Cycling Without Age - Gold Coast

This week is National Carers Week.

It's a week for unpaid carers: the three million Australians who look after a partner, parent, child or friend, often for years, often without calling it "caring" at all. In Queensland, that's about 1 in 9 of us.

Look at who is sitting beside our guests in these photos. Some are family. Some are mates. Some are professional carers and support workers who have made the drive down to the Broadwater with a guest, yet again. On our rides, we're grateful to every one of them.

Carers hold a lot. Appointments, medications, the careful lift from the car, the worry that follows them home at night. And yet the person doing the caring is often the one nobody thinks to ask about.

On a ride, something shifts for a little while. Someone else does the pedalling. The breeze is the same for everyone on board, and the chat on the way back usually has nothing to do with care at all. We all need connection, the people who give care as much as the people who receive it.

To the unpaid carers this week belongs to: we see you. And to every professional carer who brings a guest to ride with us: thank you too. We hope you all head home a little lighter.

How are the carers in your life going this week? Maybe ask them.

📸 Photos with thanks to Simone Pettit, Rosalie Stillitano and Viola Briedis.

💛

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱… 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?
Good news — you can 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝟯 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. Go on, be a little cheeky and lock in your sunshine time early.

Whether it’s for you, someone you care for, or a whole group of smile‑seekers, we’ve got a seat waiting.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲: https://cyclingwithoutage.com.au/book
Pick your spot, choose a time, and let the countdown to joy begin.

Today is World Mental Health Day, and this year's Australian theme is Together we Thrive. 💙

Look at these faces. Every one of our rides starts with a volunteer who turned up, put on a vest and gave a morning to someone else. It turns out that's good for everyone's wellbeing, on both sides of the pedals.

Thank you to every pilot, helper and guest who makes this happen.

Need support? Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7) · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Wheelchair? Bring it. There's room. ♿🚲

Some of our guests stay in their own wheelchair for the whole ride. It rolls straight onto the front of the trishaw, and a volunteer pilot pedals them along the water with the breeze in their face.

No transfers, no fuss, no cost. Just a front-row seat on the Gold Coast.

Know someone who's been told "that's not for you" one too many times? Tag them, or book a ride here:
https://cyclingwithoutage.com.au/book

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 — all yours with Cycling Without Age Gold Coast!

We offer free trishaw and wheelchair bike rides for individuals, carers, and community groups. Whether it’s a quiet one‑on‑one outing or a whole crew ready for some sunshine, we’ve got a seat waiting.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲: https://cyclingwithoutage.com.au/book

Come roll with us and enjoy the simple joy of slowing down together.

Somewhere between the first push of the pedals and the first breath of sea air, the stories start coming out.

The dance hall where he met his wife. The street she grew up on. The boat that used to sit on the Broadwater. Our pilots hear stories like these every week, and honestly, it's our favourite part of the ride.

October is Mental Health Month, and Queensland Mental Health Week starts today with the theme Build Community, Build Wellbeing. That one sits close to our hearts. The older people we ride with already know what the research keeps telling us: feeling like you belong somewhere is good for your mind.

And belonging rarely starts with something big. It's someone remembering your name. Saving you the front seat. Laughing at the same old joke for the fifth time like it's the first.

This week, think of one older person in your life. A parent, a neighbour, the man at the bus stop you always nod to. Give them a call. Pop over with a cuppa. Or book them a free ride along the water and come along for it. 💚

Every ride is free, at Paradise Point and The Spit. Links in the comments.

Doing it tough? Lifeline is there 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Before anyone feels the wind, a volunteer has already charged the battery.

Then the small jobs begin. A red cover gets tucked over two sets of knees. A wheelchair rolls up the ramp and is strapped in snug. Two passengers get help finding a spot for their handbags. When the rain comes, someone holds an umbrella over a passenger until he's ready to go. And once everyone is settled, the rider gives a wave and pedals off along the Broadwater.

That's what our volunteers make possible every ride day. 2026 is the International Year of Volunteers, so this one's for everyone who pedals, lifts, tucks in a blanket or simply turns up. Thank you. 💛

Fancy joining them? Find out how to volunteer here: https://cyclingwithoutage.com.au/volunteer-6482

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!
If you know a senior or someone with a disability who’d love fresh air, friendly company, and a beautiful ride along the coast, we’d love to take them out.

Book a ride: https://cyclingwithoutage.com.au/book