Name: My name is Katrina and I am 57 years old

Located: I live on Phillip Island, where I work as a nurse, part-time.

Cycling experience: I have experience riding both road and mountain bikes, both here in Australia and in Europe. I am not a member of a cycling group, but I do have a coach that I usually ride with on a weekly basis, but due to COVID, these sessions have been few and far between. 

What ride will you be entering in 2022 BCCC? It will be either the 53 km or the 85km depending on how many kms I get in from now till the ride!

What bike will you be riding? I will be riding my road bike.

How often do you ride? I usually like to ride 3 to 5 days a week, but due to covid and an increase in my work hours, I haven't been riding as much as I would like. I plan this year to increase the number of days and time on the bike (I have gained a few Covid kilos and need to get rid of them, increasing my riding will definitely help with this).

What inspired you to ride initially? in 2010 my sister suggested we ride around the bay in a day and I got a bike for Christmas and started riding.  Three months out from the ride, I decided I needed help to get in shape for the 210 km ride (which I completed in just over 8 hours) and found a cycling coach, who I have been with since then.

Why do you ride now? I love the freedom that riding gives me, the way it makes me feel when I am out on my bike, whether I am in the bush or on the road, it's just me and my bike and I  get to clear my head and get some fresh air … and a coffee at the end of a ride!

What are some of your favourite riding routes in Victoria? I love that I can ride anywhere on Phillip Island and go all the way to Wonthaggi via the rail trail. I like to ride around Kew and Hawthorn as well.

Do you have a favourite riding memory? one of my favourite memories is riding in France up some of its famous mountains and reaching the peak, what an achievement. A lot of hard work and many hours on the bike paid off, and I did it with my husband and of course our coach, David McKenzie (Macca). So much fun and so many great memories. 

What do you like about the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge? I love that the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge gives cyclists of any level the opportunity to join an organised ride and raise money for a great cause.

What advice would you give to anyone teetering on whether to enter the ride or not? I would highly recommend anyone to give it a try, it might be the start of something new. New adventures, a healthier lifestyle and maybe some new friends to ride with.