Clarence’s local social ride leader

Brian Chapman describes the bike tracks around Clarence as fantastic and said the best one is the coastal track.

“You can virtually ride from Bellerive to Risdon Brook Dam without confronting traffic, and the other way too, as far as Tranmere,” he said.

When Brian retired eight years ago he joined the Bicycle Network, a national body dedicated to making it easier for people to ride bikes.

Now he’s a social ride leader taking people on weekend and holiday excursions. 

“There are hundreds of tracks on the eastern shore, and hats off to Clarence Council, who are extremely supportive in maintaining them,” Mr Chapman said.

In his time as ride leader, Brian has seen considerable changes in technology.

When he started, about 80 per cent of people rode ‘knee’ mountain bikes, which rely entirely on the rider’s knees rather than a battery, and 20 per cent rode e-bikes.

Now it’s the other way round.

“An e-bike is like having extra gears,” Mr Chapman said.

“People can ride further, 30 km instead of 10 km, and can keep riding as they age.

“In the past, we wouldn’t have had an 89-year-old rider and there’s no way in the world I’d be riding so far now without an e-bike.

“It gets me over the next hill instead of giving up.”

As well as the Bicycle Network, Brian is a member of the Clarence Bicycle Advisory Network and Cycling South, both of which focus on transport cycling.

“We’re trying to make it safer, to keep cyclists away from fast cars. Motorists don’t always see you, and when you share the road, you have to ride defensively at all times,” Mr Chapman said.

The groups have been advocating for the government to widen the Tasman Bridge and for southern councils to link tracks so that people can ride to work instead of relying on cars.

Mr Chapman said the environmental and health benefits of bikes were well documented.

“It’s good for the heart, lungs, legs and mental health, too,” he said.

“Cycling calms you and you get the social interaction of being with other people.

“Half the reason for doing the ride is the coffee meet afterwards.”

Brian Chapman and his fellow cycling advocates are this month’s Climate Champions, chosen by community group Clarence Climate Action.