Gateway Bridge Ride

Registrations opened last week for the Entoure Kingscliff Classic. This October we’ll be riding 400 k over 3 days from Brisbane to Kingscliff and then Byron to support the day of Difference Foundation.

I got my registration in and am looking forward to the event. The challenge between now and October is to get as many quality k’s into the legs in  preparation for the 145 k – 165 k we’ll be riding on day 1.

Weekends are the best time for me to get some decent rides in and today was no exception. Today was my first ride over the new Gateway Bridge (or the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge to be precise). The bridge has been open to bikes and pedestrians for a couple of months now.

We set off from Racecourse Rd and headed for the Gateway. The first challenge was finding the way on to the path. Maybe it’s still early days and the signage is incomplete, but it was definitely no easy task finding the entrance.

Once on the path though it’s a nice steady climb up the rise to the peak. We passed a couple of pedestrians heading down carrying cameras, obviously up there to catch the sunrise. From the top the view is quite spectacular. The lookout at the top has a glass pane through which to look east. The rest of the way the wire fence is around 2 m high on top of the concrete wall.

I’d heard that the speed limit for bikes is set at 10 k/h. Coming down the hill you’d need to be braking pretty hard to keep to that limit. Needless to say, we coasted down at a reasonable clip. From the bottom of the bridge it was off to Wynnum and then a standard return to Ascot via Southbank.

George Zdanowicz

Around 68,000 kids are hospitalised each year due to serious injury. If helping to save the life of a critically injured child was as easy as wearing a wig for a day, would you do it ?

Entoure is looking to test a new charitable concept called Wigs 4 Kids and is looking for people to wear a wig, to have fun and to raise funds for the Day of Difference Foundation.

REGISTRATIONS WILL OPEN SOON.

The Wigs 4 Kids Day Challenge

Challenge yourself to wear a wig for say 1 hour, 4 hours, or 8 hours and get your network to sponsor you. Make it a day to look like your idol; your hero; a rock star; or a model. Bring back the Mullet, The Beehive, The Bob, or The Afro. Most importantly, let Wigs 4 Kids Day be your Day of Difference and in transforming your looks and having a bit of fun help transform the lives of critically injured kids and their families.

What Can You Do On Wigs 4 Kids Day ?

1. Host a Wigs Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Fashion Show
2. Give out a prize for the funniest, sexist, best wig
3. Recognise the top fundraiser within your office and make them feel special
4. Catch public transport, do a gym class, the bridge climb … wearing your wig
5. Make the day your day to have a laugh and save lives
6. Take an amazing photo of yourself somewhere special and share it with your network

The Day of Difference Foundation

The Day of Difference Foundation is a charitable organisation dedicated to working for critically injured children. Critical injuries come without warning; often impacting how children live for the rest of their lives. Involve your family, friends and work colleagues and together make Wigs 4 Kids Day a fun day that saves lives and supports the Day of Difference Foundation.

To enter Wigs 4 Kids is simple.

1/ Register for the event (it’s free).

This will provide you with your own personal username and password for the entoure website; where you will be able to manage and control your very own personalised hero page. REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN.

2/ Grab a wig.

You can either purchase, hire or if your really creative, make a wig. The choice is yours.

To FIND A WIG STORE nearest to you, visit YELLOW PAGES ONLINE.

To BUY A WIG ONLINE, visit the WIG OUTLET.

The Wig Outlet is Australia’s favourite online wig website and renowned for their cheap prices, quality wigs and prompt customer service. A portion of all sales from the Wigs 4 Kids campaign will be donated by The Wig Outlet to the Day of Difference Foundation. In order to track the Wigs 4 Kids campaign, please insert the below mentioned tracking code in the Gift Voucher / Discount Voucher of the online order form.

3/ Post a photo of yourself on your entoure hero page

Simply use your personal username and password to log into the entoure website and gain access to your hero page. Edit your profile and upload a photo of yourself wearing your wig.

4/ Create or join a team

Once you have logged into the entoure website you will have access to the entoure launchpad. From here, you can create a team and or join an existing team. If you have existing links to the organisations and teams entering this years Hunter Valley Cycle Classic, simply click on join a team and click join this team near their corporate logo on the team directory page. If you don’t have existing links, create a new team. This will link funds raised on your individual hero pages and display them under a team category and allow your networks to either sponsor you as an individual and / or your team. This is handy if your sponsors are familiar with other members in your team and are torn with whom to support.

