Meet Our Committee

Roz Bradley

Profession: Hairdresser

Passion/s: Riding all of my bikes – as often as possible! Looking at maps to create new adventures – on my bike. Planting trees….

What brings you to the Bendigo MTB committee? After a 15 year hiatus – a desire to make a difference within mountain biking around our local area.

What area of the committee is your passion? I’m yet to find my exact passion – but I do love helping to run events. 

Do you have a long term goal/outcome within the club that you would like to see come to fruition? There are a few! Toilets at the trail head in Spring Gully. Sanctioned trails around Bendigo so we can run the Golden Triangle Epic again. Fun social rides/events for newbies.  

How long have you been in love with mountain biking? In 1999 after buying my first mtb from Pete Moroni and then going along to locally run cross country mountain bike races – so that adds up to a lot of years!!! 

Did you start as a mountain biker? My Dad and subsequently my brothers’ used to race on the track, so I had been around bikes my whole life – but mountain biking was definitely where my passion for bikes started.

Competitive/non-competitve rider? Explain!!! Competitive! It’s just that my brain thinks I’m as good as Peta Mullens but my age and my legs and my lungs and the amount of time I ACTUALLY get to ride my bike don’t compare!!! 

Jo Lythgo

Profession: Retail & Accounts Manager

Passion: Riding my Bikes, the coffee after the ride and watching movies

What brings you to the Bendigo MTB committee? Initially it was because Paul (husband) was involved with the racing & running the 6hour, then the entire family all got involved in the club racing & volunteering so it was a natural progression to go from volunteering at the Summer Racing to then Co-running it for a few seasons as well as introducing events for women like me that were new to the sport.

What area of the committee is your passion? Women’s involvement

Do you have a long term goal/outcome within the club that you would like to see come to fruition? I achieved my goal a few years back with the Women’s involvement increasing and the birth of the Women’s Challenge in 2017, now Id like to see more women become involved in the committee and evolve both the social rides and the Women’s event.

How long have you been in love with mountain biking? 10 years but for me it’s a love/hate that I combine with other types of riding as well.

Did you start as a mountain biker? God No, I started as a recreational rider, then road rider who was looking for a bit more of a challenge all the while getting pushed by Paul and the kids to do more.

Competitive/non-competitive rider? Explain!!! I’m a bit of both – I like a bit of competition when I’m feeling good and confident in my skills but most of the time I’m really there for the social connections.

Mark & Paula Saxon

Profession: Mining consulting

Passion: looking after the beautiful environment literally at our back door, and being happy and healthy

What brings you to the Bendigo MTB committee :  Mark and our son Matthew have been riding mountain bikes for the last 10 years.  Matthew has been part of the 2WA academy and both have been racing in the Victorian XCO MTB series and Shifty Fifty series over the past 2 years.  Joining the committee is one way we can help contribute to grow this great sport.

What area of the committee is your passion: We have taken on management of club merchandise, and use this as a way to promote the club locally and around the state as we travel to events.

Do you have a long term goal/outcome within the club that you would like to see come to fruition?  It is a big long term goal for the club to have more sanctioned trails that would allow us to host major events that help make this club successful and financial.

How long have you been involved with mountain biking:  Over 10 years, both as riders and “support crew”!

Did you start as a mountain biker? Mark – yes, after moving back to Bendigo as it was a good way to keep fit and off the road. Paula – still to be one! I prefer my e-bike on the rail trail and a coffee along the way.

Competitive/non-competitive rider – Mark – competitive in my age group.  Paula – definitely non-competitive.

Jo Wall

Profession: MTB Skills Coach, Owner and Operator of Trailhead Coaching, Primary Teacher

Passion: I am passionate getting more people riding MTB! I love sharing my knowledge with anyone who is keen to learn and progress their riding. I believe that there are many barriers that prevent people from participating in MTB and skills and confidence can be a big one! Skill progression can assist in and encourage greater engagement with the sport and empower anyone, regardless of gender, age, ability and background, to ride with confidence and enjoy the many benefits that MTB has to offer.

What brings you to the Bendigo MTB committee? I have been a longstanding member of the committee since 2008ish?? I first joined the committee as I had an interest in giving back to the sport that I love by ways of helping to facilitate opportunities for MTB in my local area.

