'A very determined ride:' First woman to tackle rail trail 'double' hopes to inspire others

Just before 2:00am on a near-freezing Saturday morning, while most people were still tucked in bed, Bundaberg mountain biker Mandy Cook was preparing for a record-setting ride. Key points: The South Burnett-Brisbane Valley Rail Trail "double" involves cycling two rail trails back-to-back The 306km course goes from Kilkivan to Kingaroy, then from Yarraman to Ipswich Ms Cook is the first woman to attempt it, setting the record at 19hrs23m31s She set off from Kilkivan in south-east Queensland on June 27 in a bid to be the first woman to complete the South Burnett-Brisbane Valley Rail Trail "double" record. The South Burnett stretch runs from Kilkivan to Kingaroy, while the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail goes from Yarraman to Wulkuraka station near Ipswich. "The first section of the South Burnett trail is quite treacherous, it's quite rocky and there's lots of little gully crossings," she said. "We're over the moon with how active and positive the rail trail record setting and breaking has been over the last couple of years," he said.