Your guide today is...

Robin Williams, a cycling addict as well as a great comedian, was once asked what was the best thing about riding his bike. He replied "because it is the closest you can get to flying".
 

Sometimes struggling up some long hills, it doesn't feel like that, but once over the top, boy, it feels great!!
 

And with Bike North, I've flown down some hills all over the length and breadth of Sydney, and then NSW, Australia and overseas as well.
  

I've only been riding for the last seven years, but I've enjoyed every minute, and Bike North has been the pathway. So to give back, it's time to lead some of those rides that bring so much joy, happiness and fitness to our members. Let's fly!!!

Cycling gives me freedom and adventure, and brings me closer to nature and people. All in all Cycling gives me happiness. Oh and the coffee!
 

Cycling offers me a feeling that I enjoy sharing with others through the rides that I lead. Oh and the coffee!
 

I can still recall the earliest of days on training wheels, riding a dragster, road bikes, and mountain bikes. Now days I can be seen mainly on road bikes. And there will always be that n+1 bike in the future!
 

The rides that I ride will usually be scenic, and frequently with water views. They will have coffee.... Oh the coffee....

Was always interested in sport and keeping fit from an early age though my interest in cycling only started in mv twenties, cycling along Parramatta Road or Hume Highway to meet up with my then boyfriend. Crazy stuff. Family, children etc got in the way for the next 30 years but continued with netball, jogging or walking.
 
Once I started up again, I was hooked. Love the fitness side of it with the social side quite a bonus. Enjoy my weekend outings and look forward to when I can also cycle during the week and increase my kilometres.
 
I agree with some of the others in our group, that it's all about the coffee!!

Ciao and stay safe.

I was given my first bike (a second-hand fixie) at age 11 & it really was love at first sight, we were inseparable, every Saturday was an adventure. I

would disappear with a packed lunch in the morning to reappear sometime in the evening. I didn't realise at the time (as I had nothing to compare it

to) that the bike is the perfect and the most elegant mode of transport yet invented and the perfect companion for adventure.

With the onset of adulthood, such toys were put behind me and forgotten.

Or so I thought, a few years back I borrowed a bike for a Scout Bike Hike of 12km and it all came flooding back. Within a week,I was the proud owner of Fluid Mountain bike from Anaconda and rediscovered that carefree inner child again.

My true love these days is a Cannondale SuperSix Road Bike (in Liquigas race colours with matching lime green tyres) which is now my companion for adventure. My riding these days is on the road with a preference for multi-day rides with interesting and scenic routes and destinations. And like-minded companions of course.

Recreational cycling is fun and I truly believe that it can be for everyone. Bike North does have something for everyone from rank beginner to the hardest and fastest. I will mostly be somewhere in the middle (having fun)

If you are looking for that bike ride that is just a little different, a bike ride that is more than just a bike ride, please join me, you are more than welcome.

I have been cycling since university days when that was the only affordable means of transport. I shudder now to think of the number of times I set off for a night out on my bike in a billowing layered skirt (the fashion at the times) and high heeled sandals!

The cycling tapered off for several years while bringing up a family, but since joining Bike North seven years ago, I have been riding every week. I particularly enjoy touring by bike and have been lucky enough to do an Amsterdam to Bruges Barge/Cycle tour as well as the 2018 Moselle River tour with Bike North members. The Murray to the Mountains tour in Victoria as well as a long weekend cycling in Canberra have also been highlights.

Now I hope to share my love of cycling and exploring new scenic routes around Sydney with my fellow Bike North members.

When my kids gave me a bike for Christmas many years ago, tears came to my eyes; what a treasure! It was a modest suburban bike but pretty soon I was roaming along cycle paths and along rivers with friends.

Then came the Gong (the annual ride from Sydney to Wollongong). In our struggles to get Gong-ready we struggled up McCarrs Creek Rd, reasoning that if we could get up that, then we were going to be OK on the Big Day. I did NOT enjoy being so close to traffic!

I love that the human body gradually gets better at what you keep doing. So now, we get up such hills with less huffing and puffing and swearing. I am still not a fan of traffic but am more skilled and used to it.

