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So 2021 wasn’t exactly all we had hoped in Australia, or around the globe for that matter, but hey if you are reading this – we made it through! The trouble with writing a column for print is that I have
to think two months ahead, and I am sitting here in December of 2021 trying to look into a crystal ball to when you are getting to read this.
I really hope that you have started 2022 with excitement and plans that were not able to be realised in the past two years. I hope you can see loved ones again, and travel with freedom to wherever you so choose but maybe with a little more precaution that we had before.
I decided I could try a “choose your own adventure” style for this column, where in “Future A” we are out of lockdowns and getting on with life with COVID-19, and in “Future B” we are still at the mercy of our state governments...
Fear not dear AMB reader, there is always something to put a smile on your dial when you have a two wheeled companion.
Future A – we can travel again!
Get ready, get set, and pack your bike up in your fancy big bag with wheels or even just an airline branded cardboard box, it really doesn’t matter. You can get outta here and on your way to your dream mountain bike destination with loamy trails and foamy beers. Derby, Bright, Maydena, or wherever takes your fancy. If you are really serious then you’ve got your passport at the ready to jump the ditch to shred at Rotorua, or even further afield to Whistler and beyond.
You will have forgotten how to pack for a cycling trip so start planning early to make sure your holiday goes smoothly and you don’t forget
anything. Make a check list for your admin and packing and I promise it will be worth the extra effort. Shoes, helmet, gloves, shorts – check! Travel insurance and a sense of adventure – check, check!
Future B – lol jokes, state borders are life now
At the end of 2020 we all thought that the following year would see us returning back to normal, but alas 2021 wasn’t much better. It is safe to say that we are all feeling a mix of hope and trepidation - we are trying not to get our hopes up but we can’t help it anyway. If things carry on and travel is once again off the cards, then plan some adventures close to home if you haven’t done so already. And if you have, then plan more!
There are so many beautiful National Parks and dirt roads across all of Australia’s states and territories. Swap your local trails for a bikepacking trip, or convince your partner/mate/parent to meet you at a destination and only carry what you need for the day. Long rides on quiet gravel roads are very underestimated. Make sure you are happy to chat all day with your chosen ride partner, or know they are happy to ride along without making small talk. Or if you need some “me time" then go it alone!
If long rides are not your thing, then think of some new goals that you can work towards closer to home. YouTube how to wheelie or any other trick you want to improve, or consult your local skills coach for some lessons on how to nail your desired outcome.
No matter what 2022 holds, I hope you can find some joy at home or afar on your knobby tires. Get vaccinated and don’t get complacent with your booster shots, so we can all get back to what we enjoy and spend more time with the people we love.
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2022 IS BRAND NEW
AND ALL ABOUT YOU
WORDS GRACIE ELVIN PHOTO NICK WAYGOOD