Hello BUGS,

Really appreciate if you can look at the article below on our Blayney to Bathurst Cyclo Sportif Challenge and forward it on to your members. There will be lots of lucky draw prizes including two holiday packages.

Regards

Garry Taunton

CBBUGS

and Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak

Blayney to Bathurst Cyclo Sportif Challenge

15^th April 2007

New Concept Bicycling Event to Take Place in Bathurst

On the 14^th and 15^th of April 2007 the Bathurst Cycling Club (BCC), Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak will be combining forces to conduct a unique bicycling weekend extravaganza that brings cyclists of all codes together.

When you think of Bathurst; it immediately invokes an image of thousands of motor racing fans flocking to Mount Panorama in a wild celebration of motor racing at it best. Without question the Mount Panorama racing circuit at Bathurst is highly regarded as one of the best motor racing circuits in the world. The population of the country town 160km west of Sydney literally doubles in size to 60,000 to 70,000 people in a single weekend.

For any cyclist, this sends shudders of fear down their spine as the thought bicycle users trying to share the roads with tens of thousands motor racing enthusiasts in revved up cars is scary indeed.

The reality is that Bathurst and more importantly the Bathurst District is quite the opposite with the area crisscrossed with hundreds of quiet and scenic rural roads. The generally sheep farming community of the district have long shared the roads with cyclists and for the most part are courteous and friendly.

The councils of the district and particularly Bathurst Regional Council are demonstrating strong support for bicycling in the area with a new bicycle plan due for release and a network of facilities planned to be developed on the Mount Panorama racing circuit precinct.

The councils of the district are keen to encourage bicycling enthusiasts to the area and are ready to spend the dollars needed to build and improve “on road” and “off road” cycleways.

In celebration, a bicycling weekend extravaganza is being planned to conduct a new concept bicycling weekend, which will bring both participation and racing cyclist together.

On the Saturday racing will include a NSW Hill Climb Championship event as well as criterium racing on the newly developed circuits at the top of Mount Panorama.

Recreational and Touring cyclists will not be left out as they will be able to participate in a NSW Hill Climb Challenge from Harris Park to the top of Mount Panorama in Sulman/Reid Park via a little known western access road.

All participants will be awarded a medallion and certificate with their recorded time for completing the event.

On Sunday the jewel event being the B2B Blayney to Bathurst Cyclo Sportif Challenge will be conducted in a similar fashion to the city to surf annual running event with seeded racing cyclists departing at the front of the field, followed by participation cyclists.

The aim of the event is the challenge. It’s about achieving your personal best time, about participation and being active with your friends and family, whilst assisting to raise funds for Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak who are tireless workers for charitable purposes within the Bathurst community.

There is a Long Course 110 km course and a Short Course 70km starting in Carrington Park, Blayney and traveling along a network of quiet rural roads through the district and the top of Mount Panorama

Anyone wanting to enter or know more about this unique cycling weekend event should go to or http://www.nsw.cycling.org.au

http://www.bathurstcyclingclub.com.au/

Garry Taunton

BCC Major Events Project Officer

Combined Bathurst Bicycle Users Group (CB BUGS) Chairman

phone:- (02) 6332 8463

fax :- (02) 63328296

email : garry.taunton@lands.nsw.gov.au