The cycle challenge was a huge success with at least a thousand riders taking part. As usual the variation in ages, riding styles, and cycling apparel was wide – not to mention the types of human-powered vehicles… top of the range road bikes, mountain bikes, tandems, recumbents, and of course, footbikes.

Three Kickbikes took up the Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge, ridden by Bruce Cook, Alan Stewart and Deborah Stewart, all of whom offer their special thanks to Lyn Armstrong who was the official Kickbike Support Officer for the day, racing around in the Kickbike Van and chatting with people about the benefits and cross-training benefits of footbiking.

The bike ride, titled the Mall 2 Mall Challenge in previous years, sported the new name of the Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge as well as a new route.

The ride started at Moorlands Park, Patricks Lane in Toowong, with plenty of parking available in the surrounding side streets. It then turned into Sylvan Road and Milton Road to enable to riders to get onto the the Bikeway which was followed for a good part of the course.

The route was continuously undulating with a few challenging hills around Riverview. The signage was excellent, and even though there were a good number of road crossings and turns, every single one was manned by at least two volunteers. Police presence was exceptional, with Police Officers directing traffic on a few of the major road crossings, a police vehicle and several roaming Police Motorbikes.

Head winds were fairly strong and the day warmed up nicely. Fortunately, there were three rest stops for cyclists who found the course that little bit challenging – one at Jindalee, another at Goodna and one more at Bundamba.

Alan Stewart completed the course in just over 2 hours with Bruce Cook coming in about ten minutes later. Deb Stewart finished in just under 2 and a half hours.

AFA would like to congratulate Bruce, Alan and Deb for their performances on the day, as well as thank Bernie Ripoll, the Patron for the Brisbane 2 Ipswich Bike Challenge for putting together yet another successful cycling event.

Special thanks also to the event organisers, volunteers, Police and St John Ambulance Officers for their help and friendly guidance on the day.

Also a huge thank you to the sponsors of the event. Without their support we’d all still be hitting the roads, alone as we drone out our daily training regime. The sponsors make it possible for riders to come together and share a love of the human powered vehicle, the sense of freedom that riding instills in you, and great weather that Ipswich and Brisbane turned on for the day.

Please support the sponsors of the event when you can. They include: Goodna RSL Services Club, Ipswich City Council, Wingate Properties, Brisbane City Council, Springfield Land Corporation, CitiSwich Industrial Estate, Yellow Jersey, Brodies, Truck Cranes Australia Pty Ltd, Ipswich Festival, Stefan, Ipswich Central Motors, Mix Events, JBS Swift and Company.

Thank you to all the riders who participated, and for your encouragement to our Kickbikers – we’re all looking forward to next year’s challenge.

More than 1000 people were involved with the Ipswich 100 this year. The ride included 100km, 50km and 10km courses, and the age of riders ranged from nine to 79 years.

• 749 riders began the 100km course
• 179 riders took to the 50km course
• 33 riders pedalled the 10km course

These included professional and recreational road bikers, a tandem, and a dog…

That’s right – a little maltese terrier sat in the front basket of a pushbike on the 50km course, and from this little dog’s pleasant manners one can only guess she has done a few k’s on the bike in the past.

The organisers raised around $60,000 for the Ipswich Hospital Foundation, children’s hospice Zoe’s Place, Epilepsy Queensland, Scouts Australia, the State Emergency Service, Lions Youth Emergency Service and the Victorian bushfire appeal.

Our Kickbikers must have been a photogenic lot on the day, because there were a number of photos taken. Here are a few, and you can see the rest at the Ipswich 100 website.

Next year the organisers are considering a 150km ride to coincide with the Ipswich 150 year celebrations. Excellent! I can see some Footbikers training up for that.

The 100km course wove through Ipswich, Mt Walker, Limestone Ridges, Peak Crossing and Yamanto with a plethora of relentless inclines and open roads which did little to stop the continuous headwind that buffered the cyclists and kickbikers. A good number of cyclists pulled out as the day heated up, humidity was high, and a strong headwind took its toll.

The 50km course meandered through Ipswich, Rosewood and Walloon, with many steady inclines and one particularly challenging hill.

The boys on the 100km course left at 7.30am, while the 50km began at 8am.

While waiting for the 50km to start, Lyn was approached by some men who were fascinated by the Kickbike. After a good chat, lots of laughter and one of the men, Paul who had a quick spin around on Lyn’s kickbike, Lyn and Deb soon discovered that Paul was actually Paul Pisasale, Mayor of the City of Ipswich.

When it came time for the Mayor (or ‘my new Mayor friend, Paul’ as Lyn was now able to refer to him as) to make a short speech before the take off on the 50km, he called Lyn out the front of the other cyclists to show them what a kickbike was. He also informed the rest of the riders not to think they were doing it hard on the ride – they atleast had pedals and a seat!

