Bellarine Springs cyclists travels around the world

THE Bellarine Springs Cycling Group has just cycled a combined distance equal to travelling around the world at the equator – 40,075km.

It has taken five-and-a-half years of combined cycling by the group but with a greater number of people enjoying the weekly rides, the next circumnavigation milestone should be quicker to reach.The Bellarine Springs Cycling Group was started more than five years ago by Bellarine Springs resident Margaret O’Neill, who was a former triathlete.

She started the group with five members, of which four are still active cyclists in the group. Now the group numbers 13, although the most on any single ride was 12, with members not always available every week.

Keen cyclist Alan Clarke said the group is a great way for members to stay fit, socialise and enjoy the scenery of the Bellarine Peninsula and further afield.

“We usually ride for about an hour, stop for a leisurely tea or coffee, and then ride back, with our most common ride being 33km return to Point Lonsdale, or to Newcomb,” Alan said.

“Our shortest ride so far has been 19 kilometres (during COVID) and our longest was 45 km, although we did have both morning tea and lunch on that day!

“We have also consumed over 1,300 cups of tea or coffee while doing it. And we have been everywhere – Geelong, St Leonards, Lara, Fyansford, Waurn Ponds, South Geelong, Queenscliff, Rosebud and Melbourne to name a few places.

“We are indeed fortunate to live in a place where so many good cycling options are available to us.”

The group is made up of both men and women and the average age is mid-70s, but Alan said most of them were already cyclists before joining the group and have maintained their interest in cycling to keep fit and active without the high-impact of other more strenuous exercise.

More than half the group ride e-bikes which helps in a head wind or uphill, but there are some members on traditional bikes. The better riders tend to go out front while the rest of the group ride to their own level, then everyone meets at the designated destination for the day.

Alan said they are fortunate at Bellarine Springs to be located about half-way along the Bellarine Rail Trail, making it easy to choose direction based on the way the wind is blowing (so there’s a tail wind when they have to go uphill!).

“We always leave from Bellarine Springs at 9am in the morning. Some of our favourite rides include Portarlington around to St Leonards, with lovely views across the bay and back to Melbourne. Rides where we drive then ride include the North Shore to Lara, with views of the YouYangs, and the Barwon River through Geelong.

“We try to ride off-road and on trails wherever possible and avoid busy roads.

“Of course, safety and visibility are really important, and we wear high-viz tops that were kindly provided by Bellarine Springs management and are branded with the Bellarine Springs logo.”

The group like to support the local cafés and have become regulars at The Point in Point Lonsdale and at the Mill Market near Geelong. The café owners know the group members and always make them welcome.

Alan says they enjoys the friendly camaraderie of other walkers, joggers and cyclists who also regularly use the rail trail and other off-road paths.

“Everyone is so friendly down here on the Peninsula, no-one just walks or cycles by without a friendly wave and a hello.”

//SPONSORED CONTENT