I'm a 40 something, mother of two who returned to recreational cycling for fitness and weight loss in 2006 and, despite the mountains between St Kilda and Black Rock, remembered how much I enjoyed it! My first race was late 2007 after participating in an SKCC Coffee Crit (now known as Latte Laps) session with Rob Crowe. Completely hooked!
It’s the unending self transformation that is the lure of cycling.
I have been racing for a little while, and although most of my results are at Masters level I do love challenging myself to get to the start line of some of the bigger races that I am not necessarily suited to and against the younger girls, just to have a go! I enjoy my training and the social aspect of riding and especially the coffee post ride. Biggest influence in my cycling has been my husband David Heatley.
I started work at the Warragul Hospital in 2000 and somehow found myself cycling in the Murray to Moyne challenge to raise funds for the hospital. Fortunately one of the nurses lent me a road bike and despite the saddle sores and lack of sleep, I was hooked ! After many years of riding for fun and in recreational challenge rides, my boyfriend finally convinced me to go along to Rob Crowe's Latte Laps in early 2011. I raced in E Grade on the same day and what an adrenalin rush ! I finished the race without crashing or hemorrhaging a lung ! I was inspired by the strong and talented women I saw racing in A Grade and knew I wanted to keep growing and learning about racing my bike. So I joined the SKCC Women's Development squad in 2011 and with the support and encouragement of the club, I ventured on to race in both criteriums and road races. I'm looking forward to continuing the learning journey with the talented SKCC Giant team in 2012.
My passion for competitive sport was nurtured from a young age playing handball and tennis, and my love for speed and adrenaline cultivated from my university days rock-climbing and white-water kayaking.
I picked up cycling in early 2011 after being introduced to crit-racing. It was the opportunity to rub shoulders with the stronger and more experienced women at the 2011 SKCC Club Criterium championships that inspired me to start training. Through the support of the SKCC Women’s Development Squad, I started road-racing and continued to learn and grow as a cyclist. In the later half of 2011, I took up track cycling and racing, and certainly enjoy the different challenges and elements that both these disciplines bring.
The adrenaline rush of descending a mountain, the competitive avenue that racing provides and the social bond that cyclists share, continues to develop my love for the sport.
I've always been up for a challenge ! I've been involved in sport for my entire life.....nothing better than a bit of pain right ?! After trying my hand at many things I was inspired by my brother to try Triathlons. I raced for quite a few years and loved it, but due to some knee injuries and health issues I couldn't run or race for a while, so started cycling. Initially not to compete, just for training, but I enjoyed it so much I've since decided to give cycling a good crack and started to race in 2011. At some point in the future I intend heading back to Triathlon to do some long course Tri's.....gotta tick Hawaii Ironman off the list ! Looking forward to the experiences and the journey that the next few years will bring......
It's been a sharp learning curve since I invested in a road bike for the first time six months ago. After competing for Australia in Track and Field (800, 4x400m), an achilles injury forced me to give up running and find a new passion. I decided to enter the cycling world and find out what all the fuss was about.
I'm a cycling enthusiast: I love riding, and when I'm not on my bike, I love watching, reading and talking about cycling.
I got into cycling in my mid-twenties as a way of getting to and from work. Cycling quickly went from being just a mode of transport to a life passion. I did my first road race about six years ago in my hometown of Perth, and following a lengthy hiatus and a cross-country move, I began racing again at the St Kilda crits last year. I feel like I'm riding and racing better (and smarter) than I ever have before and I'm really keen to see what I can do for my new team.
I love cycling and have been riding competitively for the last two years. I grew up riding a bike and in my younger years covered many kilometres with my dad and brother. I enjoy the social aspect of training and racing, the tactical side of racing and pushing my body to it's limit. Joining St Kilda Cycling Club's Women's Race Team in November 2011 has provided me with many opportunities to improve my racing skills and has improved my confidence on the bike no end.
