Executive Cyclist Magazine • Issue 8

ISSUE 08

Executive Profile

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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The CHAIRMAN 130 Countries 33 Million Members

Issue 8

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Looking after your business so you can spend more time on the bike

Melbourne

Sydney

Perth

Brisbane

Newcastle

www.pitcher.com.au/international

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

Pitcher Partners is an association of independent firms. An independent member of Baker Tilly International.

Adelaide

If you want a high performing business in Australian or overseas markets, the right accounting, tax and financial advice is critical.

Pitcher Partners has an extensive network of firms throughout Australia, the Asia Pacific region and the rest of the world. Our strong relationships with government, professional advisors, financiers and business groups means we can smoothly and seamlessly help you achieve your goals, no matter the size or complexity.

We are agile, reliable, responsive, commercial, technically expert and — according to our clients — very easy to do business with.

Isn’t that what you want from your accounting and advisory firm?

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Col du Galibier • 2642m • June 2014

Leigh Parsons, Charter Mason

Mark Soulos, PwC

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“It is hard to describe to people who haven’t experienced it.........There are times when you want to give up and you doubt why you are putting yourself through the pain but you push through and the sense of accomplishment and the natural high ensure that you will want to give it a go again.”

Peter Braine, Pitcher Partners

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Daniel Forsythe, The Missing Link

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A very wet and cold Malabar morning. And when it comes to the tough, there is not many better than the rider in white at the centre - Phil Anderson.

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Issue 8

22 Profile

A ‘Big Ride’ The challenge of riding endurance events is a

60 Profile

Pitcher Partners’

bug thet Peter Braine

When it comes to

Peter Braine discusses

has caught. And it is

worldwide Surf Life

the work-life-ride

a challenge that is

Saving, Graham Ford is

balance and missing

rewarding for him.

the Chairman. He is an

family breakfasts.

active patrol captain at Bronte Beach and he does a little riding.

Cover: Graham Ford heads International Life Saving, which has an impressive 33 million members.

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EXECUTIVE

72 Business Hubs Last edition, New York was profiled

86 74 London to Paris

Profile Daniel Forsythe of The Missing Link

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CYCLIST MAGAZINE

Big Climbs and the Taiwan KOM

as a destination worth

QBE’s Steven Raynor

has managed to get

riding on a business

and his brother-in-law

the balance right

Le Tour is over, but

trip. Now the call goes

dared each other.

- he works around

the chat about the big

out for information on

So they rode the

his riding. He also

climbs isn’t. Here we

a further eleven cities.

400km of London

loves climbing big

look at a few grand tour

to Paris in 24 hours.

mountains.

and Australian climbs then pictorially look at the Taiwan KOM route.

Executive Cyclist Magazine is published by The Daily Tour and is produced independently of Australian Cycling Executives (ACE), International Cycling Executives (ICE) and Australian Cycling Professionals (ACP). Views expressed by authors, contributors or advertisers aren’t necessarily those of the publisher, the founders of ACE, ACP or their partners. Copyright is reserved, so we’d ask you not to reproduce the publication in another form.

Feel free to share via links though. Contact: bigguy@executivecyclist.com

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One of the good things about publishing is producing a publication that people want to receive. And the key to that is the ability to change and continually deliver good content.

When Executive Cyclist Magazine (ECM) was first dreamed up, one of the priorities was to create something different.

Download 200,000+ brand logos in vector format for free http://www.logoeps.com/

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Advertise in Executive Cyclist Magazine - see page 60-61

ISSUE 08 | E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

Engaging a group of cycling executives, by

And lifestyle - it extends way beyond the bike.

profiling them at a personal level is the starting

Cycling is just one of many pursuits. Sports,

point for something bigger. And over time the

flying, sailing, fine wine, collecting, motoring....

content needs to change to stay current..

the list is long and varied. The future for ECM -

Cycling is fitness, lifestyle and experiences.

One thing I have noticed from 25 years of riding, is that cyclists seem to thrive on other cyclists experiences. So why not use this to produce great content?

it could be described as Cycling meets Vogue, where riding is part of your lifestyle.

Meanwhile enjoy Issue 8.

Simon bigguy@executivecyclist.com

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CONNECTIONS “Now you’re somebody that I used to know” - Gotye Yep, that song! That chorus! Pretty true when you think about it!

Not dissimilar to my favourite movie quote “It happens sometimes.

Friends come in and out of our lives, like busboys (waiters) in a restaurant”.

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As we all strive to live increasingly ‘connected’ lives, it’s obvious we’ll have more relationships to manage, spanning our personal, social and professional lives. I’d say there’s even a level of status associated with having more relationships, led by our social media platforms, we’re encouraging us to have 500 business contacts, 1,000 friends or 10,000 followers.

If you, like many of us, have an ever increasing list of contacts, I’d like to ask you to think about how many you really have?!

My guess, if you took the time to really think about it, you’d quickly trim that list by recognising those people you really share, or have

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shared, an authentic connection with. Family members always

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there when you’ve needed them, a colleague that stood along side you to deliver that impossible project, a friend that always values spending time with you.

Sure the social media platforms are great at connecting us with friends we’ve lost touch with, and business forums are good events to make initial professional connections. However, I’d like to ask that the next time you notice an authentic relationship developing, before you make contact no. 501, pause to recognise the underlying reason, my guess is that there’s a shared, goal, interest or passion.

I want to connect you with others, through our shared passion, helping you develop authentic connections.

- Ryan O’Neill, CEO and Founder, ACE. 16

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Australian Cycling Executives

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FOUNDATION PARTNERS

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GOLD PARTNERS

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Executive Cyclist Magazine supporting Australian Cycling Executives

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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www.australiancyclingexecutives.com

ShoreTel SIGNATURE

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And 2 colors: black and orange. This is the preferred configuration and should always be the default option. The primary Signature should be used in advertising, marketing and promotional materials.

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“The best climbs of France are the ones the Tour can’t get to anymore (that is the tour convoy can’t get up the mountain...this is a rule the Giro clearly ignores!).

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“This was the best climb of the trip. South from Saint Lary-Soulan (the town at the base of Pla d’Adet climb)” towards the Spanish border.

Weaving around 4 lakes above the clouds, with Lac d’Oredon (right)... climbing higher than the Tourmalet.”

Conrad Bates, C3 Business Solutions

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Pitcher Partners |

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Peter Braine

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Peter Braine Partner & Executive Director Pitcher Partners

Executive Profile

I suppose it really started working on school and university holidays at my swimming coaches accounting firm in Deniliquin.

When I finished uni I went home ISSUE 08

and worked full time with the firm until the lure of Melbourne drew me back. After a stint at a

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firm in Hawthorn I commenced Private Clients division in 1995. I transferred into the Tax Consulting group at Pitchers soon after that.

In 1999 I was talked into a tax role with Mars Incorporated and left

What sports have you been

the profession for “the dark side”.

involved with?

