Western NSW Cycling

PART 1 Bicycle History on the Famous Mt Panorama Race Circuit

This is Part 1 of two podcasts on the extensive history of bicycle racing on the famous Mt Panorama motor racing circuit.

Part 1 looks at the birth & construction of Mt Panorama and its forerunner the historic Vale Circuit, explaining that the bicycle was involved in the initial development of the famous Bathurst motor racing circuit; even creating & contributing to the sporting and racing culture in the city to establish the desire to build the racing venue.

A series of interviews looks at both the NSWCU and the League of Wheelman’s involvement. But then how a schoolboy from Sydney broke down the barriers to establish an annual cycling promotion, which fully used the Mt Panorama Circuit and Pit Complex and would lead to the first National Mountain Bike Championship.

Part 1 starts with the history of the 1930’s at Vale Road and continues to the early 1990s at Mt Panorama but touches on the drama of the Covid 19 Pandemic and the important cycling activity on Mt Panorama in the 2020’s. Check out Part 2 for the important cycling events from the 1990’s to the 2020s.

Angus Argent-Smith Big Bike Ride

It is 3am on Saturday 7 December 2024 and I am standing in the rain for this interview.

We are catching up with promising local triathlete Angus Argent-Smith at the front gates of Scots All Saints College Senior School Bathurst at the start of his huge bike ride to raise funds for the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA)

Gus will be riding 365km to his hometown of Rankins Springs and sadly in all started in a storm with thunder and lightning..

Triathlon News: 10minutes with Kath Stutsel

Triathlon News: 10minutes with Kath Stutsel

If you are thinking about trying to do a triathlon one day, listen to Bathurst’s Kath Stutsel’s story who I am sure will convince you to make the plunge and “Try a Tri”. Doing her first triathlon less than a decade ago when another event she was training for was cancelled, Kath has now raced major triathlon events all over the world - From the legendary Escape from Alcatraz to Challenge Roth. This Interview is part of a series on Key Officials in the Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club in the lead up to the 2024/25 Season.

Leone Roach (Eddy) goes to the 1970 World Cycling Championships

Leone Roach (Eddy) goes to the 1970 World Cycling Championships.

Featuring Mark Windsor, Leone Eddy, Tom Maloney.

Set in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this is the remarkable story of a schoolgirl’s journey to the top of World Cycling from the track in Tamworth in Country NSW.

At 15 years old Leone Roach stunned everyone when she had a successful hour record attempt in Melbourne in Jan 1969. This was followed by further hour promotions in Tasmania and a successful attempt on England’s Val Rushworth’s Hour Paced record at Melbourne Olympic Velodrome in late 1969.

Australian Cyclist Boss, event promoter & official Bill Long then organising Leone’s attendance at the 1970 World Cycling Championships in Leicester UK, with the people and cycling community of Tamworth getting behind Leone's (the Ponytail Express) bid for a World title.  

Harlequin Cycling Club Story - David Roggiero & the League of Wheelman

This Podcast is part of the NSW Cycling Club Series by the CNSW Heritage Commission.

The Harlequin Wheelmen Club was formed in January 1982 with links to the Bathurst NSW League of Wheelman Cycle club which had been functioning for almost a century, established in 1893 by one of Australia great early Pro Riders on the Penny Farthings, Mr George Wibird.

The Harlequin club founded by David Roggiero when other Pro League cycle clubs across NSW including Bathurst CC were moving across to the NSW Cyclist Union (The Amateurs) who were winning the battle for control of the sport in Australia. The Harlequin Wheelman* Cycling Club becoming a refuge for the homeless Pro riders while the integration of the sport was occurring in the 1980s & 90s in Australia. This is the David Roggiero and Harlequin Wheelmen Club story which is based in Sydney North and affiliated with Auscycling. In recent times the club has been the state's top performer at the Cycling Age National Championships.

(*Note "Wheelman" is a 19th century historic cycling term referring to cyclists that have entered events with a cash prize).

John Windsor’s First Race Car

Remembering Uncle John Windsor.. (08/01/1944 - 06/02/2019)

This is a 1-minute clip from an interview with John Windsor on his first race car from his rally cross days at Catalina Park at Katoomba and Towac Park at Orange (which for a period he was president of the club).

John Scott the man behind NSW’s Sydney Thousand Cycling Promotion

In 1903 Promoter Hugh D McIntosh hosted a 1mile handicap at the SCG with world record prizemoney and around 60,000 spectators. Top international cyclists (including Major Taylor) would come to Australia for the event which was won in 1903 by American N C Hooper who had been allocated a very generous 75yds by organisers.

While the event created plenty of headlines and drama it would be only contested a handful of times till legendary Aussie promotor John Scott established the event on Sydney’s Camperdown Velodrome in the 1970s and 80s.

This podcast looks at John’s Scott’s life as a cyclist and sports promoter and how he ensured that the Sydney Thousand would be long remembered as one of Australia’s greatest Cycling Promotions.

The Podcast features Audio from John Scott, Greg Scott, Geoff Scott, Robert Wallis, Alex Fulcher and Heritage Committee Chair Mark Windsor

Insight into 2022 Race Across America from the Team Jefferson support Crew

The last time an Australian won the legendary Race Across America (or RAAM) was around a quarter of a century ago, however in 2022 Kiwi Born Aussie Allan Jefferson put his name in the history book when he defeated Svata Bozak and Swiss super star Nicole Reist in the 5000km race across the United States.

In this short 14min interview we catch up with Team Jefferson support crew member Gary Hamer of the Bathurst Cycling Club for an insight into what is often considered the toughest cycling race in the world.

Luke Tuckwell talks about his Cycle Racing in Europe

"InForm TMX Make" rider Luke Tuckwell talks of his 2022 Euro Cycling Trip:

Great to catch up with Bathurst Cycling Club member Luke Tuckwell (who riders for InForm TMX Make) on his recent trip to Europe to race for Team Bike Terenzi in Italy and for the AusCycling Junior team across Europe.

After attending the recent Auscycling Webinar on Developing Cyclists Pathways, it was interesting to listen to Luke, as it emphasized the stress on aspiring young full time Australia Cyclists in Europe, faced with the latest trends by Pro-Cycling to get younger cyclists into the Pro Peloton.

The interview does stress the importance of the AusCycling junior development program and the role "InForm TMX Make" is playing in the development of young Aussie Cyclists.      

First Open of the inaugural 2021/22 AusCycling NSW Track Cycling Season

News from the 2021 Central West Track Open (which incorporated the 2021 NSW Country and Metro Junior Track Championships) hosted by the Orange and Bathurst Cycling clubs with help from sponsor’s @ClancyMotorsGroup @RenshawPedalProject @ CanobolasHotel

Hear local cycling officials along with NSW State Handicapper Robyn Sprouster and James Nguyen NSW’s Competitions & Events Manager.