Don Koehne still on his bike at 80 ahead of Bupa Challenge

DON Koehne was a national-level cyclist who finished third in the Australian sprint championship in 1956 before his bike sat idle for the best part of 30 years as work and family commitments took over.

9/1/15 BUPA RIDE - 80-year-old Donald Koehne of Hope Valley is this week's Bupa Challenge Tour rider profile. Picture Roger Wyman

DON Koehne was a national-level cyclist who finished third in the Australian sprint championship in 1956 before his bike sat idle for the best part of 30 years as work and family commitments took over.

But 10 years ago after finishing his job at Holden, Don decided it was time to get back on and now at 80 he’s still pedalling.

“I had a bit of a rush of blood one day when I was in Super Elliotts (cycling shop) and saw a bike on special so I bought it,” said Don, who is also a former winner of The Advertiser wheelrace. That bike was an aluminium framed Diamondback which Don has since upgraded to a carbon-fibre Focus he rides about 60km a week in preparation for next week’s Bupa Challenge Tour. It will be the sixth time Don has done the community ride as part of the Santos Tour Down Under and this year he plans on riding the shortest of four distances, 27km from Macclesfield to Mount Barker. “Each year I think about riding further but this year the next one up looks a bit longer, so I’ll stick to the shortest option,” he said.

Riders can choose from four distances ranging from 27km to 151km and can leave from four locations including Glenelg, Willunga, Mount Compass and Macclesfield on Friday, January 24.

Riders who have already registered can collect their jerseys in the Adelaide City Council Tour Village and Bike Expo in Victoria Square from 3-6pm on Saturday, before the professional riders are presented to the crowd. Entries are still open for the Bupa Challenge Tour but only until 5pm tomorrow. For more information or to register visit www.tourdownunder.com.au

Originally published as Don Koehne still on his bike at 80 ahead of Bupa Challenge