Pedaling for purpose: Our Tour de Rocks journey

January 28th 2025 | Categories: Invest Blue News |

Tour de Rocks

In late April 2024, eleven Invest Blue team members participated in the charity cycling event, Tour de Rocks. It’s an event Invest Blue has long been involved in and this year, we’re proud to be the major sponsor.

The origins of the ride date back some 14 years when a small group cycled between Armidale and South West Rocks. In the years since, Tour de Rocks has grown significantly, both in numbers (with over 370 riders this year) and in its incredible fundraising efforts (over $2,200,000 raised and counting).

Nine riders and two support staff stepped up for Invest Blue in the name of cancer awareness, cure and prevention to participate in Tour de Rocks. Catherine Duff was one of those riders and shares her experience with us. Catherine Duff was one of those riders and shares her experience with us.

The 2024 event is Catherine’s second Tour de Rocks but her first as part of the Invest Blue team. This year’s course differed to the 2023 event with cyclists riding from Armidale to Woolgoolga on the Coffs Coast over three days, covering around 270 kilometres. Riders were forewarned that this course would be tougher, and it wasn’t long before reality set in! In fact, before lunchtime on Day 1.

“Doughboy Mountain followed our morning tea stop,” says Catherine. “The gradient was extremely challenging, and I just couldn’t pedal my feet fast enough to get up the hill.” The first day covered 120 kilometres on terrain that Catherine describes as ‘brutal’. From traipsing through grassy paddocks that no-one had trained for to narrow bridges, river crossings and the aforementioned steep mountains to hike up. “At another point on Day 1, I vividly recall seeing riders at the top of the mountain that I was about to tackle and thinking ‘they look just like Lego figurines’, that’s how far ahead they were!”

Day 1 left many riders questioning their decision to sign up. There is standby transport should participants need to take a breather and 140 riders opted to hop on the bus on the first day. Catherine stuck to the bike option but could see the toll it took on those less prepared. “If you hadn’t trained, the ride would have been extremely difficult. Even when you stay on the bike, there are times when, mentally or physically you need to take a moment. That’s when other riders stop and check in on you or have a brief chat.

There’s such a great sense of community on Tour de Rocks. After all, we’re enduring the same challenges and experiencing the ride together.”

It obviously takes plenty of mental fortitude to push on when the going gets tough and Catherine says that during the hardest parts of the ride, she would think of those who had generously sponsored her and the charities the funds go toward for motivation and inspiration.

“Sadly, we all know people touched or impacted by cancer and to be able to fundraise and support the various cancer charities is the best motivator in getting you up those big hills.”

Catherine adds that the reason you’re pedalling away with all your might is very much highlighted by event organisers and the many volunteers as well.

“The ride is really focussed on reminding us why we’re riding and how cancer affects people in different ways. There was a new initiative this year where riders could take little felt cut outs of people and pop them on their bikes as a reminder of someone impacted by cancer. At the end of each day, these felt cut outs were placed together in the shape of a heart. It really brought everything home.”

One of the reasons Catherine describes Tour de Rocks as one of the best community events she’s ever been involved in is the wonderful comradery that exists. There’s also tremendous goodwill amongst everyone.

“Sometimes you’re cycling up to six hours a day and that gives you the opportunity to ride alongside different people and learn their stories. Everyone is so encouraging of your efforts from riders to support crew to volunteers and members of the community.”

There are, however, moments of solitude and reflection and Catherine certainly took some lessons from the ride.

“The scenery of this year’s ride was just phenomenal. It made me realise that I need to get out and about more in the region because it was just so beautiful; be it rolling hills or rainforest. The varying landscapes were a real highlight because if you were doing it tough on your bike you just had to look the right or left and soak up the scenery. Even up a hill, being on the bike was the best way to experience the surroundings because you had time to appreciate it all.” 

The other lesson Catherine took from the ride was that it was perfectly fine to do it at her own pace. It’s fair to say that some of her fellow Invest Blue team and indeed many of the ride’s participants were very experienced cyclists. There was plenty of top-notch equipment to match those high standards which Catherine admits was a little intimidating. She is cautious by nature and laughs as she insists she was the sole rider among hundreds to dismount at the bridge crossings (as per the signs).

“I’m at the other end of the spectrum to those gung-ho types. I trained so I could do the ride but for me, there was no time limit. I wanted to enjoy it rather than endure it. It was important to take in the scenery and not find myself totally gassed at the end of each day. I needed to feel ok about getting back on the bike the next morning.”

Of course, Catherine made it and the oceanside finish capped off an amazing experience. And, as for Tour de Rocks 2025? She’s in no doubt. “I’ll definitely do it again next year although that’s not what I would have said after Day 1. There’s space for those new to riding or for the more cautious among us. Of course, training has to be there so you can enjoy the experience and not feel out of your depth.

It can be physically and mentally challenging but that’s the wonderful thing about having teammates and other riders to egg you on. I would encourage anyone within Invest Blue or the broader community to ride or support and be part of Tour de Rocks. It’s an incredible community event and a testament to the volunteers who put it together every year. It’s an event Armidale should be enormously proud of.” 

It’s hard not to draw parallels between those humble beginnings with a small Armidale-based team for Tour de Rocks and our very own foundations. Like us, it’s grown and evolved. We’ve loved having riders and supporters involved in this fantastic charity-based community event for many years and we’re incredibly proud to be its major sponsor.

Catherine Duff, her fellow riders and their support crew collectively raised over $17,500 for Tour de Rocks 2024. Overall funds raised for this year’s event exceed $134,000. Catherine was joined on the ride by Jeremy Gillman-Wells, Luke Warren, Steve Fort, Theo Holland, Ben Warren, Carl Trevaskis, David McDowell and Nick Grady. Fellow team members Lexi Glover and Simone Wills helped as support crew.

Photos by Studio LJ

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