The 2015 Future2 Wheel Classic has smashed its $100,000 fundraising target, with more than $120,000 raised by the time 12 riders rolled into the 2015 Financial Planning Association’s Professionals Congress in Brisbane last week, and the figure is still rising.

In total the congress raised more than $200,000 for the Future2 Foundation.

The riders were scheduled to cover 1132km on the nine-day ride, but a GPS unit carried by rider David Dyson shows that with detours and other unexpected issues en route the riders actually covered 1142km.

Dyson provided daily commentary on the Sydney-to-Brisbane ride, providing first-hand insight into the extreme physical nature of the event, as well as the camaraderie it engenders among the participants, and the critical role of the support team on the road.

he final instalment of Dyson’s diary appears below.

In his final update, Dyson urges other financial planners and fellow FPA members to get behind Future2 and support the work it does supporting not-for-profit organisations in local communities. At the FPA Professionals Congress last week the foundation announced its latest round of grants, totalling $115,000

David-Dyson-Classic2-150x150David’s Diary – Day 9

(Toowoomba to Brisbane: 155km; 1146km to date – and that’s enough!)

With the end in sight, it’s tempting to “just get it done”, but 155km is still enough of a challenge, to test the resolve. The contour chart looked tame enough at breakfast, with what appeared to be a rapid decent early and a “lump or two” before a roll down to the finish line.

With looks being a just a little deceitful, a very healthy pace was set and it was at about 85km that the joints, and muscles started to feel the pain of 9 days on the pedals.

The last 70km started with a couple of sharp hills and then presented a staircase of climbs hitting 16 per cent that kept constant pressure on weary legs for the next half hour.

And it seemed the closer we got, the more regularly we were out of the saddle to combat sharp rises. More than 1500m climbing, most of it in the second half, as we took a safer route to avoid heavy traffic.

Eventually, the whole crew regrouped on the bike path above Brisbane, and with Paul’s local knowledge, we cruised in to a welcome from families and supporters and the FPA Professionals Congress.

The last day of a Wheel Classic is a chance to celebrate the preparation, the effort and the commitment from organisers, riders, their families, the donors and the sponsors.

Particular thanks go to Susan Grice, support drivers Bruce and Barry, and Roger Simionato for logistics.

This year the team has raised over $120,000 in funds that will go to helping kids in communities across Australia, and perhaps that is a good point on which to reflect as a profession.

Hopefully its your neighbourhood that will benefit; perhaps even your own kids; benefit from the extraordinary programs that are run by gifted individuals, with a mission to offer kids from all walks of life a second chance, a Future No. 2.

But it can’t happen without a Financial Planner’s involvement and endorsement.

Please, spread the Future 2 word.

 

David-Dyson-Classic2-150x150David’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-Dyson-Classic2-150x150David’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-Dyson-Classic2-150x150David’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-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.

 

David-Dyson-Classic2-150x150David’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 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-Classic2-150x150David’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?

 

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

Join the discussion