BALLARAT Scenic Cyclists are celebrating twenty-four years of rides and good times in 2019.<\/p>\n
The inclusive club welcomes mainly retired and semi-retired people of all experiences on different rides across the city multiple times a week, and on a longer ride of 30 to 50kms once a month.<\/p>\n
Although the group always discovers new routes and areas of Ballarat, the scenery isn\u2019t their main focus. President Alex Brisbane said BSC is about meeting friendly people while keeping active.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good for the fun, friendship and fitness, and that\u2019s our motto,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Fifty cyclists, including one of the original members, are currently part of the broad group. 20 to 25 people generally turn up to each ride for a glide, a chat and maybe coffee and cake.<\/p>\n
Sandra Pike said the social aspect is very valuable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you retire, you\u2019ve had that social interaction with people your whole working life, and then you\u2019ve got to adjust. You can still have it, but not as much,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we joined [BSC], that was a really good thing, and all the people were just lovely. So many friends we\u2019ve made over the years and we\u2019ve just kept friends with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graeme Strachan faces challenges with his mental health, but joining BSC has improved his outlook.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a really good thing. Something to do, something to go to and get you going for the day,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s inclusive. Anyone that wants to be involved can be involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always help and wait for each other, and that\u2019s really important. It\u2019s a caring group and we look after everyone who rides with us.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of us have more fitness that others, some of us have got more skills than others, and we help each other,\u201d Mr Strachan said.<\/p>\n
The group enjoys catching up away from the bikes too, sometimes heading to the movies, planning activities or stepping out for dinner.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re also great fundraisers.<\/p>\n
Annually, BSC supports a different charity through money raised on their President\u2019s Ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go out to Kirks, or the Gong and have a barbecue there,\u201d Mrs Pike said. \u201cEach member will pay $10, and we work out who we\u2019re going to donate that money to.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s ride raised $210 and has been donated to AAA Sports Ballarat, a not-for-profit inking children with special needs to local sporting opportunities.<\/p>\n
Twice a year, the proactive group also organises a riders\u2019 getaway. Graeme Pike said the club will head to Mildura later in the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all take caravans and tents, or have cabins, and go away. Last time we went up to Mansfield, so we go all over the place, take our bikes, boats, kayaks.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Gary Bunn, it\u2019s not a sports club, but simply a \u201csocial club that rides bikes.\u201d<\/p>\n