5/ Send your entoure hero page to your friends and family and ask them to sponsor you

Once you have posted a personal photo of yourself on your hero page, share your event on facebook, tweet the event over twitter or email your hero page to your friends. You will find easy call to action buttons on your hero page.

Share this campaign with your family, friends and work colleagues and come join the fun and together let’s help save the lives of critically injured kids.

Entoures inaugural cycle event to Kingscliff is now open for registrations. Rider numbers are capped so get in quick and secure yourself a spot. Any rider registering before August 1 will receive 1 Free Entoure T Shirt.

To register for the Kingscliff tour, click here.

Adania, 3 years, Hypotonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy

Little Adania doesn’t give up easily. In the past 6 months alone she has battled both bacterial and viral pneumonia, as well as the daily challenges that come from her complex condition.

During her most recent hospital admission, Adania’s mum, Kate, became very concerned. “She wasn’t herself and her breathing wasn’t normal,” she said. “We’d already spent one day in Emergency and a couple of nights on the wards and Adania was on the maximum amount of oxygyen, as well as antibiotics. She had nasal prongs and a face mask to deliver the oxygen, but it became clear that she needed a more sophisticated system to help her breathing.”

Doctors moved Adiana to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and placed her on the Bipap Vision non-invasive ventilator. “This ventilator provides respiratory support in a relatively non-invasive way,” said Dr Tony Slater, Director of PICU. “Traditionally we have used breathing tubes placed through the vocal chords as a means of providing respiratory assistance and children require sedation to tolerate this,” he explained. “With this ventilator, respiratory assistance is provided via a snugly fitting mask and children do not need nearly as much sedation to tolerate the help. As Adania recovers it is much easier to give her breaks from the ventilator, and gradually reduce her time on it.”

Adania’s response to the ventilator was a great relief for Kate. “Since being on the ventilator her oxygen levels have been maintained and her chest x-rays show better expansion of the lungs,” she said. “As a parent, it’s much less scarier to see this ventilator being used than the traditional tubes and sedation.”

To Our Riders, Sponsors and Supporters

On behalf of both Ron Delezio (CEO and Founder of the Day of Difference Foundation) and myself, thank you for helping us make a difference. Whilst the Day of Difference Foundation, and for that matter Entoure, have focused their attention on supporting critically injured kids, the above story shows that purchasing emergency equipment for the ICU goes way beyond the kids are efforts aim to support. All kids admitted to the ICU benefit from what we are doing. So lets keep the ball rolling and make the Entoure Cycle Classic, Kingscliff 2010 our most successful tour ever.

Kent Williams
Director Entoure

Merida have once again come to the party in support of the Day of Difference Foundation and provided an amazing opportunity.

For just $40, someone is going to take home the incredible 2011 Merida Scultura Evo valued at $10,000. Buy yourself a ticket and share this amazing opportunity with your network.

All proceeds will be directed to the Day of Difference Foundation.

Read more.

Cross Training Never Got More Fun

Cyclists keen to exercise the whole body, often do more than just ride a bike; some do yoga; some hit the gym; and some paddle surf ski’s. I have just got back into paddling after a decade or so and the paddling world has changed since I last bought a ski / kayak. How do you know what to buy ? How do you know what’s right for you ?

The main players include EPIC, FENN and THINK. All make fantastic ski’s and all deserve a test paddle. However, buying a surf ski is nothing like buying a bike. Price determines the weight of a ski; how it will handle; how fast and sensitive it is; and how it reacts in a variety of weather conditions. Also, unlike the push bike market, the paddle market is filled with people all claiming to sell the fastest and best product. How do you identify the truth; hidden deep within the used car salesman type spin ?

My Experience

I would categorise myself as an intermediate flat water paddler. I have paddled K1, K2, TK2, Surf Ski’s and a wide range of Racing Sea Kayaks. I have raced the 20 Beaches, the Hawkesbury Classic and a variety of club and state races. My paddling experiences were however, around a decade ago and spanned across an 8 year period. It was without doubt, my love sport. Racing with my best mate David Kirkby was for me about as good as a sport could get. But after such a long break away from the sport, and now looking to buy a ski for open water (Inner Sydney Harbour and Ocean), I had much to learn. Whilst I had paddled on the ocean and raced in the 20 beaches, it had always been in a sea kayak; wide and stable. Buying a ski for these conditions was something I didn’t know much about nor, was I much good at it. Sea swell, wind chop and boat wash had not previously been my friend when paddling tippy and fast ski’s or kayaks.

