FORMER Cycle City owner and St Arnaud mayor Kevin Douglas changed Wayne and Flo Andison's whole approach to cycling by encouraging the couple to switch to road bikes.
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The Andisons had started riding as a hobby and for exercise in their 40s. Moving from off-road to road bikes opened up great opportunities for the St Arnaud couple in venturing out on long cycling events.
They lined-up for the first Ballarat Cycle Classic 15 years ago and have not missed a Classic since, making the 100-kilometre course an annual must-ride event.
Ms Andison said they liked a challenge as social riders and they liked their entry and efforts each year raised money for the world-class Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Insitute in Ballarat.
"The first go was well-organised and the course today is well-organised, challenging and has plenty of volunteers on the course so you cannot get lost," Ms Andison said.
"It's not a race so people have time to ride with you - often these are people who don't even know you from a bar of soap but that's just what they do."
It's not a race so people have time to ride with you - often these are people who don't even know you from a bar of soap but that's just what they do.
- Flo Andison
Ms Andison organises St Arnaud's annual Saints and Sinners ride to Dunolly and back with meals along the way and camping overnight.
Saints and Sinners, on standby during the pandemic, attracts a lot of Ballarat riders and the Andisons enjoy getting to meet new people.
The Andisons ride together "in a fashion" - they always make sure to start and finish together and if one gets ahead of the other, they tend to meet again at drink stops.
The couple averages 30 to 50-kilometre rides about four times a week, depending on the weather, and like to regularly try longer rides on their own, such as riding to Maryborough, when they get the chance.
"St Arnaud really has about two circuits here and other roads tend to run out on to bitumen after 15 to 20 kilometres, so we like to do something different," Mr Andison said.
"Ballarat has plenty of hills, but these are well spread out on the course - St Arnaud is in a bit of a hollow so hills are a challenge for us."
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They have enjoyed watching Ballarat Cycle Classic evolve from three road ride distances to includes a pet-friendly family lake walk and mountain biking. This year the Classic will introduce a gravel grind.
Mr Andison said the events precinct by the lake offered a great social atmosphere when you finished your ride.
"Anyone thinking about it, don't think, just have a go," Mr Andison said.
"You'll enjoy it."
Ballarat Cycle Classic is on February 19-20.
To enter: ballaratcycleclassic.com.au.
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