Cycle Instead Bikeweek 2006
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This year's Bikeweek – Western Australia’s biggest annual event that celebrates cycling – has now come to an end.
From 10 to 19 March 2006, Bikeweek offered a huge number of community events and activities in the metropolitan area and throughout regional Western Australia. |
Popular events from previous years featured again, including:
Major Events
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BHP Billiton Petroleum Bike to Work Breakfast
Cycle Instead Bikeweek 2006 once again pedalled off with the ever-popular Bike to Work Breakfast, proudly supported by BHP Billiton Petroleum. Riders received a free healthy breakfast including cereals, fruit, yoghurt, eggs and muffins.
There was also a fashion parade hosted by Bikeforce Subiaco and over 500 spot prizes and giveaways. Everyone received a Cycle Instead bag filled with information and goodies.
Attendees were able to visit the many information stalls, including Freeway Bike Hike (sign up), Bike to Work Challenge (sign up), Public Transport Authority (win a folding bike), Munda Biddi Trail foundation (win a tour), Main Roads Lifecycle, ROC Tours and a massage centre for tired limbs.
Radio station Sonshine FM 98.5 broadcast live from the Breakfast and offered listeners the opportunity to win one of five bikes.
A collection of photographs is available on our Bike to Work Breakfast 2006 photos web page.
Enquiries: Department for Planning and Infrastructure, 9216 8313 |
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Coles Freeway Bike Hike for Asthma a success
The second Coles Freeway Bike Hike, held on Sunday 19 March as part of Cycle Instead Bikeweek 2006, proved to be another resounding success.
More than 7000 participants took the opportunity to ride along the Farmer and Mitchell freeways from Belmont Park to Joondalup, raising funds for asthma research in the process.
The event included a 30km ride, 10km family ride, 30km sprint cycle race and a 30km inline skate race. The final stage of the Mastercard Wildwest Handcycle Tour also formed part of the Bike Hike agenda.
A collection of photos from the 2006 event can be viewed on the Freeway Bike Hike photos web page.
Enquiries: Asthma Foundation of WA, 9289 3670 or www.freewaybikehike.com.au |
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Lifecycle proves to be the ride of a lifetime
More than 2500 cyclists took up the challenge and rode the 827 kilometres from Albany to Perth in the Main Roads Lifecycle - Great Western Australian Bike Ride.
Riders enjoyed a variety of conditions and surroundings as they made their way up the beautiful south west coast from Albany to Perth.
A feature of the Main Roads Lifecycle was the detailed planning by organisers Bicycle Victoria, which ensured they catered for everyone’s needs. |
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Much of the work was carried out by a team of volunteers, who completed tasks such as ensuring campsites were ready each day before riders arrived, staffing an information tent, preparing meals, conducting massages for tired limbs and coordinating entertainment.
Cycling was only one part of the fun. Many riders took the opportunity to explore attractions along the way, such as the Jewel Cave, the Great Forest Trees Walk and a range of wineries.
In the evenings, there were talent shows and concerts for participants to enjoy. The event even had its own ‘The Good Oil’ newsletter and radio station.
Although the distance seemed a little daunting to many at the start, the ride was carefully structured so that it could be completed at a leisurely pace, with rest areas located at 20 to 25 kilometre intervals.
Apart from a difficult 108-kilometre section from Bunbury to Pinjarra, where the riders were pushing into a constant headwind, the conditions during the 14-day trip were ideal.
The Department for Planning and Infrastructure's Manager Travel Behaviour Strategies, Gary John, rode the second leg with his twelve-year-old son and thought the event was very well organised with complex logistics that appeared to be seamless in their execution.
“It was a unique way to travel and a great way to meet people,” Gary said. “A section through the forest along Caves Road from Augusta to Margaret River was a real highlight. I would thoroughly recommend it to other people and encourage them to take part in the next Lifecycle."
You can see a collection of Lifecycle photos online, kindly provided by DPI staff member Max Wannell.
Enquiries: Main Roads WA, or the website of the organisers, Bicycle Victoria
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Mastercard Wildwest Handcycle Tour
Perth residents had the opportunity to take in some of the best handcycle racing ever seen in the State, with the arrival of the Mastercard WildWest Tour, during Cycle Instead Bikeweek 2006.
Hosted by Wheelchair Sports WA, the event attracted competitors from more than a dozen countries and consisted of five gruelling sections around the metropolitan area. |
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In stage one, the riders completed a time trial using a 3.8 kilometre circuit in Kings Park. The second stage was a road race through the picturesque Chittering Valley, stage three was a hill climb at Brigadoon and stage four was a track race around Barbagallo Raceway, Wanneroo.
For the final stage, the competitors joined the Coles Freeway Bike Hike and raced the 28 kilometres to Joondalup.
Winners of the various categories were:
A Craig Parsons (Western Australia)
B Marcel Pipek (Czech Republic)
C1 Elbar Sternath (Austria)
C2 Alejandro Albor (USA)
F Monique Van de Vorst (Netherlands)
You can see a collection of Mastercard Wildwest Handcycle Tour photos online. More details of this event can be found at www.handcycling.org.au
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Cycle Instead Bike to Work Challenge
20 March – 30 April 2006
Teams competing in this challenge record their cycling over the 6-week period and complete a virtual tour of Western Australia. Fantastic prizes are up for grabs, for participants and team organisers. |
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Enquiries: David Meyer, State West Corporate Challenge, 9402 5303 or www.statewestcorporatechallenge.com.au
Members of Parliament Bike Ride
Tuesday 14 March 2006
The twelfth annual ride for Parliamentarians and local government mayors traversed the wonderful new shared paths between Beckenham and the Gosnells Civic Complex. It gave participants the opportunity to see first hand the latest developments in cycling infrastructure and to ride in the environmentally friendly Ecobus.
You can see a collection of MPs Bike Ride photos online.
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