19^th April 2013

My nomination was successful in being elected to the Queensland Olympic Council (QOC) Executive Board and we had our first board meeting last week… I am most honoured and excited to continue to be involved in the Olympic movement!

I join two fellow athletes on the board in Toby Jenkins (Water Polo, Athens 2004) and Julie McDondald (Swimming, Seoul 1998) led by our newly elected president, Natalie Cook (Beach Volleyball, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 London).

The QOC’s aim is to project the AOC’s commitment to spread and maintain the ideals of Olympism and the Olympic Movement through education and the development of Queensland based Australian athletes, encouraging both high performance sport and sport for all.

The QOC’s main objective is to provide both Queensland and Australian athletes, with the best possible opportunity to reach their highest potential and to achieve the ultimate goal of representing Australia with distinction at the Olympic Games.

I am passionate about sport and the Olympics and am so happy to give back to what has given me so much over the last 15years! I am looking forward to the challenge ahead and the Road to Rio! www.olympics.com.au/qld

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Sara Carrigan - Contributor to Cyclist Magazine Australia

Olympic gold medalist Sara Carrigan dives into the recent debate for making our communities more cyclist friendly

I recently attended the Asia-Pacific Cycle Congress on the Gold Coast in Queensland. This event brought together international and national delegates to share experiences and work together to develop ways to encourage more people to choose cycling as their preferred mode of transportation. So fair to say that everyone who was in attendance was in favour of cycling.

Well, almost everyone. One particular gentleman’s views about cycling were certainly not positive or complimentary. Some of his comments included, ‘It’s time to curb pedal power’ and ‘Roads are meant for cars not bikes’.

It is no secret that here in Australia the relationship between motorists and cyclists is not a rosy one. However, upon hearing these sorts of comments, it left me dumbfounded! Is this guy for real? Is he having a joke?

Nope, not at all.

After realising that he was very serious and wholeheartedly believed that bikes should be banned from all roads, it took me a few moments to gather my thoughts and control my arising anger.

We all have bias for the things we are passionate about and it just seemed downright ignorant on his part!

Was he aware of the benefits cycling can provide, such as the social, environmental, economic, traffic management and health?

I was introduced to cycling 18 years ago and have been a part of the amazing growth in cycling in Australia. However, it is over the last four years through my coaching, skills courses and educational programs that I have witnessed the true value of cycling at the grassroots level where people’s lives transform for the better and more often than not the flood gates of self-confidence swing wide open.

So, I took the opportunity with this gentleman and invited him for a ride to help open his eyes to all the good that cycling can offer and to give him an insight into the world of cycling delight.

His immediate response was, ‘Oh no thank you, I’m too scared’. I was floored and questioned how someone could hold such strong opposing views when they aren’t prepared to see something for all that it is.

Perhaps this is justified ignorance? We tend to fear what we do not understand.

Our government and city councils are encouraging cycling more and more in our local communities so they must step up to the plate and educate all generations. A car license assumes we have received education and possess the skill to use our roads. However, holding a car license is a privilege, not a right. Using our roads for any means is also a privilege, not a right. As our vehicles evolve and the infrastructure progresses, we must adapt and be open to receive continuing education to safely navigate our roads in all modes – as a pedestrian, a cyclist and a motorist.

Education will provide enlightenment, a tolerance, a change in perception, a shift in our mentality – all of which I believe are required for all modes of transport to safely co-exist on our roads in Australia.

Despite the fact that the aforementioned gentleman seemed unwilling to take up my offer of insight, there are many people who do wish to learn and many who do want the tools to safely co-exist on our roads.

There is simply no place for ignorance on our roads. To be ignorant on the road in any capacity is a major danger to us all. I have since extended my offer several times but have received no response.

So no, it’s not justified ignorance. Not at all.

Sara Carrigan OAM, a former women’s road cycling champion and an Olympic gold medalist, is a cycling coach, motivational speaker and a contributor to Cyclist.

For more information please visit www.cyclist.com.au or on Twitter @CyclistAus or Facebook: Cyclist Magazine – Australia

22nd April 2013 – We are on the Road to Rio!!!

What a day today! The Qantas Celebrity Gold Classic is the first event around Australia to begin the fundraising journey for our 2016 Australian Olympic Team bound for RIO!

