Swans premiership player now Crows assistant coach Ryan O’Keefe to tackle Bupa Challenge Tour

RETIRED AFL star Ryan O’Keefe says the best way to discover a new city is by bike so when he moved from Sydney to Adelaide in the off-season it was one of the first things he packed.

4/12/14. Midfield Development Coach for the Adelaide Crows, Ryan O'Keefe. He is a keen cyclist and is involved in the Bupa Challenge for the Tour Down Under. Pic Keryn Stevens

RETIRED AFL star Ryan O’Keefe says the best way to discover a new city is by bike — so when he moved from Sydney to Adelaide in the off-season it was one of the first things he packed.

The two-time premiership player and 2012 Norm Smith Medallist with Sydney is now an assistant coach at the Crows but is spending almost as much time on his Giant Propel bike.

O’Keefe has done bike trips to China, Vietnam and Spain but says Adelaide offers some of the best cycling in the world.

“I’ve gone in the hills a few times and it’s been some of the nicest riding I’ve done around the world,” he said. “I’ve done Greenhill Rd, up to Mount Lofty, Norton Summit, Montacute and Corkscrew, just getting out and exploring the city.

“Then obviously riding along the coast is a nice flat ride. It’s been great, I’ve really enjoyed it,”

The 33-year-old started riding more than a decade ago and now clocks up 300-400km a week. “A friend who was really into cycling got me into it in the off-season, then I ended up commuting to training every day,” he said.

“You can do a lot of riding and get that fitness and leg strength but without all the impact of running.”

His next goal is preparing for the Bupa Challenge Tour during January’s Santos Tour Down Under in which O’Keefe will ride for Team Europcar with thousands of recreational cyclists from Glenelg to Mount Barker.

“I’ve been a cycling fan for a while and do a lot of it and they discovered I was coming to Adelaide and (asked) whether I wanted to be a part of it (Bupa Challenge Tour),” he said.

“I jumped at the opportunity. It’s been an event I’ve been wanting to get to but due to being in Sydney at that time of year it’s been logistically hard to get here.”

For news or to register for the Bupa Challenge Tour visit www.tourdownunder.com.au

Originally published as Swans premiership player now Crows assistant coach Ryan O’Keefe to tackle Bupa Challenge Tour