What followed was 9 and a half years of tax, CFO and treasury roles across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region, and a lot of travel. In late 2008, just as the GFC was hitting, I returned to Pitcher Partners as a Director in the Tax Consulting group and was admitted to the partnership on 1 July 2011. I am a generalist tax partner but also have responsibility for the R&D Tax Incentive and the Employment Taxes group within Pitchers.

Growing up in a small country town I played most sports, football, soccer, golf, tennis and

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

with Pitcher Partners in their

cricket but my main sport as I grew up was swimming. I swam at state age group level in both NSW and then Victoria when I was at boarding school at St Patricks College in Ballarat. I initially tried rowing at St Pat’s but it clashed with swimming training so swimming won out. I also had an uncle who regularly completed the Murray River Canoe Marathon and he loaned me a kayak and I joined the Ballarat Canoe Club and when I wasn’t swimming I was kayaking.

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Pitcher Partners Pitcher Partners is a full service accounting and business advisory firm with a strong reputation for providing quality advice to privately-owned, corporate and public organisations.

In Australia, Pitcher Partners has firms in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth,

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Sydney and Newcastle. We collaboratively

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leverage from each other’s networks and draw on the skills and expertise of 90 Partners & 1000+ staff, in order to service our clients.

Pitcher Partners Melbourne is the leader in the middle-tier market and is the fifth largest accounting services firm in Melbourne after the Big 4 multinational firms. Pitcher Partners is also an independent member of Baker Tilly International (BTI), the eighth largest network in the world by fee income.

Our strong relationship with other BTI member firms, particularly in Asia Pacific, has allowed us to open many doors across borders for our clients.

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A good week on the bike: Is riding from the office to meet my “Loco” riding mates and doing Mordi return along Beach Rd on Monday, Wednesday E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

and Friday mornings. This is a 60km out and back for me.

I also like to do a few laps on Kew Boulevard on a Thursday morning with a few of my partners from work.

If family commitments allow, Saturday would be a mountain bike ride in the afternoon with the family. My 7 year old son

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and 9 year old daughter have

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just discovered the joys of single track so mountain biking with the kids might have to go up the priority list!

Sunday morning is generally the big ride out to Kinglake and return with a few mates, we have a route that is just over

stopping after shifting back to Melbourne and Pitchers in

100kms in distance and just

My favourite ride would have to

over 2,000m of vertical and

be the 160km Lake Taupo Cycle

includes a coffee and muffin at

Challenge around Lake Taupo

the Smith’s Gully General store.

in New Zealand. I first did this

My 2004 Taupo took 7hrs

ride in 2004 when I lived in

and 24 minutes but I had my

New Zealand working for Mars.

time down to 5 hours and 13

I shifted back to Australia

minutes in 2007. I then rode

in 2005 but went back and

Taupo again in 2011 and 2012

completed the event for the

but have missed the ride again

next three years in a row, only

after negotiations on the home

This gets me 320kms excluding the mountain bike ride but sometimes work commitments interrupts the morning rides 28

A favourite ride:

during the week.

2008 and concentrating on my commitments at work.

Executive Profile

Hotham, all easily accessible from Bright. There is also a carnival atmosphere in Bright for the weekend so the family

to Kinglake also never disappoints, there are any number of different side roads and adventures around the Kinglake, St Andrews and Smiths Gully area to explore.

What is a cycling ambition?

I would love to do a ride following the Giro around Italy.

I also have a goal of breaking 5 hours for the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.

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My usual Sunday ride

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weekend as well.

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enjoys getting away for a long

What bike/s do you ride?

I have three road bikes, an front meant giving up Taupo for

Another favourite ride is any of

S-Works SL4 Roubaix which is

Tour de Cure. The Taupo route

the ride options at the Audax

my newest addition to the road

is a fantastic challenge with

Alpine Classic held in Bright

bike fleet, a Bianchi 928 and a

amazing scenery. The event is

around Australia Day each year.

heavily modified Fuji Provence,

well run and the atmosphere

I have now done the Alpine

only the frame is original.

in Taupo and on the ride is

for the last three years in a

incredible.

row and already booked our accommodation for next year.

The climbs around Bright are amazing, Mt Buffalo, Tawonga Gap, Falls Creek and Mt

I also have a Specialized Crave mountain bike (to match the Specialized Hotrocks that the kids have) 29

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Executive Profile

How do you balance your

Given this all occurs early in

Do you have an interesting

personal, professional and

the morning, the impact on

cycling story to share?

riding lives?

the personal life is limited but

Some of my best cycling

This is always the hard bit.

there is still a cost. There are

challenge. This explains why there are so many professionals and business types riding early in the morning before work. I find that if I don’t get out early before work then I don’t get a ride in for the day. To ride with the “Loco” bunch I get up at 4:15am, shave and put on my cycling kit. I then drive into the office, park my car and either grab my Bianchi from upstairs in my office or get the S-Works out of the back of the car and depart the car park by 5:15am to meet the guys on Beaconsfield Parade at 5:30am.

I will then be back in the office eating my breakfast at my desk around 8am. The logistics can be a drain and time consuming but you can get in a grove and it almost becomes an auto pilot thing every night. I am

at the end of the day there can be times when you don’t get to see the kids awake for days on end. You really need an understanding family as the professional commitments generally are not the ones that are going to be flexible.

do an event. I have had some great trips to New Zealand for Taupo with riding mates joining me for the trip. They have always been a lot of fun mixed in with a serious effort on the ride but as the saying goes ….. what happens on tour stays on tour.

I was also on a work trip in 2006 when I managed to fit in a side trip to Paris for the same weekend that the Tour finished on the ChampsElysees. I managed to come

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part of our lives is definitely a

you get caught at the office

cycling road trips with mates to

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poor and fitting in the riding

during the week and when

memories revolve around

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Generally everyone is time

generally no family breakfasts

across some friends from Albury (which was lucky as I had my credit card stolen at an auto teller and didn’t have much cash left) and we spent the day on the barricades with a group of Australians to watch Floyd Landis “win” the Tour and Robbie McEwen the green jersey.

yet to forget my shoes or a shirt etc. hopefully a trend that continues.

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A quick ride to Palm Beach

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SYDNEY to E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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HOBART |

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A BIG RIDE

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

o

Executive Profile

Peter Braine Partner & Executive Director, Pitcher Partners.

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Tour de Cure Signature Tour 2014 Sydney to Hobart Day 1 - 145km Day 2 - 186km Day 3 - 169km Day 4 - 142km Day 5 - 181km

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Day 6 - 204km

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Day 7 - 155km Day 8 - 122km Day 9 - 135km Day 10 - 137km

What drives you to participate in long distance charity ride events?

For many years after doing a big one day ride I would get up the next morning and think to myself what would it be like to get up and go again and again and wondered if I could do it.