One day I was road-riding on my hybrid out at West Head, feeling rather grumpy with the world and with myself. I saw a gravel bush trail off to the side and took a detour down it. What an eye-opener! I love cycling and I love being in the bush, and now I was doing both simultaneously! So began my love affair with riding trails through bushland. Yes, on an MTB but not the technical stuff which will get me into trouble.

I love longer rides - on-road or off-road - through bushland and want to take them a pace that I find comfortable.

I started cycling around 2012 / 2013 except for my teenage years. I bought a flat bar / hybrid bike for around $500 which I thought was expensive (little did I know). I first rode around the Parramatta river usually around 20kms or so and would walk up hills.

I first heard about Bike North when I saw them at the Granny Smith Festival in Eastwood and spoke to someone at the stall who passed me a brochure. I went on my first ride which was around 20 - 25kms from Eastwood down to LCNP and back. I have since improved and have slowly moved up from slow easy rides to hard rides.

I enjoy riding longer distances at a steady pace. I enjoy the social side of riding in a group and talking all things cycling - bikes, gear, etc.

I started riding at the age of 60. Riding is my exercise. I am settled and comfortable with easy medium rides, not needing the challenge of fast and furious.I have two bikes, a hybrid for shopping and a flat-bar road bike.
 

In 2022, I bought myself an e-bike as the hills appeared to getting steeper and the distances tiring. I should be right now.

Most of those km are "scenic cycling", using the bike to view attractive changing landscapes. I take my bike various places in Australia and occasionally overseas, with an emphasis on "hub-and-spoke" (day) riding rather lugging gear in a progressive touring format. Some cycling is with small groups, but I also enjoy cycling alone. Some trips include other interests: sailing, kayaking, walking.
 

For Sydney cycling and thereabouts, I use trains and sometimes ferries to start/end riding in pleasant cycling territory. Variety of routes is key to maintaining my enthusiasm.
 

I avoid "race", "red zone", "training", "challenge", "charity ride", sub-10 degrees, sur-30 degrees, rain and headwinds. My motto is "Why ride 50 (km) when you can ride 100?"

My active bikes are "Tracey" the 2012 Trek Madone 4.5 roadie, "Hyacinth" the Trek 7.4 Hybrid, and "Darlene" the 2011(?) Dahon Mu P24 folder.
 

I hope to particularly contribute to Bike North by leading longer rides at a moderate pace, and by adding to the ride database.

I first started riding approx 7 years ago when I gave up football (soccer).
 

Initially I was riding once a week (if that) on my own which at times was boring. After moving to the lower North Shore and hearing about Bike North, I went on a few rides and become a member. I started riding at least 2-3 times a week as social riding was much more fun than riding alone. For me cycling is ONLY about the coffee. Some might think I'm overly fussy about my coffee and I strongly agree! When I realised the only way to choose the coffee stop was to become a ride leader….I jumped at the chance.

Retired October 2013 after working in both HR and general management. Took up cycling in 2013 with an emphasis on longer distance road rides.
 

Especially enjoying the Tuesday rides with mainly retirees who know how to ride.

I took up cycling as part of rehabilitation following knee surgery. The knee problem was caused by pavement jogging and sport in years of long-ago youth. It wasn't long before riding the same routes around the local suburb became boring. My first ride with Bike North was Concord for Cake in early 2007 using my son's mountain bike and I vividly remember the leader's phone instruction to make sure my tyres were well pumped up. It was a big step for me to ride 25km in a group but what I found were wonderful people with a strong interest in cycling and getting about Sydney. Bike North people have continued to provide me with amazing support to learn about bikes and cycling and I have made many new friends.

I cycle for recreation and to try to keep a reasonable level of fitness. My favourite rides are the scenic routes particularly those involving bush, water, architecture or nature. Sydney's magic places continue to enthral me.

My early riding career as a kid was around Kissing Point Rd and ‘commutes’ to Turramurra High School. Then came along uni, marriage, kids and the whole shebang and I got out of the habit of riding.
 

With retirement came both the funds and time to return to cycling. Initially this was on an MTB and the local trails – typically solo.
 

