Key Cycling Events

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Key Community Cycling Events 2013-14

Thousands of people participate each year in mass participation rides in order to accomplish set goals, improve themselves and participate in a community event.

These rides help generate an increased interest in cycling and there is a significant opportunity to offer training to these participants in order to prepare them for their ride and to encourage them to feel safe and confident in increasing their recreational/ commuter cycling.

Across Australia, many charities, cycling clubs and professional event managers organise mass participation rides, some of which are outlined below. Notice an important one that is missing? Email us at info@austcycle.com.au to let us know.

STATE	DATE	EVENT	RUN BY	DETAILS
National	2014 TBA	Ride2School Day	Bicycle Network	Australia's largest celebration of walking and riding to school with 1,000 schools participating nationally and student numbers in excess of 100,000.
	16 Oct 2013	Ride2Work Day	Bicycle Network	Encouraging Australians to ride their bike to work with over 100,000 Australians participating each year.
NSW	20 Oct 2013	Spring Cycle	Bicycle NSW	Every year, around 10,000 people join the Spring Cycle for a celebration of cycling that starts in North Sydney and continues across the Sydney Harbour Bridge main deck and on to the festival-style atmosphere at the finish-line.
	3 Nov 2013	Sydney to Gong	MS Australia	Whether you choose the long or short course you’ll experience the MS Gong Ride’s famous camaraderie, its spectacular scenery through the Royal National Park, Sea Cliff Bridge and the coast road to Wollongong, the support of hundreds of volunteers along the way and the buzz of finishing in Wollongong.
	2 March 2014	Gear Up Girl	Bicycle NSW	Gear Up Girl is a Bicycle NSW initiative that provides opportunities for women to experience the pleasure of riding a bicycle. Gear Up Girl was founded in 2008 as an organisation to run a mass-participation ride from Cronulla to Olympic Park.
	3 May 2014	Ride Around The Lake	Lighthouse	Ride around the Lake is a charity cycling event that raises funds for Lighthouse Youth Initiative. It’s a unique cycle course that is safe, picturesque and achievable, starting and finishing at Lakeside Park, Kanahooka Point. The ride takes in the 40km circuit of Lake Illawarra, travelling through more than 10 Suburbs. There is also a shorter ‘Younger Kids’ and family ride of 10km. Ride Around the Lake is a community family fun day out, the ride is about bringing together people passionate about making a difference in the community. Proceeds of the event along with support fund raising activities are 100% for charity, going to those most in need, in principal the Lighthouse Youth Initiative. The Lighthouse Youth Initiative helps break the cycle of youth homelessness in the Illawarra. It accommodates and supports youths aged 16-24.
	2014 TBA	Tour De Hills	Rotary Castle Hill	Now in its 17th year, the Tour de Hills is organised by Rotary Castle Hill and now starts and finishes at Rouse Hill Town Centre. Entrants will have the choice of four routes to ride - 100km, 60km, 30km and the new family friendly 13km cycleway stage. The principle purpose of the Tour de Hills was, and remains to this day, to provide funding to children's charities. Indeed the first Tour de Hills ride raised over $15,000 which was donated to the The Rotary Wing of The Childrens Hospital at Westmead.
QLD	8-15 Sept 2013	Cycle Queensland	Bicycle Queensland	A 9-day 570 km ride with 1,500 participants celebrating the start of spring each year.
	20 Oct 2013	Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge	Bicycle Queensland	In its ninth year, this Bicycle Queensland event aims to get more people cycling more often. As well as taking on their own fitness challenge, riders will be fighting heart disease – Australia's number 1 killer – by raising vital funds for the Heart Foundation.
	Early 2014	BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge	Bicycle Queensland	Bicycle Queensland has built on last year's route to make the 2013 BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge a 100km distance! There will also be a 60km 'lite' option for those who wish to tackle the mountain and head straight back to base.
VIC	20 Oct 2013	Around the Bay in a Day	Bicycle Victoria	Bupa Around the Bay - Fundraise for The Smith Family has a ride for everyone, from our family-friendly 20km to the iconic 250km loop, there's a place for you in Australia's largest one day bike ride.
