22/09/2026
Yesterday evening I attended Bicycle Networkâs briefing about the Great Victorian Bike Ride.
This November, around 1,800 cyclists will ride through the region and camp in Castlemaine (Wesley Hill) for two nights, on 23 and 24 November. With up to 2,000 people in totalâincluding riders, and support crew âthis is a fantastic opportunity for Castlemaine and the surrounding communities.
Many visitors will be keen to explore the town and region. Entire school groups will be taking part and looking for activities and entertainment.
While Bicycle Network will provide meals for riders, many participants will also be looking for local cafés, restaurants and other food options.
There will also be a Main Strip, with food trucks and opportunities for local groups, businesses and vendors to set up. Lunch stop in Harcourt and Walmer also present opportunities for local businesses and community groups to offer food, drinks, activities or information.
Initial inquiries can be made via [email protected].
However, Bicycle Network wonât have the capacity to coordinate local activities, so it will be up to us to come together and showcase what Castlemaine and the surrounding region have to offer.
It was great to see representatives from Castlemaine Community House, the Castlemaine - Maryborough Rail Trail, the Harcourt Progress Association (I think) and Business Mount Alexander Inc. at the briefing. However, weâll need to spread the word further and start discussing how we can make the most of this opportunity.
If youâre a local business, community group, food vendor, activity provider or event organiser, please consider getting involved.
More details about the Great Victorian Bike Ride are available here:
The Great Vic returns to the Great Ocean Road in a new era of cycling adventure.
