WHAT do you get when you combine 20 cyclists with 560km of unusual terrain?
More than $11,000 raised for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation via the inaugural R'n'R MTB Adventure, which was held last week.
Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said the event exceeded expectations.
“We had a lot of really valuable input into the unusual route that we took, including rail trails and irrigational channels and it seems everyone had an amazing time,” Ms Duncombe said.
“The cyclists thoroughly enjoyed themselves on a range of very diverse roads and unique locations many of them have never been to before,” she said.
Participants ranged in age from 41 to 71 with most tackling even the toughest parts, including the beautiful but physically challenging Newcastle Range, she said.
Over five days, riders travelled from Mareeba along rail trails, irrigation channels and bush tracks to Almaden, the next day on to Barwidgi Station, then Mt Surprise, Einasleigh and Forsayth.
Almost half the cyclists opted to return on the iconic Savannahlander train from Forsayth, which the ride conclusion was timed to coincide with.
“The local Forsayth police officer was awesome in that he led the group in from the outskirts of town, which was a beautiful way to end the ride,” Ms Duncombe said.
“We stopped at some locations that don't see this many people in one hit very often, so it's great that we can support those small communities, and also show people that there are some amazing places to visit that really are not that far away,” she said.
Funds raised from the event will go towards improving health services in the Far North.