Pipeline Challenge

In early May 2021, my good friend Martin and I, along with his brother Chris set off to participate in the Pipeline Challenge. A challenging bike ride along the service track adjacent to the pipeline extending from the Goldfields of Kalgoorlie to the green of the Perth Hills.

Over five days, along with 70 other riders, we rode through Coolgardie, Southern Cross, Merredin, and Northam; through the clay, mud, dust, and water hazards to the rolling hills of Perth.

Most riders were in teams, and the Youth Futures had three teams of students keen to step out of their comfort zones. The money raised supported the Nest program that aims to support young women and their children living rough without a roof over their heads.

Donations to this cause can still be made up until the end of June 2021 via the Pipeline Challenge website.

Nannup bike challenge

In mid-May this year I participated in one of the hardest gravel road cycling challenge in Australia-Seven, which starts and ends in beautiful Nannup, WA and takes riders along steep ascents and descents through state forests and private farming land.

Riders got a chance to see areas of this state normally off limits to cyclists due to the generosity of local farm owners and local volunteers. The ride of 125kms included 3200 metres of climbing and some technical downhill riding. The ride took over 6 hours to complete and the 1000 participants riding the full or parts of the track broke all previous attendance records.

The Blackwood River was flowing, the surrounding hills were green coated with grass and the forests full of birds. What a privilege to experience this and such an epic ride!