π Week Three: The Post-Birthday Celebration Struggles
First of all, as always with these weekly updates, a HUGE thank you! β€οΈ
We continue to be absolutely blown away by the support we've received so far. Thanks to your generosity, we've raised $1,353 this year and an incredible $8,168 over the past six years!
That's a huge achievement, but we're not done yet. Can we push a little closer to that all-time goal of $10,000? π€π
Every donation, no matter the size, helps support children and families facing challenges far bigger than sore legs, strong winds, post-birthday blues, and a complete lack of motivation. So let's keep the wheels turning and the donations rolling! π΄ββοΈπ¨
π° The Post-Birthday Slump
Every year we face the same challenge: getting back on the bike after celebrating both my birthday and Billie's birthday.
Let's be honest... it's pretty hard riding a bike after spending a week enthusiastically stuffing your face with birthday cake and lollies. ππ
But alas, the kilometres don't ride themselves, so back on the bike we go!
The Return
After a week of birthday celebrations and questionable nutritional choices, I somehow convinced myself that I was still capable of riding long distances.
In fact, I decided I would prove to Lachlan that I could keep up with his cycling distances.
...
Needless to say, the mind is a powerful convincer of utter delusion. π
Did I complete one of my longest rides? β Yes.
Did I make it home? β Also yes.
Did I make it home on my bike? β Absolutely not.
Just like Lachlan the week before, I eventually found myself making the dreaded rescue call:
"I won't be making it home, and I'm going to need a lovely rescue."
Thankfully I at least had a pretty nice view while waiting for my support crew to arrive. π
Meanwhile... Lachlan
Lachlan decided to take the path of complete smugness this week.
Not only did he ride the exact route that defeated me, he then rode all the way back home as well.
Was I slightly petty about this achievement? Yes.
Was I also incredibly impressed and grateful? Also yes... but please don't tell him that.
To make things even more ridiculous, he managed all of this while dealing with gout in his foot.
What even is gout? Is this what old age looks like? π
π΄ββοΈ Welcome Cyclist Ellis!
As the week came to an end, we recruited a very enthusiastic new cyclist...
Welcome to the team, Ellis! ππ΄ββοΈ
As she powered through the park and around the streets, I couldn't help but admire her determination to be part of the challenge.
I'll admit there may have been a proud tear while watching her ride around at roughly the same speed I've managed over the last few rides. π
And yes, before anyone asks...
I will absolutely be counting her kilometres.
π Challenge Progress
Kilometres Ridden
π΄ββοΈ Ellis: 400m
π΄ Storm: 66km
π΄ Lachlan: 179km
π΅ What's Keeping Us Pedalling This Week?
π΄ Lachy: π§Voidborne terrors (podcast)
π΄ββοΈ Storm: π§ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (narrated by Stephen Fry)
π΄ββοΈ Ellis: Mum and Dad's encouragement (plus a little race against Jocky the dog πΆ)
π Thank you again for every donation.
We've got just under two weeks to go, plenty more kilometres to ride, and hopefully a few more donations to help us get closer to that magical $10,000 all-time fundraising milestone!
If you'd like to support us and help kids fighting cancer, we'd be incredibly grateful for any contribution, big or small.
π΄ββοΈπ¨ Let's finish strong! πππ
Week Two: Rescued and Blown Away (Mostly by the Winds!)
First of all, a HUGE thank you! β€οΈ
We continue to be absolutely blown away by the support we've received so far. Thanks to your generosity, we've not only doubled our original fundraising goal of $500, but we've also surpassed our total six-year fundraising goal of $7,500! π€―π
That's an incredible achievement, but we're not done yet. We now have our sights firmly set on getting closer to the big one: $10,000 raised overall for kids fighting cancer. πποΈ
Every donation, no matter the size, helps support children and families facing challenges far bigger than sore legs, strong winds, and questionable lycra choices. So let's keep the wheels turning and the donations rolling! π΄ββοΈπ¨
π¦οΈ Melbourne Weather: A Personal Attack
As every Victorian knows, Melbourne weather doesn't follow forecasts. It follows chaos.
This week we experienced:
β Sunβ Rain β More rain β Wind β Stronger wind β Bugs β Wind carrying bugs β Even more wind
At one point I genuinely wasn't sure if I was cycling or participating in some bizarre outdoor survival challenge. π
Because we knew there would be days we couldn't ride, we had to cram some very long rides into the days we could. Let's just say our legs have lodged several formal complaints and other body parts have joined the union. π
π The Lycra Situation
One of this week's highlights was reaching our fundraising target and unlocking Lachy's 2026 challenge lycra jersey! π
While this is exciting, there is a growing concern.
Lachy seems to be enjoying Lycra a little more than anticipated.
