The Ballaarat to Melbourne Classic is a social bike ride from Ballarat to Melbourne, raising funds for the Pallister-Killian Syndrome Foundation of Australia.
Date, Time and Place
Riders sign in 9:00 - 10:00 am, Saturday 29 March 2014.
The sign in and grand depart is from Ballarat Memorial Concert Band hall, at Len Frazer Reserve, Barkly Street, Ballarat (next to the skate park at the corner of Main Road and Eureka Street).
Lunch is from 12:00pm at Greendale Pub, Greendale.
Scheduled arrival at Beer Deluxe, Federation Square, Melbourne around 6:00pm. Faster riders who are running ahead of schedule might consider stopping en route for a tasty beverage.
The Ride
Riders will receive a map and ride notes, identifying checkpoints to be visited on the route from Ballarat to Melbourne. The checkpoints have been selected so as to provide an enjoyable route on quiet country roads and bike paths from Ballarat to Melbourne; riders can follow the suggested route or take an alternative route of their own.
The suggested route is about 150km long, from Ballarat (approx 420m above sea level) to Federation Square in Melbourne (10m above sea level). There are some significant hills along the way, both up and down.
Shorter routes
Riders who do not want to attempt the full distance from Ballarat to Melbourne are encouraged to ride shorter distances. Ballan, Bacchus Marsh and Werribee are logical start and finish points, as they are all well serviced by trains.
Riders who find themselves struggling on the day can withdraw from the ride at the same points.
Regardless of the distance ridden, all riders (and supporters) are strongly encouraged to join us at the finish, at Beer Deluxe in Federation Square, Melbourne - easily accessible from Flinders Street station.
Support
The ride will be accompanied by two support vehicles, which can be called on for assistance if required.
Price
$70 with "full country hospitality" catering, $35 without.
Full Country Hospitality includes:
* Lunch at Greendale Pub
* Coffee and Cake at The Jolly Miller, Bacchus Marsh
* Choice of gourmet burger and a schooner of Matilda Bay Little Ripper Lager at Beer Deluxe, Federation Square
* Maps, notes, commemorative items
Additional vouchers for food at each meal stop can be purchased for friends and supporters who would like to join us - contact us for details.
Anybody with special dietary needs should chose the uncatered option, and contact us to discuss meal possibilities.
Transport
A coach (with bike trailer) will be available to bring riders from Melbourne to Ballarat for the start of the ride, leaving from the centre of Melbourne at 7:30am. The cost of the coach is $20 per person. Details will be provided after registration.
Some car space is available for riders (and bikes) to return to Ballarat after the ride. Additional people will need to catch the train back to Ballarat. Trains running on the Ballarat line have spaces allocated for carrying bikes.
NB: The registration form includes outdated questions about coach transport, written before the transport arrangements were confirmed. We are not able to change these questions. Please keep this in mind when registering.
Background
The Melbourne to Ballarat Classic has a long and proud history of over 100 races. It's an iconic race, but as a social ride it leaves a lot to be desired.
They ride uphill, against the prevailing wind, on a freeway, at the coldest and most miserable time of the year. They don't actually start in Melbourne, and they don't stop at a single pub, cafe or bakery along the way.
The Ballaarat to Melbourne Classic aims to right all of these wrongs.
Purpose
The Pallister-Killian Syndrome Foundation of Australia wants your money!
Our pilot-scale event last year raised a modest (but well appreciated) sum of money for PKSFA. This year we're aiming higher. More riders. More sponsorship opportunities. More shameless begging.
Sponsorship opportunities are available if you hold (or influence) corporate purse-strings that might be interested in supporting the Ballaarat to Melbourne Classic or PKSFA.
History
The inaugural Ballarat to Melbourne Classic was ridden on 23 March 2013. A brief summary of the event can be found here at PKSFA.
Some 28 people battled howling tailwinds and braved the gruelling descents to cover somewhere in the vicinity of 150km (allowing for navigational inconsistencies) from Ballarat railway station to Federation Square.
The Ballaarat to Melbourne Classic returns for 2014... bigger, better, and with an extra "a". [1]
The Supporters
We acknowledge the generous support of:
[1] The modern day metropolis of Ballarat occupies part of the Ballaarat sheep run, established in 1837. The official spelling of the town has taken both forms at various times, and the foundation stone on the town hall names the city with the double "a" spelling. Although the universally accepted modern spelling is with a single "a", the double "a" form is occasionally used, usually for purposes of pretension. The Ballaarat to Melbourne Classic is a strong supporter of all things pretentious, and proudly adopts the double "a" spelling for 2014.