I suppose it was really like wondering how the tour riders do it, what would it really be like. I suppose there was an “itch� there that needed 48

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A Big Ride

to be scratched. I also like to jump in the deep

amazing feeling to actively be giving back

end a bit and use fear of failure as a motivator.

to the community. The fundraising and the

When I entered my first Taupo ride I didn’t

school visits on Tour de Cure are challenging

even have a road bike and used entering the

and inspiring. Being a cancer survivor makes

ride as a motivator to get out and buy the

participation in Tour de Cure even more

bike and start training. I don’t like to fail.

important for me on a personal level, it is a

Linking the physical challenge with the

physical and emotional roller coaster.

charity aspect takes the participation and accomplishment to a whole new level. It is an 49

Explain your history of participating in

Marathon. Unfortunately it wasn’t much longer

endurance (long) cycling events?

after that canoe race that my lung cancer was

I have completed 6 Lake Taupo Cycle

diagnosed so all sporting activities were put

Challenges, 3 different rides at the Alpine Classic and also numerous Around the Bay in

Preparation

completed a 4 day Victorian Country Tour

Since my first experience in preparing for a

and a 10 day Signature Tour both with Tour de

long distance cycling event which was non-

Cure. I particularly enjoy the longer distance

existent, I have refined my methodology. I tend

rides. My first big event was the Taupo ride

to start early now and also enlist as many of

in 2004. I wasn’t well prepared either on

my riding mates to get involved to help me

a training front or on what was required

with my motivation. It is so much easier to hit

nutritionally. I needed to stop at least 4 times

the snooze or turn the alarm off if you haven’t

and suffered from cramp. I can remember

committed to meet people for a training ride.

riding up Hatepe Hill at the 132km mark after

In preparing for the Signature Tour, I followed

an already long day in the saddle and seeing

the 16 week training program as closely

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people walking up the climb. I decided that

as possible subject to work and family

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a Day events in Melbourne. I have also now

on hold for a few years,

I couldn’t get off and walk or I might not

commitments. Luckily the Christmas and New

get back on. The good thing about getting

Year break fell into the training program so

over Hatepe (also affectionately known as

time off work allowed me to focus on training

Heartbreak Hill) is that it is then predominantly

and still allowed lots of time with the family.

downhill to the finish and I eventually crossed

Over the 16 weeks I rode 4,649km’s and

the line in 7hrs and 24 minutes but I was

climbed 44,126m’s in trying desperately to

hooked.

be ready for the challenge. This included the

When you were younger did you have aspirations for endurance sports?

both the Mt Buffalo and Falls Creek climbs. I had to focus on climbing as I am not a natural

When I was younger I did a few long distance

climber and the Signature Tour didn’t have

swimming events in the Edwards River in

many days (or any days) without significant

Deniliquin and I also completed in two canoe

climbs.

races including the Echuca Mini Marathon with my uncle which pushed me to my limit at the time. It was a 50km race from Barmah to Echuca and was a lead up event to the Murray 50

200km option at the Alpine which included

I also got a bit more focussed on nutrition and started using a recovery formula supplement to assist with recovery.

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A Big Ride

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TRAINING

And the impact it has on....

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Your family:

Your business:

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The training does take its toll on the family.

Luckily the timing of the Signature Tour this

My son was particularly vocal about not

year was good from a work commitment

seeing enough of dad and I have committed

perspective. Being a professional services firm

a lot more time to the family since the end

we are driven by client requirements and I

of the Signature Tour including a week of

was able to work around these commitments.

family holiday in Tasmania after the ride

Unfortunately, I will not be able to commit to

finished in Hobart. They are proud of what I

the Signature Tour in 2015 as it clashes with

have achieved and being able to do a school

one of the important lodgement deadlines for

visit at my kids school as we passed through

my clients.

Melbourne was a highlight of the tour for me.

At this stage they would not be keen for me to do another Tour next year.

On a day to day basis, training early and being back at my desk by 8am means that I am not impacting on the work day. In fact, I am probably more alert and energised in the morning than I would otherwise be. As long as I get a walk around the block mid-afternoon and an extra coffee I am good all day!

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What is the impact on your long term

I was also hit by a car on a recreational ride

health?

with my wife and two friends many years ago

I would like to think that the impact on my

that resulted in a bad concussion and a few

long term health is very positive. It is certainly better that being focussed solely on work and sitting at a desk all day. Time will tell but the

broken ribs.

How does your body respond to riding?

training creates positive habits and based on a

All day: Provided that I have been doing the

recent health check has definitely improved my

training, my body usually responds well to

short term health.

riding all day. Most days I feel that I can get up

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and go again.

What injuries have you had over the years?

Consecutive days: This has always intrigued

Despite the fact that I currently have a

(or worried) me but in the last two years with

fractured hip from a significant fall four weeks

two Tour de Cure events I have proved that

ago I would consider myself quite lucky based

my body responds well to consecutive days

on the amount of riding I have done. I have

of long distance riding. Again, there is the

now had two bad hip injuries to my left hip,

proviso that the required training must have

one from a fall in a crit race in Albury and the

been done. I would hate to think what it would

recent one due to an oil spill that caused my

feel like to do a tour without the appropriate

spill. I have also had a minor impact on my

preparation. Focussing on the prep, keeping

right hip which was caused by the enemy of all

up the food and fluid intake and putting some

cyclists in Melbourne, the tram tracks.

time into recovery is critical.

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What steps do you take to recover?

I try to ensure that I have a recovery drink

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Describe how it feels to complete and finish a long ride?

after I get off the bike, stay hydrated and do

It is amazing, it is hard to describe to people

some stretching. On Tour I took my foam roller

who haven’t experienced it. Anyone who has

and used it whenever I had time between

completed an endurance event, whether it

finishing and the community dinners. When

is cycling, running, triathlon understands.

we were staying at venues that had pools, a

There are times when you want to give up

quick swim was also mandatory even though

and you doubt why you are putting yourself

most times the water was pretty chilly. I have

through the pain but you push through and

also started using 2XU recovery compression

the sense of accomplishment and the natural

garments after each day of riding.

high ensure that you will want to give it a go again. When you do it with others, it feels even better, the sense of camaraderie is incredible, you form strong bonds with people after you have suffered together on an endurance event.

A Big Ride

During a 10 day event, is there a point where it gets easier / harder? Both physical and emotional.

charged due to the cause.

Because we are riding as a team there is always someone there to provide encouragement when you are hurting or doubting yourself.

Obviously getting over the hump day is a huge mental hurdle but for the Signature Tour I felt that getting on the Spirit of Tasmania was a big hurdle as it meant there were only the last three days in

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The Tour can be emotionally

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

times where you find it hard.

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During most days there are

Tasmania to go. There was even a point during day 8 that I felt a bit flat because the tour was going to end soon.

The hardest part emotionally for me was actually finishing in Hobart and seeing my family again, I can remember riding over the bridge into Hobart with all sorts of emotions flooding over me and more than a few tears in my eyes.

