Speakers, stories and a last-minute Wi-Fi rescue
When David Vanzetti was first asked to join Pedal Power’s Social Committee, his immediate reaction was not an enthusiastic yes.
“I was admittedly reluctant,” he recalls, describing himself as “something of an asocial introvert”.
Three years later, David is stepping down from the committee with Kevin Graham and with a rather different view of the experience.
His initial reluctance turned out to be misplaced. There were speakers to find, introductions to prepare and evenings to keep moving towards a reasonably timely conclusion. There were also stories from across the cycling world, conversations with new members and the satisfying feeling of bringing people together.
David and Kevin have helped organise Pedal Power’s monthly Social Nights at the Canberra Southern Cross Club in Woden. Over the past three years, members have gathered to hear about cycling journeys, unusual destinations and the different reasons people get on a bike.
Some speakers had travelled to places David was quite happy to experience from the safety of Woden.
“Tajikistan, Russia and Tibet come to mind,” he says.
When the speaker arrives but the technology does not
Organising an event always brings a few anxieties. For David, two possibilities regularly sat at the top of the list: the speaker might not appear, or the technology might refuse to cooperate.
The speakers always arrived, even if occasionally a little later than expected. The technology was less dependable.
On one memorable evening, a visiting Japanese speaker planned to show a video using the venue’s Wi-Fi. Twenty minutes of increasingly desperate experimentation followed. Nothing appeared on the screen, the audience was about to arrive and the scheduled starting time was approaching rapidly.
David and Kevin were beginning to mentally compose an apology.
Then, three minutes into the introduction, the Wi-Fi suddenly sprang to life.
Timing, apparently, is everything.
The evening continued, the video played and another potential disaster became a story worth retelling.
More than a monthly presentation
The speakers may have provided the program, but the conversations afterwards were an equally important part of the night.
David particularly enjoyed staying behind to discuss the presentation, catch up with friends and meet newer Pedal Power members. Social Nights created a regular place where people who shared an interest in cycling could meet without needing to keep pace with a group ride.
“After all, it is a social club,” he says.
That sense of connection is what Kevin and David have helped sustain. Pedal Power extends a huge thank you to both of them for the time, humour and care they have brought to the role.
After three years, they are ready to hand over, and the next version of Pedal Power’s social program does not need to look exactly like the last one.
What could Social Nights become?
Guest speakers and cycling presentations can remain part of the mix, but a new committee will have room to experiment.
A future program could include trivia nights, cycling films, friendly debates, speed-friending or events built around a particular theme. The committee could also explore different venues where availability and cost make that possible.
The goal is not to arrive with a complete calendar already planned. It is to form a group of people who enjoy exchanging ideas and can share the work of turning the best ones into enjoyable events.
Pedal Power hopes to establish the new committee early in 2027. We are seeking approximately five to ten volunteers, allowing responsibilities to be shared and giving the group a broader range of perspectives.
The time commitment will depend on the program and size of the committee, but it is expected to average around one hour each week, plus attendance at Social Nights. Volunteers are welcome to join with a friend or family member.
You do not need to be the loudest person in the room, an experienced event organiser or someone who already knows every Pedal Power member.
David’s experience may be the best evidence of that.
“I hope the club’s social activities continue to evolve, with new people bringing new ideas and perhaps discovering, as I did, that joining the Social Committee can be rather more enjoyable than expected.”
If you would like to help shape Pedal Power’s next chapter of social events, email membership@pedalpower.org.au to express your interest or find out more.
