BACK for a seventh year, and part of Heritage Weekend for a sixth time around, is the Ballarat Lifestyle Magazine Tweed Ride.<\/p>\n
The event combines the old-world charm of robust yet stylish tweed fabric and fashion with the simple harmonic motion of cycling and the history of this grand city.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great way to see Ballarat and all the different decades and centuries that have gone into it becoming what it is today,\u201d said organiser Liana Skewes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFabric like tweed comes from an era where we expected things to last and we bought things for not just their form, but their function.<\/p>\n
\u201cBikes themselves are an amazing invention and a great part of our history too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starting from Pipers by the Lake, the Tweed Ride winds through Ballarat, taking in some key historical sites before ending at Queen Alexandra band stand on Sturt Street.<\/p>\n
Ms Skewes said the event was more than just tweed fanatics on push bikes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good way to go around and see Ballarat, it\u2019s architecture and iconic locations,\u201d she said. \u201cOne of the main features this year will be the Wendouree Lake. The riders like it when we just ride and see everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ride is based on similar events around the world and Ballarat\u2019s take not only offers a stylish way to explore the city, there\u2019s prizes across eight categories for participants, including most dapper and most stylish.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also gone gender natural, which means that non-binary persons can feel comfortable getting dressed up and participating,\u201d Ms Skewes said.<\/p>\n
However, if you lack the appropriate fashion or wheels, don\u2019t fret, the event is inclusive and not just limited to tweed, or bicycles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s multiple fabrics that you could wear, wool, velvet, tweed, anything that reflects the season or speaks to a vintage style is a good choice,\u201d Ms Skewes said.<\/p>\n