After successfully completing in 8 days a solo bicycle ride from Blacktown to Bourke, a distance of 793 kilometers, in September 2005, the team has come together to undertake another solo bicycle ride. This time we will ride from Broken Hill to Blacktown.

Yes, from Broken Hill to Blacktown, only 1350 kilometers and to make it more interesting and more of a challenge, it will be done in only 11 days.

The purpose for the ride is to raise awareness of arthritis and how exercise can assist as well as raising Rotary awareness and Rotary’s association with the community. The end result is also to raise funds to set up, through the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF), a research PHD to investigate arthritis.

By way of some background to the event this is how the idea formed as a concept, then a dream before finally becoming a reality.

Everyone will, at one stage if not already, be affected with arthritis in some way shape or form, if not themselves then by way of a relation, friend or acquaintance. There is no cure and none in the foreseeable future. The only options available at present are firstly pain management, and then as a last resort the replacement of the joint that is afflicted.

Our intrepid cyclist Mel had his left knee replaced prior to his September 2005 ride and had his right knee replaced on 1^st March 2006. Exercise is by far the greatest assistance in the majority of cases.

Mel explains:

‘I tried many forms of exercise, swimming, walking and cycling and on a bike I looked like a ruptured duck because I could only bend my left leg 90 degrees. So like most people I was doing less and less. But then I was able to find a bicycle that suited me after the bike shop made the left crank on a mountain bike 3 sizes smaller which accommodated my awkwardness in riding and making it almost comfortable.’

‘I decided that if I was going to ride for exercise I may as well put it to good use and attempt to show how exercise can be of assistance for arthritis. Hence the idea was conceived of riding from Blacktown to Bourke, a distance of 763 km. I had never been a bike rider and at the outset of my training after such a long lay off from any form of exercise it was not the easiest, but I was determined to succeed.’

On September 8^th 2005 three fellow Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blacktown City and Mel left on an adventure of a lifetime, arriving in Bourke on the 17^th September 2005 after stopping at towns overnight along the way; Blackheath, Bathurst, Orange, Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine, Nyngan and Byrock before arriving at Bourke.

The trip was a wonderful experience and the whole Rotary Club was extremely grateful to our sponsors in successfully raising in excess of $15,000 to set up a funding partner research grant with the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. This amount has since doubled into a $30,000, 3 year PHD Scholarship investigating arthritis, hence this next ride.

The next chapter in this adventure will take place when the team leaves Blacktown on Sunday 4^th February 2007 to drive to Broken Hill, arriving on the 5^th.

The team will then depart Broken Hill on Tuesday 6th February arriving back in Blacktown at the Blacktown Olympic Park at Doonside on Saturday 17^th February, after stopping overnight at Coombah Roadhouse, Wentworth, Euston, Balranald, Hay, Goolgowie, West Wyalong, Forbes, Orange, Bathurst and Blackheath.

The team will consist of four Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blacktown City:

You can follow the team’s progress on this web site from the time they depart Broken Hill and the trip details will be updated daily as to their whereabouts and any associated highlights.

It is also hoped that a map, highlighting the team’s exact location will be updated daily along with any relevant photos.

Please feel free to contact the Rotary Club of Blacktown City should you require any additional information or email the rider Mel Gray  to ask any questions.

melvindgray@optusnet.com.au

Depart Blacktown at 9.00 am on Sunday 4^th February 2007 for Nyngan, arriving between 4.00 to 5.00 pm, 565 km approx.

Depart Nyngan at 9.00 am on Monday 5^th February for Broken Hill, arriving between 4.00 to 5.00 pm, 604 km approx.

Attend a meeting at Rotary Club of Broken Hill at 6.00 pm.

Depart Broken Hill at 8.00 am on Tuesday 6^th February, ride to Coombah Roadhouse arriving around 5.00 pm stopping on the way at approx 25 km, 75 km and 100 km for breaks and at 50 km for lunch. Distance 125 km.

