[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It would seem that our passion for cycling has added benefits. it’s probable that as we age cycling can improve our immune system’s and fend off Cancer and other dreadful stuff . . .take a look at this video clip by the BBC
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A little ramble on a strong trend unfolding in 2017…I am not sure about you, but this cycling lifestyle seems to sneak up on you. At first for me it was all about gaining some fitness, losing a few kilos and improving on a few friendships. But cycling seems to have delivered far more than these few reasons for throwing the leg over a bit of carbon, in fact when I started, I had never even heard of the word carbon.
Over the years with increasing km’s and time spent on my carbonised trustee stead, I have found myself conducting more and more “Business on the back of my Bike.” Does this sound a little bit like you, well of course it does, because I see you out there doing the exact same thing.
Business on the back of my bike has become a new necessary skill set if I am to keep my cadence heading in the right direction. A blend of work and an active lifestyle is now essential in life. The bike is my freedom machine, a means of transport, a fitness machine. Cycling is community, cycling is family, cycling enriches every fibre of being human. Ok this sounds a little over the top, but we are seeing a substantial appetite to ride and network at the same time, with the “flat white” sealing the deal at the end of each ride.
Over the years I have read quite a few books where the successful business person has hung up their work boots and retired to a blissful life of cycling, beach walking and an assortment of other tempting lifestyle challenges to see out their days. I always thought this sounds really exciting, that’s what I want to do… but how many really achieve this? not many I think.
What has become very noticeable over the past decade and in particular since the GFC, is the evolution of a now lifestyle where retirement is not the operative word to kick off these challenges. What has changed? The ‘Active Lifestyler’ has emerged, seeking to put lifestyle ahead of work, and this has seen a newer more impatient breed crafting a business culture essentially off the “Back of their Bikes”. When I refer to new breed, I am not focusing on the 20 yr olds, but I am aiming up at the 50 – 65 year old grouping, yes this demographic is changing and retirement for one reason or another is a disappearing word. The rise and rise of the bikerepreneur, is here. People are designing their lives around the bike.
Cycling is very often the easiest and most social entry point into the ‘Active Lifestyler’s’ Zone. The great thing about cycling is that it is baked into our childhood and family culture which continues to generate connection, friendship and challenge. Cycling enjoys all the attributes of a very friendly family pet, always welcome and deserving of a smile and a pat on the head…yes I do stretch out the analogies to make the point. There really isn’t anything bad about cycling and it is so accepted at all levels of society. Cycling transcends the boundaries and fences of society, business, gender and much more, cycling in groups and events provides synergies, and relationships that would otherwise not occur.
Most who start cycling, very quickly gain new friends, new viewpoints, new freedoms. If you are in business, cycling is a fantastic vehicle to clear out the musty dusty cobwebs, and generate a new fresh view on your business life. Meeting new people, sharing ideas, and generally becoming more creative are all the obvious benefits as you increase the km’s and time on the bike. The post ride coffee is also a perfect fit for a bit of light networking.
Hooked on life and living a life of value, is a priority, but we still have to earn money and pay the bills some how, so crafting a business on the back of your bike, makes a lot of sense.
The first priority in any journey is take that first step, so stump up with all the backbone you can muster and just start pedalling.
‘Business on the Back of your bike’ sounds fantastic, and a little fanciful at best, but it is real and anyone can make this work in todays highly mobile techno-social world, yes technology and the “uber” disruptions have opened the door wide to the new ‘Bikerepreneur’ to take the stage.
Many years ago, I simply wrote it down “Business on the Back of My Bike” – Make it happen. Why did I write that?, I wanted more free time to come and go as I pleased from my daily business grind, and I could take my bike anywhere, so why not my business as well. I titled my notebook “Business on the Back of my Bike Ideas” and set about writing in every idea that came to me over the years that followed. What I noticed is the evolution as I made entries, I noticed that I saw new ideas through the bike, I crafted old school models to become more mobile.
So fast forward a decade and mobile phones, laptops and ipads are solving problems and creating huge opportunities…the “Bikerepreneur’s” time has come of age… So grab a notebook and write down every idea as it comes to you, no matter how stupid or dreamy it may seem at the time. Time has a way with what you write down, and opportunity seems to find your open mind.
Start reading more, anything that inspires is always my criteria and there is no shortage to inspire.
Continually review your ideas…it will surprise you how old ideas leap out and evolve.
OK this might sound like it is going to take years to reap the reward of this strategy, and in some ways yes that is true, but this is an evolutionary thing, so do it anyway and do it with discipline.
What are you very good at now ? What are you very passionate about? The first part is about turning small ideas into income and going from there.
Passion is such an important factor to get this all moving and keep it moving, but do not confuse passion and stubbornness. Be open minded, be a learner, be an innovator, be an actioneer. (yes a made up word)
Does any of this sound a little like you, or perhaps you are in the search mode trying to finance your cycling lifestyle? You are not alone and it certainly is not gender or age restricted in a search for the Active Lifestyler paradise, a place where you never need or want to retire.
If you have an experience or observation please bang out a comment below and share.
Nothing that you think or do in life has any real value unless you share it. Value is often measured by whom you choose to share it with…Sharing with other cyclists is sharing with people who like you, want something more out of life, so share with our like minded community of motivated Active lifestylers.