Both Bruce and Alan entered this race injured due to some freaky non-kickbiking incidents in the previous week. As a result Alan was unable to bend one leg effectively or drop down to make the most of any downhill which meant that he had to change his kicking style resulting in bonking (hitting the wall) at 75km, and Bruce’s back gave out at the 30km mark!

Alan managed to finish the course, but understandably was disappointed with his time. Bruce, unable to bend and in terrible pain still continued up to the 70km mark, and then had to admit defeat… his first ever time pulling out of a race in all of his years of kickbiking. Mind you – any other mortal would have died at 31km. Respectful effort guys – you gave Kickbikers (and the sport of footbiking) a good name on the day with your ‘do or die attitudes’ and determination.

Deb finished the course at a time of 2hrs 38mins, and cursed that the finish line lay at the top of a steep incline. But the enthusiastic welcome from organisers and spectators made that last effort all worth it.

Lyn completed the 50km in just over 3 hours, stopping to make new friends at Rosewood, and kicked up to the finish line to chat with the organisers… and no doubt, her ‘new Mayor friend’ again!

Overall, the day was a success. The organisers did a brilliant job at choosing a route that avoided heavy traffic and detailed lovely scenery. The council had also been busy all week before filling pot holes that had appeared with the unusually heavy rain experienced over the last two weeks. Thank you, from the riders!

The courses were well-marked, and the Marshalls – volunteers and the SES were all delightful, supportive and very helpful. The drink stops and the finish line spoiled riders with chilled water, sports drinks, soft drinks, a sausage sizzle, buns, watermelon, bananas… and much more.

There were physios and massages available at the end of the ride, as well as great music, and many smiling faces.

A big thank you to the organisers and sponsors of the event from the Australian Footbike Association – we’ll definitely be there again next year!

Join us for the 2009 Ipswich 100 Ride on Sunday the 5th of April starting and finishing at the University of Queensland, Ipswich Campus.

There are 3 events this year:

• The Haggarty Group Ipswich 100km
• Blue Ribbon Motors 50km
• St Andrew’s Hospital 10km

Please note that the 100km ride has a cut-off time of 5 hours. Out of respect for the organisers of the event, and future relations between AFA and the event organisers we request that if you are unable to complete the course within 5 hours (ie. average a minimum of 20km/h) please opt for a shorter event.

Please note: If you wish any of your times to be recognized by the AFA you must contact an Australian Footbike Association Official to let them know in advance that you will be participating. All times are start to finish times (including breaks) – not just actual ’ride time’.

Official sponsors for the event are Ipswich City Council, The Haggarty Centre, Blue Ribbon Motors, St Andrews Private Hospital and Avanti Cycles. Please support them as you can. Volunteers for the day are the SES Ipswich, fellow Lions Clubs, Boy Scouts, Epilepsy Qld and Zoe’s Place. Thank you – as we all know, the volunteers are the backbone of any successful cycling event. There will also be physiotherapists in attendance to look after any tight muscles, aching backs or limbs.

There will be a hospitality tent open from 6.30am serving muffins, coffee and tea.

There will be a large time clock on the start/finish line for both the 100 and 50km rides. These will be activated with the starter’s gun so that you can check your times when you return.

Upon finishing you can exchange your armband for a free sausage, bun and drink, or alternatively a muffin and cup of coffee or tea.

The event organisers of the 2009 Ipswich 100 are putting on a well-planned event, and have chosen a route with very little traffic and only a handful of traffic lights, and we wish to thank them for the opportunity for Kickbikes and Scooters to take part.

For more information on the ride and to register please visit the Ipswich 100 website.

Previously known as the Mall 2 Mall Ride, in 2009 this popular ride sports the new name of the Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge, and forms an integral part of the annual Ipswich Festival which is held each April.

The Challenge usually attracts around 1000 participants, and this year will begin at the Moorlands Park in Toowong and then head out to Ipswich to finish in Queens Park, covering 50km.

The purpose of the ride is not only to spread a message of goodwill and encourage greater links and cooperation between the Ipswich and Brisbane communities, it is also about encouraging people to get out and exercise, as well as raise monies for the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

When: Sunday 26 April 2009 at 7.00am

Where: Moorlands Park, Toowong

After the ride enjoy the BBQ in Queens Park with other weathered cyclists, or check out the other activities that are part of the Ipswich Festival.

Find out more from the Mall 2 Mall Challenge Website.

Join in the fun at the Freeway Bike Hire Ride in PERTH in the following distances:

• 10km
• 30km
• 60km

For mor information visit the Freeway Bike Hire Website.

Join hundreds of other keen cyclists as they complete the Great Brisbane Bike Ride over:

• 10km
• 35km
• 55km

Check out the Bicycle Queesland Website for more details.

Take the challenge and climb Mt Coot-tha. The total ride is 70km.

Brisbane.

For more information visit the Bicycle Queensland Website.