For me, it feels great to give back and provide support to our new crop of athletes and Australian Olympians! Thank you to all the sporting legends who took part in the day today and to the sponsors who provide such valuable support.

It was a glorious day with many Olympians and sporting legends taking part in 18 Holes of Texas Stableford Golf on the superb Links course at Hope Island, one of Australia’s most prestigious courses.

Each Corporate Team of Three Players were joined by one of the 2013 Qantas Celebrities for a unique golfing experience with:

• - Motorised Buggy with GPS on board
• - Gift Packs including Shirt, Cap, Golf Balls and Bag Tag
• - Morning Tea
• - Post Game Drinks and Light Meal served on the Terrace with the Qantas Celebrities
• - Entertainment and Presentation of the David Fordham Cup and Event Prizes
• - Automatic Entry into the Team Draw for the $4000 Qantas Airways Travel Voucher

This year the QLD Olympic Council (QOC) in association with Red and White Events will also be holding another significant event in Longreach (taking the Olympians and Olympic Spirit back to the regional areas) in August.

A wonderful celebration on Sunday 14th April 2013 with the GOforGOLD Bunch setting out on our Ultimate Gold Ride! Every 12 weeks or so the ‘Ultimate Gold’ ride takes place on a weekend for a longer endurance ride of up to 100km (Thursday ‘beginner’ Bunch) to 150km (Tuesday ‘intermediate’ Bunch) through the Gold Coast hinterland.

The idea of this ultimate challenge is to provide Gold Bunch riders something to aim towards, to challenge themselves, to see parts of the Gold Coast they may have never seen, and to ride their bike a distance or pace they never thought possible! Afterwards, we all enjoy a well-earned feast and award prizes to the most improved.

On Sunday our group of almost 40 riders set off in three bunches – one to complete 70km and the other two to complete 120km. For most riders in each of these bunches, their respective distances would be the longest they had ever ridden!

It was glorious weather to enjoy a fabulous ride and to congratulate Col and Gary who were both awarded the most improved with a new pair of Oakleys each – well deserved!

A heart-felt thank you to Suz and Pen (the Coffee Sisters) who provide us with a wonderful venue & beautiful coffee, Oakley Australia who support our bunch with the coolest eyewear and believe in our program and all of you who are dedicated to our collective goal of providing a positive cycling bunch experience and creating a safer place for cyclists and motorists on our roads.

It couldn’t happen without my team of dedicated ride leaders in Aaron,Renee, Cassie & Stevo, who strive to provide a safe, fun, challenging and social atmosphere in which to enjoy riding, and meet a great bunch of individuals who share our enthusiasm, our joy for cycling and commitment to positive lifestyle choices. Thank you so much xx

16th April 2013

HERE’S a challenge. Go ride a bike this weekend.

Shannon Willoughby, Gold Coast Bulletin  chief reporter   |  01:07pm March 14, 2013

I’m sure there’s a dusty two-wheeler sitting in the garage behind the tool box and the lawn mower.

Take it for a spin and remember what it feels like to have the wind in your hair (ahem, helmet hair), the open space either side of you, pushing those pedals along. Just don’t do it along Garfield Tce.

And no, you don’t have to wear lycra. Just thongs, shorts and a T-shirt will do.

European and US cities have a better relationship with their bikes than Australians.

Their progressive societies know the value of bike riding.

It’s good for you, it beats paying for fuel and parking and you get to experience more of your neighbourhood as you weave between cars stuck in traffic (more often than not, cars carrying people to the gym — go figure).

Some of my colleagues would argue that bikes aren’t for the roads and the lycra-clad set should be banned from all society.

The attendees at this week’s Asia Pacific Cycle Congress argue otherwise.

The Gold Coast has an ambitious target to see 8 per cent of our population on a bike each day. We are now at 2 per cent.

The Gold Coast City Council’s manager of transport planning Alton Twine, who is driving the City Transport Strategy 2031, is the first to admit it.

He says the numbers won’t be achieved by jamming bike riding down people’s throats. The key is informing the public they have options and that the roads are for everyone.

Did you know half of the 540,000 people who call the Gold Coast home live just 10km from their work?

Did you know that about 150,000 of us own bikes?