55

Have you had doubts during both your training and the event?

How long does it take to recover?

I had a family holiday in Tasmania for a week

I don’t think I actually had any doubts once

and I was then back at work. I was a bit run

I got going, other than during the biggest

down with a cold and stomach upset the week

climbing day in the Snowy Mountains, but I

back at work and then I tackled Kinglake for

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

definitely had doubts during training. As this

what was my second worse attempt at the

was my first Signature Tour I didn’t really know

Kinglake climb of all time, my back ached and

what to expect so I didn’t really know whether

my legs were screaming. Perhaps not a smart

or not my training was going to be sufficient.

comeback ride but it didn’t take long to get

I didn’t really have the opportunity to train

back into it. Unfortunately June was frantic

with other Tour riders so I felt a bit isolated

at work so not a lot of riding and I am now

at times however emails from the training

recovering from a fall and will be off the bike

support team provided encouragement as did

for a few months.

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Any interesting stories from a ride?

my normal riding bunch who were seeing the improvement in my fitness.

What is the next big challenge? Is there something you’ve also ways wanted to do?

I would like to do another Tour with Tour de

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Again, a lot of what happens on Tour stays

Cure but unfortunately next year’s Signature

on Tour but an interesting or scary story was

Tour dates do not work for me. I have entered

when my rear carbon rim started delaminating

Around the Bay in a Day with Zagame

when at speed descending the biggest climb

Automotive who are another ACE Partner

in the Snowy Mountains. I could sense it was

and will be looking forward to that. I have

happening but there wasn’t anything I could

also committed to the Alpine again but that

do about it and then the tyre popped and I

is in January next year so I will definitely need

was skating on the carbon rim on a high speed

something before that. We will see.

descent. Luckily I managed to stay upright and brought the bike to a stop safely. It didn’t

Fundraising - a time consuming aspect of

take long for mechanical support to swap the

charity rides. Do you find this easy?

wheel over and then we chased back on to the

I have been very lucky with my fundraising.

bunch who had luckily slowed to “mechanical”

In both my Tours I have completed all of

speed. That being said it was a very tough

my fundraising solely through emails and

chase back on with slightly frayed nerves.

communication with my networks. The support of my family, colleagues and business

56

networks has been amazing.

Executive Profile

A family perspective Cycling has been good for Pete, it has provided him with an opportunity to form many new friendships, meet lots of new people, and see plenty of this beautiful country we live in. It ISSUE 08

also provides him with a great stress outlet, something we all need in this busy day and age, and a fun way to

the family are not so enthused about the whole idea at times. I must admit like many partners of cyclists, having your partner away from home on weekends sometimes for half a day or more does prove difficult.

I’d be lying to say it wasn’t. It’s especially challenging when you have a young family.

After several mornings riding before work

spent many hours on our own. Committing to such an event is not only done by the cyclist themselves but their family too. We all go on the journey together. Meeting Pete at the finish line in Hobart and reuniting the family after 12 days away was a special moment for all of us. It was such an amazing accomplishment, one we will all remember.

and working long hours during the week,

As great as cycling is, as a wife I am

when he disappears for a long ride on most

constantly concerned about the potential for

weekends, the kids find Dad’s absence very

injuries. Pete spends some mornings before

tough. In a perfect world, it would be nice if

work, riding. The road cycling is challenging

weekend rides could be minimised to enable

enough without being in the dark. I must

more family time.

admit, it’s always nice to see him return in

Training for his most recent ride for Tour De Cure proved the most challenging of all. It was wonderful of Pete to commit

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

While cycling has been great for Pete,

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keep fit and healthy too.

one piece, although having ridden for as long as Pete has, he has had his fair share of injuries along the way.

wholeheartedly to raising money for charity,

The kids and I are very proud of Pete

and we as a family were extremely proud

and what he has been able to personally

of his efforts and dedication. Being left at

accomplish. We are now looking forward to

home while he spent countless hours training

spending some quality family time with Pete

for the months before the event was the

over the next few months has he recovers

family’s toughest challenge. The kids and

from a fractured hip. Yes, you guessed it,

I missed our family time with Dad, and we

a cycling accident!

57

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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Graham Ford

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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Executive Profile

International Life Saving Federation Surf Life Saving Australia 61

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E | ISSUE 08

Graham Ford Chairman Surf Life Saving Australia Chairman International Life Saving Federation

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Executive Profile

Christmas morning 2010, it’s

What sports have you been

8.00am and my first ever

involved with?

patrol as a Surf Life Saver at

Rugby union, surf life saving

a week on the bike. Monday,

competition, cycling.

Wednesday and Friday with

rescue. As it turns out, Graham Ford was the patrol captain that morning Graham is now the Chairman of Surf Life Saving Australia.

He has a professional background in property, asset management, vocational education and marine rescue services and was the managing partner of a property and valuation consultancy for 30 years.

Graham has served on 11 boards, five in the not-for-profit sector and one an international board. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

I started bike riding in the 1960s on a Malvern Star. It was a legitimate mode of transport and there were not a lot of cars on the road, and trams were on their way out.

It was safe to ride on the roads.

Cyclists disappeared off our roads in the 1970s with the advent of alternate means of transport - mainly the family car - and returned only in the

the “Bike Shed” Masters group in Centennial Park and a ride around the beaches on Saturday or Sunday.

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200m off the beach on my first

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I am paddling a rescue board

I try to ride around 6 to 8 hours

Describe a favourite ride: Ride from Centennial Park and out to La Perouse and Port Botany and back around the Eastern Suburb beaches: Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee and Bronte

late 1980-1990s.

What is a cycling ambition?

In the last 10 years the

To ride the Grand Fondo

popularity of cycling has

Novocolli and Maratona Dles

increased dramatically. We have

Dolomities. I have ridden over

the same roads, but they are

both courses.

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

Bronte in Sydney. By 8.02am

Describe a good week riding:

heavily overcrowded. Too many cyclists are being killed and

What bike/s do you ride?

injured on our roads.

A 20-year-old Mondonico steel

There needs to be a greater

bike and a Pinarello Dogma 2.

emphasis on education for all

Both bikes have Campagnollo

road users to share the road

Record group sets.

and to have mutual respect.

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

How do you balance your

Do you have any interesting

In the French Alps we based

personal, professional and

cycling stories?

ourselves at La Grave opposite

When we lived in Bronte, on

La Meije (3982m), halfway

riding lives?

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the cutting, I rode around the

children aged 28 to 39 and

Olympic road course with the

nine grandchildren - then my

Aussie Men’s Team two days

voluntary roles in the “For

prior to the event.

and Alpe d’Huez.

In 2008 my wife, Trish, and I

There is a different culture in

Purpose” sector.

Briancon, and rode all the great climbs like the Col du Galibier

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Italy and France from motorists

My international role involves

lived in the hills above Florence

regular travel overseas, with

for six months and rode with

an office in Leuven outside

the Florence Masters Cyclists

Brussels, which we try to tag

most days; around for to five

other interesting activities to.

hours in the saddle through

secondary roads.

