Alex Lisney

CRC 2026

Day 7, reflection

The Chain Reaction Challenge (Sydney Ride in Adelaide) for 2026 is done.

In the past, I’ve usually finished cycling events and moved straight on, thinking about what’s next rather than looking back. But this one feels worth reflecting on.

The final day sums it up pretty well.

We set out for what was meant to be around 130km through the Adelaide Hills. I started well (all things considered), but probably pushed a bit harder than I should have up Norton Summit early on. From there, it was a great morning of riding before we stopped in Hahndorf for a quick break, helped by a well-timed pretzel from the soigneurs.

By then we’d covered about 60km for the day and just over 900km for the week. The fatigue was definitely there.

Not long after rolling out again, my left leg stopped cooperating. Nothing dramatic it just didn’t have anything left. I saw the mechanic car, pulled over, and got into the sag wagon.

I sat quietly most of the way to lunch. Not injured, just frustrated. It’s one of those moments where the week catches up with you a bit, physically and mentally. In hindsight, I probably should have enjoyed lunch more, but at the time I wasn’t in the mood. Part of the process.

After a reset, I got back on the bike and rode the final 36km into Adelaide with the team.

That moment doesn’t define the week, but it does say something about it. A ride like this isn’t just about the kilometres, it’s about managing yourself across multiple long days, and that doesn’t always go perfectly.

This is a special event, and it’s brought to life by a lot of people. The organisers and support crew who keep everything running smoothly and safely. The riders who show up each day with the right attitude and look out for each other (and offer a wheel when it’s needed). And everyone back home who donated and followed along.

That support is what makes it more than just a week on the bike.

I feel very lucky to have been part of it, and proud to have completed it.

Thanks to everyone who supported the ride, your contribution genuinely makes a difference.

It was a big week. Challenging, rewarding, and one I’ll take a bit more time to reflect on this time.

That said… training for 2027 has already started.

Day 5, climbing legs (just)

Today we rode from the Barossa back into Adelaide through the hills—around 125km with over 2400m of climbing.

The scenery was spectacular coming into autumn, but the climbs were properly tough. A real test at this point in the week.

I got a push up some hills with a steady hand from our crew (Ryan and Luke) and even and Madison style push from another rider Hamish. At this point all the free watts helps up the hills. 

That said, there were still some great descents and a few good wheels to sit on, which definitely helped.

I’m feeling the fatigue now—tired and a bit sore—but still really glad to be part of this. Riding with such a strong, supportive group, and as part of the BaptistCare team, makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks to everyone who’s donated and followed along—it genuinely makes a difference.

One more day to go.

Day 4, done!!!

Today we rode from McLaren Vale through to the Barossa—155km and another solid day on the bike. 

The support crew make everything easy, and Adelaide and its surrounds have been a great place to ride.

I had a slower start today. At the first drink stop (around 30km in) I was considering taking the sag wagon. The cumulative fatigue from the past few days is starting to build, and with my cerebral palsy I notice that a bit more as the days go on.

I kept it simple—just rode to the next stop, and then the next. Breaking the day up like that worked, and I got through the full 155km with some big help from the other riders out here. They sit on the front holding a steady pace and always let me sit on a wheel. Without this, I doubt I would have made it through today  

The group out here makes a big difference. Everyone looks out for each other and helps keep things moving.

Tomorrow we stay in the Barossa for 130km.

Thanks again for the support—it’s appreciated every day. 

Written from bed prior to day 3!!

Two days ridden here in Adelaide and I’m about to roll out for Day 3—148km with some proper climbing on the menu, including Willunga Hill… again. If you know it, you know.

We’ve already had a couple of big days, riding through McLaren Vale and out to the coast, and today we head back out that way before looping across again. It’s an incredible place to ride, but I won’t pretend it’s easy.

I’m having an amazing time, but I can definitely feel the cumulative effect of the long days starting to build. It’s not just tired legs—there’s a lot more going on in the bunch. Staying alert, holding position, and reacting quickly all take focus, and as the fatigue builds, I notice my cerebral palsy more. Movements get a bit slower, reactions aren’t as sharp, and the spasms and pain start to creep in.

That said, this is exactly why I’m here.

I’m surrounded by an incredible group of riders and support crew who make every day not just manageable, but genuinely enjoyable. Riding alongside the BaptistCare team, and with the support of TSA Riley, makes this feel like something much bigger than just the kilometres.

Today will be another tough one, but I’ll roll out knowing I’ve got a lot of support behind me, on and off the bike.

Thanks again for being part of this. It makes more difference than you probably realise. 

If you’ve got any spare watts please magically send them my way xx 

Packing and ready to roll!

The bike box is out and the packing process has started.

At the moment it’s a mix of parts, tools, and a very big black bike box that somehow needs to fit everything. It’s not the most glamorous part of the ride, but it does make it feel like things are actually about to kick off. 

This is the lead-in to the Chain Reaction Challenge — getting the bike packed, making sure everything is sorted, and getting it over to Adelaide in one piece. 

I’ll be riding each day with the group and will post a few updates along the way so you can see how it’s all going (and whether the bike survives the rebuild).

I’ve also added a photo from the last time I was riding in Adelaide, back in March 2016. I was there training on the roads and at the velodrome before heading over to Italy for a couple of months, leading into the Rio Paralympic Games. Packing the bike box back then looked pretty similar (same bicycle even), just with a slightly different goal at the other end.

Training camps in Adelaide with the Australia para-cycling team were always great, good roads, good people, and plenty of time on the bike. I am really excited to get riding again on Adelaide roads and get back to Glenelg for a coffee or two. 

It does feel like a long time ago. Looking forward to getting back out on those roads again, just slightly older (and slower) than last time.

Thanks again for all the support, it’s really appreciated. 

Surrounded by wonderful people!

Riding bikes to make a difference. Let's go.

I’ve signed up for the Chain Reaction Challenge, a pretty epic cycling charity ride. To be fair, riding a bicycle for a week with a bunch of awesome people while raising money for two very worthy charities sounded like a pretty good time (it may also have been strongly suggested by James Marsden). Now that the reality of riding 1,000km across 7 days is getting closer… I’m slightly nervous.

From 26 April to 1 May I’ll be riding 1,000km over 7 days as part of the Chain Reaction Challenge Ride with the Sydney group in Adelaide.

In a previous life I raced a bicycle, but my events were things like 3,000m on the velodrome or a 20–25km time trial, generally short, intense efforts where you could usually see the finish line fairly quickly. This ride is… not that. It’s more along the lines of 150km a day, get up the next morning and do it again, and repeat for a week across hilly Adelaide. Now, if I can sit on the back of the bunch and get some free watts, that is likely 6 hours a day riding a bicycle… ouch.

These days most of my time is spent at a desk or doing school drop-offs, so it will be a bit of an experiment to see how the body responds to this much riding again. But the ride raises significant funds for children’s charities, which makes the sore legs feel like a pretty small contribution in the scheme of things.

Let the training begin (or continue)....