Meet The Riders - Laurance Davis

With his 50^th birthday approaching, Laurance decided Headride would be the perfect opportunity to get fit and turn 50 in good shape. “I had been a bit of a “lazy” rider for the last 4-5 years since my own fall on Beach rd.” Like Marg, Laurance ended up in The Alfred hospital so raising money for it is extremely worthwhile. 

Training for Headride has provided Laurance with a good focus, with his mother passing away a week before he signed up. His friends challenged him to get fit and ride the distance, “I pretty much agreed straight away” he said.

In order to get fit for Headride, Laurance enlisted the help of a specialist cycling personal trainer. Together they focused on bike work, diet, stretching, technique on hills and descending, breathing and the general set up of the bike.

Laurance has lost 7-8 kgs since beginning his Headride training regime. He has given up drinking for the months leading up to Headride.  His 50^th Birthday celebrations are “on hold” until after the ride when he can enjoy a few red wines.

Over time Laurance has increased the number of rides per week from riding twice to six times. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he rides 42kms, Fridays he rides an easy 31kms and he rides longer distances on the weekends with other Headride cyclists. Laurance is riding an impressive 360-390 kms per week.

Laurance is looking forward to the camaraderie that Headride will provide. “I expect there’ll be lots of laughs and funny moments, quotable lines, terrific photos and the like” he says.

Laurance believes achieving the 1056km ride with the Headride group, completing each day’s ride and raising $50,000 for The Alfred will be something special. He is delighted how people have embraced the cause and been willing to donate and sponsor.

On a personal level Laurance is looking forward to proving to himself that he is fit, having turned 50 in “good nic” and enjoying the 8 days of riding from Adelaide to Melbourne. He is also looking forward to being joined by family and friends on the last leg of the ride. “From Mordialloc onwards will be pretty exhilarating” he says.

Laurance nominates Cadel Evans as his inspiration as well as other Aussie riders O’Grady and McEwan.

Laurance has participated in Around the Bay but never anything like Headride. He is a passionate St Kilda supporter, a family man with a wife, three children and a “wonder dog” called Lenny. He loves travelling to Europe, and of course his work as a Partner at Madgwicks Lawyers.

Anything else to add Laurance?

“On the bike, they call me LARRY!” 

Meet The Riders - David Thompson

Having heard Margie's story, David Thompson decided to become involved in Headride and show his support to The Alfred hospital. "I hope I never need their services, but if my family or I do, I'd want them to have the equipment they need" he says. To prepare for the massive 1056km journey David's training regime is simple: "drink less and ride more". David loves challenges and is expecting days 3-5 of the ride to be the most difficult. The longest ride he has undertaken thus far is the Murray to Moyne. The weather conditions of the last 90 kms were particularly harsh, with participants riding into driving rain and wind. "That was hard but stopping, and the brunch at the end, was a great reward" he says. 

David's cycling inspiration is Cadel Evans after his amazing victory at this years Tour De France. "Those couple of days in the mountains at the end of the Tour were amazing" says David. Like Margie, David is a long standing St Kilda supporter and hopes to one day see the Saints win their second flag. 

Meet The Riders - Leigh Hamilton

Leigh is an accountant who decided to take part in Headride because it is a great cause and a challenge. To prepare for Headride he rides Saturday and Sunday mornings, increasing his distance to about 160km per weekend. During the week Leigh works out at the gym and runs. He is hoping that this event will provide camaraderie, high-level fitness and a great sense of achievement. Leigh is no stranger to riding in long distance events. He has participated in Ride Around the Bay 6 times, he has ridden the Otway Classics twice and ridden once in both Kinglake and the Tour Down Under. "It's always a relief to finish" he says. 

Leigh nominated Cadel Evans as his cycling inspiration for his gutsy determination when he is usually "outnumbered" in the critical stages. When asked to tell us something interesting about himself, Leigh responded "You are asking that of a boring accountant, who takes a week off work to ride from Adelaide to Melbourne". 

The Journey

Marg and 17 cyclists will ride from Adelaide to Melbourne. That is a total of 1056km! The route follows the South Australian and Victorian coastline. The riders will pass through towns such as Meningie, Robe, Mt Gambier, Port Fairy, Apollo Bay and Torquay before catching the ferry to Sorrento. From there they will ride through Mt Martha, Frankston, Black Rock and finish at The Alfred in Prahan. Riders will be monitored via a GPS so we can follow their journey throughout the week! 

Meet Marg

This is Marg, the inspiration and creator of Headride! Marg is a keen cyclist who has engaged in both track and road cycling over the years. In 2009, Marg was involved in a life-threatening cycling accident. She sustained severe orthopedic injuries and required an emergency craniotomy. The Alfred hospital saved her life. While Marg feels she will never fully repay her debt of gratitude to The Alfred, she has set up Headride to give others a 'second chance' just as she had.

Marg and 16 cyclists are riding from Adelaide to Melbourne from October 22-29. They are raising money through sponsors and donations. They hope to raise $50,000, which will go directly to neurosurgical department at The Alfred.