Last year we hired a catamaran

Tuscany. A typical day would

For anyone wanting to spend

and sailed down the Dalmation

see me ride to Siena via

some time climbing in France,

Coast from Cremic, near Split,

Panzano), or out to Volterra or

I can thoroughly recommend

to Debrovnic; around 450 Km.

Lucca.

“Les Chalets de la Meije” in the

We used Firenzie as a base and

small town of La Grave. It offers

rode in the Dolomites and the French Alps. We based ourself in Corvara in Badia in the Dolomites and rode the eight climbs of the Maratona dles Dolomities, including Passo 64

between Bourg d’Oisans and

Family first - I have five

Gardena and Campolongo.

towards cyclists, which I called mutual respect, it was amazingly safe to ride on the

your own chalet which is roomy and clean. Then try an easy spin up to Col du Lautaret, as a warm-up for the Galibier.

80 EUSSI |

When did you get involved with SLS? In the late 1980s, when I was bringing my

Outline your leadership positions in Australia and internationally

children down to Bronte Nippers. All the kids

I had a leadership role in the Bronte Nippers for

have been involved with Bronte Surf Club, four

10 years and was Club Captain at Bronte Surf

of them as nippers, patrolling and competing for

Club for three years and President for 11 years.

Bronte. Now the two eldest granddaughters are in Nippers and compete for their club, Catherine Hill Bay (Catho).

ENIZAGAM TSILCYC EVITUCEXE

SURF LIFE SAVING

In 2006 I was appointed to the National Board of Development, helping with the development of policies for the organisation, and was the Surf Club representative on SLSA’s (Simon: spell this out in full on first mention. Surf Life Saving Australia’s) 2006 strategic planning. In 2009 I was appointed as a Director of the Westpac Helicopter Service, and in 2010 nominated for the

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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66

elected as the sixth president in 103 years.

There is politics in any organisation. My role is

I nominated for the position of President of the

to focus on the operational effectiveness and

International Life Saving Federation (ILS) in 2012

contestable collegiality of the boards, to deliver

and was proud to be elected to represent the

on the strategic priorities of both organisations.

body’s 130 countries and 33 million members.

Communication is the key to having an effective

How does your Australian role differ from the

board.

international role?

You travel a lot ...

SLSA is owned by the seven Australian states

My role in SLSA requires me to regularly travel

and has the role of parent and peak organisation.

around Australia, and the international role has

SLSA is an iconic organisation. We have 167,000

me in Europe a couple of times a year.

members, 65,000 nippers and more than 1

The internet and tools such as Skype have made

million members in supporter clubs, donors and guardian programs. Interestingly, a major change to the organisation over the last five years is the number of nipper parents who are proactive in our 311 surf clubs. Many of them now complete their Bronze Medallion and take on regular patrols.

ILS is a humanitarian organisation divided into four global regions and is responsible for global efforts to reduce drowning deaths, deliver best practices in lifesaving, and also oversees Lifesaving Sport internationally. Every two

it easier to manage than my predecessors found it.

You’re still a patrol captain at Bronte?

Yes, this is my 22nd season as a patrol captain at Bronte Surf Club.

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How political are the roles?

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

position of President of SLSA. I was proud to be

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Executive Profile

Trish has been looking after the club barbecue on a Sunday morning for around 25 years and three years ago completed her Bronze and is now on patrol. I am her Patrol Captain which is the only time I can lay down the law!

years the ILS organises the Lifesaving World Championships, called Rescue Series.

ILS has a unique quality, in that it is recognised by both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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18 July

Roll the legs over

36km

200m

19 July

Mont Ventoux

90km

2813m

128km

3002m

33km

1341m

102km

3932m

23 July Pla d’adet

31km

1308m

24 July Lake Ride

71km

3282m

25 July Peryodrde

70km

2599m

26 July Travel to Paris

4km

40m

27 July Champs-Élysées

8km

54m

20 July Chasing Stage 15 21 July

Pyraneese

22 July Tourmalet + Aspin

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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France, July 2014

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E | ISSUE 08

Above: Chaos of the media scrum on top of the Pla d’Adet climb (stage 17) – where Rafael Majka secured the Polka dot Jersey.

Right top: The awesome view of the valley of Saint Lary-Soulan from our accommodation – the village at the top is the finish of Pla d’Adet (the climb Phil Anderson won Yellow in 1981 against Bernard Hinault) .

Right middle: Rafal Majka polka dot interview on top of Pla d’Adet in the media scrum.

Right bottom: a casual lunch waiting for the tour to come through on stage 15 in SaintSaturinin-Les-Apt. 70

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E | ISSUE 08

ADELAIDE BRISBANE CANBERRA PERTH SINGAPORE LONDON HONG KONG TOKYO AUCKLAND DUBAI NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO FEATURED ISSUE 7

Image supplied by Nic Martin. Rolling with the Dubai Roadsters 72

Showcasing major business hubs important to the ACE community.

Do you have an relevant cycling information on these destinations including: Photos* • Ride Profiles (Strava, Map My Ride, etc) • Ride Groups • Interesting Cycling Shops • Websites

| E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

*Biggest resolution possible. Avoid images from phones.

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Contact Simon: bigguy@executivecyclist.com

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LONDON E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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400 Kilometres

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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PARIS

24 Hours Steven Raynor Head of Organisational Effectiveness and Change, QBE Insurance.

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About the ride E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

It’s one of those idle threats you can make to your brotherin-law when he lives on the other side of the world; “Lets ride from London to Paris in under 24 hours one day…” knowing that it’s pretty unlikely to ever happen.

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It’s something good to discuss

I wanted the ride to be

on Facebook or Whatsapp after

meaningful so I set myself the

a few drinks, presuming that’s

target of raising $10,000 for

as far as it will go. Well, earlier

St Vincent de Paul Society

this year after finding out I was

($21,000 has been raised to

going to be in London with

date). Vinnies have been in

work, the threat was no longer

existence for over 170 years

idle, and the challenge was on!

and one of their missions is to

The objective was to ride from London to Paris in under 24 hours, unsupported, something

and give people the chance to rebuild their lives.

that took some planning and

As part of this challenge, on

logistics to ensure we made it

Thursday 19 June, as part of the

over in one piece. So, on Friday

Vinnies CEO sleepout I slept on

9 May I spent the night on the

the streets of Sydney to raise

road whilst riding with 2 others

awareness and hopefully money

from London to Paris on a bike.

for the homeless.

We completed the 400km ride unsupported, and rode through the night to complete the ride in less than 24 hours.

