Topbike’s Return to Aus + Remembering (W)ren

November

Topbike’s Return to Australia
Remembering (W)ren (Vale Naomi Williams)
Topbike 2025 Giro Tour

Reality bites as we return to Aus after our 10 months in France. Living in the French Alps was like a utopian wonderland; we have now returned to the humdrum of weeding/bin nights, limited public transport, worrying about parking fines and 110kph speed limits. There are however, things that I really love about Australia… here are my top 5 from the first few weeks home:

Being able to go to the shop in the middle of the day without having to check its ‘lunchtime closure’
As a ‘latte’ sipper – Australian Coffee, can’t beat it (not even Italy in my opinion)
Roos, although this must be qualified with not the last thing I see in the headlights
This might be surprising but amongst the 1800 cheese varieties in France we did not find a good old tasty cheddar/vintage cheddar cheese
Betty going to school at the same time everyday

Vail Naomi Williams, aka Ren, Rennski, Wren

Dave and I reckon we’ve had a dream run through life so far. Our friend Wren was not so lucky. She was a roadie/tracky/BMXer/MTBer/Cyclocrosser/gravel rider anything cycling she rode/raced and loved. Cycling was her DNA. Coffee, art and Melbourne Fringe culture her passion. Talented in any discipline she chose, her results were not as outstanding as her persona on the bike. For Wren it was more about the culture, the connections, the friendships made along the journey. She impacted so many people in the cycling community and now so many of us are grieving her loss terribly. Her remembrance ride and heartfelt speeches afterwards would have been more fitting for her 45th birthday. To those who knew and loved (W)ren we share your sorrow and sense of waste of a truly beautiful person. To those who never met her, you missed out…

Photos:

Top & Featured: Naomi Williams – (W)REN (Photo supplied by Kirsty Baxter)
Above – Left: Wren, more than a rider there was always theatre to her presence (photo supplied by some friend of Becs)
Above – Right: This is stencil art of Dave Olle’s cat Pancho situated in little George Street Fitzroy. Wren did it probably 15 years ago and recently she sent me a picture so happy that is hadn’t been tagged. If you are on an urban ride in Melbourne see if you can spot it…(photo supplied by Ren, just one week prior to her death)

Topbike Tours Giro d’Italia is back.

May 26 – June 2 | GIRO d’ITALIA – GIRO 2025

Follow the last week of the spectacular Giro d’Italia 2025 across the north of Italy. Be part of the action, spectating as close as you can get road side of the race course, on climbs and perhaps a start and finish. Feel the excitement of the passionate Italian fans lining the climbs.Ride through beautiful Italian landscapes mostly in alpine areas, including UNESCO sites.
Eat and drink the best Italy has to offer. Tick off some bucket-list epic climbs, which may include some of the following (TBC*) Zoncalon, Stelvio, Sestriere.

Small, boutique tour (max 7) run for Topbike by experienced guides Annabelle & Jamie Drew
*Itinerary to be confirmed following the announcement of the 2025 Giro route.
Pick up/drop off: Milan Malpensa airport

Photo Above:

There is nothing like a men’s upmarket underwear sponsor to tell you there is 4k to go at the Giro

Japan

I’m currently in Japan on an exploratory cycling trip to the Ehime Prefecture. I think I had discovered cycling Shangrila. There is seamless interchange between bike hire/shower/lock up/mechanical facilities and public transport. The drivers are oh so polite, the landscape views are daunting and the roads so far a lovely hotmix. This will be the topic of my next newsletter.

But here’s a sneak peak at a feature on some local media:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2ea9ea8351b9cc4ad9cb534fd118f71d59d3fcde