The Weekly Rider - Glen O'Rourke
Glen O'Rourke is the Weekly Rider! He love's a challenge and manages to squeeze in family, work, his 'Bak Pocket' business and an extraordinary amount of riding.
He covered 700km in 24 hours during the 'Oppy' this year and is looking to beat it in early 2016. We talk to Glen about why he loves to ride.
For the month of November the La Velocita Weekly Rider is presented by Irwin Cycling Oceania.
Words - Glen O'Rourke Images - Andrew Clifforth
Name - Glen O’Rourke
Lives – Melbourne
Dream Bike – I always dream when I ride…Ultimate bike would be the one that I can ride every day
Favourite local ride – Mt Macedon (any time of the year but especially in Winter)
My current cycling goal is The Oppy 24 hour ride
When I am on the bike I think a lot
How did your love of bikes come about? - I grew up in the UK and when I was about 6 years old my dad took me to watch the Milk race. The circuit covered laps of my home town and I sat on the kerb on a fast sweeping corner.
The riders looked like rock stars, the sound of the wheels whistling past gave me goose bumps. I think that was the moment I fell in love with the sport.
Share a cycling memory – Riding across the Yorkshire moors to Manchester to watch Phil Anderson win the tour of Britain. I then rode home in the dark. I had never riden more than 50kms in one ride back then. I think I covered 120kms that day. I was inspired!
Of course last year’s Oppy24 experience will stay with me forever…
I love to ride because – I love the challenge of training and racing, Meeting interesting people or spending quality time in solitude. It all works for me.
La Velocita Rides
Do you dream of the open road, riding through beautiful rolling country and breathing in the fresh country air? Of riding roads with little traffic and testing yourself against some very spicy climbs? Well, you can get this and a lot more from this year’s Newcrest Orange Challenge.