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help get people off the streets

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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London to Paris in 24 hours

The route We decided to take the route

We wanted to do the ride

I also carried a spare tyre after

from London to Newhaven,

unsupported, so we had to

a bad blow out I had a few

take a cross channel ferry to

carry everything we needed

years ago, muesli bars, gels,

Dieppe, and then ride from

for the ride. Each of us had a

bananas, waterproof hi-vis

there to Paris. The route was

small backpack for the bare

jacket (which proved to be

just over 400km, and as the

essentials. As well as the usual

vital in the last 100kms), mobile

ferry crossing would takes 4

spares that everyone takes on

phone charger, credit card, and

hours we would have to spend

rides (tubes, tyre levers, and

my passport!

a maximum of 20 hours in the

puncture repair kit).

saddle to complete it in less than 24 hours.

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Preparation

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

I really didn’t have as much

The preparation for the ride

time as I would have liked to

was good although I probably

prepare for the ride but I was

didn’t have the best pre-ride

glad that I had a reasonable

morning. I had flown to the

base level of fitness from

UK with my bike in a canvas

commuting to work each day

bike bag, which I have used

on my bike.

successfully in the past for rides

I figured that as the route from London to Paris was pretty flat, the more hills I put into my legs, the more prepared I would feel on the big day. So, for about 3-4 months in the lead up to May I added a longer ride (90km+) on Saturday or

in Queensland and Victoria.

Unfortunately it was only on the morning of the ride that I realized, when assembling my bike, the rear derailleur had been damaged in transit and the bike was unrideable in this condition.

Sunday mornings. I was the

I was forced to get kitted up

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lucky one as I was training

and ready for the ride and take

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in 20+ degrees in the lovely

the bike from Rob’s place in

Sydney autumn, whereas Rob,

Kent on the train into London

my brother-in-law, was training

not knowing if I could find a

in one of the coldest and

bike shop that could repair

wettest London springtimes in

it ‘while-u-wait’! Luckily an

recent memory.

amazing mechanic in Action Bikes at Embankment, in the centre of London, saved me.

After pacing his shop for 40 minutes like an expectant father in a maternity ward, he was able to replace the derailleur and get the bike roadworthy again. We were ready for the off.

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We left Trafalgar Square at 3pm on Friday 9 May amid

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blazing sunshine, albeit with quite a headwind that stayed

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

South to the Coast

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London to Paris in 24 hours

with us all the way to Paris. As we rode down Whitehall, past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament the realisation hit me that this was going to be one of the most amazing riding experiences of my life. I think I saw more London buses in the next 30 minutes than I have ever seen and crossing Lambeth Bridge I had to resist the urge to stop, get off the bike, and take photos of the River Thames.

The ride south took us through Brixton, Croydon, over the beautiful Farthing Downs with magnificent views back to the city of London in the distance, Haywards Heath, and then through Lewes. We made a scheduled stop at The Swan Inn for dinner and I met up with an old school friend who greeted me with a pint of bitter! After a nice feed and another beer he joined us for the last 10 km in England to Newhaven, riding down country roads in the dark for our 11pm ferry to France.

I would like to say that the ferry trip over to Dieppe was pretty uneventful but there were moments when my rational brain was overruled and I had visions of swimming to France. Maybe this had something to do with the chorus of car alarms sounding simultaneously as the boat was rocked from side to side by the waves!

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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London to Paris in 24 hours

Northern France The ship docked in Dieppe at 4am (French time) and we were one of the first passengers to touch French soil. After navigating the French

Whilst planning the route I had read about this road and it seemed the perfect way to avoid any encounter with French truck drivers. The Avenue Vertes follows the path of a disused railway line along 30 miles of small roads and greenways that were a pleasure to ride.

The route was pitch dark initially but very quiet and once the sun began to rise we were treated to some beautiful scenery on the way

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Avenue Vertes.

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

and managed to pick up signs for the

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border crossing we rode into town,

to Forges-les-Eaux. Along the path we passed the magnificently historic Château de Mesnières-en-Bray and saw the sun rising in the distance with the building as the backdrop, which was pretty special.

As we continued along the Avenue Vertes we must have seen over 500 wild rabbits, who darted this way and that to avoid us as we approached.

We even saw a wild deer, who I think was more startled than we were as it was trying to leap the fence to get out of our way!

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The Final Hours After quatre (4!) pain au

to wear but the conditions

head and realised that if we did

chocolat from one of the many

meant that even the briefest

not pick up the pace we would

pâtisseries in Forges-les-Eaux

of nature stops was freezing

end up arriving in Paris on the

we left the tranquility of the

and was followed by 5-10

wrong side of the 24 hour mark.

Avenue Vertes and continued

km of defrosting on the bike

We did our best to pick up the

the ride towards Paris against

afterwards.

pace and aside from getting

the wind. It was then that it started to rain. When I say rain, it was more like driving horizontal hail. It was some of the coldest rain I have felt since I left the UK to move to Australia in the early 2000s.

We had waterproof jackets 82

The next 100 km was just about keeping the legs moving and trying to keep the speedo ticking over as we got closer and closer to Paris. With about 50 km to go, following a quick tube change with numb fingers I did a quick calculation in my

lost on the outskirts of Paris we made good time. The ride along the famous cobbles of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance marked the end of the ride and we finished in 23 hours and 46 minutes.

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Executive Profile

and then made our way back to the hotel via McDonalds before a well-earned sleep!

The next day we took in the sights of Paris, enjoying the Eiffel Tower and visiting Le Sacre Coeur in spite of the number of steps we had to climb to enter the church, before getting the Eurostar back to London.

Paris

Onboard the Eurostar back to London it was as

After meeting up with a champagne wielding

was bursting through the clouds all the way back

friend who had ferried some clothes from London

to England, which was quite a contrast from the

for us, we stayed in Le Mercure hotel right next to

weather we had the previous day. The following

Gare Du Nord. After a quick shower we headed

day I was on a plane back to Sydney.

out for dinner in the beautiful Monmartre.

Since the ride we have already been talking

Maybe it was the after effects of a few quick

about our next challenge. I’ll be back in the UK

beers after we had finished, but I do have a bit

next June for Rob’s wedding and although I’d like

of a reputation for not reading restaurant menus

to fit in Lands End to John O’Groats, I think that

that closely. When my Filet de Boeuf (beef

probably a trip to the Alps will be more realistic

steak) arrived I had neglected to notice that the

considering the time we will have.

steak on the menu was tartare (raw!). It was

I’ve also got my mind set on another triathlon

probably not what the doctor ordered after 23

after doing my first Olympic distance triathlon

hours in the saddle largely consuming muesli bars

last year in Byron Bay but I think that will have to

and bananas, but was pretty tasty all the same!

wait until the summer.

if the weather gods were mocking us. The sun

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

We then found a nice bar for a few more beers

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www.pwc.com.au

Kick starting everyday success

Carolyn Creswell founded Carman’s Fine Foods as an eighteen year old uni student with just $1000. Today, with the help from our Private Clients team, Carman’s is now a multi-million dollar business. Carolyn has grown the business by working with her Private Clients advisor to broaden Carman’s product offering, spread the customer base and number of suppliers and improve business systems. Carolyn uses us as a sounding board and as support for many of her decisions, both business and personal. With a growing international business built on muesli, it’s clearly a mix that works.