Following a hip implant, and wanting both challenging and group rides, I joined BikeNorth. What an eye opener that was! As a MTBer I was fairly fit but my MTB was slow and heavy and I was repeatedly last in the group rides up the hills – even on the easy rides.
 

It was now time to buy my first road bike. That made a huge difference and I moved from easy rides to medium rides and wasn’t dropped and could generally keep up with the leaders.
 

Now it is payback time to introduce, and re-introduce, others to the joys and challenges of cycling by becoming a ride leader.

I have always enjoyed cycling; during my Uni days we would take off on longish rides ‘down south’ (I lived in Perth) with virtually no training.  Oh, to have the natural fitness of youth!

When the Gore Hill cycle path opened, I  bought a bike and started commuting from Cammeray to Macquarie Park a few days a week.  It was only 12 km, but the path is undulating.  While exhausted initially, I built up fitness and resilience to climbing.  Upgrading my bike helped too!

Joining Bike North introduced me to new places to ride and fellow cyclists who share my passion.  I particularly enjoy riding on the open roads through bushland, such as the various routes starting along the old Pacific Highway.

I look forward to meeting you on a ride soon.  

I have been a bicycle rider off and on for most of my life. I have always wanted to keep fit and bike riding not only achieved this but also is so enjoyable.
 

I joined Bike North in 2015 and was immediately attracted by the good company of other riders and the various rides around Sydney, particularly to some places I had not seen before – notwithstanding the fact that I have lived in Sydney most of my life. In 2021 I decided it was time to step up and put something back into Bike North, and so became a ride leader.

I got back into cycling as an adult, at first, borrowing a friend's bike. I like that cycling it is outdoors and versatile. I can get some physical exercise that is non-competitive, with a group or by myself. I can explore places at more ?human? pace. Or if I am riding somewhere very familiar, the repetitive pedalling movement and air moving by and can be quite mediative. At one point living in the UK, my bike was my main transport option. I even got a $50 annual bicycle allowance from my local social services employer to do my home visits by bike!

I found out about BN at an information stall at an early Spring Cycle and have gone on many rides since. As well as the pleasant company, the rides have been a great way for me to learn how cycle paths and back street routes linkup across Sydney. Knowing about safe routes has encouraged me to increase my cycling for transport. I became a ride leader in 2007, leading easy to medium style rides. I have attained my CycleSkill Coaching Accreditation (August 2008) through the Australian Cycling Federation, so I can encourage beginner riders to become more confident.

I returned to cycling in 1978, during a year spent in the Netherlands, where kids learn to cycle to attend kindergarten, and status isn't linked to what brand of car you drive.

I aim to cycle whenever that is the best way to get there and back, and keep the car for heavy shopping and long distances. Many of my bikes have mudguards, racks and lights. Many have little wheels. Some fold.

I like to travel slowly enough to look around, but far enough to impress myself. Best of all, I enjoy long distance touring in Europe.

I started riding at age nine on a three speed 24 inch Speedwell around the streets of Baulkham Hills. Then graduating to a 27 inch, 12 speed Malvern Star. The lack of public transport and relatively lightly trafficked roads in what was then a semi rural area made cycling a routine form of transport for getting to school, school holiday exploratory rides around the area and a means of transport to get to other activities - such as Scouts.

Upon commencing work in the Hunter Valley the desire to maintain a level of fitness lead to the Malvern Star being dusted off. This allowed me to join others on a 22km each way commute from Muswellbrook to Liddell Power Station.

Twenty five years later I still enjoy commuting to work in Sydney by bicycle at least two or three days a week. On weekends I ride a Trek tandem with my wife Louise or one of my daughters. Occasionally I take my Giant road bike on one of Bike North's hard rides. My particular cycling interests are tandems and family cycling.

How did I become a Bike North member and Ride Leader?

Riding the streets and lanes of inner Sydney as a kid, on cobbled-together bikes, gave me my love of pedaling and plenty of mechanical practice. My big splurge was a green Speedwell '10 speed'. It now seems archaic, but for many years this green bike was my transport. I must have ridden thousands of kilometres just 'getting around'. After many worn-out parts were replaced, and three repaints this old bike is still in use.

