Fun, friendship and fitness

BALLARAT Scenic Cyclists are celebrating twenty-four years of rides and good times in 2019.

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.

Although the group always discovers new routes and areas of Ballarat, the scenery isn’t their main focus. President Alex Brisbane said BSC is about meeting friendly people while keeping active.

“It’s good for the fun, friendship and fitness, and that’s our motto,” he said.

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.

Sandra Pike said the social aspect is very valuable.

“When you retire, you’ve had that social interaction with people your whole working life, and then you’ve got to adjust. You can still have it, but not as much,” she said.

“When we joined [BSC], that was a really good thing, and all the people were just lovely. So many friends we’ve made over the years and we’ve just kept friends with them.”

Graeme Strachan faces challenges with his mental health, but joining BSC has improved his outlook.

“It’s been a really good thing. Something to do, something to go to and get you going for the day,” he said. “It’s inclusive. Anyone that wants to be involved can be involved.

“We always help and wait for each other, and that’s really important. It’s a caring group and we look after everyone who rides with us.

“Some of us have more fitness that others, some of us have got more skills than others, and we help each other,” Mr Strachan said.

The group enjoys catching up away from the bikes too, sometimes heading to the movies, planning activities or stepping out for dinner.

They’re also great fundraisers.

Annually, BSC supports a different charity through money raised on their President’s Ride.

“We go out to Kirks, or the Gong and have a barbecue there,” Mrs Pike said. “Each member will pay $10, and we work out who we’re going to donate that money to.”

This year’s ride raised $210 and has been donated to AAA Sports Ballarat, a not-for-profit inking children with special needs to local sporting opportunities.

Twice a year, the proactive group also organises a riders’ getaway. Graeme Pike said the club will head to Mildura later in the year.

“We 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.”

For Gary Bunn, it’s not a sports club, but simply a “social club that rides bikes.”

Head to sceniccyclists.ballarat.vic.au for more information including the ride calendar.