The final leg of the AMP Future2 Wheel Classic, a nine day 1200km cycle ride from Sydney to Melbourne was completed on the steps of State Parliament House in Melbourne Sunday afternoon 23 September.
Nineteen cyclists – out of the 40 who have taken part in the $100,000 fundraising marathon – were greeted by David Southwick, member for Caulfield in the Victorian Legislative Assembly; 1960s cycling Olympian Alan Grindal; AMP Financial Planning’s Thomas Reeh, and a crowd of wellwishers.
The cyclists are financial planners and friends who had pledged to raise $100,000 to help disadvantaged young Australians through Future2, the foundation of the financial advice profession.
- The AMP Future2 Wheel Classic covered 1210 km in nine days, an average of 134.4 km a day.
- The cyclists were on their bikes for between 4.5 and 6 hours each day.
- On average, they had to fix 8 flat or punctured tyres on the road every day – 14 of these on the road out of Sydney to Bundanoon on Day 1.
- They spent an average of 3,251 calories each day and were sustained by – among other energy foods and drinks – 53 kilos of bananas.
- They climbed and descended an average of 1.25 km each day, the biggest climb being almost 3 km between Jindabyne and Corryong; the total net climb was 3.8 km.
- In spite of the climbs, the cyclists averaged a speed of 28.7 km/h. One recorded speed during the descent of the Snowy Mountains, was 80.7 km/h.
The group set off from Sydney’s Circular Quay at 7.30am on 15 September. Their route took them to Canberra, over the Snowy Mountains, and through country Victoria stopping at Wangaratta, Shepparton, Bendigo and Castlemaine. This is the third annual Future2 cycling fundraiser.
Future2 Wheel Classic 2012 - riders arrive in Melbourne
The Wheel Classic also has the generous support of Caltex (fuel vouchers), Vital Massage Therapies (massage), Rural Funds Management (dinner in Canberra) and many others.
The fundraising efforts of the cyclists have raised over $89,000 to date. The ride also has the generous support of AMP Financial Planning (Gold Partner) and Matrix Planning Solutions (Silver Partner). Magellan Asset Management and Macquarie sponsored seminars in Canberra and Bendigo, delivered by Peter Bobbin, a Future2 trustee and expert in superannuation, taxation and estate planning.
The funds will boost Future2’s grant program, giving a second chance and hope for a better future to disadvantaged young Australians like those featured in the short films on the Future2 website, www.future2foundation.org.au/Grants/Grantfilms
Every cyclist participating in the AMP Future2 Wheel Classic has realized a personal goal on two levels: achieving a physical challenge while fulfilling a desire to help those in most need in the community.
Check out the route at www.future2foundation.org.au/events/wheelclassic
See who is riding and make a donation at www.future2fundraising.org.au/event/f2wheelclassic