JINDABYNE Cycling Club members will challenge themselves like never before on Sunday March 9 as they try to conquer the ‘Jindy 3 Peaks Challenge’.

The ‘Jindy 3 Peaks Challenge’ is a fully supported ride, where you can choose between three levels of difficulty.

A gruelling and most difficult, 178-kilometre ride leaving from Jindabyne riding up and over Deadhorse Gap, down to Leather Barrel Creek, then back up and over Deadhorse Gap, down to Jindabyne then on up to Charlotte Pass, returning to Jindabyne.

The ‘2 Peaks Challenge’ will leave Jindabyne riding up to Deadhorse Gap, then head back down to Jindabyne, then up to Charlotte Pass before returning to Jindabyne.

The least, but still very challenging route, ‘1 Peak’, will leave from Jindabyne heading directly up to Charlotte Pass, then back to Jindabyne.

Based off the Victorian version of ‘3 Peaks’, now a well-known event all over the world, Jindabyne Cycling Club member, Sheryl Rotondo, came up with the Jindabyne concept of ‘3 Peaks’ to challenge her fellow cyclists and give them something to train for.

Jindabyne Cycling Club president, Kent Carpenter, said since the cancellation of various cycling events hosted in Jindabyne, the club wanted to bring a challenge to its members to keep them on the bike.

“There’s no events for cyclists to train for in Jindabyne anymore, with LeTape and now Snowy Classic being cancelled, we want to give our members a challenge to train for and get excited about,” Carpenter said.

“The club use to do an event called ‘around the block’, starting from Jindabyne to Adaminaby, Khancoban and over to Thredbo before returning to Jindabyne, it was a 3-day event.

“Three years ago, that event was amended, and cyclists would ride the more than 100 kilometres from Jindabyne to Corryong until we had to rest on that idea for this year.

“To give our members something to look forward to, Sheryl came up with the 3 peaks idea for the club, which is not a race and not timed, and while only starting off small this year there could be potential for growth in the future.”

For members only, around 40 members and 15 guest cyclists are expected to take on the challenge, finishing up with a complementary dinner hosted by the club afterwards.

Kent said Jindabyne is screaming out for something like this for cyclists from across the state to attend, the region is popular for cyclists and out-of-towners are looking for cycling events in the region to travel and participate in.

Kent said assessing the success of its first event, there could be potential of opening entries to the wider community and cycling enthusiasts for everyone to join.

“It could be something great for the region and draw a lot of people into Jindabyne,” Kent said.

With a strong on-road and mountain bike presence, the Jindabyne Cycling Club currently have around 140 members, 50 of those being active in almost all events.

The club are also very active behind-the-scenes as they get involved in other community events and groups, as well as teaming up with emergency services to ensure safety on the road for cyclists, local and tourist traffic.

In conjunction with Biathlon Australia and the NSW Ministry of Sports, the club have been collaborating in the build of a multi-purpose track for cross-country roller skiers, cyclists and human powered vehicles as well as a biathlon laser range.

Located at Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre, once complete the new multi-use track will be a venue for all to use safely, on a road environment without the traffic.

The Jindabyne Cycling Club meet every Sunday to do a group ride out on Eucumbene Road, meeting at 8am at the Kalkite crossroads, it is a social ride to get members and like-minded people together.

“We encourage people to come along, for a non-competitive ride, staying as a group. It is a fun way to keep active and healthy, then we meet for coffee afterwards,” Kent said.

To enquire about joining the club or extra information on events visit the Jindabyne Cycling Club Facebook page or contact info@jindabynecycling.com.au