From “Why Not?” to Everesting: How Cycling Changed Everything

by Chelsea Zadravac

How I got into cycling

I’ve always had an adventurous spirit, someone who seeks out challenge and growth, whether it's in work or in life. But cycling wasn’t always on the radar.

In 2022, I had just joined Tranzformd when a video of a recent Tour de Cure ride was shown in a team meeting. Watching my colleagues push themselves for such a powerful cause, cycling hundreds of kilometres to raise funds for cancer research, left me speechless. Inspired. Curious.

I didn’t even own a bike at the time. But something about it felt… right. I turned to my boss, Sully, an experienced cyclist, and asked, “Could I really do something like that?” His answer was simple: "Yes, but only if you’re disciplined and willing to do the work. He told me to sleep on it."

Instead, I walked out on my lunch break, bought a bike , a cycling jersey and bib shorts, and rolled it right back into the office.

Getting Started: From Zero to Pedals Down

From that day on, Sully became my cycling mentor, helping me train, answering every beginner question, and encouraging me through every “I can’t do this” moment. My first charity ride was in sunny Brisbane, and it opened the door to something bigger than fitness. It was about connection. Purpose. Growth.

Since that first ride, I’ve completed five charity cycling tours across Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, with another one on the horizon.

But one ride, in particular, stands out.

The Signature Tour: 9 Days, 3 States, and One Big Goal

The Signature Tour was a next-level challenge: nine days of riding across three states, from Hobart to Adelaide. It was long, brutally hilly, and tested every part of me. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. But it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

That tour came with a $12,000 fundraising goal. I knew I wanted to ride it again, but I needed a creative way to raise the funds.

That’s when the idea of Everesting was born.

Climbing Everest on Taronga Zoo Hill

Together with one of the closest friends I’ve made through cycling (who I now have the honour of being a bridesmaid for!), we set out to climb the elevation of Mt. Everest, 8,848 metres, in a single ride.

The training was brutal. Alone. In the dark. Before work. Hill repeats that tested not just my legs, but my mindset. There were mornings where the hardest part was convincing myself to keep showing up. But each lonely, freezing climb became a deposit into something bigger.

And on November 22, we did it. We completed an Everesting challenge on Taronga Zoo Hill and raised $18,000 for cancer research in the process.

My “Why”

What began as a spontaneous decision quickly became something that’s reshaped my life. Cycling is now about so much more than physical challenge. It’s how I give back. How I grow. How I connect.

It’s introduced me to the most inspiring people, those fighting personal battles with cancer, those pushing their limits, and those who have become lifelong friends. I even met my partner through cycling.

One of my favourite quotes is, “Life is more fun outside the comfort zone.” And cycling has taught me exactly that.

To Women Thinking About Starting Cycling

You don’t need to be the fastest, fittest, or most experienced.

You just have to start.

The community you’ll find, the confidence you’ll gain, and the things you’ll prove to yourself along the way are worth every early morning, every tough climb, and every moment of doubt.

What’s Next?

This journey is only getting started... I've taken a few months to rest after my last event but have goals to

Complete an ironman, starting with a 70.3 in Western Australia later this year...and eventually… I'd love to set a record of some sort.

Something bold. Something scary. We will see...