News / Sport / 18th November 2021
Sporty spice tests her limits
There’s one way to describe Kate Spicer and that’s as Coonabarabran’s “Wonder Woman”.
The 37-year-old’s life consists of two things, working on her parents’ farm and pushing her body to the absolute limits on her road bike.
The Dubbo Cycle Club member admitted her passion for cycling and pushing herself was at a “near crazy” level.
Kate puts in hundreds of kilometres on the roads each week and, to make her passion all the more mind boggling, she prefers riding at inclines ratherthan flat surfaces.
“On average, I do over 800 kilometres a week on the bike and I mostly try to do that on hills. I'm not very keen on the flat stuff,” Kate said.
“It’s just a challenge for me to see just how far I can push myself before my mind and body breaks.”
Kate said her motivation to keep saddling up came from her desire to be in control.
“There’s a fair bit of control in my life, but when I’m out on the bike that all goes away and for that bit of time I’m finally in control.”
It wasn’t long until Kate’s passion turned into competition, and she has starred in many events across NSW.
Kate finished first in her age group by a stretch in the L’etape Australia - a 136-kilometre race notorious for it’s hill climbs.
As a result she qualified to race in France, but her farm life and COVID-19 got in the way.
Instead, Kate now plans to visit the country next year, having booked a 10- day tour of some of the best hill climbs used in the world famous Tour De France race.
The Grafton to Inverell ride is another event Kate is known to frequent and while she said riders almost always battle strong headwinds and the cold elements, she “enjoys” the competition.
In between events, Kate pushes herself to complete “the Everest”.
She explained it as riding inclines until reaching the height of the world’s tallest mountain Mount Everest.
Kate previously completed the 8448-metre feat in an overall elapsed time of 19.5 hours - or 16.5 hours of actual ride time using the incline of the Warrumbungle Mountains.
“The total elapsed time includes if you stop for a break - to eat, drink or go to the toilet,” she explained.
“I think I can definitely beat that time.”
The self-proclaimed introvert said she doesn’t do much outside of cycling and working her parents’ farm.
“If I’m not working on the farm doing cattle work or fencing, I’m out on the bike - and if I’m not out on the bike, I’m on the indoor bike doing kilometres.
“Working on the farm allows me to do these rides and compete in the events because my parents are really understanding and support me.”
Netflix and chill... and cycle
Even Kate’s idea of Netflix and chill involves the bike.
“I’ve got my indoor bike set up in front of the TV so I can watch Netflix while I ride,” she laughed.
Kate didn’t always have such a passion for cycling and said she was talked into it.
“I was actually a tennis player and one day Roger Row told me I had cyclist legs,” she said.
“So I can probably thank him for getting me into it.”