	1 Dec 2013	Great Victorian Bike Ride	Bicycle Victoria	Up to 5,000 people participate in a 550km, nine day ride along the Great Ocean Road in November/ December each year.
	2014 TBA	Melbourne Summer Cycle	MS Australia	The Melbourne Cycle’s 50km ride is well regarded as the best way to prepare for your transition into bunch riding and the perfect course length for a challenging yet comfortable experience. The 25km short course is aimed at families to experience a leisurely alternative.
	2014 TBA	Amy's Ride Victoria	Amy Gillett Foundation	The inaugural Amy’s Ride took place in Geelong in January 2006 as the Community Ride associated with the Bay Cycling Classic. Through the generous support of Bay Cycling Classic promoter John Trevorrow and his events company Cycling Events Down Under, Amy’s Ride has become a fixture in the Victorian summer cycling calendar.
	9 March 2014	3 Peaks Challenge	Bicycle Network	If you’re up for it, you’ll tackle a 235km course through some of the world’s most picturesque and challenging terrain, with three major climbs: Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham, and the beast that is the back side of Falls Creek.
	27 April 2014	Otway Odyssey	Rapid Ascent	A heroic mountain bike marathon that journey’s through a range of wild landscapes and cranking single track… complete it, and you will have joined the mountain bike mythology!
ACT	27 Oct 2013	Fitz's Challenge	Pedal Power	Canberra's biggest and best known long distance one-day participation event and potentially Australia's Toughest Cycle Challenge.
	2014 TBA	Amy's Big Canberra Bike Ride	Pedal Power/AGF	Around 1,200 riders tour Canberra on a 25km ride.
SA	Nov 3 2013	Amy's Ride SA	Bicycle SA	Amy's Ride SA is South Australia's most iconic mass participation bike ride. Bicycle SA will be closing the entire Southern Expressway as thousands of people, young and old pedal their way to the finish line.
	Jan 2014	Big Red Ride	Muscular Dystrophy SA	The Big Red Ride will be a great way to kick start the cycling season, taking place the day before the start of the Tour Down Under. MDSA will create a fun, family friendly atmosphere on the day with a number of food stalls, great coffee from major sponsor Cibo and live entertainment. Together we can make a difference to the lives of children and adults living with neuromuscular conditions. Let’s help them live the full and active life they deserve.
	Feb - Oct 2014	Grand Slam Challenge Series	Bicycle SA	Between February and October there are five Grand Slam Challenge rides throughout the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula as part of the Grand Slam Challenge Series. Participants can ride in one, two, three, four or all five of the rides.
	2014 TBA	Boileau VeloAdelaide	Bicycle SA	Set yourself the challenge of riding to Mt Lofty on the 'Mt Lofty Challenge - Get Sponsored for The Smith Family' and ride the South Eastern Freeway through the Heysen Tunnels - exclusively closed for you and your mates. With some preparation and regular training over 6 weeks, you too can do it. You don't even need lycra - just a commitment to ride for fun and your health
	2014 TBA	Gear Up Girl SA	Bicycle SA	Over 600 women ride starting and finishing on the banks of the River Torrens
TAS	3 Nov 2013	Le Tour De Flinders	Bicycle Tasmania	Riders in the fun ride (it''s not a race) start from Lady Barron Hall, ride through Lackrana and Memana to Whitemark and back to Yellow Beach at Lady Barron for a healthy BBQ. If you don''t want to ride the whole distance you can start where-ever you want and just do a section. There will be a sag wagon following the riders if anyone wants to drop out along the way and drinks will be provided to riders at intervals along the way..
WA	19 Oct 2013	Margaret River Cycle Trek	Bicycle Western Australia	Four unforgettable days of Mountain Bike touring. You do the riding while we transport your camping gear and provide scrumptious meals along the way.Margaret River Cycle Trek is not a race. It's a tour in the true sense but with some testing single track riding, yet time enough to smell the roses.
	16 Nov 2013	Tim's Ride	Enjo	To remember Tim Anderson, and to increase the awareness of safe cycling.
	1 Dec 2013	Amy's Share the Road Tour	Amy Gillett Foundation	Great food, stunning scenery, support vehicles, course maps, training programs, team kit, massage, mechanics, school visits en route and evening Q&A sessions with some of Australia's current and former Pros are all included.