There was a sense of accomplishment amongst the riders as we rolled out on Day 5. We were feeling sore from the effort of the first four days but confident, having conquered the infamous Queen Mary Falls section of the spectacular ride from Kooralbyn to Warwick the previous day.
Day 5 demanded another 150+ kilometre ride with a challenging climb at the tail end to surpass in order to reach Toowoomba, so there was also a distinct dose of trepidation amongst an otherwise buoyant group! Whilst the dawn was brisk, the majestic blue skies and fertile soils of the Darling Downs soon warmed our spirits.
Setting out from Warwick, things flowed exceptionally well. Our pace was swift, our form and communication in the peloton were great, and the drivers of cars and trucks that passed us by even seemed supportive.
Life on a bike is great with the breeze at your back, and the cool morning easterlies escalated our velocity significantly, to begin with. However, veering from Pratten to Clifton, we had to dig deep in the face of a surprisingly debilitating headwind. Quick turns were required at the front of the peloton to share the workload!
A stunning reward soon following the effort, with a spectacular descent through the lush, meandering valley of West Haldon, which straddles the Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba regions.
Chain Reaction is not a race and welcomes riders of all standards. The most memorable moments are made when the group works together, often in teams, to ensure all riders navigate the ride experience's emotional and physical peaks and troughs.
Day 5 had plenty of those moments, and all four teams, supported by the fantastic Chain Reaction trainers and support crew, successfully completed the steep ascent into one of Queensland's most beautiful regional cities.
These moments not only forge unique relationships amongst the riders, but they also crystallise why we commit to Chain Reaction and who we are riding for - young people and their families, who are experiencing challenges.
At the conclusion of Day 5, funds raised from the Brisbane event had already exceeded $706,000. Heartfelt thanks for the generous support from friends, families, work colleagues and industry partners to date. This will make a significant impact for our charity partners, AEIOU and TRACTION, and their ability to support young people.
As a rider in this year's event, and the Founder and CEO of TRACTION, I'd like to express my sincere thanks for the support of the Chain Reaction community. Funds donated by Chain Reaction to TRACTION will provide transformational infrastructure, such as new workshops, facilities and vehicles, that will ensure we have a physical presence in communities in need across South East Queensland.
This will enable us to mentor more young people with our hands-on programs that are designed to build confidence and skills. TRACTION teaches respectful behaviour, responsibility, teamwork and a new way of learning. Our young people discover they can achieve and experience success from their own endeavours. TRACTION started in 2015 and has grown significantly due to the results realised by our young people. We are so grateful for the support from Chain Reaction, which will help TRACTION empower more young people build their own future.
Blog written by, Sandy Murdoch of the MGDTRACTION Team.
On the evening of Day 5, the following Competition Jerseys were awarded.
- Orange ‘Leader's Jersey', sponsored by Pure Storage, went to James Morton of the Hutchinson/AEIOU Team.
- White ‘New Riders Jersey', sponsored by Sunkids, went to Stuart Bishop of the MGD/TRACTION Team.
- Black ‘Spirit of Chain Reaction’ Jersey, sponsored by LSH Auto went Alex King of the MGD/TRACTION.
- Pink 'Inspiration jersey', sponsored by MGA Insurance Brokers, went Ned Petrovic of the Bell Potter.
