General News
28 March, 2025
Pyrenees Magic ride returns
Locals and visitors alike are preparing to click on their helmets, push their pedals, and spin their wheels as the Pyrenees Magic Tri-Distance Bike Ride returns this Sunday.
Participants can decide to tackle a 33 kilometre, 53 km, or 100 km course through the beautiful countryside of the Pyrenees ranges with all courses starting and finishing at the Summerfield Winery in Moonambel, 15 minutes out of Avoca.
Organised by the Maryborough Rotary Club, the local fun ride has become a prominent community charity fundraiser for club-supported local programs like assistance projects for local students and the SayNO2familyviolence initiative.
This ride will highlight the Defying the Drift program, which introduces year 10 and 11 students to agribusiness careers through a three-day residential program at Longerenong Agricultural College in Horsham.
Maryborough Rotary Club director public image Max Berry said the community event has got beginners and bike fanatics across the state saying in the famous words of Queen, “I want to ride my bicycle”.
“It allows people to cycle through some undulating beautiful country-side in central western Victoria starting and returning to Summerfield Winery,” he said.
“Just like there are fun runs, this is a fun ride — we get a lot of older riders who like to get out on a weekend and ride their bikes as a fitness alternative.
“It allows people to have a social bike ride and raise funds for community projects at the same time.”
According to Mr Berry, the club finds it paramount to allow residents and tourists the chance to enjoy being physically active in our region without feeling pressured about their ability.
“We think it’s very important that there be non-competitive fitness alternatives for people and also the other aspect is tourism to our region,” he said.
“We want to attract locals, but we also like to attract people from elsewhere to just enjoy the countryside and get some exercise in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment.
“I like being at the long-ride turnaround and seeing the riders who have done the really hard yards pull up, enjoy a drink of water or a piece of watermelon and then ride back and they are all so thankful and happy.”
The Pyrenees Magic Tri-Distance Bike Ride is on this Sunday, March 30. Tickets are available at www.tickettailor.com/events/rotaryclubofmaryboroughincvic or the Pyrenees Magic Bike Ride — Maryborough Rotary Facebook page.
Walk-ins are also welcomed on the day itself.