After years of participating and helping organise the Ballarat Cycle Classic, the Dickson family is finally able to ride together thanks to a new specialised wheelchair/bike.
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Bill Dickson, who lives with a disability, will participate alongside his brother Tim in the event for the first time.
Tim said the new wheelchair/bike, which the family has had for around 10 months and is made up of a detachable wheelchair and motorised bike section, has been great for his brother, as it allows him to participate in family activities with greater ease.
"We bought this bike for Bill so he could get outside and be a part of the community and enjoy the outdoors," he said.
"It's really great because it means we can go up to the lake or go out for a picnic and keep him included."
Tim has never competed in the Cycle Classic, but is excited to be able to do so for the first time alongside his brother.
"I've been a volunteer on the ride a couple of times and thought it would be nice if we could all get out together and include Bill in it.
"Bill loves the bike... he always gets a bit of a smile when we get on the bike. The faster we go the more he loves it."
These sentiments were echoed by Tim's wife Monica, who will be participating in the Mountain Bike rides.
"Getting Bill involved was something that went through all of our heads last year. It's great we can have him with us this year," she said.
A keen mountain biker, Monica said she was looking forward to the event and praised organisers for catering to cyclists with passions away from the road.
"It's always a fun day out. It can be quite hard and quite challenging but at the end of it it really feels like you've achieved something great.
"I think it's fantastic to have mountain biking available... I know in the early years of the event as a mountain biker there wasn't anything for me but now that they've jumped on board it's really great."
The Ballarat Cycle Classic will take place from 7am on Sunday morning.
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