Waugh thrilled with success of charity ride

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh is already looking ahead to his next epic bike tour for charity after successfully completing the 2016 ‘The Captain’s Ride’ event.

The Captain's Ride was a six-day, 701km charity bike ride through southern New South Wales, beginning on October 29 and finishing on November 3 at the summit of Mt Kosciuszko.

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Waugh trained the house down ahead of the gruelling trek that raised money for 400,000 children throughout Australia that are affected by rare diseases.  

"I surprised myself," Waugh told cricket.com.au when asked how he felt after the completing the journey.

"We did 730kms over six days, a lot of climbing involved in that. 

"We had a fantastic week and really enjoyed it. It was a huge challenge, both physically and mentally.

"We went close to the $1m target which was pretty exciting. 

"All the riders raised money as they went along. 

"We raised awareness for rare diseases so very a successful week and looking forward to doing it again this year."

Waugh was one of 70 riders who participated in the Steve Waugh Foundation event that began in Mittagong and finished in Crackenback on the edge of Kosciuszko National Park, with Olympic gold medallists Anna Meares and Daley Thompson, dual AFL Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes and former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden taking up the challenge.

"Anna Meares did the first two days and amazingly enough in the first day she told me during the ride she’d never ridden more than 70kms a once,” Waugh said. 

"We did 120kms on the first day and backed it up the next day. 

"For her it was a real challenge because she’d never done that before. She really enjoyed it. 

"Daley Thomson was amazing. For him it was something totally different. 

"Adam Goodes was outstanding, he was made for bike riding and Matty Hayden was strong as well.

"We had some other incredible people. (Paralympian) Michael Milton, who’s only got one leg, to watch him ride up the hill with one leg was one of the most inspirational things I’ve ever seen. 

"John Maclean, who was a paraplegic until a couple of years ago, he did the ride. 

"So there was some incredible people who performed amazing things which inspired everyone."

The ride also featured a self-propelled bike that was equipped with a 360 degree camera mounted to the seat, offering a first-person viewpoint of the ride for those who were unable to join in. 

“(The Riderless Bike) was at the back of the pack and each day it followed us out on the trek for the first couple of miles then we left it behind,” Waugh said. 

“It was more a representation of all the kids who couldn’t make it with rare diseases. 

"They were there in spirit on the Riderless Bike."