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Cyclists of all ages, abilities and experiences will flock to the Parliamentary Triangle on Sunday to participate in Pedal Power’s annual Big Canberra Bike Ride. The event will welcome the youngest cyclists and the young at heart. So far the youngest participants are Asher Hogan and Hugh Tempra, both 3, who will participate alongside their families. Hugh’s father, Daniel Tempra, said the youngster had been riding on his balance bike since he was two years old, adding that it was the first time he and his family would be involved in the event. “It’s a great event to encourage [our children] to be active and get them on the right path for a productive and healthy lifestyle,” he said. Asher’s mother, Lochani Hogan, said she was excited to ride as a family. “[Asher] is on his balance bike, so he can hopefully make the course,” Mrs Hogan said. “He has been riding his balance bike for about two years now [and is] graduating onto his bike with pedals, but he can’t make the course with the pedal bike.” On the other end of the age spectrum, 79-year-old David Pederson will participate in the event for the second time. Dr Pederson said he was introduced to the world of cycling when he received his first bike as a nine-year-old and never looked back. “I don’t really think I’m 79 when I’m riding,” he said. “The enjoyment [of cycling] always outweighs everything else. It’s going to be a real hoot and it’s great to be out in the open air and participate with lots of other people. I would encourage everyone to be involved. Participation means that you’re encouraging other people to ride. Perhaps there will be a snowball effect.” The Big Canberra Bike Ride will feature four non-competitive bike rides for people of all experience levels. The courses include a six-kilometre family ride, a 22-kilometre lakeside ride, a 32-kilometre Big Dam ride, and a 120-kilometre Big Tidbinbilla ride. Pedal Power chief executive Ian Ross said he was pleased the event could go ahead in 2021 after last year’s ride was cancelled due to bushfire smoke. “It was a pretty horrible time last year,” Mr Ross said. “There was a time where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face because of the smoke.” It’s the 21st year of the event which has evolved from a protest ride to a community riding day. The Big Canberra Bike Ride will also raise funds for its charity partner the Amy Gillett Foundation. The foundation advocates for cyclist safety laws and will provide a SafeT360 semi-trailer to raise awareness about sharing the road with heavy vehicles. “People can hop in and put on VR goggles to virtually ride the truck and get areas sense of what truck drivers see when there are bikes and pedestrians around,” Mr Ross said. “[Cyclists] can get a sense of what kind of limitations there are for people driving trucks and hopefully be able to adjust their own riding.” Mr Ross said ACT Policing would have a presence at the event and would provide a range of activities focused on cycle safety. He said bookings were filling up fast and that participation numbers would be capped at 1500. “The Big Canberra Bike Ride is a celebration of cycling,” Mr Ross said. “What we try to do is to show that pretty much anybody can do these rides. It doesn’t matter what your age is; there will be a perfect ride for everybody.” Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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Cyclists of all ages, abilities and experiences will flock to the Parliamentary Triangle on Sunday to participate in Pedal Power’s annual Big Canberra Bike Ride.
The event will welcome the youngest cyclists and the young at heart.
So far the youngest participants are Asher Hogan and Hugh Tempra, both 3, who will participate alongside their families.
Hugh’s father, Daniel Tempra, said the youngster had been riding on his balance bike since he was two years old, adding that it was the first time he and his family would be involved in the event.
“It’s a great event to encourage [our children] to be active and get them on the right path for a productive and healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Asher’s mother, Lochani Hogan, said she was excited to ride as a family.
“[Asher] is on his balance bike, so he can hopefully make the course,” Mrs Hogan said.
“He has been riding his balance bike for about two years now [and is] graduating onto his bike with pedals, but he can’t make the course with the pedal bike.”
On the other end of the age spectrum, 79-year-old David Pederson will participate in the event for the second time.
Dr Pederson said he was introduced to the world of cycling when he received his first bike as a nine-year-old and never looked back.
“I don’t really think I’m 79 when I’m riding,” he said.
“The enjoyment [of cycling] always outweighs everything else. It’s going to be a real hoot and it’s great to be out in the open air and participate with lots of other people. I would encourage everyone to be involved. Participation means that you’re encouraging other people to ride. Perhaps there will be a snowball effect.”
The Big Canberra Bike Ride will feature four non-competitive bike rides for people of all experience levels.
The courses include a six-kilometre family ride, a 22-kilometre lakeside ride, a 32-kilometre Big Dam ride, and a 120-kilometre Big Tidbinbilla ride.
Pedal Power chief executive Ian Ross said he was pleased the event could go ahead in 2021 after last year’s ride was cancelled due to bushfire smoke.
“It was a pretty horrible time last year,” Mr Ross said.
“There was a time where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face because of the smoke.”
It’s the 21st year of the event which has evolved from a protest ride to a community riding day.
The Big Canberra Bike Ride will also raise funds for its charity partner the Amy Gillett Foundation.
The foundation advocates for cyclist safety laws and will provide a SafeT360 semi-trailer to raise awareness about sharing the road with heavy vehicles.
“People can hop in and put on VR goggles to virtually ride the truck and get areas sense of what truck drivers see when there are bikes and pedestrians around,” Mr Ross said.
“[Cyclists] can get a sense of what kind of limitations there are for people driving trucks and hopefully be able to adjust their own riding.”
Mr Ross said ACT Policing would have a presence at the event and would provide a range of activities focused on cycle safety.
He said bookings were filling up fast and that participation numbers would be capped at 1500.
“The Big Canberra Bike Ride is a celebration of cycling,” Mr Ross said.
“What we try to do is to show that pretty much anybody can do these rides. It doesn’t matter what your age is; there will be a perfect ride for everybody.”
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