What area of the committee is your passion? I am passionate about making MTB accessible to all and helping provide opportunities for growth, development and for people to simply to experience the pleasures of MTB.

Some areas that I have been involved with inline with this are;

  • Race director of the kids racing in the Summer Series

  • Head Coach and manager of the 2Wheel Academy, (the clubs junior development program.)

  • Assisting with event management for some of the club’s major events.

  • Trail advocacy; working bees, contributions to Masterplans for a trail network and skills park.

Do you have a long term goal/outcome within the club that you would like to see come to fruition? In line with getting more people on bikes, I would love to see a sanctioned trail network here in Bendigo. Providing a well-planned network of signed and graded trails will make MTB accessible to all and encourage greater engagement.

How long have you been in love with mountain biking? As a kid, I would ride around on the bush tracks in Mandurang where I grew up along with riding to school! I loved the freedom and independence it provided as it enabled me to get out and explore the local bushland, nothing has changed!! I purchased my first MTB and started riding in 1997, haven’t stopped since!

Did you start as a mountain biker? Yep!

Competitive/non-competitive rider? Explain!!! Yes, in a previous life; LBK (Life Before Kids!) Mostly these days I live for club racing, the banter, the fun that comes with racing your mates and digging deep to do so!

I completed a 6year stint of XC racing at the highest level. This provided opportunities to travel and race overseas where following the World Cup circuit and representation at multiple World Championships were career highlights. I have also dabbled in some MTB stage races, one and one only solo 24hr! (Obtaining the National Title) Team 24hr racing and also Gravity Enduro as it was starting to emerge as a new discipline.

Jarrod Pyke

Profession: Metallurgist

Passion: Enjoying the outdoors with my family. Laughing at broken derailleurs…. Singlespeeds rule!

What brings you to the Bendigo MTB committee? I’ve been racing with the club for a few years now and now have my kids involved in Dirt Squirts which has changed my perspective. Keen to get involved in the committee and help as much as I can, facilitating the same opportunities I’ve had for the kids getting into the sport. I’ve lived/travelled in many areas of Australia with strong trail networks and have seen the positive advantages this has.

What area of the committee is your passion? Dirt Squirts and trail advocacy

Do you have a long term goal/outcome within the club that you would like to see come to fruition? To help with growing participation for junior age groups and ensuring continued pathways are available through the sport from juniors to seniors. Aiding in any way to ensure sustainable trail access for local kids as they grow up. Promote a single speed category for races. 

How long have you been in love with mountain biking? On and off since I was a kid, but always interrupted with pretending to be a footballer in winter. Now that’s behind me it’s bikes 100%

Did you start as a mountain biker? Yes, mtb has always been my No1, dabbled in some road when living in Adelaide Hills, but now MTB and gravel Competitive/non-competitve rider? Explain!!! Try to be competitive, but usually against myself and mates more than the front end of races. I set myself some goals every year to complete marathon MTBs on the singlespeed which gives me something to train for. The summer series gives a great opportunity for some healthy competition during the week..

Russell Nankervis

Profession: I work in Asset Inspection at Powercor

Passion: Mountain biking, traveling, ideally a bit of both.

What brings you to the Bendigo MTB committee? Stepping away from racing and training at the moment means I have more time available and I want to help shape the future of the club, especially with the growth of mountain biking in Bendigo over the last 5 to 10 years. 

What area of the committee is your passion? Event coordination and the push for more formalised trails for Bendigo and surrounds.

Do you have a long term goal/outcome within the club that you would like to see come to fruition? I would love to see more trails approved and better coordination between the City of Greater Bendigo and Parks Victoria. Bendigo is the largest regional city in Australia to be surrounded by unbroken Victorian and National parks. Mountain biking is the fastest growing recreational sport in Australia and if we get more people enjoying the forests on bikes it would put Bendigo on the map.  

How long have you been in love with mountain biking? Since I followed my brothers into the sport when I was under 10.

Did you start as a mountain biker? Yes, I did my first mtb race before the Bendigo club was formalised at a small race on my BMX at the time in North Bendigo. 

Competitive/non-competitve rider? Far too competitive and harsh on myself.