FAQs

Location: Aughtie Walk, Albert Park

Family Ride start time – 08:45am

50km start time – 07:45am

100km start time  – 06:45am

200km start time – 06:30am

The Classic 220km start time – 05:30am 

Wave start colours (The Classic only):

• Wave 1: Over 30km/h (Cyan) 
• Wave 2: 27km – 30km/h (Green)
• Wave 3: 24km – 27km/h (Dark Blue)
• Wave 4: 20km – 24km/h (Purple)

300km start time – 5:25am

Location: Cunnningham Pier, Geelong Waterfront

135km start time – 07:00am

You want your ride to go as smoothly as possible, so check the weather forecast and prepare your gear the night before. Remember that this is a fully supported ride with mechanics, nutrition and water on route, check your specific ride distance to see what is available at each rest stop and consider taking the following items.

United Energy Around the Bay travels on sealed roads and is best suited to a hybrid or road bike. However, we love all bikes, and you are encouraged to use the type of bike that you are most comfortable and familiar with.

Standard human powered bicycles are permitted on all ride options.

E-bikes are welcome on the event just make sure they have the range to last the full ride distance and time, please check our ebike policy. Charging points are not available on United Energy Around the Bay.

Unicycles, scooters, motorised bicycles (other than e-bikes), child seats, tagalongs and trailers are not permitted on the 100km, 135km, 200km, The Classic and 300km Ride Options. 

Looking for a different bike to ride at the United Energy Around the Bay or want to take the hassle out of transporting your bike to and from the event? We’ve partnered with Rent My Bike Australia to help you out. Visit their website for more information and to book your bike rental and transport.

Yes!

Transport from Melbourne to Geelong before the ride:

A bus will depart from 100 Canterbury Road, Middle Park at 5:15am. Please arrive by 5.00am to begin boarding. The bus will arrive in Geelong by 6:30am.

There will be transport for you, your bike and a small post-ride bag (A4 size). You can use our valet service from Geelong to get your bag sent back to Melbourne.

Please book your spot on the bus when you register to ride, alternatively give us a call on 1800 639 634 or contact us via our website.

Transport from Melbourne to Geelong after the ride:

Stay tuned for updates coming soon!

Yes! If your training is not going to plan and you need to downgrade, that is OK. Or if you are feeling fitter than you thought you can upgrade to a longer distance.

To change your ride option please give us a call on 1800 639 634 or contact us via our website. There may be additional costs associated with changing your ride distance. 

• Downgrading ride to a shorter distance – riders will only receive a refund if downgrading more than 30 days before the event.
• Upgrading ride to longer distance – riders will be required to pay the difference between prices, you can upgrade up until entries close at 10am on Saturday 7th October 2023.

Yes, to transfer your ride entry to another rider please give us a call on 1800 639 634 or contact us via our website. You can also arrange the transfer in person during kit collection.

Enter during Early Bird 1? (ends midnight Sunday 4 June)

A bonus event jersey is included with all early bird 1 entries to United Energy Around the Bay. (Please note, the bonus jersey offer is not available for kids taking advantage of the free ticket option.) 

Enter during Early Bird 2? (ends midnight Sunday 30 July)

A bonus event jersey is included with all early bird 2 entries to United Energy Around the Bay. (Please note, the bonus jersey offer is not available for kids taking advantage of the free ticket option.) 

Enter during standing pricing? 

Tickets purchased during standard pricing do not include a free jersey, but you can purchase one with your ticket.

300km Jersey? 

All 300km riders will receive an exclusive ‘300 club’ jersey with their entry (size subject to availability).

Don’t want a jersey? 

During the early bird period, riders can opt-out of receiving the event jersey and we’ll donate its value to a family ride or 50km ride entry to a community group who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to participate. The community group will be selected from initiatives such as Ride2School and Women’s Community.

Classic jersey

Please use the women’s classic jersey sizing chart or men’s classic jersey sizing chart to confirm your size before purchasing an entry.

300km jersey

Please use the men’s premium fit jersey sizing chart or women’s premium fit jersey sizing chart to confirm your jersey size before purchasing an entry.

Absolutely! If your jersey collection is over flowing or you would prefer not to receive one this year you can choose to opt out of your jersey when you buy your ticket during the early bird period.

If you choose to opt out we’ll donate its value to a family ride or 50km ride entry to a community group who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to participate. The community group will be selected from initiatives such as Ride2School and Women’s Community.

To swap your jersey for the correct size, please bring your event jersey to Albert Park pack collection on Saturday 7 October between 10am and 4pm.

United Energy Around the Bay Event Village,
Pelican Lawn
22 Aughtie Drive,
Albert Park VIC 3205

Please note, jersey swaps are subject to sizing availability.

Jersey swaps are not available on Sunday 8 October.

Book before Sunday 30 July to get your pack in the post. If you have paid for postage, your rider pack will arrive from mid-September.

If you have not paid for postage, you will need to collect your rider pack.

Pack collection will be available from Monday 2nd October to Thursday 5th October at the Bicyle Network and on Saturday 7th October at The Event Village, Albert Park.

