Dave Best.
FRESH from a successful 890km charity bike ride, Jennings resident Dave Best has added another challenge to his cycling calendar.
In addition to the 230km Queensland Ride to Conquer Cancer in August, and the 210km Sydney Ride to Conquer Cancer in October, Mr Best has decided to enter Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s eight-day Ride for the Chopper in September.
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service firefighter and Granite Belt Fruit Freighter truck driver completed the Bike 4 Burns ride last month, raising between $400 and $500 for burns research at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
Mr Best’s stepdaughter Faith McKay, who has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, has been treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
He said preparation for the ride did not get off to a good start, with his bike seizing up just ahead of the start.
“I was going to pull out because I didn’t have a bike,” he said. “Redback Cycles supplied me with a bike at short notice – it was a 20-speed Giant which had not even been released.”
Mr Best got in just 50km of practice on the new bike before he started the 890km Bike 4 Burns.
“Everyone was complaining, and I was going from strength to strength,” he said. “For the first three days it was very, very hilly. All the training I’ve done really paid off.”
Mr Best, who had a series of knee operations last year, was cleared to race three days ahead of the Bike 4 Burns event.
To donate money to one of the rides Mr Best is participating in, contact him at david.best44@yahoo.com.