Alicia Hooper

I’m 37 and work in local government. I ride 15kms from the inner north to the inner south. I have been a commuter for forever, riding the old racer I’d owned since I was 12 to each new job and/or uni course I was doing. When that was stolen I got a new flat bar road bike which I thought was the bees knees until I got a road bike last year (that makes two; keen on trying CX so it might soon be three).

I love bikes.

I think that they are a substantial solution to the nasty knot of health, social, environmental and economic problems that car dependent cities set up.

I mainly ride for health reasons.

Building exercise into my commute gives me two hours of free-wheeling that would otherwise be spent in peak hour grid lock.

Since getting my road bike, I have explored Melbourne’s surrounds with the North City Cycles crew and toured the Spanish Pyrenees with Wide Open Road. My new favourite thing to do.

More women cycling is an important step towards a tipping point which includes safer rides and respect as a legitimate road user. We’ll get there!

One of my first road bike rides was Mt Buffalo as part of the 7 peaks challenge. It was an early morning start. My girlfriend and I rode from Wondiligong camping ground in darkness which, soon after the official start, gave way to a bright, clear morning. A merry crew of cyclist accompanied us with a few of them busting out tunes in the foothills. The inclination to sing was replaced by the need to breathe as the ascent became sharper. I encouraged a gentle pace and settled in for a steady grind but Dingo Dell popped up before too long and we were soon being fed and watered by the kindly event vols. We snacked and jiggled around so as to not get cold and then assumed racing position for the downhill. I was tentative, not yet comfy in the drops, and proposed Emma ahead and I’d meet her at the bottom. My first cautious descent is now one of many including Buller and the Cols de Peyrousade and Tourmalet and they are less white knuckled and more fun.

On the way up to Bright we called into Gapstead winery for a cheeky tasting only to find that they were having an annual sale. As we walked through the door into the giant warehouse a lady offered us a trolley. We declined, saying we wouldn’t be needing it – were we wrong! We wandered away with >12 bottles, later consumed over a long, al fresco dinner in the garden of our hotel.