Riders in the 2015 Future2 Wheel Classic rolled out of Sydney on Tuesday morning on the first leg of an event that will ultimately see them arrive in Brisbane on November 18 on the opening evening of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Professionals Congress.

It’s a trek that will cover 1100km, from Sydney’s northern beaches, inland through New South Wales, across the Queensland border and finally into Brisbane.

A dozen riders set out from Manly on a 30km ride to Palm Beach, before boarding a ferry across Broken Bay to Ettalong, and then embarking on a ride to Maitland. All up, they will cover 162km on Day 1.

From modest beginnings in 2010 the Wheel Classic has developed into a mainstay of the Future2 Foundation’s fundraising roster, and is aiming again this year to break the $100,000 mark.

Each rider has a personal fundraising page, on which donations and pledges may be made.

Name Company Suburb State
Stephen Ballinger Ballingers Dangar NSW
Peter Bobbin Argyle Lawyers Burwood NSW
Dave Dyson Financial Life Balance Ivanhoe East VIC
Ray Griffin Baiocchi Griffin Private Wealth Bendemeer NSW
Thomas Griffiths AMP Capital Redfern NSW
Stuart Heath AMP Mullimbimbi NSW
Paul Hocking Hillross Kenmore QLD
Matt Meehan Agbis Financial Armidale NSW
Ross Schoeffel Collins Partners Toorak VIC
Robyn Simionato Putney NSW
Roger Simionato Putney NSW
Darren Stevens Godfrey Pembroke Gordon ACT
Click on each rider’s name to visit their fundraising page. Source: Future2 Foundation

 

Future2 was initially established in 2007 as a foundation for the financial planning profession, and was provided with administrative support by the FPA. In August 2013 it was aligned more closely with the association to become its official foundation.

The foundation is the vehicle through which the association and its members can give back to local communities, supporting programs and groups that target young Australians who are socially and financially disadvantaged.

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Ray Griffin, left; and
FPA CEO Mark Rantall

FPA members can nominate specific groups and programs for consideration by the Future2 trustees. Since its establishment, the foundation has made grants totalling more than $250,000.

Over the course of the 2015 Wheel Classic, Professional Planner will be providing updates on the riders’ progress and key events along the way, from the perspective of cyclist David Dyson. (See Dyson’s updates from the road, below.)

This will be the fourth Wheel Classic that the Melbourne-based accountant and financial planner has participated in. Dyson says he didn’t seriously get on a bike until he was in his 40s (he’s now 53).

He took it up “just to get a bit fitter”, and has taken to it with gusto. He’s also competed in the Peaks Challenge Falls Creek – a challenge that to the layman (and non-cyclist) falls only just this side of “completely nuts”: a 235km ride incorporating some 4000m of vertical climbing from Tawonga Gap to Mount Hotham to Falls Creek. The ride has to be completed within a 13-hour time limit.

Dyson says he competed in the first Wheel Classic that was “open to the public, as it were”. He says more financial planners should take opportunities to support the work and the aims of the Future2 Foundation.

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Wheel Classic riders roll out of Manly

“To be totally frank, I never had a strong FPA involvement over the years,” Dyson says.

“From that point of view, I think the involvement of the FPA [in Future2] as been absolutely magical. You feel a bit more recognition out of the exercise – especially riding into Adelaide last year.”

Day 1 is a long ride and Dyson stresses that there will be “no heroes” out there.

“You just have to ride within yourself, which is a challenge within itself,” he says.

“It is 70 to 80 per cent all day, and preserving yourself for the next day. You are always either riding, eating or sleeping.

“You just need to manage the whole exercise. There’s a personal challenge in it.”

Even so, “bike riding is a team sport”, Dyson says.

“That’s hard to comprehend when you first get into it,” he says.

“You really do support each other on the road. Someone takes the lead for a period of time and you rotate around so you all get the benefit.”

David-Dyson-Classic-150x150David’s Diary – Day 1

(Manly to Maitland: 162km)

Up at 5.30 with bags packed and loaded with [support crew] Bruce [Macky] and Barry [Welsh] in the support vehicles, a makeshift breakfast was had before a rendezvous at the Manly SLSC.

Brimming with nervous tension 13 riders and families were welcomed and farewelled by Susan Grice General Manager Future 2 Foundation, AMP’s Michael Guggenheimer and Matrix Planning Solutions.

The pace was on for a 9.00am deadline for the Palm Beach Ferry to Ettalong but we made good time and boarded with plenty to spare. Part one, Day one, 30km, Done.

