Luke O'Connor: Tamworthian to contest Grafton to Inverell on Saturday

Sitting on a bench at Anzac Park, the married father of two detailed the arduous, meticulous preparation he has undertaken in order to compete in his debut Grafton to Inverell Classic.

He also spoke about the psychological barrier he overcame just to get to the stage where he was mentally fortified enough to put himself on a path towards what is arguably Australia's hardest one-day road race.

At age 47, the Tamworth Cycle Club member said that it was pretty much now or never in terms of doing the 228km race, which will be held on Saturday and involves 3382 metres of climbs.

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O'Connor admitted to feeling "quite nervous". He expects that it will take him upwards of eight hours to complete the event - five hours longer than he has raced before.

He has been riding 300km a week for six months in preparation for the race, having overhauled his lifestyle in the process, including no alcohol. "Or cut down at least," he said, adding that he had long wanted to contest the event.

"People around here [say that] if you're a fair dinkum rider, you've gotta do the Grafton," he said. "So that's what it's all about."

He continued: "I've been petrified of it, really. I have been there [at the race] in a support role. It sort of blew my mind a bit.

"And that put me off it for a couple of years, to be honest, because I know how hard it is. Just seeing some of the reactions from some of the riders. They reach the top of the hill [the Gibraltar Range]; it's like they've seen a ghost.

"I know what it will be like."

So, what will you be doing on Saturday?

O'Connor moved to Tamworth at age 10 after his father, Dan, a former pro cyclist, found work in the city.

O'Connor, a building designer, started cycling just before his 40th birthday. He bought his uncle's "cheap bike", and has been riding pretty much non stop since then.

He said his wife, Olivia, was "really supportive and really encourages" him to ride, "because she knows how much it helps the mental health".

"It does take away your focus from other things, like your family; as much as you don't want to say it, but it does," he said of preparing for the Grafton to Inverell.

"So, it will be good to finish it. And yeah, get back to a bit of family time."

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