Did you also know the Commonwealth Games is coming to town in 2018? Ahhhh, bet you knew that. The Games will turn our roads upside down. If you think the construction work for the light rail is bad …

We now know how London did it during the Olympics. Its transport team encouraged people to jump on a bike, among other things. And they did.

Now their conservative mayor Boris Johnson is singing the bike song, announcing a $1.3 billion bike program that has been lauded around the world by bike lovers, urban planners and health experts.

Yes, that’s right. Behavioural change is considered a legacy as much as a new stadium.

Increasing bike numbers is a low-cost, positive leftover the 11-day Games could bring to our city but the Gold Coast needs more than bike paths to see this legacy come to light — it needs education.

In addition it needs the support of government and business for the infrastructure and to lead a cultural shift. And to help with “place-making”, giving people a reason to want to ride to, say, Surfers Paradise.

South Australia Urban Renewal Authority CEO Fred Hansen says the 20-minute neighbourhood is the future — a place where everyone can access everything they need within 20 minutes. And with priority to parks, not carparks.

He is pushing the shared street, a concept that would make some of our older councillors gasp in horror. Pedestrians, cars, light rail and bikes can’t share space on the Gold Coast.

Only silly cities like New York and Melbourne would dream of such a concept (note outrageous sarcasm).

City and state leaders must stop treating the Coast as a retirement home. Despite public perception, we don’t need any more carparks. We need place-makers and urban renewal authorities — music to my ears — combined with better infrastructure (my second favourite word). We need to show people there are alternative ways to get around without jumping in the automobile.

Let’s ditch the models used 20 years ago (cars, cars and carparks as far as you can see) and think about how we can create more efficient, sustainable, affordable, vibrant, green cities right here in our own back yard.

Council shouldn’t be booing proposed developments on the light rail route because they don’t have enough carparks, but rather encouraging them to put showers, bike racks and lockers in their commercial space.

If I were a young, innovative 20-something thinker who thought the GC was an option, I’d want to live in the thick of activity.

I’d want to be in a place where I could jump on a tram to a bar, ride my bike to the beach, or walk to work.

Statistics show most youngsters would prefer to spend their hard-earned cash on a state-of-the-art phone than a car. These people are our future, not the old folks who were born breathing cars.

Put WiFi on the light rail and a few bike racks at each station and boom! There’s the patronage.

We have an opportunity with the Commonwealth Games and the arrival of the light rail to make our city an Australian leader in changing the way people move.

Let’s ride that concept home.

Q1. I find it hard to stay in the aero position for more than five minutes because it’s so uncomfortable. What do you recommend?

The reason you may be experiencing pain depends on where/why you are so uncomfortable. Three things to look at are:

1. Saddle – You may need a different saddle to offer better support and comfort. Choosing a saddle can be a difficult and frustrating process because it is such a personal thing and what might be someone’s favourite is totally uncomfortable for you, and vice versa!

When I went through the process of trying to find a saddle it took a while! The great thing is that many bike shops now offer the service of test saddles, which can help in the search of the most comfy. The secret is getting a saddle that allows your sit bones (iscial tuberosities) to be on the saddle & not our soft parts. So identifying the measurement of these bones can help to ascertain the type/width of saddle that may suit.

2. Bike set up – Your position on the bike may not be what your anatomy allows. When setting up a Time Trial (TT) bike it is always a compromise between being aero and powerful! There is no point being set up in the most aero position where you look damn fast but then not be able to drive power through the pedals! Conversely, if you are in a position where you are your most powerful, it may not be very aero and so some of your power production is lost in pushing your larger Frontal Surface Area (FSA) through the wind.

I see some riders getting around in their aero bars that are not at all aero and the rider looks unsteady. So, they would be better off in their drops where they feel more confident and have better bike handling!

3. Stretching / Core – Let’s get one thing straight… a proper TT position is never the most comfortable and it is not a relaxed position! There is extra strain through your back, hamstrings, glutes and neck so you must strengthen your muscles and you must do core strengthening exercises so that you can be efficient and reduce the chance of injury. If you plan on racing in a TT position, you MUST train in that position for some of your sessions at least a month out from your event so that you are used to how the bike handles in that position and that your muscles are primed for being on the rivet in that position! Not doing so, will only invite injury and you will be very sore afterwards!

Q2. How often should you have a ‘bike fit’ or adjust your bike set up?

