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Legend to ride solo

You would think that after taking on the United Energy Around the Bay 25 times, you would have experienced everything the ride could throw at you. 

However, this year's Around the Bay will offer Legend Tom Melican something a little different. 

Tom will be riding the 210km anti-clockwise ride not with thousands of others, but by himself, on Friday. 

After riding every year since the first event in 1993, the first weekend in October has long been blocked out in Tom's calendar, but a family commitment this year has clashed with United Energy Around the Bay.

There was only one option available for us to make sure Tom can keep his Around the Bay hot streak going, and that is to put a mini event on just for him.

To give Tom as much of a classic experience as possible, Bicycle Network will give him a proper send off from Albert Park at 6am, supply a ferry ticket and set up lunch and rest stops along the route.

A support vehicle will make sure Tom has plenty of water and food to keep going, and will provide some moral support when he's battling a headwind or pushing up Olivers Hill.

There are a few ways you can give some extra support as well.

Setting off from Albert Park at 6am means that anyone else out on a Friday morning ride, can start off with Tom.

He will be leaving from Aughtie Drive near the Grand Prix line and riding around Albert Park Lake before setting off on Albert Road.

You can also support Tom by making a donation to his Smith Family fundraising page. Donations made to The Smith Family go towards children in need to help them with education and break the cycle of disadvantage.

Bicycle Network will also be giving updates on social media using the tag #TomsATB – if you'd like to send a message of encouragement include #TomsATB and we will make sure he sees it.

Tom's United Energy Around the Bay

When: Friday 21 September, 6am roll out

Where: Tom will start at Albert Park and ride the 210 kilometre anti-clockwise route

How: Bicycle Network will support Tom along the way with rest stops, water, food, a ferry ticket and more

Click here to read more about the 210 anti-clockwise United Energy Around the Bay ride

Donate to TOm's ride

It's not too late to join

Have you kept your diary free on Sunday 7 October? If so, there are still entries available to Australia's biggest bike ride, United Energy Around the Bay.

Choose one of ten ride options starting from 20 kilometres and be part of this unique celebration of bike riding. And with free tickets available for kids, you can also bring the family.

Choose your ride and enter