Get inspired for Bike Week

Coincidentally, the National Capital Tour began at Googong on Friday.

The first leg of the National Capital Tour at Googong saw Canberra cyclist Rebecca Wiasak take out the honours.

Putting the frustrations of missing out on her Olympic dream behind her after an itinerary mistake saw her return to Australia early, the two-time individual pursuit world champion’s first weekend back in the region was spent racing.

"Being back in the National Road Series has really helped me because I've stepped straight back in to the High5 Dream Team who have supported my road and track ambitions for the last couple of years,” she said.

Ms Wiasak has been gracious through the disappointment of missing out on Rio and applied her elite fitness to enjoying riding.

"I'm just grateful that I've been able to put my form to good use because I was training so bloody hard for a race I never got to do.

"That's been one of the most difficult things to deal with but I'm definitely putting some of that disappointment to bed now with some really solid results."

Ms Wiasak won the National Capital Tour time trial stage in Googong with High5 teammate Lucy Kennedy two seconds behind her.

"I'll be doing everything I can to support them in tomorrow's stage and then I'll get to play again on Sunday so it's a great atmosphere," she said.

"I want to keep riding, I absolutely love it.

"I want to defend my title at the world championships in April next year in Hong Kong on the track in the individual pursuit and the Commonwealth Games is 18 months away on the Gold Coast.

"I've got some pretty ambitious goals in the next couple of years and then you think it's only another two to Tokyo [Olympic Games]."

Get inspired by Ms Wiasak, get on your bike and join the cycling community at a pre-work event on Friday. Take part in Queanbeyan’s Bike Week event with a free breakfast from 7.30am to 9am at the bus interchange. 

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council staff are inviting the community to come along to learn how the new bike lock-up facility works.

A bike mechanic will also be on hand on the morning to provide a free safety check of bikes and helmets.

The event in Queanbeyan is part of a wider array of activities taking place across the state. 

Transport for NSW deputy secretary of customer service Tony Braxton-Smith said everyone should get out and explore their local cyclepaths. 

“We want people to embrace cycling whether they are going for a ride with friends and family or making their way to work,” Mr Braxton-Smith said.