I was present at the inaugural meeting of Bike North in August 1996 and started running rides on the Bike North program immediately, and still continue. My rides vary from the easiest to the hardest and everything in between. I run rides on Saturdays and Sundays and am usually back for lunch.

For me cycling is the answer to so many questions about maintaining lifestyle, health, fitness, holidays, recreation, social activities and choosing appropriate transport.

I invite you to join me on one of my rides, to Ride and Smile :-)

One of the things I strive for is to stay active and fit. I learnt to cycle as a child on a 2nd hand bike, my very first bike. I stopped riding for quite a number of years. So not that long ago, approx 7 years ago I jumped back on a bike and from then on, I have not looked back realising how much joy and fun it brings. I became involved with BN so I could meet like-minded cyclists, learn to ride in groups and learn new cycle ways which I had no idea existed. I was surprised to see that they take you kilometres all over Sydney. I also like the idea that BN involves a coffee break where we can chat away and talk about our cycling or our bikes.
 

Cycling has given me the opportunity to do some fun times away in Aust and Overseas.

Cycling is a great way to get out in the sunshine, to get the body moving, and to spend time with great people. And, of course, there's the coffee!!

I have loved cycling all my life, though I only took it up seriously in my mid-20’s. To me, coasting on a bike downhill on a beautiful day is the ultimate high, giving me a thrill reminiscent of when I used to ride roller coasters as a kid.

What I adore about cycling is that it opens up the world to you; driving from A to B in a car, you miss so much and are so focused on where you are going you forget to enjoy the journey. On your bike, it’s all about the journey and a cycle route is far more scenic than being stuck on a main road. I consider myself particularly blessed to live in Parramatta, as it is at the hub of so many great cycle routes. I have been exploring this area and its surrounds for many years. As a ride leader, I hope to be able to introduce fellow cyclists to some of these excellent bike paths/routes.

I have been riding with Bike North almost since its beginning, when it was just a little BUG. I am proud of how it has expanded to be inclusive of all kinds of riders and skill levels, as well as the great advocacy work it does. My aim is to lead medium length rides at a steady pace, keeping the focus on enjoying the journey – and the coffee stop!

As a Bicycle User Group, Bike North exists only because of the efforts of its members and after joining I was soon impressed by the voluntary efforts & hard work of the Ride Leaders and the many other people involved in the group's administration.

Finding new routes and meeting people who share similar pursuits has greatly increased my own enjoyment of cycling and it's also rewarding to be able to share some of what I have learned with other Bike North members.

Recognise this dilemma? A career, wife, kids, the middle age spread and the feeling that my brain is fit but my body just isn't keeping up. If only I could cycle to work. I used to cycle.

At the age of eleven my parents gave me a choice: catch an overcrowded commuter bus to school or cycle 2.2 miles to school and 2.2 miles back daily, summer and winter, rain and shine. I tried the bus for two days - that was enough! Cycling was for me. The freedom. The flexibility. The individuality. I never looked back - till I was a teenager and discovered motorbikes.

If only I could cycle like that again.

Bike North showed me a ride that went from near my house to near work, almost all on cycle ways, safety away from cars through pretty green countryside. Could I give it a go maybe?

Soon I am cycling to work some days and when time would allow cycling at a weekend with Bike North. So many rides on cycle paths through parts of Sydney I never knew existed!

It was great to meet like-minded people, get a bit fitter, go on cycling holidays and make some really good friends - Thanks Bike North!

As a child I always wanted a bike, however my parents were too worried that I would be killed or seriously injured if I was to mix it with the horrendous traffic of the 1960s (I was pretty horrified when we travelled along Parramatta Road, Auburn for several blocks on my very first Bike North ride). I had to make do with a very battered Cyclops pump up tyres scooter which I went far and wide on. When I finally did get a bike in my final year of school I promptly lost interest in cycling, as tennis, rugby, swimming, athletics, even a bit of study more than filled in my time. That bike was hardly ridden, 25 kg of steel was always hard to push anyway.

