What motivated you to start riding?
When I was pregnant with my 2nd child I found a lump in my breast. I was told it was ok. Some years later I was diagnosed with severe depression. With a young family it was crucial that life must go on but it was never easy. The month after my 40th birthday I started another journey of operations and cancer treatment.
Not just one cancer. I reminded myself to keep breathing. My family reminded me that we stick together and look for the light at the end of the tunnel. After all the surgery, poking and probing was over I had so much to do in life! I embarked on a journey to appreciate my family, the world and make my body strong and healthy. The perfect sport was riding my bike! I can ride with my family and friends. I started out ever so slowly on a mountain bike and enjoyed the challenges it presented. Trees in the way, powerful men trying to get around me on skinny trails, hills that seem to go on forever, drops that try and fling me over my bars.
What positive impact has riding had on your life?
I thought riding a mountain bike would be easy. I bought a bike and I turned up for my first ride in a forest. Oh and did I say, it was also a race?!... I got through that challenge. Next challenge was to try bike shoes that clip to my pedals. No point in mucking around I waited for another race of course! After so many falls I could no longer feel my swollen knees, I knew I was hooked. My self esteem started to pick up off the ground and fitness started to appear in my life. So did laughter, tumbles, bruises and fabulous friends. I love the sound of the air rushing in my ears, I love the feel of my bike back tyre skidding as I arc around a berm. I love the feel of my heart beat as I stand up off the seat and tackle a hill. Oh and of course I love the satisfaction of passing a male rider who only a couple of years ago would wait patiently for a passing point around me. Most importantly I love that cycling is a family sport. It's terrific to see young dirtmasters out on the tracks with their little bikes and its ever so inspiring to see older retired folk staying active and enjoying the wonderful outdoors that we have. My training has taken another step forward with the purchase of a road bike last month. This was to replace my youngest daughter leaving home. To help with that terrible empty nest feeling. To remind me that I am only as old as I feel. I love how I can ride fast and so lightly. I have another group of terrific friends in my life now. They are called the Friday Morning Town Bunch. It's worth it to get up at 5am on a Friday and push out 45km before the world's best coffee and then off to work for the day! And the others in my family? Well, in two weeks my youngest daughter will head to Switzerland for a mountain bike training camp and then onto Norway for the World Champs. Me proud? YOU BET!
Why would you recommend riding to others?
How can I answer this in less than the length of a paperback book?! Riding is the most exhilarating sport! It's terrific for those with bad hips and knees. It's perfect for young children and their families. Australia has the best environment. Plenty of open roads and roaming forests. You can start off slow and build up your fitness. You can start off with lots of wobbly bits and if you persevere you will have the hottest body! If you enjoy friendship, the outdoors, mild exercise, laughter and perhaps need a boost to your enjoyment of life, your self esteem and your physique, then you'd better go buy a bike. There will be a friend waiting just around the corner ready to join you... BE WARNED. It's totally addictive."
