Rotary Ride for Diabetes
Nathalia, Victoria. Rotary Club. Diabetes. Not three terms commonly associated with long distance cycle ride challenges. Yet all three came together last Sunday to put on one hellava bike ride in order to raise money for diabetics in rural communities in Victoria and to support the work of the Rotary Foundation. The challenge on paper looked relatively straightforward - ride 170km at a leisurely pace across some of the flattest terrain in the State, taking in the quaint townships of Kyabram, Tatura, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Bunbartha, Numurkah, and Waaia before returning to Nathalia. Along the way, the ride would be supported on route and in every major township by dedicated Rotarians who took bike ride hospitality to a new level.
HypoActive became involved in the event through Vice President, Jana Sidebottom, who hails from the area and whose grandfather is a Nathalia Rotarian. It was also a great opportunity to help raise the profile of the need for greater support for diabetics in rural areas who may be isloated from other diabetics and the important information and support networks they provide on top of the Health Professional support available.
We started the morning at the Nathalia football clubrooms for a cooked breakfast prepared by the Nathalia Rotary Club. The ride began in excellent, windless conditions, allowing an excitable trio of HypoActive riders to up the pace without any need for warmup. The group churned through the first few kms easily, until a regrouping occurred at the Goulburn River crossing which required a Police escort. From here, the pack smouldered into Kyabram for some morning tea well ahead of schedule. Out of Kyabram we were blessed with our first stretch of tailwind as we turned east for a short period. It wasn't to last, and we turned south again and into the cross wind. Still, the group remained intact with plenty of conversation between diabetics and non from all areas of Victoria.
From Tatura we rolled easily into Shepparton for lunch, way ahead of schedule and still feeling sprightly. Luckily the local Rotary Club had been advised of our quick progress and lunch was ready early. The BBQ feast was completely devoured, but with the wind picking up it was time to hit the road again. This time the pack had grown and we welcomed HypoActive riders Jana Sidebottom and Chelle Forrest to the group. The road to Bunbartha was riddled with cross winds and punctures which split the group considerably. A stop to enable some posing for WIN news was timely in bringing everyone back to the same group. We continued the battle into the cross wind before another tailwind section into Numurkah. The afternoon tea stop was a magnicent occasion thanks to the Numurkah Rotarians. They supplied us with snacks, coffee and to everyone's delight, pikelets, jam and cream. Before we could settle into an afternoon by the Numurkah Lake, we were joined by more riders heralding from the APS motor racing team. Resplendent in their orange pre-season jerseys, they guided us through the township by carefully pointing out all road hazards including the local teenage gang. As we turned onto the road to Nathalia we were sidetracked by yet another puncture which in hindsight was fortuitous in allowing more time to digest the pikelet feast.
In all long distance bike rides, the longest stretches are always the first and last 10km. This was no exception. With a headwind and late afternoon sun to look into, the road into Nathalia seemingly took forever. In a further cruel twist, the usual straight roads in the region gave way to following the curves of the Broken Creek which flows through Nathalia, adding on extra distance not anticipated by many. We hit town and the bikes turned into magnets, drawn uncontrollably to the Nathalia football club. A huge effort by all riders to complete the challenge, and one many will remember for a long time to come.
Donations for the fundraising effort are still being accepted. Download a donation form here
Thanks to all who took part in the event, including the great riding companions, organisers Nathalia Rotary Club, specifically Ian Bell, Glenda Harding and Kel Sidebottom, and to HypoActive's Jana Sidebottom. Finally, the ride would have not been possible without the generous support of Novo Nordisk.
Nathalia Rotary Club intend to make this ride an annual event. Stay tuned for further details.
Click for Photos....