To share some delicious Italian fare in a bid to support the Australian Footbike Team on their trip to compete in the World Championships this year in Italy.

And their support wasn’t the only thing they ‘bid’ on…

Close to $5000 was raised with raffles and a frenzy of bidding during an auction on a range of items that included a helicopter flight for 3 people, training sessions with the Absolutely Flabless Team, Tuskc Jewellery and a laptop computer.

Special thanks to Justin Nickerson the Auctioneer, whose good humour and endless energy kept diners entertained. Justin took everything in his stride with hilarious moments that included a gentleman who kept ‘out bidding’ himself on a number of occassions and a baby who diners swear called a bid during the last moments on a high ticket item. It should be noted that this notorious bidding baby was quickly pacified by Dad offering a dummy (‘pacifier’ for our international readers).

There was much laughter, clinking of wine glasses, murmurs of food appreciation, and of course cheering over the highlight of the evening…

The Australian Footbike Team showcased the uniforms they will wear in the 2010 World Scooter Championships in Italy in August.

Team members, Alan Stewart, Sharon Simmons and Ali Hassan were resplendant in their uniforms featuring the traditional colours of Australia – green and gold and sporting the Australian flags on their sleeves. Present also were the logos of the team sponsors, Budgie 1 – Helicopters for Kidz, Ride Oz, Kickbike Australia and Dante’s Pizzaria.

Diners chuckled and many glasses were raised as Alan, Sharon and Ali did the model walk and wiggled their backsides.

The Australian Footbike Team 2010 - Deb Stewart, Kerrie Lathopolous, Sharon Simmons, Alan Stewart, Ali Hassan, Lyn Armstrong and Bruce Cook enjoying the night at Sonomas

A fantastic evening was had by all and the night was wound up with Sonomas famous Gelato.

Thanks to all who attended and the organisers, Sharon Simmons, Kerrie Lathopolous, Bruce Cook and Jo Hassan. Thank you to the sponsors and local businesses who donated products for the auction – without your support the auction who not have been such a success. Also special thanks to Sonomas of Sandgate for their support, great service and delicious food!

Deago duo, Kerrie Lathopolous and Sharon Simmons are set to tackle a sport little known in Australia, but widely known in Europe, at the 2010 Footbike World Championships in Italy.

Footbikes (’scooters’) have been a mode of transport and recreation for years, but the style ‘Kickbike’ which Kerrie and Sharon are riding was created in Finland in 1994. Footbiking is now contested as a sport worldwide under the International Kicksled and Scooter Association (IKSA).

Ms Simmons – who holds the Australian record for the 200m sprint, 1km sprint, 2km, 5km and 10km time trials – first started riding two years ago.

Fellow personal trainer, Kerrie Lathopolous followed six months later.

Ms Lathopolous said the footbike was not taxing on the body, but admitted it could be hard work.

“You can burn more calories on a footbike than cycling,” she said. “It’s a lot easier on the body than running though, and great for people with knee problems.”

The Brighton Absolutely Flabless trainers will be among seven Queenslanders to contest the Footbike World Championships from August 5 – 7.

The duo will contest a range of categories at the championships including the 400m sprint, 15km, 36km and relay.

To help with travel expenses and purchase of race bikes through sponsorship please phone 07 3269 3428.

Alan Stewart, Kickbike in hand and dressed in Skins – the brand of the specialists in compression garments – wore long sleeves in the hope of saving his arms from the punishing Australian sun that would soon rise.

Adam Connelly – not only a great bloke, good cyclist and an exceptionally talented musician, with torch in hand did a once over of the track to check for glass and discarded bottles from any party-goers the night before.

After some fiddling with Alan’s front carbon wheel, brake adjusting and slapping of blood-thirsty mosquitos, Alan set off on his 12 hour adventure – looping over 168 turns of the 1.44km track.

Due to heavy rain and flooding the day before, the cycle track featured large puddles of water and mud which eventually gave Alan’s white Skins top the ‘camoflage’ look.

As day broke the mozzie population retired – much to the relief of the Australian Footbike Association Officials who were present to regulate and witness the event.

Food intake for Alan during the morning hours consisted of figs and water. Then moved on to more substantial nutrition in the way of Cadel Evan’s Long Distance Bars, bananas, Powerade, a tomato sandwich on multigrain bread, and lots and lots of water.

Just after lunch the wind picked up cruelly, dropping Alan’s average and throwing Jacaranda leaves all over the place – mostly into the areas where you don’t need them – the eyes and mouth!

