The 2013 Kwik Kopy Classic Charity Bike Ride

The 2013 KwikKopy Classic

Charity Bike Ride

Sunday 10th March – Friday 15th March

NSW Snowy Mountains

Doing it for the kids

This year, a group of 10 intrepid riders embarked on a gruelling journey aiming to raise $50,000 to support fundraising efforts.

This will allow Hands Across the Water to continue its work to support children who are rescued from enforced prostitution in addition to being able to respond to other people in desperate need.

The Gruelling Journey

Day 1 Canberra to Cooma 100km

Day 2 Cooma to Merimbula 135 km

Day 3 Merimbula to Jindabyne 185 km*

Day 4 Jindabyne to Mt Kosciusko (and back) 60 km

Day 5 Jindabyne to Cooma 65 km

Day 6 Cooma to Canberra 115 km

*2400 meters of vertical! The 185km on Day 3 was hard work and a long day for our riders! They traced the steps of the famous “Sea to Summit” ride covering 255km from the coast to the highest peak.

Day 1 Canberra to Cooma

10 of us left together, some knew each other, others were still strangers. A relatively easy ride across the rolling Cooma plains.

After 115km we arrived in Cooma. No longer strangers. We knew each others bikes and relative riding abilities.

Day 2 Cooma to Merimbula

We were descending to the coast which included a 10km winding and steep section down Brown’s mountain.

Some of the boys loved it, some hated it.

Having made it, we finally rode into Pambula 145km later at our low of the ride -SEA LEVEL.

David Bell “ My highlight of the week was overtaking a grey nomad towing a caravan on the way down Brown’s Mountain.”

Enjoying our achievement

with the locals in Pambula

Kicking back over a meal and a schooner anticipating about the tough day that lies ahead.

Day 3 Pambula to Jindabyne

Day 3 and 4 were always the most talked about and anticipated days of the ride. Within 2 days we were going from sea 2 summit.

We left Pambula with the waves crashing in the background at 6:00am in darkness with our headlights beaming the way. Our first series of climbs out of Pambula included a 15km climb followed by continuous series of relentless hills all day.

Ian Armstrong peddling away.

After 9hours and 4 minutes of riding we had covered 174km and climbed over 3,000 vertical meters.

The beers on the balcony of The Ski Inn in Jindabyne were welcomed and deserved by all.

What got you through the toughest part of the ride?Daniel “My legs ”Larry “The reason for the bike ride –the kids”John “Pig-headedness – I was not getting in that van!”David “Thinking of the rewards that awaited me”Wayne “Other riders and John’s encouragement”Rod “Remembering all the people from last year who hopped on the bus all the time!”

From left: Daniel, Wayne, Ray, John having a hard earned rest.

David enjoying a beer after a exhausting day of riding!

Day 4 Jindabyne to Mt Kosciusko

We left Jindabyne with our first stop scheduled for Perisher. For those that have driven this road during ski season you will know that it involves 10 pleasant Kmsbefore you cross the river and then climb 20 Kms, all of which felt like straight uphill. Add some head winds and they were the most gruelling and demanding 20km. They made the day before seem easy.

Ian receiving the award for best rider for the previous day.Rod off to a good start leading the pack.

As we got to Charlottes pass excitement was high. We exchanged our road bikes for mountain bikes and climbed 9km along a firetrail road past the famous Seamans Hut until we reached the point we could go on bikes.

Reaching the top of Mt Kosciusko

There were high 5's, handshakes and even a few man hugs as we all realised what we had achieved and knew we were about to summit Kozi. We all walked the last Km together. It must have looked a bit weird - men in bike gear with their helmets on (to keep warm).

Simon was sponsored $250 to get his gear off for charity and a bit of a laugh!

Reaching the top of Mt Kozi was a momentous occasion.

This was such an incredible achievement for the riders leaving them with a warm sense of satisfaction for having reached the HIGH of the trip.

Day 5 Jindabyne to CoomaThis was almost a rest day and a

very quiet almost anti climatic day. It was a short 65km ride which was pretty quick as we continued the descent.

We checked back into the Marlborough Inn.. All very familiar with a few extra km in our legs.

Ross taking over coffee making duties from the coffee shop owner on his birthday !

Day 6 Cooma to CanberraWe rode the final 115km with a sense of satisfaction knowing

that we were about to finish our adventure.

We started out as strangers but ended as great friends bound by an incredible experience.

Feelings at the conclusion of the week:

David: “Tired but satisfied and relieved that 11 of us left and 11 of us came back in one piece a week later having ridden 780 kms and climbed over 10000 meters of vertical !”

Larry: “A sense of accomplishment.”

John: “Finishing is always a combination of relief that it’s done, a let-down because it’s all over and pride in the physical and mental achievement.”

Wayne: “EXCELLENT!”

Rod: “Fantastic as it was a great achievement”

From left: Larry, Ian, John, Ray, Wayne, Ross, John (driver), Rod, David, Simon, DanielJohn: “My highlight was completing each day AND the fact that we all completed each day due in

large part to the fact that we all supported each other through the tough parts on the road.”

The group reaching the conclusion of the ride in Canberra. What an achievement!

Congratulations Riders!

The cyclists took on an enormous challenge, covering 800km over six days including a climb to the highest point in Australia. All riders finished the challenge without incident, a great result! Each rider finished the week feeling the sense of self-satisfaction and achievement.

If you could sum up the week in one word ? “Fanfreakingtasic!!” “Excellent” “Enjoyable” “Challenging” “Awesome”

Thank you so much for your support & donations, it was a fantastic challenge with a great group of riders for a great cause!

Our collective fundraising efforts have raised between $40,000 to $45,000 which will all go to children in need in Thailand. This could not have been achieved without your help!

Congratulations to the riders on a fantastic fundraising effort for a very worthy cause. You not only made your friends and family proud, but your efforts fundraising will touch the lives of so many children in need.

Tally of DonationsName Online Total Offline Total Total

Larry

Fingleson$3496 $2500 $5996

Simon

Skelton $4048 $4048

David

Bell $5023 $1120 $6143

Ian Armstrong $2941 $20 $2961

John

Arundall $2110 $2110

Daniel

Murray $1170 $580 $1750

Wayne

Stanton $2490 $240 $2730

Rodney

Jackson $1560

Ross Mitchell $1491

TOTAL $24249 $4540 $28789

Sponsors Total

Kwik Kopy Australia $10,000

Konica Minolta $2, 500

Priority Planners $2,500

Dallas Air $1000

Total: $42,289