Bicycle Network Victoria: Great Escapade New Zealand

11 September 2008

The Fremantle Over 55 Cycling Group

John Boyd (Boydie)

I belong to an active cycling group based in South Fremantle, Western Australia. We ride every Tuesday for 2-3 hours followed by a delightful coffee stop.

In 2007 we volunteered as a group for the 2007 Great Victorian Bike Ride, starting in Philip Island and finishing in Buchan.

As a group we were allocated the task of lunches and although the first couple of days were challenging we soon organised ourselves and rose to the challenge. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience and at the completion were quite sad to return home and not to continue.

We were very impressed with the Bicycle Network Victoria organisational structure and everything went like clockwork.

We were so impressed that we have volunteered again for the 2009 Great Escapade - Western Australia.

Left: Our typical lunch set-up on the Great Vic.

Right: The finish point and the canvas city.

2008 Adventures

As a group (all 65+) we decided to do a cycle tour of Southern Germany along the Danube from Tuttlingen to Fussen.  It was a casual 10 day ride taking in the German gastronomic delights, fantastic scenery and absolutely stunning bikeways and scenery.

We were very fortunate to have two Germans (husband and wife) as our tour guides.

Some photos follow:

Left: Typical German bikeway with a little rain thrown in!
Right: A typical lunch stop for German bike touring – note the 07 Volunteer Shirt!

Left: This is a typical bikeway through fields

So I guess that Bicycle Network Victoria can now start to plan a Great German Ride!!

John Boyd
On behalf of the South Fremantle Cycling Group