Event wrap
Wow! What an amazing return to the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge after a two-year covid-induced hiatus. The weather came to the party and over 500 riders turned out for the 10th edition of the event, thank you!
By entering our celebration of cycling, you provide the chance for school students across the Bass Coast and Gippsland to receive a fantastic driver education cycling awareness program - RYDA run by not-for-profit organisation Road Safety Education Australia and the L2P charity program. Thanks to BCCC riders, we’ve put over 3000 high school students through this program.
Event day was a great success. One of the best. So many smiles and proud riders. Inverloch and surrounding areas were buzzing… cyclists of all levels making their way through the Strzelecki ranges and along the coast road; And many supporters along the routes and back in the town milling around the start/finish line.
We had many return riders and many new faces. I am so happy that people love coming back to the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge, and that new riders also get involved each year.
The demographics of the BCCC is always fascinating. Here are a few stats:
Youngest: 12
Most senior: 89
Average age: 53
166 riders were over 60
49% of riders in 40km and 53km were female. The highest ever!
Overall though, just 22% of riders were female. We have work to do here!
We had 26 teams enter, the most ever!
Riders came from 3 countries, 7 states and 178 ‘cities/towns’
Of riders who registered, we had an incredible 93% turn out on the day
25% of riders heard about BCCC through Facebook
Our rest stops were also hives of activity! Our riders munched and drank their way through:
578 Winners bars/gels
10 boxes of lolly snakes
600 pieces Mez’s famous Fruit Cake muffins
600Bananas
600 Anzac biscuits
600 Carman's treats
Gatorade each drink station
100 cans of coke/lemonade at Gows and Archie’s creek
Thank you to our sponsors: Alex Scott & Staff Inverloch, Harman Wines, Wheel Heat Wonthaggi, Winners nutrition, Carman’s Kitchen, Gippsland Lifestyle Magazine, Lynton Clay Photography. We could not do this event without your incredible, and greatly appreciated support.
Thanks also to our amazing 48 volunteers dotted along the courses. Super friendly and fun as always, this event absolutely could not happen without your support. Thank you to the following organisations for providing these amazing volunteers on event day: Invy mens shed, Invy rotary club, Phillip Island Bicycle Users Group (BUG), Wonthaggi Life Saving Club, Connections Church, Inverloch. Also thank you to our local business owners and Bass Coast Shire for supporting the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge.
We hope you enjoyed the ride and the whole event .. and we hope to see you again next year on Saturday 11 November 2023. Pencil it in your diary now!
Gavin Slavin
Event Founder