Name – Mandy Chilcott
Profession – Fitness Instructor
When did you start riding? I started riding road bikes back in the early 90’s while living in Cairns. I played netball with Cindy Grant, wife of Pete Grant from the Bike Vault. Pete owned a bike shop in Cairns and was running a triathlon club; he encouraged me to give triathlons a go; my love of cycling started then. My first road bike was an Apollo, I still have it hanging in the shed!
I also had an old mountain bike back then, but never did any ‘mountain biking’; it was my commuter bike.
Who/what inspired you to get into mountain biking? We moved to Barkers Creek in 2011; a couple of years after that Carrie Edney started up a Facebook page ‘Castlemaine Women Cycling’. It was the introduction to Carrie and her coaching skills that inspired and encouraged me to give mountain biking a go. Carrie was great at getting groups of girls together and showing us the trails around Castlemaine. Carrie was very generous with her time and enjoyed coaching us to mountain bike ride.
Uphill or Downhill? Definitely uphill, had too many stacks on the downhill.
Most epic day on a bike? Cycle touring the East Gippsland Rail Trail with the 2 boys on our back seats. It was a race against the clock to ride the 42km from Orbost to Nowa Nowa Pub in time for Christmas Day lunch. Sandy conditions, inclined gradient with our 2 boys and luggage was an epic effort.
I’m currently riding … Carrie Edney’s old Giant Anthem
Favourite trails (other than Castlemaine) – Victorian Rail Trails- cycle touring with the kids.
If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be … Road riding. Or in the garden.
One day I’ll ride … In NZ; have a trip planned to Rotorua this December with a few other Castlemaine families.
When I head out for a ride I never leave without … Telling someone where I’m going or filling my water bottle.
My race highlight? Haven’t done many race events, but beating the steam train to Maldon in ‘Race the Train’ is always fun!
What is in your backpack? Don’t carry one – my phone, dried fruit and nuts fit in my seat bag.