Paving the Way: Australian Cycling History
‘Paving the Way’ is all about Australia’s cycling history. It is motivated by our concern that the rich past of Australian cycling has not been adequately preserved, and our belief in the importance of recording and sharing this history.
The bicycle and the people who have ridden it have made a major contribution to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of Australia for well over 100 years. The cyclists of yesteryear – male and female, the elite and the ordinary, on dirt, road, and track – really have paved the way for the riders of today.
This page isn’t just about the Olympic medals, the World Champions, the Tour jerseys, or the record holders. It’s also about the everyday people who have achieved interesting and extraordinary things on a bicycle.
Where Are They Now? Danny Clark
Danny Clark’s racing career started as a 13 year old in Launceston, with a win in a junior Thursday night race out of town and back. Pretty soon he was developing his handling skills and sprinter’s mad-dog attitude with regular training sessions sitting millimetres behind the rear wheels of a log truck at 80km/hr as […]
Where Are They Now? Peter McDonald
I remember racing the 2009 National Road Titles in Buninyong. It was the who’s who of Australian cycling with a lineup of of ProTour riders including Mick Rogers, Mark Renshaw, Richie Porte, Adam Hansen, Matty Lloyd, Alan Davis, Baden Cooke and everyone else. It may as well been the entire rumoured GreenEDGE roster.
Where Are They Now? Stephen Hodge
When I asked Stephen Hodge what he thought his biggest strength as a rider was, he told me it was his Time Trialling. As twice winner of the Grand Prix de Nations amateur section (then the unofficial ITT World Championships), I was happy to take his word for it.
The History Of Café Racer
Café Racer is an icon of Australian cycling. It’s not only a place where cyclists meet before and after their morning ride; it’s a fundamental part of the vibrant cycling culture we enjoy here in Melbourne. Many people take it for granted and may think that it’s something that’s normal, however I’ve never seen anything […]
Where Are They Now? Jay Sweet
It’s been far too long since we’ve done a post on our “Where Are They Now” series. We’ve been trying to track down Jay Sweet for the past 2 months now and finally got in touch with him today. It was a fascinating conversation. I’ve heard stories about Jay being faster than Robbie McEwen back […]
The World’s Oldest Running Race - The Austral
Shane Perkins (2009 winner) will be the scratchman to watch. If the backmen can collude early and reel in the front markers, it will be an exciting sprint finish! Photo courtesy fyxomatosis As I’ve said a many times before, I’m continuously fascinated by Australia’s cycling history. If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend picking up […]
Where Are They Now? - Aussie Young Guns
Right before our eyes we’re witnessing a new generation of Australian cyclists kicking some serious butt. Just yesterday Bobridge smashed the Individual Pursuit world record by nearly 4 seconds (barring Chris Boardman’s 4:11.11 in the superman position), and Rohan Dennis posted the second fastest time in history with 4:13.399 during his heat. This is an incredibly special time […]
Where Are They Now? - Allan Iacuone
As most of you know I’ve been absolutely loving all the Australian cycling history I’ve been discovering. We’ve had lots of people sending us ideas on the “Where Are They Now” column that Jamie Jowett has been writing. The one person we’ve had an overwhelming amount of requests for is Allan Iacuone. “Al who?” you […]
Where Are They Now? Don Allan
The first I’d ever heard of Don Allan was on October 14, 2006. My mate and I had just finished Around The Bay In A Day and sat down at the restaurant in the Docklands that was booked for our group. A friendly lady and her unassuming husband asked if they could join us at […]
Where Are They Now? -Liz Tadich
In line with celebrating Australia’s cycling heritage prior to the World Championships arriving at our doorstep, I wanted to share a story with you about woman you may not have heard of before. Her name is Liz Tadich (now Taylor) and she became Australia’s first medal winner at the UCI World Championships. That’s right - the […]
Where Are They Now? -David McKenzie
I’m fascinated by Australian cycling history. Everywhere I go I seem to be unknowingly bumping into someone who has done something truly remarkable in their cycling career. There’s a plethora of Aussie cycling legends just quietly going about their business hardly ever mentioning their achievements and contribution to our rich history.