What started as cycling gear is rapidly becoming a lifestyle choice.
Should we be concerned? Is this what a midlife crisis looks like in the cycling world? π΄ββοΈπ€π
π¬οΈ Me vs The Wind
Despite spending most of the week complaining about cycling, I did, in fact, get on the bike and ride.
The wind, however, had other plans.
There were moments where it felt like if I stopped pedalling for even three seconds, I'd end up back at home without actually turning around. ππ¨
I may or may not have had some strongly worded discussions with the weather.
The highlight was seeing all the wildlife along the way. π¦π¦ Frogs provided background music, birds kept me company, and unlike the wind, they were generally supportive of my efforts.
π¨ Operation: Rescue Lycra Man π¨
Meanwhile, Lach was busy testing Melbourne's new cycling paths and bridges into the CBD. π΄ββοΈπ
The trip into the city was fantastic.
The trip home?
Not so much.
Partway through the return journey, I received an urgent distress call.
A Lycra-clad cyclist had become stranded at Hungry Jack's and required immediate assistance. ππ¨
With the promise of a soft drink and the possibility of never hearing the end of it if I didn't help, I set off on my rescue mission.
Thankfully, the cyclist survived.
Let's just say this isn't the first rescue operation we've conducted during our years participating in the challenge. Apparently strong winds and tired legs are recurring characters in our story. π
π΄ββοΈ Future Cycling Superstars
Keep an eye out for upcoming updates because we're soon welcoming some very enthusiastic little cycling helpers! π΄π§π¦
They've already been training hard, providing moral support, and reminding us when we're going too slow.
And yes...
Their kilometres will absolutely be counted!! ππͺ
π΅ What's Keeping Us Pedalling This Week?
π΄ Lachy: π΅ Hanumankind - Various Songs
π΄ββοΈ Storm: π§ Justice Matters: Conversations About Crime and Punishment (Podcast)
Thank you again for every donation.
We've got another two-and-a-bit weeks to go, plenty more kilometres to ride (with some more donations please π) , and hopefully the wind will spend some time behind us rather than directly in our faces. β‘οΈπ΄
Realistically thoughβ¦
This is Melbourne, so we're not getting our hopes up. π
Week One: Done and dusted... or more accurately, done and absolutely drenched.
Firstly, thank you so much for all the support so far! We are incredibly grateful and honestly a little blown away. We've already reached our fundraising goal, which is amazing... but let's not stop there. Let's see just how far we can push it! Every year we creep a little closer to $10,000 raised overall, and we'd love to keep the momentum rolling (pun absolutely intended).
As is tradition in both Melbourne and the Great Cycle Challenge, October started with rain. Lots of rain. The kind of rain that makes you question your life choices. But after doing this challenge for several years, we've learned an important lesson: if you skip a ride because of bad weather, future-you still has to ride those kilometres anyway. And future-you is usually just as tired and just as grumpy.
So we rode in the rain.
Because while riding in the rain is uncomfortable, childhood cancer is far worse.
I recently saw a tip in a cycling group suggesting you put motivational stickers on your bike. Naturally, I gave it a go. Now, whenever I'm halfway up a hill, questioning every decision that led me to this moment, I can look down and remind myself why we're doing this. It doesn't make the hill any flatter, but it helps.
Some highlights from the first week include spotting a pelican and two beautiful white cranes. We are also thrilled to report that neither of us has been swooped by a magpie, attacked by a rogue goose, fallen into a river, or come off our bikes. By Week One standards, that's a huge success.
Unfortunately, our bike seats appear to be plotting against us. Let's just say our backsides are currently filing formal complaints. Sitting down has become less of an action and more of a carefully planned negotiation.
We also invested in some cycling glasses to protect us from bugs. Coincidentally, a dragonfly immediately volunteered to test their durability at high speed. The glasses survived. The dragonfly's pride may not have.
Meanwhile, Lachlan has fully embraced the cycling lifestyle and is now wearing lycra.
I would like to make it very clear that I am not wearing lycra.
Not now.
Not next week.
Not ever.
...unless someone donates $500.
At which point my dignity suddenly becomes surprisingly negotiable.
Keep an eye on our weekly updates because we've got some exciting bigger rides coming up. There may also be some very enthusiastic little cycling helpers making guest appearances along the way.
What's Keeping Us Pedalling This Week?
Lachy π΅ Various songs from Run the Jewels
Storm π§ Kill List (Audible) π΅ Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones
Thank you again for every donation, comment, and word of encouragement. They genuinely help on those days when it's cold, wet, windy, and our legs are wondering why they can't just sit on the couch instead.
We've got another four weeks to go, plenty more kilometres ahead, and hopefully at least one less rainstorm.
Although, knowing Melbourne, that's probably wishful thinking.