What riders say
Fifteen years of them. These are in riders’ own words…
Learning to ride as an adult
I learnt to ride a bike. I enjoyed Sara’s easy style, and especially her no airs and graces attitude related to her background in cycling.
Sharon — had never ridden before. She was riding within the hour.
I was unsure and skeptical to register because I had tried to ride a bike and never could do it, didn’t think it was possible. It was beyond expectations and I’m going bike riding again today. I live in Main Beach and I can enjoy the lifestyle even more now!
Krissy
My daughter learnt how to ride a bike from Sara. Two weeks later I did from her. The first time I’ve ever tried to ride a bike and she taught me within half an hour.
Shuvashish
I decided to do a session with Sara because I am a brand new rider at 62 and wanted to nail the basics. I came away with confidence, and basic skills like how to corner correctly — sounds basic, but I needed to learn that. You had me way more relaxed than I imagined I would be.
Jennifer, 62
I didn’t know how to ride and with Sara I can ride a bike even after one session. Never too late. I learnt at the age of 34 — I think everyone can make it!
AJ, 34
I developed the belief that I can actually do this — and the skills to ensure that I will. This is for anyone like me who has absolutely no riding skills or experience.
Victoria — absolute beginners session
It was easy to understand even for a person who has never ridden before in their life at the age of 50.
Leanne, 50
My biggest fear was failing or hurting myself. Sara made me feel the most important thing was to have fun, learn to ride and have confidence in doing all of this.
Jenny
Getting confidence back
I needed help with gears and confidence building after several years away from my bike. I now have confidence changing gears to suit speed and terrain. Exceeded my expectations.
Tui
I had a crash a few years ago and was so scared to get back on the bike. I needed someone who could help me get over my fears of descending and cornering. In just one session I have gained more confidence — I’m glad I didn’t throw the sport away.
Lucy
Having only ridden a bike around 30 years ago as a child, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I gained confidence to take my bike onto the road. I didn’t realise how much you can learn, and learn the right way, rather than going through trial and error.
Alethea — 30 years off the bike
I had not cycled for 40 years so had lost confidence. Meeting and training with Sara gave me all the confidence I needed. I am going to talk to all my friends and motivate them.
Suman — 40 years off the bike
The anxiety is gone and I now know I can do it, all in one session. Before my session I was a bit unsure about the financial expense — but so glad I did it.
Caroline
I enrolled because I needed help with CONFIDENCE and the benefit I received was CONFIDENCE. This course is for people like me.
Sandra
Building skills
Where else can you get more than 20 years of elite bike experience compressed into 2 hours of tuition? The group sizes are perfect to get the one-to-one tuition needed to reinforce correct and safe bike usage.
Clem
Sara taught me some simple, specific-to-me cycling techniques through observation, her skills and experience. These are things I cannot learn from a book, magazine or off the web.
Phil
I wanted to learn group riding skills and Sara was very comprehensive in covering all aspects of what to expect in a group riding environment. I would recommend to anybody at any skill level — beginners to seasoned competitors.
Terry
Learning technical applications, particularly cornering and taking the correct lines. Without a doubt it was the toughest ride I’ve ever done but I loved every minute of it.
Michael
Because it is a free program through the City of Gold Coast, I didn’t realise it would be such a high standard.
Kylie
Out on the rides
At 72 I have only been riding four years and wanted to ride with confidence. The ride was a HUGE boost — crossing roads, riding through obstacles, riding where there are pedestrians, different terrains, a narrow bridge. Sara and Steveo were simply the best at including everyone at different levels.
Peggy, 72
A great way to get family involved outdoors. Lower stress levels, appreciation of our city’s cycling paths, and better sleep. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face!
Rose — family ride
I couldn’t list the benefits I have gained since joining your bunch rides, but they have affected every part of my world and life. I’m a fan for life.
Paul — Go for Gold bunch
I am eternally grateful for the understanding and support you provided for me being a late starter, at 63, in competitive cycling. The atmosphere on the bunch rides was intoxicating and the fun, friendship and good road manners are hard to find elsewhere on the Coast.
Robyn, 63
The enjoyment I got out of each session was well worth the small sacrifice of having to get up at 4am. The sense of accomplishment was so overwhelming that I drove home with the biggest smile on my face.
Maree
Children and families
I had been searching for someone to help my 8-year-old daughter learn how to ride. Stella left the lesson feeling very proud of herself and with a new enthusiasm. Her self-confidence was low — she would see kids her age and much younger flying by, and I think she had given up hope. Now she sees that she too can learn to ride.
Abby — Stella, 8
I very much enjoyed this Absolute Beginners workshop. I wanted to do it to share bike riding opportunities with family and friends. Good balance of oral instruction with practical — and no pressure to excel.
Cherrie
Driver awareness training
Sessions for drivers, on sharing the road with people on bikes.
Through the driver training course I have learnt more and found out more about riders. I have gained a respect and understanding of what cyclists do while riding, so I feel more comfortable and confident passing them.
Walter
As an experienced commercial driver, very happy with the entire content of this course. It’s great to have experienced trainers giving the latest information on rules of the road. I think the course should be rolled out nationally.
Wayne — commercial driver
And the honest ones
Not every session is perfect. These stay up because they’re fair, and because a wall of unbroken praise convinces nobody.
The course exceeded my expectations, but sadly it was too rushed. More time is needed and I would have loved to have done a harder road ride with real hills and cornering at speed.
Neville
The session was only 45 minutes, which only scratches the surface.
Kevin
It would be nice if there was an intermediate class to move up to at some stage, following lots of practice as a beginner.
T