Location

Bicycle Network,
Level 4, 246 Bourke Street,
Melbourne VIC 3000

Times

• Monday 2 October and Tuesday 3 October: 9am to 5pm
• Wednesday 4 October and Thursday 5 October: 9am to 7pm

Location

United Energy Around the Bay Event Village,
Pelican Lawn
22 Aughtie Drive,
Albert Park VIC 3205

Times

• Saturday 7 October: 10am to 4pm

Please note that rider pack collection will not be available Friday 6th October or on the day of the ride.

Entries are open until 10am on Saturday 7 October. If you book up until this time you must be able to collect your pack during the pack collection times.

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

Included in your rider pack is:

• Your event jersey (early bird only)
• Rider number plate (for event timing). Please ensure you correctly attach your rider number plate. Do not wrap your number plate around the head stem of your bike or alter it in any way as this will cause the timing chip to not work.
• Wrist band (indicating start wave and lunch). You must wear your wrist band in order to get your lunch and nutrition on route.
• Cable ties to attach your number plate to your bike
• Sponsor collateral
• Purchased merchandise will be available to collect at pack collection or posted seperately if you have selected postage.

Watch our handy video of hints and tips to attach your rider plate to your bike.

Remember: Your number must be fully visible for the event organisers and photographers to see. Do not fold, cut or tamper with your number plate as this will also damage the timing chip.

You will have a timing tag attached to the back of your rider number plate. This will record times crossing the start line, the ferry points and the finish to give an accurate active riding time. If you do not cross the start or finish mat you will not receive a time.

Please ensure you correctly attach your rider number plate. Do not wrap your number plate around the head stem of your bike or alter it in anyway as this will cause the timing chip to not work.

You will be able to collect your purchased merchandise when you collect your rider pack. If you have paid for postage on your merchandise this will arrive 2 weeks before the event.

200km, The Classic and 300km

There is an optional free valet service for 200km+ riders passing through either Sorrento or Queenscliff. 

If using the valet service you can pack an A4 sized plastic satchel to carry items you may want when you arrive at the rest stop. This may include fresh riding kit, extra nutrition or spare tubes. You 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 valet service can be organised at Bicycle Network during pack collection times. Please bring any items you would like to pack and we’ll provide the A4 plastic satchel to be packed and left with the team.

135km Geelong start

We’ll transport a post ride bag (approx. A4 sized) from the Geelong start line to the finish line. You can use it to carry a change of clothes or similar. Please note, your bag will not arrive at Albert Park until after 3:30pm.   

To use the free valet service, simply add it during your registration. Valet bags are available for collection from and can be dropped off during the rider pack collection times stated above.

Bicycle Network works hard to have your valet bags back at Albert Park by 3:30pm, however sometimes it can be later than this and we appreciate your patience.

Items not collected will be brought back to the Bicycle Network office and can be collected between Wednesday 11th October – Wednesday 18th October 2023. All items not collected will be disposed of thoughtfully.  

The following rides include lunch as well as nutrition at rest stops along the ride.

• 100km
• 135km Geelong start
• 200km
• The Classic (220km)
• 300km

Lunch pack includes: sandwich, fruit & sweet treat

Please note that the lunch may not provide enough fuel for the whole ride depending on your nutritional needs. Remember to refuel appropriately throughout the day.

The Family Ride and 50km do not include lunch but nutrition is provided at the rest stops along the ride.

The following options are catered for at our rest stops and lunch stops:

• Standard
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten Free Standard
• Gluten Free Vegetarian
• Gluten Free Vegan

You can opt for an of these options when you register for the ride. You can also update your preferences by logging into Register Now and following the prompts to access and edit your registration.

If you have any specific nutritional needs not listed above please ensure you bring your own nutrition to sustain you for the day.

All our rides have rest stops providing nutrition.

Please check your specific route information to see what will be available and where to you on the day.

If you are participating in the 135km Geelong start, The Classic or 300km 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 when called.
4. If you miss boarding the ferry when your sticker colour is announced, you may not be able to board the next ferry. Priority will be given to riders whose sticker colour coordinates with the departure time. However don’t panic – we will get you across the bay as soon as we can!
5. Please follow the instructions from the United Energy Around the Bay volunteers at the standby area if you miss your ferry.

Please note: 300km riders will get priority access to the ferry – keep an eye out for the dedicated 300km lane and present your sticker to take advantage of this.

All riders must have their ticket on them and be ready to board the ferry 15 minutes before the departure time.

• The Classic (220km) – The 12:30pm ferry is your cut-off time. An average riding speed of less than 20km/h may not make the official cut-off times. If you’ll struggle to maintain this speed we recommend you consider moving down a distance.
• 135km Geelong Start – The 10:00am ferry is your cut-off time. An average riding speed of less than 16km/h may not make the official cut-off times. If you’ll struggle to maintain this speed we recommend you consider moving down a distance.
• Around the Bay 300km – The 12:30pm ferry is your cut-off time. An average riding speed of less than 25km/h may not make the official cut-off times. If you’ll struggle to maintain this speed we recommend you consider moving down a distance.