Swapped ciggies for the saddle

By Bridget Brady
A QUEST to quit smoking has developed into a passion for pedalling for Cranbourne worker Kathryn Knabe.
Mrs Knabe, 33, of Skye, is gearing up for her third Great Victorian Bike Ride after she ditched the cigarettes for cycling a few years ago.
There are only a couple of hundred places left in this year’s 546-kilometre ride, which will take place along the Great Ocean Road beginning on 28 November, and Mrs Knabe wants other Casey residents to get on board.
Mrs Knabe began riding after she decided her smoking habit, which she had since she was 13, needed to stop.
“I wanted to quit and so every time I felt like a smoke I would go for a bike ride,” she said.
“I’ve successfully quit and been having a great time on the rides.”
The Great Victorian Bike Ride has proved to be a family affair for Mrs Knabe.
Her husband, Karl, participates in the ride along with his parents and sister.
“The exercise, scenery and the social side is great. I’ve seen a lot of new places that I would not have thought to go to and revisited them afterwards. And I’ve met a lot of new people.”
Mrs Knabe said she did not know of many people from the area that participated in the ride, and wanted to encourage others to get involved.
“My husband and I tell everyone about it. I think we bore people sometimes. But it’s something that anyone can do and it sounds daunting but anyone could do it.”
Come September, Mrs Knabe will spend each Wednesday and weekends training for the event.
Mrs Knabe said she encouraged people to train before attempting the ride.
“It’s just so you can enjoy the ride rather than it being a chore.”
For more information on the ride call 1800 616 600.