Around the Bay in a Day

Around the Bay in a Day is a recreational cycling event organised by Bicycle Victoria in Victoria, Australia. Cyclists register to ride a 210km course starting and ending in Melbourne around Port Phillip, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, catching the ferry between Queenscliff and Sorrento. [ [http://www.bigyak.net.au/gmaps/atb2006gmap.html ATB 2006 in Google Maps] ]

For those brave enough to tackle the 210km, their journey begins and ends at the Docklands precinct. Half of the riders head towards the east-side of the bay, riding to Sorrento, and the other half head west towards Queenscliff. Riders cross the bay on ferries to complete the ride.

In 2005 entrants were also offered less strenuous alternatives of a 100km ride from Sorrento to Docklands, or a more leisurely 50km ride to the Western suburbs and return using the West Gate Bridge in both directions.

The event was first run in 1993. In 2005 almost 11,000 people registered for the ride and raised about $300,000 for The Smith Family charity for disadvantaged children. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/10000-cyclists-celebrate-beating-the-bay/2005/10/16/1129401146415.html 10,000 cyclists celebrate beating the bay] The Age October 17, 2005. Accessed May 2, 2007] In October 2004, over 8,600 riders took part.

Responding to the growing number of cyclists wanting to take part in Australia's biggest one-day challenge ride, Bicycle Victoria devised four options for the ride on October 15 2006.

In 2006 organisers expected 9000 participants to choose from the Legend 250km or the Challenge 210km ride. Less experienced riders could pick the Classic, which included the West Gate Bridge, or the Bay Ride. A post ride count put the number of total entrants to more than 14,000, raising $440,000AU.

* The Legend starts at Docklands, heads down to Queenscliff via Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, crosses on the ferry to Sorrento, then back to Melbourne.

* The Challenge takes the opposite tack down to Sorrento, cross to Queenscliff on the ferry, then back to Melbourne, without the Bellarine Peninsula section.

* The Classic starts in Sorrento, heads back to Melbourne via the Mornington Peninsula.

* And the 42km Bay Ride starts at Docklands, pedals to Williamstown, over the West Gate Bridge and back to the cycling festival.

References

* [http://bv.com.au/great-rides/20005 "Bicycle Victoria"]
* [http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/index.cfm?pid=2531&pageid=2769 "The Smith Family Australia"]