Cheers Steve
Ps. Give me a call anytime +61 415153522 comment below or simple email me steve@cycleevents.com
Pss. Group rides are networks on wheels, they are family and they lead to all types of opportunities in life…don’t ride alone! could be great advice…I just shared something with you…you decide!
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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail with Gail
This post begins a series of stories from my road trip in South East Queensland. With campervan packed and bikes loaded on the back, we went travelling old roads with new eyes.
One degree Celsius. Mostly sunny. Fernvale. 7am Sunday 3rd July. I stood in the car park wearing leg warmers, cycling shorts, three layers of merino wool under a shell jacket, a woollen skull cap and gloves. Shivering. Partly from the cold but also with excitement. I was about to ride the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) for the very first time.
Fernvale is a small town about 61kms west of Brisbane and 130kms north west from my home on the southern Gold Coast. Midwinter meant a pre-dawn start for our 90 minute drive but with motorways most of the way, the journey was easy. Plus we had people to meet.
Cars trickled into the car park at the Fernvale Futures Centre, driven by women in cycling kit and carrying bicycles. A large bus, a coffee cart and an empty removalist’s van waited to swing into action for the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail’s Women’s Ride.
After signing in for the ride, sipping coffees brewed by the Somerset Coffee barista, and loading bikes into the removalist’s van, our group of 55 riders boarded the bus and filled it with a pleasant blend of chatter and laughter for the thirty minute drive to Esk.
The BVRT Users Association holds regular events to introduce bicycle riders to the rail trail. The Women’s Ride would see us ride the BVRT from Esk to Fernvale.
I felt a little anxious about the ride.
The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail with Gail captures the experience and projects you into another world….Continue reading Gail’s experiences with some very excellent photos…
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Research conducted by the University of Alberta in Canada has found that health benefits in resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, are similar to those we get from exercise.
Resveratrol was seen to improve physical performance, heart function and muscle strength in the same way as they’re improved after a gym session.
According to lead researcher, Jason Dyck, these findings will particularly help those who are unable to exercise. Discussion over the health benefits of red wine have been well documented. Studies have revealed that those who drink a glass of red wine a day are less likely to develop dementia or cancer, that it’s good for your heart, anti-ageing and can regulate blood sugar.
We at Bright Side really rejoiced at the news!!
Source: huffingtonpost
What makes a human being WANT to ride a bike?
By Chris Alomes
Thats a question that I have been wanting to answer for quite some time now. What is it that makes a cyclist cycle? Does the answer lay within a text book? Is it in your head?
I think the answer is, I just don’t know! Lets examine it for a moment, there are reasons people ride a bike, but is that reason the real answer?
Heres my spin on the question! Hehe, cycling joke, “spin”.. Anyway, lets take a look at myself, I am a 50 year old male (almost) a little overweight at 150kg, and I ride a bike! I don’t ride solely at the track (Nerang Cycle Centre, 1 Hope St, Nerang), nor do I stick to riding along the flats, I do really enjoy riding up those hills, like Springbrook and Beechmont.
This morning I got myself kitted up and left home around 4:45 am and headed off to give Springbrook some attention, its been about a month since I last rode up there, this time with the intention of riding down the goat track (I think its Pine Creek Road), wow, the next time I ride down that road it’s gonna be fun and fast!!!!
The thing that impressed on me the most was the solitude and the peace that I experienced once I got out into the climb itself, instead of beating myself up and smashing my body and bike up the hill to get that KOM, I just took my time and cruised up taking it all in, that fresh air the sounds of nature, that beauty we all seem to miss while we drive off to work somewhere on the Gold Coast, getting stuck in traffic, taking 45 minutes to get from Southport to Nerang.
Peace and quiet, the only thing I missed on this mornings ride was the hustle and bustle, and god it felt nice! Cycling clears my head, or rather fills it with ideas, I seem to get a certain clarity while I am out riding, I guess its just me on a bike for a couple of hours with not much more to do than sweat and push my weight along at a decent speed. Do you have moments or hours where you can get into your own head and solve all the problems of the world? I know I do.
For me, I think just being outside, in the great outdoors taking in that fresh air and nature is what urges me to want to ride a bike! What about you??
A sight to see while cycling the Rimutaka Rail Trail today. Pig hunting cyclist pic.twitter.com/GfVHSB2sj7
— Bernard Hickey (@bernardchickey) May 28, 2016
Further to this unfolding drama the Wairarapa Times have now go tin on the act and want their fair share of the Porkie Pie…
” Wairarapa Times Age”
A trusty bicycle was used to bring home the bacon. PHOTO/SUPPLIEDIt was a case of hello pork pie for Mark Richards, of Clarks Beach near Pukekohe, and his cycling mate Larry Paterson late last week when the two set off on a ride over the Rimutaka Incline from Kaitoke.
The pair came across a sight they had certainly not been expecting, and took the opportunity to photograph it.
A hunter with a team of pig dogs in tow was wheeling out a hefty pig the dogs had bailed up and which had been dispatched — on a bicycle.
Mr Richards said the scene had added a new dimension to the cycle trip over the old incline but in his enthusiasm to capture the moment on film he forgot to get the hunter’s name.
He did, however, ascertain the pig had weighed in at about 90kg.
Wairarapa Times-Age