Depart Coombah Roadhouse at 7.00 am on Wednesday 7^th February, ride to Wentworth arriving around 5.00 pm stopping on the way at approx 30 km, 90 km and 120 km for breaks and at 60 km for lunch. Distance 141 km.

Depart Wentworth at 8.00 am on Thursday 8^th February, ride to Euston arriving around 4.30 pm stopping at 25km, 75km and 100 km for breaks and at 50 km for lunch. Distance 116 km.

Depart Euston at 9.00 am on Friday 9^th February, ride to Balranald arriving around 2.00 pm stopping at 20 km and 60 km for breaks and at 40 km for lunch. Distance 78 km.

Depart Balranald at 7.30 am on Saturday 10^th February, ride to Hay arriving around 4.30 pm stopping at 25 km, 50 km and 100 km for breaks and at 75 km for lunch. Distance 132 km.

Depart Hay at 8.00 am on Sunday 11^th February, ride to Goolgowie arriving around 4.00 pm stopping at 30 km, 60 km and 90 km for breaks and at 75 km for lunch. Distance 109 km.

Depart Goolgowie at 7.00 am on Monday 12^th February, ride to West Wyalong arriving around 5.00 pm stopping at 30 km, 90 km and 120 km for breaks and at 60 km for lunch. Distance 145 km.

Depart West Wyalong at 8.00 am on Tuesday 13^th February, ride to Forbes arriving around 4.00 pm stopping at 30 km, 60 km and 90 km for breaks and at 75 km for lunch. Distance 106 km.

Depart Forbes at 8.00 am on Wednesday 14^th February, ride to Orange arriving around 4.00 pm stopping at 30 km, 60 km and 90 km for breaks and at 75 km for lunch. Distance 110 km. Meeting to be arranged with combined the Rotary Clubs in Orange at 6.00 pm.

Depart Orange at 9.00 am on Thursday 15^th February, ride to Bathurst arriving around 1.00 pm stopping at 20 km and 40 km for breaks. Distance 62 km. Remainder of afternoon is a rest period and arrange combined meeting with the Rotary Clubs in Bathurst at 6pm.

Depart Bathurst at 8.00 am on Friday 16^th February, ride to Blackheath arriving around 3.00 pm stopping at 25 km and 75 km for breaks and 50 km for lunch. Distance 95 km. Have a break in afternoon and meet with Rotary Club of Blackheath at 7.00 pm.

Depart Blackheath at 9.00 am Saturday 17^th February, ride home to Blacktown arriving between 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm at Blacktown Olympic Park at Doonside stopping at 25 km and 75 km for breaks and at 50 km for lunch. Distance 96 km.

The Rotary Club of Blacktown City gratefully acknowledges the generous support from the following businesses and organisations that provided assistance during the Blacktown to Bourke ride in September 2005.

Ben Chifley Motel - Bathurst

Dubbo RSL Club Motel - Dubbo

Garden Court Motel - Wellington

Ivanhoe Hotel - Blackheath

Mulga Creek Hotel - Byrock

Outback Motor Inn - Nyngan

Stockman Motor Inn - Narromine

Templars Mill Motel - Orange

The Outback Motel - Bourke

Active Automatics - Blacktown

Alpha Cycles - Blacktown

Blacktown Advocate newspaper

Blacktown City Council

Blacktown City Sun newspaper

Blacktown Guardian (The Week-Ender newspaper)

Blacktown Ice Arena

Bob’s Auto Upholstery - Blacktown

Bullbar Repair Service - Blacktown

IGA - Doonside

Rotary Ride Research (Victoria)

Signs of Danger - Marayong

The Muscle Mechanic - Toongabbie

Rotary Clubs

Bathurst

Blacktown City

Bourke

Dubbo

Central Blue Mountains

Lithgow

Narromine

Orange

Prospect

Springwood

Wellington

Updated 21^st December 2006