Cycling

I like to ride my bicycle

I think the main reason I enjoy cycling is that it allows for perfection in every aspect. The attention to detail involved in making sure the bike is spotless, finely tuned, and ready to ride satisfies my meticulous nature. Every tiny detail matters, from the cleanliness of the bike that's dialled in, to the precise fit and colour coordination of my cycling kit, there's a unique satisfaction in blending functionality with aesthetics.

The engineering behind bicycles is something that I really appreciate, as it combines advanced technology with simple mechanics on a fundamental design that has largely been unchanged and perfected for decades, making it an ideal sport for someone who appreciates both complexity and accessibility and is capable for most people to tinker and maintain it. Moreover, cycling allows for continuous improvement and fine-tuning, whether it's enhancing physical performance or optimising the bike's efficiency, making the constant pursuit of perfection incredibly fulfilling. Every time I ride my bike, it clears my mind and I'm at peace.

I started cycling initially to get to and from uni after seeing my friend's road bike one day, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. The freedom to go wherever and whenever you want is an incredible feeling. The first bike I bought was a really old blue Giant TCR. I initially didn't tell my mum about it, so I ended up parking it at uni for a few days before coming up with a story about how I ended up with a bike — which resulted in one of the biggest lectures of my life, ironically not at uni. I parked the bike at my apartment's carport, but after a few months, it was stolen because the carport gate was broken and stuck open. By then, I had well and truly caught the cycling bug and soon acquired another bike, a Specialized Allez.

Soon after, I joined UQCC, started racing, and worked my way up from C grade to A grade (there was no D grade back in the day!) before I knew it. People also noticed that I could go uphill fairly quickly, and that helped motivate me to train harder. Two more bikes magically appeared at home: a Specialized Venge and a Focus Izalco. The former I describe as an indoor cat — it only comes out on weekends in good weather and to races — while the latter I ride to and from uni and use for morning training sessions.

In 2016, during the third year of my PhD, I had the opportunity to present my research at a conference in Lyon and attend various other events in Europe. It was my first visit to Europe, and I brought my bike along. With travel tips from friends at UQCC, I managed to see the Tour de France. By sheer luck, two people from Brisbane recognised me — one of them said, "Hey, aren't you Jonathan? Don't you race at Nundah?" I also climbed some of the most famous mountain passes in the world. This experience broadened my horizons and solidified my love for cycling.

You could say, by chance or by luck, I was offered a job in the Netherlands a few years later. With encouragement from friends and family, I made the move. It was just my bike and I again on the other side of this great big world. If I were to go back in time, I would still do it again. Before moving to the Netherlands, I sold the Allez, a decision I now 100% regret and have vowed never to sell any of my bikes again! I also just started mountain biking then (I picked up this OzBargain Aldi MTB special, out of all places), discovering a whole new world of fun, but of course, deep down, I'm a roadie at heart.

Today, I'm especially proud to be a member of WTOS Delft for years (I joined on the first day of work at TU Delft, and went to training that evening), and I wear my kit with pride. Coincidentally, it's my favourite colour — baby blue. Wearing my uniform gives me a sense of belonging and team spirit, whether that's on a training ride or at a race. This is probably why you often see me in pictures wearing the kit. I still maintain several close connections with many friends at UQCC. I've also picked up a few more bikes during this time, as my older bikes have "retired" after 10 years of service — the Canyon Aeroad (two in fact, maintaining the two-bike rationale) and the Lux MTB. And of course, living in the Netherlands, you need a stadsfiets or two to get around. In 2023, I joined RWC Ahoy to continue my cycling quest and to expand my network to meet new cyclists, and at the same time, I still fly the WTOS Delft colours at races. Cycling has changed my life. I've made so many friends through cycling, and I've gone to places where I never would've otherwise visited if it hadn't been for my bike.

The bikes that I ride regularly