Vale Mark Carter | Cyclingnews

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I will always remember Mark and his wife Janelle standing on l'Alpe d'Huez last year during the Tour de France. I was doing my duties in the peloton, leading Richard Virenque up the climb. Amongst the hundreds of thousands of fans on that stretch of road I remember hearing Mark's words above all others: "Come on Dodge!" I don't know where it was during the climb, but just knowing he was there - as he's always been during my career - helped me get to the top.

Carts was always there. If there was fun to be had, he was in the middle of the action. If there was a problem, he only saw the positive side - negative wasn't an option, he didn't know what the word meant. He spent endless hours organising the Canberra Cycling Club and not once did I hear a word of complaint. He loved cycling, life, being with his friends and we all loved his warm sense of life, humour and his wonderful friendship.

The news about Mark Carter's passing after an accident on the weekend has affected everyone who knew him. It seems impossible that a man with such energy and spirit will no longer be a part of the famous Bakery Gallop which concluded one of his beloved training rides in Canberra. Mark 'Carts' Carter was proud of his cycling. The president of the Canberra Cycling Club from 1999 to 2001 was one of the city's biggest cycling ambassadors. He would do anything to help others get an appreciation of the sport he loved. His words were often a part of RIDE Cycling Review, and his last piece was about the training rides around Canberra, written at the end of last year. Below is his review of his hometown's cycling culture. It helps remind us of his character and his passion for cycling. Mark was never afraid of a challenge, always willing to rug up against the bitter cold of a Canberra winter and get out on the bike and enjoy life. Alas, the Bakery Gallop will never be the same again without its leading patron.

Mark Carter was one of the first people to welcome me to the Canberra Cycling Club and to become a part of the CCC Committee. Mark was always ready to provide help and encouragement and came across as the sort of bloke who liked to help you to help yourself. Mark was never afraid to sit on the front and put in the hard yards, both on the bike and off. He was a leader and role model, someone that I and others respected and admired for his tireless efforts as Treasurer and President of the Canberra Cycling Club, for his wider contribution to cycling in the ACT and for the way he approached life.

I'll bet you can see it clearly now Carts, from the top of the hill you're sitting on, that the world is a better place for having someone as inspirational as you with us for what turned out to be such a short time. Why else would so many be so deeply saddened at your early departure, and why else would so many have such warm memories, having made your acquaintance. Why else would so many be saying "not fair".

I first met Mark on what I imagine was the 70's version of a 'play date' organised by our parents. From memory, 7 or 8 year old Mark was not particularly interested in 7 year old Margaret as we drank our cordial at his family dining table. Despite living less that 4km apart during our formative years, other than vague recognition in college, where we were at Daramalan together for a year (he was after all a cool year 12, and me but a lowly year 11) it was upon my discovery of cycling that I got to know Mark and his wonderful wife Janelle.

By the time I moved back to the National Capital I was well and truly a cyclist and inducted into the summer Canberra Cycling Community. (My Aussie winters were spent racing in Europe). I love my Aussie summers in Canberra Bunch rides and coffee shops, and the Club Dinner - Carts, aka 'Mr Metrosexual' looking sensational in a suit with a tie knot the size of a fist in fine form on the microphone, New Years Party, Carts always an integral part of the scene, the Wednesday night Crits - The BLD on show, best dressed in 'B' grade. The JJJ Hottest 100 party at Mark and Janelles, with Carts as king of the Barbie. It won't be the same.

My two enduring memories of Carts will be of him resplendent in his gold Saeco Cannondale knicks and jersey & his white carnac podium shoes, microphone in hand at a Wednesday evening in Kingston. The other will be of him in the corner of his kitchen in Dunlop next to his beloved Saeco coffee machine after an evening of Turkish takeaway, dutifully scraping the last scoop of streets blue ribbon (lite of course) for my affogato. Carts, we'll miss you, there will never be another!

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