Cyclists in the 2015 Future2 Wheel Classic are a mere 150km away from their final destination of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and will complete the final leg of the ride on Wednesday when they arrive at the opening night reception of the 2015 Financial Planning Association Professionals Congress.
Over the course of the 1132-km ride, 12 cyclists will raise more than $100,000 for Future2 Foundation’s grants program to support disadvantaged youth around the country. Since 2010, the Wheel Classic has developed into a mainstay of the Future2 Foundation’s fundraising roster. Each rider has a personal fundraising page, and it’s not too late to get involved and support the riders in their fundraising efforts.
Future2 Foundation is the vehicle through which the FPA and its members can give back to local communities, supporting programs and groups that target young Australians who are socially and financially disadvantaged.
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, David Dyson’s daily diary (see below) has provided an insight into the extreme physical nature of the 1132km event, the camaraderie it engenders among the participants, and the critical role of the support team on the road.
David’s Diary – Day 8
(Warwick to Toowoomba 99km; 991km to date)
The second of our “rest days” provided a great opportunity to ride as one group at a more leisurely pace. Stopping in Clifton for coffee and a “superfood” sausage roll & sauce (which included a Channel 7 film shoot) we made good time and with Adam Stewart’s assistance (2014), managed to find a bike shop for a few running repairs on arriving in Toowoomba.
Bob Currie (FPA Chapter Chair) joined us for a BBQ, compliments of Adam’s APEX, with our awards night following, including the presentation of the coveted purple-pedal.
There is still a big 150 day to finish so not too much “relaxing” just yet. |
David’s Diary – Day 7
(Texas to Warwick 139km; 892km to date)
If you ride long enough, you know it has to come to an end. While the last couple of days were no picnic there was a downhill trend which today’s riding reversed.
Much to our “reluctant delight” the local constabulary weren’t prepared to let us mingle with B-Doubles in both directions on a particularly nasty road and rise, so we were shuttled for 40-odd kms giving us a mere 139km to negotiate.
Setting off in an improvised three staged groups to manage the various abilities and transport required paid dividends as rotating to manage the persistent headwinds and swollen bridge crossings saw most roll into Warwick fresher than tackling the challenges alone.
Thanks go to Roger’s planning and the support crew’s efforts. |
David’s Diary – Days 5 & 6
(Armidale to Inverell to Texas, 126 and 128Km;
753km to date)
After Friday’s recovery ride, the weekend’s gradient has been more favourable, apart from “a few lumps” as Roger puts it at our morning briefings.
With Ray Griffin, one of the founding Future2 trustees (and instrumental in the Wheel Classic’s success) heralding from Inverell we’ve been rolling on hallowed ground.
Saturday’s coffee and feed at Bundarra some 80km in and today’s stop at Ashford gave us a chance to regroup and battle the persistent headwind, although Darren and Thomas have been taking more than their fair share, ably supported by Stu, with his “gunshot” blowout today being the only real incident 20km from Texas.
One thing for sure, all have settled into group riding with more hand gestures than a Bollywood dance troupe warning of impending “holes”, “sticks” traffic and obstacles to be negotiated. |
David’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. |
David’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’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’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? |
Future2 Wheel Classic – Distance still to cover |
Day 9 |
Wed 18 |
Toowoomba |
Brisbane (BCEC) |
150km |
2015 Wheel Classic Photo Gallery
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