By Margaret Maccoll
Two Olympic cyclists and their coach gave their tick of approval to Noosa’s new water cycling venture, NautiCycles Noosa, which was officially launched on Noosa River last week.
Olympic gold medallist Kathy Watt said the NautiCycles were both a good way to train and a fun way of travelling the river and seeing the sights.
“It’s made for everybody,” she said. “You can do a lot of strength work because of the resistance of the water or you can take it easy and have some fun.”
Kathy, who won gold at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 in the 181-kilometre road race then claimed a silver in the 3000 metres on the track in the individual pursuit event, travelled from Melbourne for the launch of the business being operated by Marc and Tammy van der Vegt.
Fellow Olympian Ron Boyle also came along after finishing his morning 55-kilometre cycle. The 80-year-old was part of the Australian team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and 10 years ago won four gold medals at the World Masters Track Cycling Championships at Sydney.
Ron said it was “good to see another form of cycling”. Having moved to Noosa in 1994, Ron said he headed out for a ride every morning along ideal riding spots around Lake Macdonald and Cooroy.
Kathy and Ron were joined by their former coach, Noosa local Harry Shaw. Harry, 87, gave up cycling only a couple of years ago but also liked the idea of the water cycles.
Sport trainer Andreza Leoncini, who holds a Bachelor of Sports Science, will be conducting ‘spin’ classes using the water cycles.
Andreza said she would be using the same concept used in indoor spin classes, but on the water, and would adapt it for all participants from beginners to advanced.
She said the one-hour workouts would be good to improve health, for cardiac health, to tone legs, abs, buttocks and participants could burn up to 480 calories an hour.
Noosa MP Glen Elmes officially launched the venture, saying it was a great example of people seeing an opportunity and making it happen.
