It started when I received a phone call
from an excited Oliver Wacek, owner of
Trinity Cycle Works. lot of fun. But then I also love the discipline
of road cycling. It allows your mind so
much time to think."
Oliver is a stalwart of the local cycling industry,
and this year his flagship store, Trinity Cycle
Works reaches the impressive milestone of 80
years in business. As though to confess a secret, Mike leans
forward, and says: "Of course, we are all
getting older. I now like more of the
comforts life has to offer."
Oliver's longtime idol was coming to Cairns.
A meeting was hastily arranged, and I met
Mike in the lobby of the
Rydges
Esplanade. Despite the looming rain,
Mike suggested we move outside. "I love this
weather," he explained. "Lately, I’ve been loving the E-bike. Have
you tried one? Where I live near the Black
Forest in Germany, I enjoying riding up and
down hills at sunset. It’s beautiful."
The charismatic 55-year-old reminisced
about the last time he was in Cairns. It
was the 1996 World Mountain Biking
Championships in Smithfield, and he
remembers the town's relaxed and
welcoming atmosphere. "It is very easy to
come back to Australia. You can live a
very good life here."
I ask him how it happened. How, aged just
27, he had the maturity and foresight to
think of life after racing. That is the age
Mike was when he founded Focus Bikes,
arguably the most respected bike
manufacturer in the world.
"I'd been riding bikes forever. I had reached
the top of the top. But I knew it wasn't
forever. I had some falls and suffered
some injuries - two very bad ones, where I
almost broke my neck and suffered
headaches. Yes, it was quite young, but I had
my health and future to think of."
Mike explained he was frustrated with the
limitations of the bikes he had used. There
were things that could be done better, so he
approached a designer to help create a
bicycle perfect for his needs.
The brand Focus Bikes disrupted the
cycle industry's hierarchy long before
market disruption was an "it" word. In 2000,
he sold the business, but has since
returned to become Ambassador and
Brand Developer.
With a career that saw Mike reach the
pinnacle in every discipline on two
wheels, I was curious which he loved
more; What was his favourite?
As
though not wanting to hurt the feelings
of any of his passions, Mike diplomatically
explains that he liked all of them for
different reasons.
"When you are on a road bike in the
European spring time, it’s cold, raining and
pretty gloomy and not very nice. But in
those same conditions, with a mountain
bike or cyclocross bike off-road, it can be a
PEOPLE HAVE
REALISED WHAT KIDS
ALREADY KNOW:
RIDING BIKES IS FUN!
ADULTS WANT TO
EXPERIENCE THAT
AGAIN.
Mike explains that the E-bike works on a
Return on Investment system. You only
receive the effort you put into them. "Some
people think it's cheating, but I disagree. I
enjoy it and it brings a smile. How is that a
bad thing? I think E-Bikes are a big part of
the future.
I explain to Mike the term MAMILs,
those Middle Aged Men In Lycra, and
note that in the past decade, cycling in
Australia has become the sport of choice
for people aged 35 and above.
"Its the same across the world," Mike
confirms. "People have realised
that
riding bikes is fun! Remember as kids
we would ride our bikes everywhere? It
gave us transport. It gave us freedom.
Adults want to experience that again
and be out in nature.”
Division 5 Councillor and Chair of Cairns
Cycling Club, Richie Bates, agrees. When
asked what he thinks is significant about the
development of cyclesport in Cairns,
Richie has a big picture in mind.
"I'm excited how the local business and
commercial sector are backing bikes. It’s
not just bike shops that are wanting this.
We are seeing every aspect of the
local economy throwing their weight
behind events and cycling related activities.
"Ultimately, I believe this is what will give
Cairns a 'Cycling Mecca' status and
this will be sustainable for the long
term. It’s not just a passing fad. And with
events such as IronMan and the UCI
Championships investing in Cairns, the
prospects of an increased growth in the
sports tourism sector is very exciting. This
is not just a sporting and social activity.
This is an economic transformation."
Exciting times indeed for Cairns.
To test ride the entire Focus Bikes range,
including the E-Bike, see the friendly team at
Trinity Cycle Works, 40 Aplin Street, Cairns.
ISSUE 22 | 25