Giulia Wilkinson

I am 39 years old, am self employed and have three children. I have been cycling for the past 6 years. My husband commutes to work on his bike and had persistently asked me to start riding. Eventually I got on my old mountain bike from school and started getting out there. I now have a road racer and try to achieve about 100 kms of cycling in a week.

I cycle to maintain fitness and to destress.

We go as a family every year to camp at Bright for the summer. Here I started [cycling] the easier of the mountains; Mt Buffalo, which I love. In 2014 my husband completed the seven peaks in which I felt really proud that he had achieved such a goal, then thought, I can do this. So I suggested we do the seven peaks together next year. He gave me this look and said, “I don’t think you can get up Baw Baw”. It was game on from there!

I started my seven peaks assault with none other than Baw Baw. It was just under seven gruelling kilometres. It was a cold, drizzly day. However, sheer determination was going to make sure that I wasn’t going to stop and that I was going to make the top of that mountain.

After this the usual suspects on our annual trip to Bright: Buffalo, Falls, Hotham and Dinner Plain were all completed. Leaving our last two climbs of Lake Mountain and Mt Buller to be done over our anniversary weekend in March. Thinking I was leaving the easier climbs until last put me under a false sense of security. The first part of Lake Mountain I had under estimated and took more out of me than I thought, in order to back up the next day’s ride of Mt Buller.

I made up a canvas collage with all completed rides which sits proudly in the living room. So now if ever my children say “I can’t do it” I proudly point to my picture and remind them you can do anything if you put your mind to it.   One of the best experiences of my life.

We love spending the day after cycling down the river at bright then off to the bright brewery. Also the Magnolia B&B in Mansfield was fantastic.