Long Ride 2014 - Poker Run

As the lead up to the Long Ride 2014 counts down an event that should prove be hugely popular is the Long Ride 2014 Poker Run.

Starting at 8:30am on Sunday August 31, in Yarraville, the run will take in the Macedon Ranges region of Victoria.  Cost to enter is just $20 with $500 up for grabs plus plenty of prizes.  See below for details -

Riders Cync For Long Ride

The Cync motorcycle group, founded by Phil MacKrell, has always been associated with bringing riders together and often for great causes.  Saturday night was no exception as around 50 riders grouped at Melbourne's Southern Star wheel at Harbour Town to help raise funds for the Long Ride and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Phil along with fellow organisers, Neb and Rohan, encouraged all riders to buy tickets for the adrenalin raffle as well as buying Cync merchandise.  Almost $200 was raised in just an hour or so - thank you to everyone who got involved.

The Cync guys have pledged greater support through a number of initiatives in the lead up to and during the Long Ride.  I'm looking forward to seeing their support and can't thank them enough.

Geelong Cats Limited Edition Signed Poster

There's no doubt that a number of sporting teams are huge supporters of community events and initiatives.  Supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia through the Long Ride 2014 are a number of high profile teams associated with the colour blue - Melbourne Victory FC being one, and now the Geelong Football club is another.

The Cats have very generously supplied a limited edition print, only 1500 are in existence, that is signed by all 46 registered players as well as the coach, Chris Scott.

Number 1198 of the 1500 prints, all of the signatures are genuine and signed with a silver pen - this is the genuine article donated for the purpose of raising funds for the PCFA by the Geelong Football Club.  The poster has been professionally frame with archive quality materials.

To raise money for the PCFA this rare piece of sporting memorabilia is up for auction with a start price of $100, it could be yours for as little as $101.  The auction is open and will remain open until 11:59pm August 15, 2014.  All you need to do is tell me your highest bid and I will manage the bidding in much the same way that eBay works - anyone in the world can bid and postage or delivery will be included in the price, essentially I will take care of the delivery costs.

To make a bid just email me at leigh.wilkins@bigpond.com with your highest bid, your full name and contact details.  Also let me know what name you would like displayed as your bidding name (only the highest current bidder will be displayed - below).  If you would like further details please let me know.

CURRENT BID: $155.00 Tasha Procko

Who Could Resist A Drop of De Bortoli?

I think it would be fair to say that most of the Long Riders enjoy a nice wine and not too many could go past a glass of one of De Bortoli's finest.

Coming along for the Long Ride 2014 is De Bortoli wines through their fantastic support in supplying wines to help raise funds for the PCFA - I must say it's very hard not to be tempted to enjoy all of the wine myself.

De Bortoli Wines is a third generation family wine company established by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli in 1928. The couple emigrated to Australia from Northern Italy, from mountain villages at the foothills of the Italian Alps, near the historic town of Asolo.

Their son, the energetic and dynamic Deen De Bortoli, (b 1936 – d 2003) expanded and consolidated the business created by his parents. Deen's children established De Bortoli's reputation for premium wine including icon dessert wine Noble One and the Yarra Valley wines.

Italian family values passed down from Vittorio remain core values, there is a culture of hard work, generosity of spirit and of sharing good food, good wine and good times with family and friends.

It's these values that has seen De Bortoli show their support for the Long Ride, the PCFA, and men's health in general.

If you love a wine and want to support a business that cares about men's health then try a De Bortoli.  The Deen De Bortoli, Vat Sauvignon Blanc is a cracker.  This is a clean and vibrant wine, with lovely melony characters on the nose and a light edge of citrus and grapefruit, and better still it is amazing value for money.

I dare say a De Bortoli or two will be enjoyed on the Long Ride, we'll even drop by the cellar door at Bilbul (Griffith).  Thank you De Bortoli for your support of men's health.

Black Swan ... Flavour Is Everything!

While eating my Jordan's granola for breakfast every morning as part of healthy routine to try and get fit and prepare for the Long Ride, one thing that is a must is a few 'blobs' of Black Swan Yoghurt on my breakfast.

I simply couldn't go without it, and have found it to be one of the better tasting as well as most healthiest yoghurts on the market.

Black Swan founder Christos Saristavros loved his food and used his family's recipes to produce dips which he sold at the South Melbourne market. At that time one flavour dominated his business - Tarama (made from fish roe). From those humble beginnings some 15 million containers have found their way into Australian homes every year making Black Swan Australia's favourite dip.

Just one way you can enjoy Black Swan yoghurt.

These days Black Swan's recipes are constantly changing reflecting the dynamic nature of the community. They still make Tarama of course but also guacamole, cheese and chives, hommus ... in fact over twenty different flavours.

Since starting as a one man business Black Swan have diversified so much that they now employee 75 people and for me, yoghurt, just one of their fine products, is the one that I will always use.

Black Swan have been extremely generous in coming forward to help raise funds for the PCFA through the Long Ride by providing a donation of considerable size.  While I am extremely grateful for the donation, I much more grateful for the healthy option that they provide with my breakfast.  Thank you!

An Adrenalin Rush Filled Raffle

One thing about motorcycle riding is the adrenalin rush you often get from it, especially when it's over many weeks on something like the Long Ride.  To share this sensation with you, my Long Ride, with the very generous help of Robert (Tav) Swinton is offering a raffle like no other.

For as little as $2 you can go into the draw to win an amazing tandem skydiving opportunity over the bayside suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Australia.

From 14,000ft you can see Melbourne like so few others get the opportunity.  Valued at almost $500 the prize is valid until June 30, 2015 and can be taken on any weekend until then.

As if that wasn't enough second prize is 8 laps in a high performance, world class rally car - you drive it - before handing it over for one very special lap with a professional rally driver.

Third prize is just as good.  You and a friend get to experience a 40 minute jet boat ride around Melbourne's famous Port Phillip Bay.

All you need to do is purchase a ticket for just $2 (or you can buy three for $5) to enter the draw which will take place in early September.

All proceeds from the raffle will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia through the Long Ride - email leigh.wilkins@bigpond.com for more information or to purchase tickets.  

The Star of Alice ... Lisa Perry

There's little doubt that the motorcyclists on the Long Ride need a good feed and none will come better than that had at the Star of Alice function centre when we stay in Alice Springs.

Lisa Perry, who recently opened Star of Alice is providing the riders with a gourmet BBQ as a thank you for what the Long Ride achieves through the awareness campaign and fundraising for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Lisa opened the centre earlier this year after success with her Reality Bites catering company throughout the Alice Springs region.

Lisa was recently quoted in the Alice Springs News, “If you do things well, and you’re passionate about what you are doing, the word spreads quite quickly and people tend to support you, and there are good things happening.”  This holds true to the Long Ride and it's this belief that has seen Lisa support us and we can't wait to support her and Star of Alice.

Personally I can't wait to enjoy a good steak, a cold beer and great company at a venue like Star of Alice.  Looking forward to the night in the Alice with other riders.