1. New to cycling – When riders are first introduced to cycling, it is best to get a bike set up from the outset to help with bike handling and being comfortable. This also ensures you get the right size bike. Beginners are usually set up in a more upright position but as time as goes on, the body changes, adapts and gets stronger in the cycling position so the position often needs to altered.
2. Lose weight – Some riders start cycling to lose weight and so may start with a little ‘pot belly’. As fitness increases and the tummy disappears, the bike position often needs to altered.
3. New Saddle – Swapping from one saddle to a different model saddle requires careful measurement due to different rail heights. Additionally, varying saddle softness changes the effective seat height.
4. Get a new bike / new shoes – You may already have a record of your bike measurements / cleat position that allows you to transfer the set up straight to your new bike/shoes. However, bike frame geometry differs from bike to bike and therefore it can be a bit ‘off’ if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.
5. Kids – Young riders are growing all the time and therefore they often need to have the bike position looked at to ensure it keeps up with their expanding limbs!
6. Repetitive injury – If you are experiencing similar injuries time and again, it may be worth looking at your set up. It may also be a sign that you need do some stretching or body/core strengthening exercises!

Q3. Where’s the best place on the coast to take my teenage kids for a decent ride on their road bikes? They are too young and inexperienced to be out there in that traffic just yet.

There are two traffic-free, purpose built cycling venues on the Gold Coast that are perfect for beginners:

1. Gold Coast Cycling Centre, Nerang
2. Luke Harrop Cycling Circuit, Runaway Bay

A quiet on-road precinct that is also a great place for new riders is Emerald Lakes, Carrara.

View the actual article from the Coast Multisport Mag here or visit their website

Saturday, March 02, 2013 by Editor

2013 Australia Day Ambassador, Sara Carrigan in Charters Towers, QLD

Ambassadors capture true spirit of Australia Day

The Australian spirit will be spread across the state with Premier Campbell Newman today announcing that 39 Australia Day Ambassadors will join local communities to celebrate our national day.

“Through the Australia Day Ambassador Program, local councils will have the opportunity to share their Australia Day celebrations with high achieving and inspirational Queenslanders,” Mr Newman said.

“This unique program helps bring communities together by sending Ambassadors to share their stories with local communities while celebrating what’s great about being an Australian.

“Our 2013 Ambassadors include our favourite sporting heroes, entrepreneurs, scientists, business leaders and experts.

“I thank the Ambassadors and local councils who are participating in this year’s program and encourage Queenslanders to share in the spirit of Australia Day.”

The 2013 Queensland Australia Day Ambassadors are:

• Ms Yassmin Abdel-Magied
• Ms Alison Alexander
• Mr Clive Berghofer AM
• Dr Don Bowley OAM
• Mr Bill Bristow AM
• Dr Sally Butler
• Major Jim Campbell DFC
• Professor Julie Campbell AO
• Mr Preston Campbell
• Ms Sara Carrigan OAM
• Mr Jerry Coleby-Williams
• Mr David Conry
• Mr John Coutis
• Ms Lisa Curry AO MBE
• Emeritus Professor  Ken Donald AO
• Dr Dimity Dornan AM
• Mr Charlie Earp OAM
• Mr Gerrard Gosens OAM
• Dr Tony Gould AM
• Uncle Albert Holt
• Mr Peter Howard
• Mrs Hetty Johnston
• Mr John Lazarou
• Mr Darren Lockyer
• Mrs Jean Madden
• Mr Ross McKinnon AM
• Mr Lars Olsen
• Professor Allan Paull
• Professor John Pearn AO RFD
• Mrs Daphne Pirie AO MBE
• Mr David Pugh
• Mr Angelo Puglisi
• Mr Christopher Raine
• Mr Chris Scott OAM
• Ms Bronwyn Sheehan
• Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex OAM
• Professor David Tudehope AM
• Mr Terry White AO
• Ms Jenny Woodward.

Now in its ninth year in Queensland, the Ambassador Program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government in partnership with the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council. The Ambassador Program is sponsored by Woolworths.

For more information about the program, or to find out more about Australia Day celebrations in your area, visit www.australiaday.org.au/qld

http://www.australiaday.org.au/australia-day/ambassadors/qld/sara-carrigan-oam.aspx