A Romsey family will be strapping on their helmets and pumping their bike tyres to take part in Australia’s biggest bike ride next month.
Bicycle Network’s Around the Bay will be held on Sunday, October 8, and will be a game-changer for riders of all ages and cycling levels.
Luke and Helen Critchley will take part in the ride, along with Hazel (2) and Maeve (9 months). Luke said they will divide and conquer, with one daughter on each bike.
“Years ago when I was a young fella my parents used to take me on mass participation bike rides like the Great Melbourne Bike Ride,” he said.
“Our two girls, Hazel and Maeve, love the bikes… [and] I [wil] have one girl behind me and Helen has the other in front of her.”
Since its inception in 1993, Around the Bay has become a rite of passage for seasoned cyclists, colleagues, families and friends, with over 10,000 bike riders expected to take part.
Bicycle Network chief executive Alison McCormack said this year’s ride will be safer and feature more entertainment at the Albert Park start and finish line.
“Those taking part in the Family Ride will also enjoy more peaceful pedalling, with fully closed roads… to offer riders of all abilities a separated route for traffic-free family fun,” she said.
“Around the Bay has played a key role in turning bike riding into a mainstream recreational activity… and the social side of bike riding has made the event Australia’s iconic one day bike ride.”
The official charity partner for 2023 is Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, which funds vital research to accelerate diagnosis and treatment for Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome.
Details: aroundthebay.com.au
