WALKING MAY NOT BE AN EASY FEAT FOR GEMLIFE BRIBIE ISLAND HOMEOWNER JOHN DUNCAN BUT CYCLING IS A BREEZE.
Back and knee issues left John struggling to walk long distances and keep up with a fitness routine. However, while helping his daughter to train for a marathon, John hopped on a bike and never looked back.
“Five years ago, my daughter was training for the Gold Coast Marathon. Even though walking too far is tough for me due to my back and knee, I can ride a bike. So, I began riding beside her while she ran,” he revealed.
“That’s when I really got into cycling.”
Since moving to GemLife Bribie Island a year ago, John has become part of a resident biking group which rides around the island twice a week.
“I hooked up with a couple of guys who bike ride as a group. Around ten of us take off from 6.30am to 10.30am,” said John.
“We make a stop at the RSL club for a coffee and then we head back to the resort – we clock up around 38 to 40 kilometres each time.”
John – along with five of his mates from GemLife Bribie Island – were set to tackle the ‘Nifty 50’, a 58km ride at Queensland’s popular charity riding event, Rotary Ride the Range. The ride, which winds through the lush Lockyer Valley and along the magnificent Great Dividing Range in Toowoomba, was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather.
In efforts to train for Ride the Range, John and his biking buddies amped up their game prior to the event.
“We bumped up our rides to 50 k’s to hit those extra kilometres. I’m used to riding on flat ground, so we also tried to ride our bikes up and down the hills to help us prepare.”
Cycling is an activity enjoyed by many GemLife Bribie Island homeowners as part of a fit and active lifestyle.
“It’s great to see lots of residents riding their bikes around the resort. Everyone is welcome to join our group and we always encourage people to ride with us,” said John.
“We ride as a group, and we wait for one another – we have a great time together.”
John is determined to keep fit and continue challenging himself to be a better cyclist.
“Since riding a bike is the only exercise I can do, I want to keep going to keep myself active.”