On the first weekend of December each year the international Festival of Cycling is held in Christchurch. This is a major New Zealand event featuring the cream of New Zealand cycling. This year our own Laura Luxford was an invited guest for the two day event. 

Sunday June 14 saw the 5th edition of the annual 80km Avanti Classic handicap race held on an undulating circuit based at Lowood and and travelling around Lake Wivenhoe. The front markers had 33min start on the red hot scratch bunch but would have needed every minute if they were to get the $2000 that was on offer for first across the line. They did get the money for first through the first lap but like the rest of the field the extreme speed of the scratch riders was too much.

Benny Boy, one of Lifecycle's junior riders and staff members has just competed in the U/19 QLD State Championship Time Trial. The 25km TT was held at Glamorgan Vale and Benny place 6th which was a fantastic performance since it was his first ever TT.  Benny's said `my strong performance was due to my powerful legs, shaved arms, Lifecycle skinsuit & booties and my Specialized Transition bike.  I'm looking forward to the TT next year to improve my performance and to ride past black snake creek again. Man those snakes were big!'

Several Lifecycle riders competed in the BikeKing Tour de Sunshine Coast over the Queen's Birthday long weekend.  The 5 stage, 4 day Tour is considered by many to be the highlight of the Queensland road racing calendar and again in 2008 this proved to be the case.

Recently we were emailed this photo of Tim Harris winning the Elite B category of the Grafton to Coffs Harbour in a solo breakaway. This was a great effort by Tim and one of those rare occasions where the breakaway keeps away from the pack.

We always love seeing photos of you riding and racing in the Lifecycle kit. So if you, like Tim, have won a race or achieved a personal milestone in Lifecycle kit why not drop us an email with a photo so we can post it in the Lifecycle gallery.

2nd place Avanti Classic finisher Adrian Booth (above in green) has been kind enough to submit this race report:

A fantastic day greeted over 200 hundred riders from South East Queensland for the 2007 edition of the Avanti Classic. An 80km handicap held in and around Wivenhoe Dam, this event takes in some beautiful scenery and is fiercely contested by all who participate. Hosted by the Lifecycle club, Blair Stockwell has made this race an institution on the CQ racing calendar since Chris Locke won the inaugural event in 2002.

Wow, another Avanti Classic wrapped up and what a great event it was. It was fantastic to see Grant Irwin (Ord Minnett) take out the event on an Avanti Team Corsa in a closely fought finish. Adrian Booth (Merida), Steven George (Velo) and Mark Ledgerwood (2XU) rounding out the top 4 in the battle for the line.

You can view the full length photo finish here.

This Sunday sees the Lifecycle Club's major promotion for 2007 when the 6th edition of the Avanti Classic will take place at Lowood. It is the largest field for a race in recent history with a record 223 hopeful riders have paid their nomination for a crack at the $5000 in cash and prizes on offer. The major drawcard will be the $1000 for the first rider across the line, however the next 19 riders will also be in the money (see below). There are big cash prizes for fastest time placings, and separate prize categories for women and masters. Also for the early starters there are cash prizes for the first 3 through on the first lap.

The last Saturday in March may mean different things to a lot of people but for the 15 Lifecyle riders lining up in the famous blue & white strip it can mean only one thing……a trip to Christchurch, NZ for Le Race!

Jack, Alex and myself have been spending our time planning for the upcoming 24hour Mountain Bike Challenge on the 21st and 22nd of April. Held at the Kooralbyn Hotel Resort the 24hour has become an annual highlight for many on the Queensland Mountain Bike calendar.