In 2011 Ride-a-Bike Right came to life as the AustCycle provider for SA’s Healthy Communities Initiative program; working with local councils to deliver courses to adults to increase fitness and activity rates amongst the population. Initially working with Playford Council delivering cycling skills to adults and the disability sector to get people back onto the bike (then expanding into Onkaparinga, Holdfast Bay, Marion and Renmark-Paringa Councils when they started HCI) we have since delivered over 60 programs to groups of adults. Moving into the children’s cycling domain we have been delivering our school as well as community programs to over 2000 a year.

This week marks the end of the Healthy Communities Initiative programs across Australia, (having been Federally funded from early 2010 – June 2014) we’ve interacted with a variety of people all who have gained value from these courses. Be it

• Carol who now rides local trips around her suburbs,
• Ron who learnt new cycling skills and now rides to work,
• The aged care facilities who saw the change just one lesson of trike riding brought to their service and found funding to get their own trikes,
• Mal who rides to clear his thoughts,
• The Onkaparinga Disability group who will be aiming for a 3^rd Amy’s Ride this year for the Amy Gillett Foundation,
• Zac who attended to get skilled up to ride on the road so he could train more to go to the National Para-cycling titles, or
• The many adults who learn to ride for the 1^st time or those who rediscovered the joy of cycling

…you have all been part of the Ride-a-Bike Right journey and I thank you for it. I’m thrilled to know that a bike has made a change to your life.

The HCI program has also been a huge role in my own life. In Jan 2011, as a rather disenchanted Primary PE/Classroom teacher, I decided to take up the challenge of starting up my own cycling business, initially as a side-line to school work. On June 23^rd 2011 Ride-a-Bike Right officially started, having completed a NEIS business course. Ever new business has its hurdles to cross; I remember many people asking me ‘who needs to learn to ride a bike?’ ; but I discovered what I was truly born to do – to run a cycling school that imparts the passion and drive of riding a bike with safety and skill at the fore.

Just like learning to ride, I have needed to learn how to balance a business with life, how to move it forward and how to control its speed and direction. There is always new skills to learn (in business and in riding a bike), and I look forward to the challenges and exciting times ahead.

Thanks for sharing part of this journey with me.

So what present would any 3 year old love? ….. A(nother) bike of course!!!!

Wheelie Bike by Don Brice –