My Story

Anyway, my first contact after some 14 yrs or so was with Tony King from EPIC Kayaks and I met him down at Clontarf and paddled the V 10 Sport and V 12.  The V 10 Sport felt like I had never left the sport. I was stable, it was quick and I felt as if I could power down in almost any conditions; it was simply fantastic … but it wasn’t EPIC’s fastest ski and my ego was searching for the quickest ski the market had to offer !

The EPIC V 12 was far less stable than the V 10 Sport but something I felt I could master reasonably quickly. The V 12 was reported to be EPIC’s speed machine on flat and / or inner harbour conditions and that was all I needed to flick the V 10 Sport.

But to ensure I had tried them all, I test paddled the Think Uno; a ski that felt very much like a K 1 Racing Kayak. I test paddled the Think Uno off Rose Bay and regardless of what my ego was telling me, this ski was simply too tippy for me. As much as I wanted my ego to tell me things would be ok if I just stuck at it, this ski was built for someone much better than me.

Then a mate of mine suggested I chat with Ocean Sports Australia about potentially buying a Fenn; EPIC’s South African cousin. I test paddled their speed machine the Fenn Elite (Full Carbon) and listened to a lot of negative comments in regards to the EPIC Ski’s; (*) negative comments in regards to their manufacture; their price point; their warranties; their durability etc. Ocean Sports Australia sold hard the benefits of a Fenn and whilst I always knew I was getting a one sided argument, the Fenn Elite was a bloody nice ski; very quick on flat and a good buy.

(*) If someone needs to bag a competitors product in order to sell their own, they probably have a hidden agenda.

Leg Numbness

So, I became the very happy owner of a Fenn Elite; until I realised my legs would go numb after about a 30 minute paddle. First the left leg and then in around 60 minutes, both legs would go completely numb from the buttocks to the toes.  If you have ever tried to paddle with leg numbness you will know, this was not a good sign and not something I could just put up with. I stuck at it for 7 weeks; but with each and every paddle sending my legs to sleep, I was soon back talking to Tony King of EPIC Kayaks about what options EPIC had that would prevent this from occurring.

Why did I trade the Fenn for an EPIC ?

From chatting to other paddlers at the time and from spending time reading various ski reviews, it appeared I wasn’t alone. Leg numbness had impacted many paddlers before me and the impacts seemed personal. Not necessarily linked to a particular manufacturer; but linked more to how individual people fitted individual ski’s.

The numbness is a result of pressure being applied to a blood vessel in the buttocks that stops the circulation of blood getting to the legs. Getting the legs lower than the buttocks can relieve the pressure however, with the Fenn Elite already being a tippy ski, raising the seat was not an option for me. The EPIC V 12 had the lowest leg position to the buttocks and felt equally as fast. So after a quick test paddle and chat with Tony King, a deal was done; and I was the proud owner of the EPIC V 12.

After trading my much loved Fenn, I was keen to see how the EPIC V 12 compared so I set course from Balmoral to Roseville Bridge and return; the same 18 k course that previously sent my legs to sleep. To my surprise, I showed absolutely no signs of leg numbness; the ski felt fantastic and all was good.

Tennis Elbow

So just when I thought the world was now sorted, my over enthusiasm for paddling lead to a variety of tennis elbow ailments. 3 Months of paddling tippy ski’s had resulted in a change in paddle stroke and poor technique that had given me tennis elbow . Tennis elbow pain sneaks up slowly and can stay with you for many months. It is not something you can ignore as it impacts everything. So after 3 months on the water, I was back in Physio and now off the water for the same period.

How did I get an EPIC V 10 Sport ?

After the injuries and all the mucking around and as soon as my tennis elbow was resolved, I traded the EPIC V 12 for a ski that would allow me to paddle without worrying about stability; a ski that would allow me to venture beyond Sydney heads without fear; a ski that would allow me to power down all day long without the need to brace and reignite my tennis elbow.

The EPIC V 10 Sport

The V 10 Sport Ultra; the ski I fell in love with some 6 months ago. The ski my head said to buy but my ego wouldn’t allow. The V10 Sport Ultra is full Kevlar and weighs in at 9.5 kilos. The ski is shorter than the V 12 and a little wider. The difference in stability is significant however, the drop off in speed is negligible. My first paddle after a 3 month layoff took me from Balmoral out past north head to Manly. A trip I could never have handled in the other ski’s but, a trip I can see myself doing regularly. The V 10 Sport is a ski I could race right now. It is a ski I could do the 20 Beaches in. It is a ski that meets my level of competency and a ski I hope will keep me injury free. All hail the V 10 Sport. Happy Days !

