17 MARCH 2021 | ISSUE 470 | FREE
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CYCLING FOR HEALTHCARE John Hyland & Bob Gardner are going on an Outback Odyssey There is a history of bike riding in Avenel. John Hyland has been a keen rider for many years and knows the roads and hills around Avenel and the Strathbogie Ranges well. It is not unusual to see John riding on his own up Upton Road and many of the locals admiring his perseverance but some questioning his logic at 77 years of age.
try to join John on his rides,” said Bob.
John gave a presentation at a luncheon that Bob Gardner attended about his experiences bike riding in Mongolia.
The ride from Adelaide to Blinman would take in the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, the Mid-North and the Flinders Ranges, overnighting in Wilpena Pound and finishing in Blinman.
“Unfortunaetly I was not aware of his bike riding activities at that stage, however the presentation intrigued me,” said Bob. “He rode for a number of days with a support crew and another female rider over the steppes of Mongolia, no tracks or roads, just open land. This intrigued me, and I was determined that if I could ride a bike that Jan bought me at a clearance sale for $25, that I would upgrade and
John and Bob have now been riding together for 2 years. Last year John suggested that the Outback Odyssey ride organised by Bicycle South Australia from Adelaide to Blinman would be a good goal to aim at. “SIMPLE, only 900 kilometres through outback South Australia. What could possibly go wrong,” said Bob.
“Great idea! As the days tick down the task seems enormous,” said Bob. The Odyssey Ride is an organised ride of over 200 riders, some doing the whole ride, others just a section of it. “We will be camping during the ride in tents at
caravan parks and recreation reserves on the way. I am sure that there will be some interesting friendships made over the sixteen days. The schedule is that we ride for 4 days covering about 268 kilometres with a rest day at Burra, followed by another 4 days which will take us to Melrose, another rest day and then 5 days to get to Blinman, the longest section of the ride,” said Bob. In preparation for the ride John and Bob have been riding the Strathbogie Hills as well as the plains to Nagambie where Harry’s is a welcome stop for coffee. “The return trip is about 50 kilometres. In the weeks from now until the start of the ride we have a serious training program planned to try and make sure that we can complete the full ride. Hills test our stamina and the flat rides are a relief,” said Bob. For two 70 year olds, the preparation has been interesting. “John is wired and fit. However, he has had troubles with a toe, part of which he has had to
amputate to make the ride possible,” said Bob. “I have had a heart attack, and problems with eyesight, but all our problems seem to be under control,” added Bob. The duo hope to raise funds for Nagambie Health Care during the challenging ride. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to make it easy for those wishing to support John and Bob in their endeavour to raise funds for Nagambie HealthCare during the Outback Odyssey ride. Go Fund Me link gf.me/u/zmzw52 John and Bob hope the communities of Nagambie and Avenel get behind the ride and assist the duo in raising funds for Nagambie HealthCare. “We will do the riding, we just need the community to help us along the way by donating to the Nagambie Health Care,” ended Bob. Go Nagambie and the Community Voice will report on the progress of the training schedule and the Outback Odyssey ride as it happens with videos and imagery uploaded to their facebook page.