Cowaramup father and son duo are calling local bike riders to take on the Pipeline Challenge.
The Pipeline Challenge raises money for youth homelessness charity Youth Futures.
Over five unforgettable days, riders make their way from the red dirt of Kalgoorlie to the Mundaring Weir, tracing the golden pipeline which has been delivering water to the Goldfields for over a century.
Cowaramup resident, Leith Gregory conquered the epic mountain bike ride last year with his 11 year old son Ned, and is encouraging others to give it a go.
“The Pipeline Challenge is a fantastic experience for a great cause and we would recommend it to anyone looking for an off-road adventure,” he said.
“Over five days we made our way along the pipeline back to Perth with our team, stopping at towns along the way at night to camp out under the stars.
“It was a big ride but riding in a team made it totally achievable with plenty of memories and laughs along the way.
“Ned was the youngest rider that year and smashed out his fair share of kilometres each day. He dealt with the ride like a pro.”
Riders can do the challenge as part of a relay-style team, taking turns to pedal it out in the name of supporting WA’s homeless youth.
But some participants want to go that bit further and tackle the whole distance, over 600 km, solo.
Event organiser Erica Blaney said the challenge was more about camaraderie and highlighting the issue of youth homelessness rather than the finishing the ride as soon as possible.
“While we do have many mountain bike enthusiasts pushing their limits, the course has been designed so that it is still achievable for novices, so long as they do their training,” she said.
Youth Futures empowers thousands of young people each year through accommodation, education and support programs.
Sadly nearly 1,000 young people were turned away from the charity’s six homelessness services last financial year, as they were operating at capacity and could not meet the demand. The Pipeline Challenge was established in 2015 to help Youth Futures support as many young people as possible.
This year’s event will be held from May 5 to 9.
Anyone keen to find out more can visit: www.pipelinechallenge.com.au. Registrations close March 30.
