Get on ya bike this October

A FUN and free bike challenge, known as Biketober, is coming to Ballarat this October.

Biketober is Victoria’s biggest bike challenge and involves the community riding their bike and encouraging others to do the same with a range of prizes on offer.

Participants can register at lovetoride.net and can take part by riding to work, school, for leisure, for exercise or as a social activity.

Users who sign up under a club or workplace will receive a free year of RACV bike assist.

For each kilometre a person rides or for each person they encourage to take part, the user will gain points which will become entries into prize draws.

City of Ballarat’s Cr Belinda Coates said cycling is a great way to travel around or have some fun.

“Communities with high levels of bike riding are healthier, more connected, consume less energy, produce less emissions and experience less congestion on the roads than those with low levels of bike riding,” she said.

“Nothing compares to the simple joy of riding a bike at any age.”

Cr Coates is a regular bike user who enjoys getting outside.

“I ride my bike most days to get from A to B, work commitments or the shops,” she said.

“I also enjoy getting out in nature and cycling the recreational track and trails.”

Ballarat’s Cycling Action Plan 2017 to 2025 aims to transform Ballarat into one of Australia’s greatest cycling cities and initiatives like Biketober will help in this mission.