Tips before you buy:

1. park your ego and buy wise
2. paddle the ski for up to an hour … this will identify issue’s around numbness and comfort-ability
3. test paddle in a series of conditions
4. talk to paddlers and see what they reckon
5. make the time to talk to Tony King of EPIC Kayaks .. highly professionally and a great contact to have
6. beware the used car salesman
7. buy something you can paddle now … and upgrade as you improve
8. have a think about whether you may want to race or tour

Note: the fastest ski will be the one you can most competently paddle !

Visit EPIC Kayak Australia and ask for Tony King.

In my opinion, EPIC Kayaks Australia had the best range of ski’s; the best team of people (headed up by Tony King); a series of options to purchase (including direct from the warehouse or retail outlets); and a truly fantastic product. The EPIC ski’s are produced out of China and are beautifully made. Do yourself a favour and check them out.

Website: www.epickayaks.net.au

Epic V10 Sport Ultra: Review

Epic Mid Wing Paddle: Review

Visit Zhik for wet weather gear.

Whilst in summer, a simple rash vest and shorts is all that’s required … not so in winter. I made the decision to purchase gear designed by ZHIK (the worlds leading dinghy sailing gear). ZHIK is a small Australia company that started business in 2005 and much like EPIC, has their product produced out of China and I got to tell you, it is truly fantastic stuff.

My recent wet weather purchase was their Microfleece Mens Skiff suit. The suit is super light and designed for skiff sailors. So it is built to keep active people warm and mobile whilst not over heating them. If you are looking for a top quality product to keep you dry in winter, take a look at Zhik.

Finally, for news and views on surf ski’s, visit Surf Ski Info.

Happy Paddling.

Kent Williams
Director Entoure

Adrian Tesoriero was the winner of the Bike Bug Argon 18 Gallium Pro and has been a very passionate winner.

Since announcing his win a few weeks ago, Adrian Tesoriero has been in hiding … too excited to venture out in public … and struggling to live with a face that knows only how to smile.

The bike has had the new Dura-Ace D12 electronic shifting gear installed. “This will sort them out” says Adrian … “I am going to look hot on this thing … just look how well it goes with my Rode Duivels Team Lycra”.

(Pictured left Ollie Martyna from Bike Bug North Sydney and Adrian Tesoriero during bike set up).

“The revolutionary Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting option with SEIS (Shimano Electronic Intelligent System) takes the already superior Shimano shifting performance to a whole new level never seen before. The increased accuracy, smoothness and reliability of electronic shifting makes gear changes faster and virtually eliminates missed shifts.” says Durace Australia

The question for all of us will be:

1. will this new toy make Adrian faster on and off the road ?
2. will the technology grant Adrian the ability to win one of our much coveted competition jersey’s ? OR
3. will the new bike simply allow Adrian to brag about having the latest and greatest bike on the road ?

Only time will tell … but from where I stand, Adrian is (thanks to Bike Bug) the happiest bloke on 2 wheels … and if that is where Adrian’s dream was to finish, he would still be a winner.

Congratulations mate … a great bike has gone to a great bloke and at a great home. Enjoy the new toy and I look forward to seeing you on the road … out in front … and driving the peloton until the cows come home.

Kent Williams
Director Entoure

When one enters a competition to win a bike, it is sometimes good to reflect on the individual and to get some understanding of what it means to them.

Adrian Tesoriero has been riding with entoure since we commenced in 2008 and has in that time developed (with the help of some mates) his own team brand called, the Rode Duivels.

Adrian has brought riders to the network, raised a considerable sum of money for the Day of Difference Foundation and been an integral part of the entoure team. But, a search through the entoure gallery shows Adrian as  a man who dreams … a ponderer … a deep thinker … one doesn’t stand with a face like this without having a good reason. Is it possible Adrian knew then what we all know now ? Was he dreaming then of taking home the Argon 18 Gallium Pro ? In Adrian’s own words he says “I tell you what, I can hardly sleep at night just hanging to get the new wheels. The digital gears are going to be gold dust”

Congratulations mate … I can’t wait to see you on the road on your new machine.

Kent Williams
Director Entoure

The 2010 event is over. In excess of 60 riders participated in this years Hunter Valley ride and from all reports, it was our best tour ever. The event was supported by the Day of Difference Foundation, with Ron, Carolyn and Sophie Delezio all playing key roles on tour. Tony Abbott participated on Day Two of the event and in true Abbott fashion connected well with the people, the cause and the bike.

I would like to thank our fabulous sponsors and supporters.