The plan was to split into two roughly even groups but it took some 30km to eventuate with most enthusiastically trying to hang on to the tail of the lead out group, myself included.  Reason prevailed, 40kph cruising on day 1 was always going to mean trouble.

Group 2 settled into a comfortable rhythm and we rolled into the Maitland City Motel around 2.30.

The score for the day?

Zero flats, one spoke, 2 with cramp, and for my own part? 3 bananas, 3 cheese and apricot jam sandwiches, 3 Carman’s Bars a half dozen energy chews, 3 litres of drink, a Pepsi, a Mars Bar, and a cup of noodles.

I’m starving, when’s dinner?

 

David-Dyson-Classic-150x150David’s Diary – Day 2

(Maitland to Gloucester: 122km; 284km to date)

After a leisurely breakfast of twice the normal portions we rolled out about 8.15 with pre-made lunch in our backs and day packs.  Most found their rhythm early, with a notable conservatism that was absent on Day 1.  Despite best efforts I found myself near the front and had taken a little too much wind by about 30ks.

Shortly after we rolled into Dungog for coffee and a feed being met with donations to Future 2 by some of the locals. Much appreciated!

While being grateful for Roger and Robin’s company on the longest climb of the day at about 55km, up Stroud Hill, it was made all the more difficult by a slowly deflating rear tyre which we changed and foolishly I didn’t thoroughly check the rear brake only to find it was still rubbing much later.

It’s all too common when you’re struggling to think it’s caused by a fault with the bike, but sometimes it is worth checking.

As is the team effort of Future2, Ray and Steve dropped back a number of times to drag me back to the group for much of the remaining 70-odd km of saw-tooth riding into Gloucester.

But all this was a mere rehearsal for what looms on Day 3300+ m of climbing over 140km into Walcha.

Bikes prep’d, and bodies refuelled, early to bed for all.

 

David-Dyson-Classic-150x150David’s Diary – Day 3

(Gloucester to Walcha: 140km; 424km to date)

After a hot feed we were off and under no misconceptions, it wasn’t going to be pretty.

Before 20k we had already been exposed to a tough 3km climb and the peloton had fractured with many heeding the warning to “ride at your own pace”. The serious work began at 41km and most of the next 8km we spent climbing at over 10 per cent, peaking at 15, then 17 per cent, (sounding a lot like my HSC Applied Maths mid-year marks).

As we sprawled out scaling Thunderbolts Way, Dave Simmons in an additional support vehicle strategically stationed himself to deliver much needed relief as I struggled to keep my heart rate under 170 bpm. At every bend there was a false promise of a reprieve but it was not until we were bid “au revior” by the Gloucester Shire at about 65km that any small relief materialised.

Lagging the majority, the rolling hills offered the sight of riders in the distance and Matt, Steve and myself regrouped and set about reeling in the  remaining 70km of picturesque plains and hills to be greeted by a Walcha welcoming party.

All celebrated a great challenge with a drink and feed at the local. A day like today binds the Future2 team as tightly as a premiership.

Tough day, exhausted last night.

 

David-Dyson-Classic2-150x150David’s Diary – Day 4

(Walcha to Armidale 75km

– or 77 if you get lost! 499km to date)

 

Short day today, thank god!

It took 30k for the legs to loosen up and a sedentary pace saw myself, Pete, Paul and Ross roll in to join a greeting from BackTrack. Matt Meehan supported their grant application to Future 2 to give young guys the responsibility of training dogs to perform and work – 90% of their kids either return to full time school or work. Reportedly, as one of only 2 precincts in NSW with declining youth crime stats, at negative 70%, something is working in Armadale.

We were off to our next “engagement” at Minimbah Primary School to see rap and dance sessions run through Beyond Empathy another local grant recipient. The participation and rousing support from their peers really brings the kids to life in their performances with assistance from a small crew of dedicated mentors and successful young locals.

Very heartening to see.

 

Future2 Wheel Classic – Distance still to cover

Day 5 Sat 14 Armidale Inverell 126km
Day 6 Sun 15 Inverell Texas 128km
Day 7 Mon 16 Texas Warwick 146km
Day 8 Tue 17 Warwick Toowoomba 90km
Day 9 Wed 18 Toowoomba Brisbane (BCEC) 150km
TOTAL DISTANCE REMAINING 640 km

Visit Future2 website for latest news and updates, grant info and more.

Donate at the Future2 Giving Hub – and give hope for a brighter future to disadvantaged young Australians.

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