I finally bought another bike about five years ago, however it was only used sporadically as most of my weekends were taken up with bushwalking. In fact I only bought it to be able to go on the ride from Turramurra to Tempe via the Cooks River etc, that appeared about twice a year on The Wilderness Society's Bushwalking Program.

Since starting to ride with Bike North in 2000, I now have another way to take up another day of the weekend.

I was pretty horrified when we travelled for several blocks along Parramatta Road, Auburn, on my very first Bike North ride, but soon discovered that there was strength in numbers and settled down to enjoy an experience that I thought would never happen in my wildest dreams!

Riding with Bike North has given me a great deal of pleasure, and I see leading some rides as my way of giving something back. Hope to see you on your bike!

My bike riding days began long ago when I was in primary school - it was a great way to get around, and of course the roads were not so busy back then!

When I hit 30, I started cycling to work and bought a custom-made Ken Evans bike from Melbourne. I rode to work every day for 20 years.

I started riding with Bike North in 2015 after I retired. I have been riding pretty much twice a week since and really enjoy it.

I love exploring new places such as Botany Bay, Cronulla and Prospect Reservoir to name a few.

I’m always happy for a chat over coffee during the ride and meeting new people, combining this with great exercise in the outdoors is a perfect combination! I’m looking forward to cycling my way into 2021.

My most recent cycling career took off while in Singapore, where I was actively participating in sporting events, either running or cycling, wanting to go the distance. Singapore was at a time when cycling was actively encouraged. I participated in several cycling events by renting a bike, most memorable of which was the OCBC Cycling event which had more than 10,000 cyclists participating during the 1st year I joined the event.
 

Having moved to Sydney, and after doing all my research on YouTube GCN (Global Cycling Network), I invested on my first bike from 99bikes; initially cycling by myself along the Parramatta River path starting from Meadowbank. I stumbled onto Bike North tent at the Eastwood Granny Smith festival, who convinced me that I don’t need to be an expert cyclist to join and numerous rides organised for every level of cyclists. After reluctantly having joined the first ride, I gradually became a regular.
 

The more millage I put on cycling with Bike North, the more I learn new on techniques on cycling. My weekends are now enjoyable waking up early, cycling, having coffee, chatting with my regular cycling colleagues and of course picking up a habit that’s very healthy for the heart.

My dad gave me a Raleigh Tomahawk Bike on my 6th Birthday and that changed my life! I enjoyed cycling around my neighbourhood in Singapore. Dad thought the bike will keep me out of mischief instead it was a catalyst to many more!

When I was an army regular in Singapore for 5 years, I bought myself a Raleigh 501 steel road bike with Shimano 600 group set and often cycled round Singapore, Malaysia and Batam. It was a regular affair until I hurt myself while I was in the forces and had to stop cycling.

3 decades later, I resumed cycling after I had a health scare. I always wanted to rekindle my love for cycling when I retire but I changed my perspective and got myself a road bike. How things have changed! I have to be taught how to change gears and lost my sense of balance on the bike.

My mate Prasad (ride leader of Bike North) introduced me to Bike North in Aug 2020 and it totally changed my lifestyle. I stopped smoking, drank a lot less and did a ‘SKI” Spent my Kids Inheritance on all things related to bicycle LOL!

Thanks to Bike North, I got to see lots of Sydney and its surrounds in 2 years more than I have seen in 25 years. Now I am a weekend warrior on the bike front. My wife sees less of me over the weekend but she is happy just as long I do my housework after my bike rides.

My objectives as a bike leader is to give back to Bike North all the “Joy” I have received as a member, bring humour and fun to cycling and organise rides for newbies as well as seasoned riders who like cycling and want to challenge themselves.

I have had a bike since 1980s when I bought a second hand, very heavy, steel, 14 gear Speedwell and rode it occasionally. Only started to ride seriously when I had a knee operation a few years ago, updated my bike and found Bike North at that time. I have not looked backwards.
 

I enjoy Bike North rides, seeing different parts of Sydney and the social aspects of the rides. I like the variety of rides offered and the different lengths and paces of the rides. Now that I am semi-retired, I hope to ride more often and lead mainly steady and moderate pace.