• Jersey Sponsors: Bike Bug, Lend Lease, Astrontech and HP,
• Team Sponsors: Propel Investments, Primatec, Lend Lease, McGrath, Macmil and Rode Duivels,
• Supporters: Bike Bug, Cannibal, Budget, Wedsalad and Fitness First

Funds are still rolling in but my projection is that we will raise around $200,000 from the event; of which around $125,000 will be donations paid to the Day of Difference Foundation. A truly fantastic result in what has clearly been a difficult market and taking total funds raised since we commenced in March 2008 to over $1.2 Million.

The winners of our much coveted HP fundraising jerseys went to long time entoure rider Mark Worrall (first place) who raised in excess of $11,000; with runner up jerseys being awarded to Stephen King (second place) and Trevor Armstrong (third place). This year also saw an increased team focus with many of the teams exceeding 100% of team target. Congratulatons to Team Propel who finished in first place at a staggering 182 % of team target.

In addition to our riders raising funds, they sacrifice their time to get fit for the event. In light of the event being a fully supported tour, it is imperative riders are skilled enough to ride in a peloton and to stay together. For some, this hurdle was greater than others and the ride became a massive achievement and one that will stay with them forever. For others, it was a great opportunity to ride with like minded people, to help those less experienced and to race for the Bike Bug Yellow Leaders Jersey, the Lend Lease Green Sprinters Jersey and the Polka Dot Cannibal Climbers Jersey. Congratulations to all the winners of this tours competition jerseys with a special congratulations to Geoff Troup … the strong man of the tour who lead Peloton 1 for the entire 3 days and took home the very much coveted Bike Bug Yellow Leaders Jersey.

This tour over 70% of our riders were new to entoure … which allowed for good existing entoure people to bring more good people. The Astrontech White Best New Riders Jersey was in hot competition and whilst the jersey could have been awarded to any number of the new recruits, 2 standouts from opposite ends of the earth were identified. Peter Richards (left of photo) and Joshua Williams (right of photo). Peter was team captain for Team McGrath … a new team with high hopes. Peter’s leadership was outstanding and as good or better than any that have gone before him. He was the key driver across all aspects of his team … from initial engagement and sign up, to fundraising, to training rides, to hospital visits to winner of competition jerseys. If it was on offer, Peter was all over it … and put his team in a position of real pride and prominence. Joshua (my nephew) on the other hand is 15 years old and his achievements were far more personal. Two months ago Joshua told his dad (a previous tour rider and winner of entoures inaugural Yellow Leaders Jersey in March 2008) that he would like to ride in the tour. The only issue was he hadn’t been on a bike, didn’t know the road rules, and had no network to raise funds. But, with a strong desire to achieve Joshua raised in excess of $1,500 and cycled 110 k on Day 2 of the tour and received strong praise from Ron Delezio and all who witnessed him conquer what for some would simply have been the unachievable. Congratulations to the other white jersey winners but a special congratulations to Peter and Joshua … all hail your achievements.

The tradition of dressing a rider as a clown continued however, this year it had a twist … with Sophie Delezio face painting a very deserved winner in Robert Montgomery. The purpose behind the clown award is to identify someone the riders believes makes them smile, brings joy to a struggling peloton and happiness to the tour. The award is selected by the riders and is a symbol of the great work performed in hospitals by clowns and the joy clowns bring to sick and injured kids right throughout the country. Michael Foster and Robert Montgomery were the winners of this tours clown award but a special thanks must go to Sophie Delezio who beautifully painted Roberts face and who in many respects changed the entire feel of this years tour.

Finally, I would like to thank the support team … lead by David Sharpe; but included:

• Ron Delezio
• Cam Wood
• Veronika Vosynkova
• Mark Williams
• Joshua Williams
• Ollie Martin
• Kylie Bernoth
• Stephen Trethowen
• Alfie Brown
• Paul Russell
• Jimmy Howard and
• Andrew Bennett

This year the support team included Lead and Rear Vehicle Drivers, Motor Bike Traffic Support Riders, Massage Therapists, Doctors, Luggage Transfer Drivers and on road Bike Mechanics. Thanks again to all who rode, supported and donated to the cause and I look forward to bigger and better things next tour.

Kent Williams
Director
Entoure

With only a few weeks to go before we test our newest community based campaign we are calling Wigs 4 Kids, we decided to give it some personality.

Our initial brief to SMPC Creative Communications was to design a logo that was fun, fresh and engaging. Something that would appeal to all ages; in particular kids; and have strong use of block colours.

We would love to hear what you feel about the campaign and our logo. Drop us your thoughts !