Alan was encouraged throughout the day by cyclists from the Balmoral Cycle Club, including Adam Connelly, Mark Van Horssen of Redlands Kitchens, Tamara Harrison of the Balmoral Women’s Cycling Team, Kevin Menz from Park Bikes, Peter Dick from the much sought-after Dolan Bikes, Bruce Cook from Kickbike Australia, Brad Cassidy and Michael Keogh from Queensland Rail, old-time footbiker Graham Jenner (who took much delight in splashing water over everyone when they came near him on his Hybrid Bicycle), Pam Jenner, Deb Stewart, Lyn Armstrong (official glasses cleaner!), Bob and Rosslyn Nipperess (Rosslyn, thank you for massaging Alan’s calves during his short break), Barry and Christine Walden from BinCare Australia, James Thompson, and all of the members of the public who stopped to watch and cheer. Your support and encouragement were much appreciated – and helped to stop Alan going stir-crazy after over 168 loops of the cycle track.

Alan set the following new Australian records:

Century (100km) – 4hrs 9mins (previous record 4hrs 15mins)
Imperial Century (160.9km) – 7hrs 15mins 19secs (previous record 7hrs 58mins 4secs)
Double Century (200km) – 9hrs 28mins
10 hour Record – 210km
12 hour Record – 241.33km (previous record 210km)
Longest distance of an Australian Footbiker in a day – 241.33km (previous record 210km)

Alan says he took his inspiration to try the 12 hour odyssey from Kickbike legends Alpo Kuusisto and Mario Reijne’s 24hour rides. Alan has a new-found respect for their mental and physical stamina, and is awe-struck that they were able to maintain such fast paces over a full 24 hours.

Fortunately my helmet saved me from a head injury.  I also had a new appreciation for the Ab Workouts that I love to complain about as I am sure that it was those dreaded stomach exercises that prevented me from being totally winded as the bar end tried to do a Samurai on my solar plexus.

Since then you can be sure I have been somewhat paranoid when it comes to my laces.  Yes, I have tried double, triple and more knots to prevent any overhang. The problem: how do you get them undone in a hurry – especially when you need to make a critical adjustment during a longer race?

I remember on a cross country race a small jagged stone somehow ended up in my shoe. The combination of several double knots and the burs they had collected felt like they took an eternity to get undone as they stole precious time from the race.

“Lace Traps I don’t kick without them”

Over the years I have seen numerous attempts at trying to solve the laces issue including some of the elite guys resorting to reams of masking tape around their shoes. The solution I finally discovered that works best is a set of Lace Trap™.

A Lace Trap™ is a simple Velcro fastener that is a quick, easy and effective way to keep your shoes tied. Lace Trap™ saves you the hassle of tying and undoing double knots and reduces the risk of tripping over your laces.

A Lace Trap™ is one of those items that you will not fully appreciate just how good they are until you have a pair installed on your favourite pair of running/kicking shoes.

This brings me to my ‘ethical bribe’…

If you donate $20 or more to help send an Australia Footbike Team to the world championships in Italy during August 2010 we’ll send you a free set of Lace Trap™ so you can keep kicking safely.

Simply follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Go to the Supporters Page and make your donation of $20 or more.
2. Go to the Contact Us page and send us your shipping address.
3. Check your email inbox for our confirmation emails.

Keep kicking,
Alan Stewart

A very hot and windy day greeted the footbike competitors on the latest Short Course Footbiking Races in Queensland, Australia.

Despite this, several PB’s and records were set on the day.

The racing distances included:

1km Time Trial
10km Time Trial
200m Sprint

After a 141km training ride the day before Alan Stewart cruised around the 10km course to set a new Australian Record. We’re not sure if it was the heat or the ride that brought about the single bead of perspiration on his cheek. Don’t you just hate the guy!

Sharon Simmons set new Australian Records for the 10km Time Trials, and bettered her 1km time, setting yet another record for Australian Women. She would have broken yet another record on the 200m if Sharon had learned that ‘Ready, set, Go’ means to actually go. Not turn and say to the starting official, “Are you serious?”

Ali Hassan set new records for the Juniors in the 5km Time Trial, 1km Time Trial and 200m Sprint! Excellent work, Ali!

And our newest and youngest member of Footbiking madness from the South East, Reegan Lumley set a new Australian Record for the 1km and 200m races for juniors in the 7 – 9 y.o. category. Major applause to you Reegan for such a good effort and we are looking forward to seeing more of you at future races.

Another face that shined on the day was Karen Toll, who put in a great effort for her first meet in the Novice Section. And, yes Karen, when you start to get that tingling sensation throughout your body it is not wise to ask Alan if you should stop. He’ll just tell you: If you’re still kicking, then you can keep kicking!

We also wanted to say thank you to Brendan Purcell for demonstrating his unique style of ‘chin biking’ on the day. After sprinting around a particularly tricky corner of the circuit Brendan opted for a more aerodynamic position by hitting the ground with his chin rather than his foot. Ouch… Fortunately, there was no permanent damage… after scraping Brendan back off the bitumen and getting him some much needed First Aid Treatment, he emerged with a bandaged chin, hands, knee and shoulder. Brendan has warned all footbikers to not try chin biking at home – and stressed that it is only for the extreme sport junkies.