© 2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers. All rights reserved.

PwC refers to the Australian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity.

Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.

Liability is limited by the Accountant’s Scheme under the Professional Standards Legislation.

Private Clients Private Business Barometer Pulse Autumn/Winter 2013 Listening to Australia’s private businesses

What you can do today to realise and discover the potential of tomorrow The eleventh edition of the PwC Private Business Barometer Pulse provides the market with detailed insights into the private business community and is a source of reference for private business owners, senior executives, analysts, media and government policy makers.

Actual profit and sales growth down.

64

%

exceeded or met revenue targets, up 2% from last year.

Productivity improvements, innovation, new channels and investment to drive growth.

48% perceive price to be driving competition.

Highlights

To bring this edition of the Private Business Barometer to the market, we collaborated with leading specialist market research and analysis firm instinct and reason. More than 300 Australian private business owners with an annual turnover of A$10m – A$100m took part in the survey.

50

%

have no plans to hire.

Businesses forecasting lower profit and sales growth.

Weak consumer confidence the biggest barrier to growth.

30

%

of businesses have plans to invest in the next year.

Our Private Business Barometer App and website feature detailed analysis. Download from the Apple App store, search PwC – Private Clients, or visit privatebusinessbarometer.com.au

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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Daniel Forsythe likes to climb mountains

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Daniel Forsythe Co-Owner & Operations Director The Missing Link Co-owner Bikeminded

Executive Profile

people in 1997 to where the

at around 18 years of age. I’d

company is today, has been a

find the faulty ones and bid

great ride (excuse the pun). We

on them as no one else would.

have enjoyed excellent growth,

I’d then fix them and sell them

accelerated with acquisitions

on the Trading Post. Not long

in 2003 and 2011. My role is

after in 1997 I joined a start-up

now overseeing the operations

called The Missing Link as an IT

of the business, which is in

Systems Engineer. In 2000 the

equal parts a challenging and

company was sold to a listed

rewarding role.

ASX IT company, and then in 2002 my current business partner, Alex Gambotto, and I bought it in a management buyout.

The Missing Link The Missing Link is an ICT solution provider supporting businesses of all sizes, and Government. We are all about adding value, and work with our clients in a number of different ways, tailored to their needs. We provide traditional on premise infrastructure or cloud solutions, we can consult; structure a completely outsourced service and support partnership; or work with an inhouse ICT resources to provide additional expertise.

I am really proud that over the years we have been awarded a number of national and

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I’d go to computer auctions

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The journey from a couple of

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

My IT career started when

international accolades from vendors, for solution design and certification recognition.

The Missing Link has also received places in both BRW magazine’s Fast 100 and CRN magazine’s Fast50.

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What sports have you been involved with?

In the early years it was soccer, rugby, tennis, surfing and snowboarding but these days ISSUE 08

my commitment to riding doesn’t leave a lot of time for

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other sports (except skiing).

the bike: A good week starts with the temperature above 10°C! I aim for 6 days and 350-400km.

But a good week is 500km and 11,000m of climbing.

What is a favourite ride?

My favourite local ride is Ettalong return via Palm Beach.

What is a cycling ambition?

What bike/s do you ride?

It’s around 140km from Neutral

It sounds ridiculously ambitious,

I’m lucky enough to co-

Bay and starts off with a good

but one day I’d like to ride from

own Bikeminded in the Blue

warm up along the Pacific

Sydney to Budapest. Budapest,

Mountains with my brother and

Highway. Then onto the old

because it’s my family heritage

we are a Specialized dealer, so

highway for a couple of climbs

and also because it’s on the

my current steed is an S-Works

before getting down to water

other side of the world. It won’t

Tarmac. My bike on order is the

level and pace lining around

be happening any time soon so

new 2015 Tarmac with Di2 and

Woy Woy to make the ferry,

I have a lot of time to prepare!

disc brakes, I’m looking forward

relax then have a massive

to being able to brake in the

breakfast at the Boat Shed in

wet.

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

Describe a good week on

Palm Beach. Then it’s a leisurely roll to Mosman for lunch and a couple of beers.

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Bikeminded Bikeminded began in 2007 when my brother Tristan decided that the bike industry was lacking two E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

things, customer service and the

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the candy store.

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quality of repairs and new builds.

After working in the industry for many years and trying to change it as an employee he realised that he was the tail trying to wag the dog and starting a new business was the only answer. I became involved because it was an opportunity that was impossible to refuse, it’s like the kid owning

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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Mt Ventoux

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How do you balance your

fashion police I set off with a

personal, professional and

CamelBak backpack and anklet

riding lives?

socks, I remember turning the

It sounds obvious, but for me

pedals just enough for the bike

it was re-programming my E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

body clock. I never used to be a morning person and as cycling became more of a priority, over time I found myself getting up earlier and earlier. In the past, the idea of riding before work

to stay upright, but after that challenge, I was hooked. Since then I’ve been searching for big mountains to climb and my favourites being, Passo Stelvio, Mont Ventoux, Col du Tourmalet, and the nasty Passo

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was absurd, now I can make an

Mortirola.

8:30am meeting with a 2 hour

If you’ve been to Italy or France

ride in the bank. I believe I am

to ride a big mountain you’ll

very lucky as I have managed

notice there are a lot of bike

over time to structure my life

riders, but more importantly,

around cycling.

riders of all levels and on all

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Do you have an interesting cycling story

types of bikes. The fact is that with a general base fitness and the right gearing most people

Some reason, possibly

can make it up. But for a cyclist

explained by pain apparently

it’s not just about making it

being a short term memory,

to the top, it’s about how fast

I like to climb big mountains.

you can get there. It’s the race

It’s challenging, you can ride at

against the clock (or your

your own pace, there’s always

buddies) that makes the big

a view, no traffic lights, and

climbs so difficult.

then the best part …you get to descend.

Something to share....

My first respectable climb

At the risk of seeming one-

was Mt Buller during the High County Cycling Challenge and without the guidance of the 94

dimensional, health and fitness is my number one passion. This is everything from eating well to exercising beyond cycling.

From my late teens I have always had the philosophy that a healthy body helps me be the best I can be in all areas of my life. Although there’s not a lot that will deter me from satisfying my sweet tooth and love of a good wine.

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Daniel’s profile was very last minute but in talking to him it was fairly clear that he likes three things. 1. Riding his bike. 2.

Climbing. 3. Travelling to ride big climbs. Mont Ventoux was mentioned as one of the toughest climbs he’d ridden and this immediately sparked my interest.

A classic climb up Ventoux via Bedoin starts at approx. 346m and climbs 1539m to 1885m in 20kms. All of Daniel’s cycling trips have been to Europe, so he’s been given a challenge.

