THE wheels are turning on next month\u2019s Bendigo Cycling Classic.<\/p>\n
Rolling into its fourth year, the Classic will return with a smattering of races appealing to families, casual riders, and neo-pros on Sunday, 20 March.<\/p>\n
Organiser Geoff O\u2019Sullivan said the best part of the mass participation event is every dollar raised goes to two local charities, the Otis Foundation and Bendigo Health Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the three years it\u2019s run, we\u2019ve donated over $150,000 to local charities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously COVID\u2019s sort of played with everything and we deferred it until March because back in October there was a bit of uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n
The traditional format remains, with five races all starting at the town hall ranging from the 12-kilometre free kids\u2019 race to a 100-kilometre race out to and around Mount Alexander.<\/p>\n
New this year is the Goat Gravel Ride on Saturday, 19 March.<\/p>\n
The ride is suitable only for gravel and mountain bikes and will take riders from Strathfieldsaye to Axe Creek over a 72-kilometre course with 750 metres of climbing, starting and finishing at Braidie\u2019s Tavern.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Sullivan said the main event on Sunday will be a fun, community-minded event based at the Town Hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have music, food, coffee, drinks and we\u2019re a licensed premises so we can have a few beers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople come back and if it\u2019s a nice day they can sit around under the shady trees and they seem to enjoy it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve all been stuck inside; it gets the community out and about and gives them a couple reasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes it\u2019s a bit of family time and we see a lot of families riding it. Fresh air, exercise, and at the end of the day every dollar they pay goes to Bendigo charities.\u201d<\/p>\n