You’re never too old to tackle the Bupa Challenge

Brad Slade, 55, decided to get on his bike in a bid to up his fitness levels once he hit the naughty 40s.

30/11/15 Brad Slade will be riding in his 12 consecutive BUPA Tour - an amateur community bike race before the TDU. picture: Roy VanDerVegt

AT the turn of the century Brad Slade caught the new millennium cycling bug.

Slade, 55, jumped on his bike in a bid to up his fitness levels once he hit the naughty 40s.

Now 15 years on Slade — an IT engineer — is totally engrossed in the passion of cycling, mountain biking in particular.

After taking on his first Tour Down Under challenge tour in 2005 — the ride is a recreational support event at Australia’s No.1 bike race - Slade is now preparing for his 12th consecutive community ride.

He will take on the Bupa Challenge Tour which starts from Norwood on the morning of January 22 and ends 142.4km later at Victor Harbor.

“I always do the big ones except for twice when I’ve been ill and I’ve done the half distance,’’ Slade said.

“It’s a great community event and it helps promote cycling. It’s a fantastic event for South Australia.

“But the guys that do an incredible job are the South Australian police. They keep it all real.”

Originally published as You’re never too old to tackle the Bupa Challenge