Travel to Asia and ride the Taiwan KOM route - Qixingtan (0m) to WuLing (3275m) in 105km. See page 00 for the ride route.

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A few BIG CL

FRA Col du To

FRA Col du La E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

FRA Alpe d’Hu

FRA Col de l’A

FRA Col de la

FRA Col du Ga

ITA Passo Gav

ITA Passo San

ITA Passo del

ITA Zoncolan

ESP Puerto de

ESP Estacion d

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ESP La Farrap

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VIC Mt Hotha

VIC Falls Cree

Passing judgement on the

The list shows a handful of the

‘toughness’ of some of the famous

famous climbs visited by the grand

climbs in Europe is easy. But if you

tours of Italy, France and Spain,

NSW Gibralter

haven’t actually ridden them you

three American climbs, a few local

NSW Macquar

can only base your opinion on data

Australian climbs plus the Taiwan

NSW Dead Ho

and comments. At the same time

KOM route featured on page 00.

what I find annoying is when riders

Don’t take any of the figures as

QLD Mudgeer

turn their noses up at anything that

super accurate - since when was a

is not European. Not very worldly in

bicycle mounted GPS device perfect.

my opinion.

What impresses me? Size matters.

Length of the climb, height of the summit and the elevation gain.

VIC Mt Donna

QLD Paluma C

TAS Mt Wellin

TAS Ben Lomo

USA Independ USA Ie Mauna USA Mt Evans

Taiwan KOM - w 96

LIMBS 7.4%

17.2km

847m

2115m

1268m

autaret (via Le Clapier)

3.8%

34.16km

745m

2057m

1312m

uez (via Bourg d’Oisans)

8.1%

13.2km

744m

1815m

1071m

Aubisque (via dal Soulor)

4.1%

30.1km

463m

1710m

1247m

a Madaleine

6%

24.7km

493m

1971m

1478m

alibier (via Saint Jean)

4%

49.8km

542m

2640m 2099m

via

8%

16.1km

1299m

2599m

1300m

n Pellegrino (via Cencenighe)

6.3%

18.2km

774m

1918m

1144m

llo Stelvio (via Bormio)

7.1%

21.5km

1225m

2758m 1533m

9%

12.9km

559m

1728m

1170m

e Ancares (via Robledo de Rayo)

7.6%

14.68km

517m

1644m

1127m

de Valdelinares (via Mora de Rubielos)

3.4%

27.4km

1040m

1984m

944m

5.5%

20km

661m

1761m

1100m

am

5%

28.7km

490m

1848m 1358m

ek (via Mt Beauty)

4%

28.6km

420m

1498m

1078m

a Buang

6%

16.9km

166m

1250m

1084m

r Range

6%

16km

105m

1054m

897m

rie Pass

6%

10.5km

76m

718m

642m

orse Gap

6%

17.8km

534m

1591m

1058m

raba (To Springbrook Lookout)

3%

27.6km

26m

996m

970m

Climb

5%

16.8km

41m

896m

855m

ngton

6%

21.1km

18m

1269m

1250m

ond

5%

23.3km

373m

1443m

1070m

4.1%

30.58km

2419m

3699m

1269m

Kea (Hawaii)

6%

68.6km

0m

4015m 4015m

(Colorado)

4%

44.3km

2268m

4252m 1984m

4%

87km

49m

pona (via La Malva)

dence Pass (Colorado)

without Neutral Zone

3275m

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Riding the Taiwan KOM race route

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North

Qixingtan, facing East

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West

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Taiwan KOM

under you. One of those freaks of

cycling ‘famil’ (familiarisation) trip.

nature that is truly spectacular - the

So when Tourism Taiwan offered

clouds in the valleys are trapped as

the opportunity to cover the KOM

they form and move in below you.

no to visiting the island where many of world’s bikes are made.

For the climbers, the last 10km are super challenging. The air is thinning, you face gradients

The race route is nothing but

regularly ranging from 10-12%, with

challenging. The neutral zone for

one hitting 27.3%. And with a few

the first 18km is flat, then a left turn

kilometres to go you can see top

into famous Taroko Gorge. For the

and the final wall to climb over.

non-climber, the next 20km will be the most amazing cycling you will ever do. EVER. And when you discover how the roads were built

Reach the summit and the ride down the other side is just as amazing.

take a month. To do it in a few

Taiwan as a cycling destination

hours doesn’t show off the scale of

Taiwan is not Europe. But, if you

the rock walls or the raging rivers

have limited time, you can be on

below.

a 10pm flight (Sydney) and arrive

At Tianxaing (461m) jump in a

6am the next morning and be

Photographing this 20km could

car as this is where the relentless climbing really starts. The valley opens out and the sheer size of the mountain range is exposed. For the climbers, just keep going. And going.

When you get above 2500m on a good day you might see the Taiwanese ‘Sea of Clouds’ move in

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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Taiwan and the KOM

riding a few hours later. Transport and guides are first class (and in-expensive), the roads are well maintained. If you require 5-star accommodation it’s available. For mountain bikers - it’s even more spectacular. Ride all your last day, pack up, have a meal and depart late.

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Swallow Grotto

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Ci En Bridge

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Ci En Bridge

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Tianxiang.

Approximately 20km from the base of the climb, the elevation is just over 400m.

Now the real climbing starts.

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Looking down from (approx) 1600m.

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In a frequent occurance, the valley below fills with clouds forming the famous Taiwanese ‘Sea of Clouds’

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‘Sea of Clouds’ moving in below 2500m

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Breakfast with the Bunch

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Wuling Summit - looking south.

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Wuling 3275m

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Wuling summit - looking south.The climb from this side is equally tough.

The descent is not bad either!

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Click the image (right) to view the descent from 3275m

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Published during the Tour Down Under.

Click on an image to view.

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Issue 1

Issue 2

Issu

Edition 1 Tour Down Under

Friday 17 January 2014

Friday 17 January

Saturday 18 January

Issue 6

Issue 7

Wednesday 22 January

Thursday 23 January

Sunday 19

Issu

Friday 24

Tour Down Under

9 January

ue 8

4 January

Issue 5

Monday 20 January

Tuesday 21 January

Issue 9

Issue 10

Saturday 25 January

Sunday 26 January

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Issue 4

E X E C U T I V E C Y C L I S T M AG A Z I N E

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Executive Profile

Links to past issues Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

Issue 5

Issue 6

EXECUTIVE CYCLIST MAGAZINE

EXECUTIVE CYCLIST MAGAZINE

TOUR DOWN UNDER EDITION

november 2013

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Issue 1

january 20134

EXECUTIVE

Issue 7

CYCLIST MAGAZINE

Issue 7

Bill Le Blanc, SA Health A BIG RIDE 10 days / 1576km Phillip Lynch, Managing Director Johnson & Johnson

descending Montacute Rd, Adelaide Hills 149