I used the blue Malvern Star as my major form of transportation, at least anything more than that “10 clicks’’ distance, from the age of about 12 to 17 — before getting my L-Plates and demanding the keys at every opportunity.
While, and don’t tell the authorities, a KZ80 trail bike and dad’s ute with the 1969 “slant” engine under the hood was often used to negotiate the dirt roads that joined me to a network of Wyuna East mates of the early 1980s, anything on the bitumen was restricted to two-wheel usage.
I remember facing the dreaded headwind as I turned out of Wilson Rd, onto John Allen Rd, then started the trek into Kyabram — always hoping that the wind did not change direction when I had to make the return trip.
Fortunately, for a time at least, the family vehicle was a Tarago wagon that could quite comfortably fit me, my sisters and the bike in if indeed the wind was too strong to face the trip home.
So, given my devotion to pedal power for such an integral time of teenage interaction, you can imagine my surprise when I was told by Rochester Primary School staff that not many kids ride to school any more.
FORTY YEARS AGO
BMX Bandits was the 1983 classic Australian movie that launched Nicole Kidman to fame.
It told the story of three teenagers whose lives get complicated when they come across stolen walkie-talkies left behind by a gang of bank robbers.
Kidman played BMX “biker’’ Judy in the feature film that bursts with energy and invention as the trio puts their biking skills to the test in a variety of chase sequences, causing all sorts of mayhem across town including a spectacular escape down the Manly Waterworks water slides.
Cool kid: Nicole Kidman was the star of BMX Bandits, which was released in December 1983. Forty years later the BMX bike is not near as popular as it was when the US-craze hit the shores of Australia in the mid-1970s.
Back in the day the bike rack at Kyabram High School was filled to the brim as “town kids”, and those motivated enough to ignore the bus offering and ride to school, filled them with a variety of bicycle shapes and sizes.
Saturday, not a school day but traditionally a day when friends would gather together with their bikes and “cruise around town”, was World Bicycle Day.
It was in April 2018 that the United Nations declared June 3 as the day of the bicycle, acknowledging the “uniqueness, longevity and versatility” of the clean mode of transport that had been around for two centuries.
While my bike of choice was the “racer”, once the 1983 Australian-made BMX Bandits hit the big screen the craze that had been exploded in the United States in 1972 took a stranglehold on Australia.
When I looked at the bike rack at Rochester primary there were only two BMX bikes, among only a handful in total (partly affected by the fact many children are living out of town and also because very few kids ride to school any more).
“Most walk or their parents drop them off. We would only have 10 or 12 kids who regularly ride their bike,” principal Kate Whitford said.
“Scooters are more likely to be how they get to school.”
Apart from a makeshift “BMX track” alongside the Campaspe River the town has never had its own undulating course, but the bikes are still used by some at the skatepark.
Charlie Holland was the owner of one of those BMX bikes.
It was a handing down from his father, who had always had BMX bikes.
“We go to the skate park and do tricks,” he said.
When I quizzed Charlie about BMX Bandits, the movie that shot Nicole Kidman into stardom, he said his dad told him about it.
He also shared the story of his father’s recent BMX fall, part of the territory for anyone who has been a regular on two wheels through the years.
For Charlie’s dad, though, it was a fairly serious situation that resulted in a dislocated shoulder and four broken ribs.
“He was trying to do a trick, but hit the back tyre,” Charlie said.
Rising 54-years-old, it did nothing to encourage my return to regular bicycle use — stationery bikes in the gym may be the limit of my bike riding.
Walking our enthusiastic whippet may be a much safer option nowadays.
Year 4 student Charlie, however, rides across town to school every day.
“There are heaps of people on scooters and more mountain bikes than BMX bikes,” he said.
For the record, Charlie’s dad was transported by ambulance to Ballarat Hospital (the family was on a trip) and is still recovering.
Cycling connection: Rochester has a proud history, which is celebrated at the Sports Museum with a Sir Hubert Opperman display. This statue was built in honour of the internationally renowned cyclist who called Rochester home for a time as a boy.