you choose as it all goes to the same charities.

Stay posted for regular updates from the road during the 8 day event on the Peloton Cafe

Melbourne – Snowy Mountains – Canberra – Southern Highlands – Sydney

For 2 years Peloton Charity Events has ridden from the Gold Coast to Sydney to raise money for the Vulnerable Children’s Fund. Over $175,000 has been raised to date.  In 2017 our ride is also  supporting the Bicycle NSW Environmental Trust as a charity partner.

The objectives of the Trust are solely for charitable purposes and are as follows:

– To conserve and protect the natural environment through the promotion of bicycling as an environmentally beneficial means of transport;

– To promote the use of the bicycle as a key element of ecologically sustainable development practices;

– To promote bicycle transport as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air and water quality, reducing non-renewable energy consumption, and improving land use; and

– To promote the use of the bicycle as a healthy, environmentally sustainable means of enhancing accessibility and personal mobility in the community.

You can be involved by sending a message of support through your donation on the PAAP charity site.  Our chosen rider is the Flying Scotsman however you can support any rider or any team. If you have interest in riding all or part of the event, being a support volunteer at the event or interested in a corporate partnership an application can be made via PAAP website.  All the riders have started to train for this 1300K challenge and we encourage you to support this fantastic initiative, the riders involved and charity partners

 Melbourne – Snowy Mountains – Canberra – Southern Highlands – Sydney Charity Ride   4-11 November 2017

For 2 years Peloton Charity Events has ridden from the Gold Coast to Sydney to raise money for the Vulnerable Children’s Fund. Over $175,000 has been raised to date.  In 2017 , we will also be supporting the Bicycle NSW Environmental Trust as a charity partner.

The objectives of the Trust are solely for charitable purposes and are as follows:
– To conserve and protect the natural environment through the promotion of bicycling as an environmentally beneficial means of transport;
– To promote the use of the bicycle as a key element of ecologically sustainable development practices;
– To promote bicycle transport as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air and water quality, reducing non-renewable energy consumption, and improving land use; and
– To promote the use of the bicycle as a healthy, environmentally sustainable means of enhancing accessibility and personal mobility in the community.

 
You can make a tax deductible donation to the Trust and help Bicycle NSW deliver programs and actions to create a better environment for cycling.

The full ride is limited to 20 core riders. We have 4 spots remaining via PAAP website.

You can also be involved by sending a message of support through your donation on the PAAP charity site.  Our chosen rider is the Flying Scotsman however you can support any rider or any team. If you have interest in riding all or part of the event, being a support volunteer at the event or interested in a corporate partnership an application can be made via PAAP website.  All the riders have started to train for this 1300K challenge and we encourage you to support this fantastic initiative, the riders involved and charity partners

Government investment in bicycle infrastructure seems to be the way to go, particularly as more and more people ‘go green’. Studies from Denmark tell us that for every kilometer cycled, society enjoys a net profit of 23 cents, whereas for every kilometer driven by car we suffer a net loss of 16 cents.

To be considered a savvy city for bikers, they need serious advocacy, bike facilities, social acceptance, and a general perception that cycling is safe. This was the criteria used by Copenha­genize Index to classify the best cities for cyclists.

The Netherlands dominates the top 5, taking out 3 of the top positions.

• Copenhagen, Denmark

The city’s government remains committed to investing in cycling and pushing it to become the number one mode of transport in Copenhagen. A bicycle bridge over a motorway north of the city has been a step forward in building infrastructure. The city’s modal share, the percentage of travellers using a bicycle as their primary form of transportation leaped 10% in one year.

• Amsterdam,  Netherlands

Amsterdam remains a benchmark of what it means to be a bike-friendly city. 60% of trips are made by bike in the inner city and 40% of trips are made by bike overall in the greater city area. All around are bike paths and bike racks, and several guarded bicycle parking station.

• Utrecht, Netherlands

Utretch offers a car-free centre and provides designated bike tracks to travel to surrounding neighbourhoods by bike. Utrecht is nicely compact and, in no time, you’ll find the most beautiful urban parks or find yourself in the middle of the woods.

• Strasbourg, France

Cycling in Strasbourg is a pleasant affair and ends up being the quickest way to travel across the city. There are over 500 kilometers of cycle routes in the city and surrounding metro area. The city also offers a unique bike-share system called Vélhop. The system lets you collect a bike from docking stations with a long-term rental.

• Eindhoven, Netherlands

The most iconic piece of bicycle infrastructure in Eindhoven is their Floating Roundabout. The Roundabout is a suspension bridge, held up by 24 cables. It floats over a large new junction for motorised traffic, ensuring the safety of the cyclist.

On Monday, Porte posted a photo to his Twitter of his first ride since he crashed at high speed on July 9. He was sitting in fifth position in the overall standings, before the incident on Mont du Chat during stage nine of the Tour de France.

Porte suffered a fractured pelvis and a broken collarbone, deemed a significant occupational hazard among pro cyclists.

There is no indication of when Porte will be racing again. Experts say that he will need significant rehabilitation before he can cycle competitively.

The cycling champ appeared to be in good spirits, flashing the camera a winning smile.

Heading out on the road for the 1st time since my crash, feels like first day back at school. So excited! #ridebmc #mylycrahasshrunk ? pic.twitter.com/Vq52bhUxYb

— Richie Porte (@richie_porte) August 14, 2017

Porte said he hoped to compete in a race before the end of the season, and this ride proves he’s on track in his recovery.

“If I come back I think I could ride the Tour of Britain or the Canadian races, just to help the team” he said last month. “Because the amount of form I’ll lose, the last part of the season is a write-off.”

While the Tour is predominately held in France, it often passes through other countries. Almost 200 cyclists push through around 3,500km over 21 days of racing, which can run up to 6 hours a day.

The oldest and main competition of the Tour is known as the ‘general classification’, and the winner is awarded the yellow jersey. The bearer of the yellow jersey is considered the overall winner of the race. This is determined by combining the cyclists’ times, and the cyclist with the lowest time is classed as the winner.

There are 4 jerseys in total: yellow, green, polka dot and white.

The points classification was introduced in the 1953 Tour and awards points to the first 15 cyclists to cross the finish line. The winner is given the green jersey. An additional set of points are given to the first 15 cyclists to reach a predetermined point en route. For this reason, the points classification caters cyclists who are skilled sprinters.

All cyclists receive points for crossing the finish line, with the fastest cyclists gaining the most points and the lower placings receiving fewer points. The number of points awarded depends on the type of stage. For example, in the flat stage, more points are available than in the high mountain stages. This increases the chance that a sprinter will take out the stage, rather than a climber.

The winner of this classification is the cyclist with the most points at the end of the Tour. In the event of a tie, a number of factors are taken into consideration. The winner is determined based on the number of stage wins, the cyclists standing in the general classification and the number of intermediate sprint victories.

Check out this great explanation of the Green Jersey.

Watch this space for an inside track and regular updates on our Richie Porte in his 2017 Tour de France Challenge. All of Australia is behind you mate!