The results were as follows:

1km Time Trial

Mens Open 1km
1st Bruce Cook – 2min 21.11secs
2nd David McKinnon – 2min 22.58secs
3rd Brenden Purcell DNF

Ladies Open 1km
1st – Sharon Simmons – 2min 28.59secs
2nd – Kerrie Lathopolous – 2min 32.03secs
3rd – Deb Stewart – 2min 40.89secs
 
Ladies Vet 1km
1st – Lyn Armstrong – 2min 54.94secs
2nd – Suzanne Moule – 3min 18.22secs
 
Ladies Novice 1km
1st – Karen Toll – 3min 13.44secs
 
Juniors – age 7-9 category 1km
1st Reegan Lumley – 3min 45.09secs
 
Juniors – age 10-12 category 1km
1st Ali Hassan – 3min 12.37secs
 
10km Time Trial

Mens Open 10km
1st Alan Stewart – 23min 31.60secs
2nd David McKinnon – 26min 47.1secs

Mens Vet 10km
1st Alan Stewart – 23min 31.60secs
2nd Bruce Cook – 25min 10.00secs

Ladies Open 10km
1st Sharon Simmons – 25min 59.10secs
2nd Deb Stewart – 27min 51.43secs
3rd Karen Toll (and 1st Novice) – 34min 45.65secs
 
Ladies Vet 10km
1st Lyn Armstrong – 32min 01.71secs
 
Juniors 5km Time Trial

Juniors – age 10-12 category 5km
1st Ali Hassan – 16min 12.79secs
 
200m Sprints

Mens Open 200m
1st – David McKinnon – 25.66secs

Mens Vet 200m
1st – Bruce Cook – 26.47secs
 
Ladies Open 200m
1st – Sharon Simmons – 27.45secs
2nd – Kerrie Lathopolous – 27.85secs
3rd – Karen Toll – 34.87secs
 
Ladies Vet 200m
1st – Lyn Armstrong – 31.02secs
2nd – Suzanne Moule – 34.06secs

Juniors – age 7-9 category 200m
1st Reegan Lumley – 37.94secs
 
Juniors – age 10-12 category
1st Ali Hassan – 32.69secs

Thanks to all who attended – see you at the next ride! Keep kicking!

When: 20th September 2009

Where: Criterion Bike Track, Albert Bishop Park, Hedley Avenue, Nundah.

Races:

Children (male and female)
6 – 9 years 500m
10 – 11 years 1km

Cadets 12 – 15 years (male and female)
1km
5km

Juniors 16 – 17 years (male and female)
1km
5km

Open 18 – 44 years (male and female)
1km
10km
200m sprint

Veterans 45+ years (male and female)
1km
10km
200m

Novices (first timer footbike racers)
1km

Times:
On-the-day registration from 12.00pm to 12.30pm – no registrations accepted after 12.30pm
Competitors Briefing at 12-40pm – all entrants must attend.
Bike Track available for warm-up after briefing.
Actual race times will be dependant on registration numbers, so pre-registration will help.
Prize giving commences 20 minutes after the last race – planned to finish 5pm latest

Pre-registration:
Pre-register with bruce [at] kickbike [dot] com [dot] au by Wednesday 16th Sept 2009.

Please note some rules have changed. Please refresh yourself by checking them out.

Download the AFA Race Sept 2009 Registration Form

Alan Stewart's Girlfriend stretching before a race

If you’ve ever wanted to join the racing days hosted by the AFA, but haven’t felt confident enough, then why not enter in the new Novice Section on a 1km bike criterium track?

If you think you can kick a scooter for 1000 metres then come and give it a go! You’ll receive lots of crowd support – in fact, no one can ‘hoorah!’ like the crowds attending previous races!!!

Entry fee for the novice race is $10. This includes Kickbike hire, and there will be competitor spot prizes at the prize giving afterwards. The next race is at:

Criterium Track, Albert Bishop Park, Hedley Avenue, Nundah

on the 31st of May, and registrations open at 12.00pm.

For more information please contact Bruce Cook on 07 3359 0869.

Join us for a morning of Footbike Technique Training.

When: Sunday 21st of June

Times: 10.00am to 12.00pm

Where: Nudgee Beach Carpark, Nudgee Beach, Brisbane.

Cost: $20 with all proceeds going to support the Australian Footbike Team at the World Champs in 2010 in Italy.
 
Topics covered: technique, posture and exercises that will help improve your style, speed and performance.

Trainer: Alan Stewart, holder of most of the distance and speed records in Australia.

This is your chance to improve your technique, spend some time with like-minded footbikers, and support the Australian Footbike Team.
 
Please contact Bruce Cook on 07 3359 0869 if you have any questions or if you would like to participate.