A group of 22 local cyclists will pedal from Adelaide to Barwon Heads to raise money for two charities.
Three years after Barwon Heads Cycling Club did a similar ‘Bridge to Bridge’ ride from Sydney to Barwon Heads, the club will tackle a different route.
From Adelaide Oval bridge, the group will cycle around 175km per day over five days.
The club is hoping to raise $20,000 for Andrew Love Cancer Centre and Give Where You Live Foundation.
“It will be a struggle for us because it’s a lot of kilometres each day,” club president Andrew Quayle said.
“175km five days in a row will be a challenge.”
The trek will involve four overnight stays – Coonalpyn, Naracoorte, Hamilton and Colac.
The route was considered with safety in mind.
“We wanted to stay off the main roads,” Andrew said.
“It was about making it achievable in that period of time without having too long a day on the bike.”
The final day will take the group through Torquay, where they are hoping to pick up a few passengers along the way.
“On the last day from Colac to Barwon Heads, we will throw it open,” Andrew said.
“We’ll hopefully get some kids involved from Torquay to Barwon Heads or even the windmill (wind turbine at Black Rock) to the bridge.
“When we roll into Barwon Heads maybe it will be a peloton of 40 or 50. That would be pretty special.”
Each morning, rain, hail, shine, hot, cold or in between, the group leaves the CFA in Barwon Heads at 5.45am for a ride.
It’s been described as a ‘shed on wheels’. They are careful not to say Men’s Shed as the group welcomes everyone.
“One of the reasons the club has developed and grown is that people have found it good for their mental health,” Andrew said.
“We have several women in the club and on the rides, but we are always trying to grow the number of women.”
The 22 who have chosen to ride the 875km trip come from a variety of professions and ages, ranging from mid 40s to mid 60s.
The ride has the support of major sponsors – Barwon Heads Hotel and Barwon Heads Bendigo Community Bank.
To donate, go to Barwon Heads Cycling Club’s Facebook page.
