Program helps cyclists gear up

Eddie Barkla | Bendigo Weekly | 10-Nov-2011 2.18pm

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SUPPORTERS: Garry Long, Peter Sens, Noel Sens and Terry Schintler.
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Most sports have an early entry age and succession pathway through the stages of skills development. 

The Bendigo and District Cycling Club were instrumental in getting a development program in the sport of cycling through the efforts of the late Merv Dean and the then president Gary Baxter. 

A structured program called J-Cycle now operates across Australian Cycling Clubs under the control of registered coaches of Cycling Australia. 

For parents of a child entering into the sport it is not just the purchase of a new pair of shoes when their children grow or a new kit of clothing. 

It means a new or second-hand bike every season, if not mid-season. 

What if the child only does one season and decides it is not for them? 

In the past Bendigo and District Club, through the generosity of Hardings Cycles and past members donating bikes, held only a limited number of bikes and frame sizes.

This limited the accessibility for children to come and experience the sport.

The club has never charged rental or expected newcomers to supply a bike until they are convinced that the child is suited to the sport. 

The interest in cycling has certainly increased in the past few years. Recently an injection of funds from a diverse section of the community facilitated many new bikes being available to keep the program open and accessible to all-comers. 

Mark Tierney, brother Hayden and mother Louise made a generous donation from their local business, Vantage fuels. 

Their late father and husband, Gary Tierney, was a good friend of current coach Noel Sens and loved cycling. 

Glenn O’Shea, a home grown local champion cyclist, has also donated some of his Sports Star winnings with the similar view of supporting the program that helped begin own cycling journey. 

Glenn, a past world champion, was destined for many big events on the world stage until he was stricken with glandular fever, taking many months to recover.

Recently Glenn won two gold medals and a silver at World Cup competition, putting him back on track to be considered for an Australian Olympic team. 

Community is a wonderful support agent and the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail (www.bendigokilmorerailtrail.com) have a keen interest in cycling culture, and the health and wellbeing of cycling programs. 

The Friends group members were aware of the club’s J-Cycle program and that there was a specific need for small track bikes. 

So the idea to make a direct contribution to assist the program with a bike was agreed by the committee.

It was also a way to say thank you to the Bendigo and District Cycling Club for allowing the use of the clubrooms to conduct meetings of the Friends group. 

Another keen supporter of cycling is Noel Sens’ brother Peter, a concrete contractor who also generously donated to the cause of more bikes for the program. 

Bendigo and District Cycling Club are most grateful for the support of the community.

Also to Nick Moroni of Cycle Concepts, who has helped stretch the affordability of the dollars into more bikes.

Looking forward to seeing you on the road soon, God willing.


b.Entertained

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