FAQs

You want your ride to go as smoothly as possible, so check the weather forecast and prepare your gear the night before. You’ll need the following items to take part in Around the Bay: 

We’ve got a brand new event registration system and want to make your experience as smooth as possible! If it’s your first time visiting the new Bicycle Network online portal (live since October 2018) you can get started with three easy steps below:

1. Set up your account by submitting your email (username) here
2. You’ll receive an automated email with prompts to create a password
3. Log into the Bicycle Network community here with your new username and password and you’ll be ready to enter any upcoming events from the new look online shop!

To change your ride option please contact us.

To transfer your ride entry please contact us.

To update your preferences please contact us.

No, your entry fee supports Bicycle Network in improving the conditions for all bike riders. To support The Smith Family help disadvantaged Australian children to realise their potential through education you need to fundraise.

Fundraising

Riders can opt to collect their pack in the lead up to the event.

Rider pack collection will be run out of the Bicycle Network Melbourne office for two weeks before event day (Monday 24 September until Friday 5 October).

The times and locations of the rider pack collection are listed below. 

Where: Bicycle Network Melbourne office, Level 4, 246 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000

When:

• Monday 24 September to Wednesday 3 October from 9am – 5pm (excluding Victorian Grand Final long-weekend from the Friday 28 September – Sunday 2 October) 
• Thursday 4 October to Friday 5 October from 9am – 6:30pm 

If you paid for postage before 24 August, you can expect to receive your rider packs in the mail from the 14 September. Please be patient – all packs will be posted by Monday 24 September.

Not sure if you paid for postage? Log into your profile and go to My Events. Select Around the Bay and check out your preferences.

Yes – please ensure that you have the rider ID and full name of the person that you’re collecting the rider pack for.

Included in your rider pack is:

• Your event jersey/rider shirt (early bird only)
• Ride guide
• Rider number plate (for event timing)
• Wrist band (indicating start wave and lunch)
• Cable ties to attach your number plate to your bike
• Sponsor collateral
• Purchased merchandise

All riders must correctly attach their number plate and wrist band.

The wrist band is essential for lunch collection/snacks and identifying start waves.

Please do not wrap your number plate around your head stem as the timing chip will not work.

All riders will have a timing tag attached to the back of their rider number plate. This will record rider times crossing the start line, the ferry points and the finish to give an accurate active riding time. If riders do not cross the start or finish mat they will not receive a time. All times will be available by 5pm, Monday 15 October.

Early bird jersey

Use the standard jersey sizing chart to confirm your jersey size before purchasing an entry.

300km riders

Use the elite fit jersey sizing chart to confirm your jersey size before purchasing an entry.

To swap your jersey for the correct size, please bring your event jersey to Bicycle Network HQ (Level 4, 246 Bourke Street) from 24 Sep – 5 Oct. Sizes are subject to availability.

Where: Bicycle Network Melbourne office, Level 4, 246 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000

When:

• Monday 24 September to Wednesday 3 October from 9am – 5pm (excluding Victorian Grand Final long-weekend from the Friday 29 September – Sunday 1 October)
• Thursday 4 October to Friday 5 October from 9am – 6:30pm

In order to have your jersey / rider shirt exchanged, you must return it unworn with the original tags in place.

There is an optional valet service for all riders passing through either Sorrento or Queenscliff. This service costs $20 and must be paid for in advance.

Riders with valet service will receive an A4 sized plastic satchel that they can use to carry items they may want when they arrive at the rest stop. This may include a fresh kit, extra nutrition or spare tubes. Riders with valet will also receive a second satchel to return anything back to the finish. Previous riders have used this return service to transport spare tubes they don’t need or warm layers. The return satchel will be available for pick-up at the finish site.

Rider valet satchels can be collected from the Bicycle Network marquee at the Around the Bay Village.

After the ride on Sunday 7 October, valet satchels will be available from the bag drop area from approximately 3:30pm at the Around the Bay Finish Festival in Melbourne. Please note that there may be a period of time between when riders finish and the valet bags becoming available.

The following rides include lunch and a snack.

• 250km
• 210km
• 160km
• 135km
• 100km

Please note that the lunch is not intended to provide full nutrition for these ride distances. Riders are expected to adequately cater for their nutritional requirements while undertaking their chosen ride distance.

If you are participating in the 20km or 50km ride you will receive a snack at Alexandra Gardens upon finishing. 

There will be three lunch options available: meat, vegetarian and gluten free. 

If you are participating in the 20km or 50km ride you will receive a snack at Alexandra Gardens upon finishing. 

Queenscliff

• 250km
• 210km Anti-Clockwise

Sorrento

• 210km Sorrento Return

Frankston

• 160km Rosebud return
• 135km Geelong – Melbourne

Finish line

• 100km Frankston Return and 100km Sorrento to Melbourne
• 50km
• 20km

If you are participating in the 135km, 210 Anti or 250km rides please make yourself familiar with the ferry loading process.

Ferry loading process:

1. You must collect your Ferry Sticker from the ferry allocation area. No sticker, no ferry boarding. Different colours co-ordinate with different departure times.
2. Listen for updates over the PA system “Riders with a blue sticker, please make your way to the ferry loading area
3. Promptly move to the standby area / ferry loading area
4. If you miss boarding the ferry when your sticker colour is announced, you will not simply be able to board the next ferry. Priority will be given to riders whose sticker colour coordinates with the departure time.
5. Please follow instructions from the Around the Bay volunteers at the standby area if you miss your ferry.
6. We estimate only 20-80 standby riders will be able to board each ferry after the allocated riders have boarded.

Around the Bay ferry times will be confirmed closer to the event. All riders must have their ticket on them and be ready to load the ferry 15 minutes before the departure time.

Buses are available from Melbourne to Sorrento on Sunday 7 October. Click here to learn more and book line.