FAQs

Location: Aughtie Walk, Albert Park

Lap the Track start time – 08:45am

50km start time – 07:45am

100km start time  – 06:45am

The Classic 220km start time – 05:30am 

Wave pre-selection is not applicable for this event and waves will be determined by ‘first-in first-served’ at the start line on the day

• Wave 1: Over 30km/h 
• Wave 2: 27km – 30km/h 
• Wave 3: 24km – 27km/h 
• Wave 4: 20km – 24km/h 

Location: Cunningham Pier, Geelong

135km start time – 06:30am

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, and The Classic ride option.

You can book optional coach transport from Melbourne to Geelong before the ride, only.

A bus will depart from 100 Canterbury Road, Middle Park at 4:45am. Please arrive by 4:30am to begin boarding. The bus will arrive in Geelong by 06:00am. 

For each ride option, there are cut-off times at rest areas that a participant needs to stay ahead of. The cut-off times are there to ensure everyone arrives back safely at Albert Park. Bicycle Network works closely together with various stakeholders, such as councils and Victoria Police, in setting these cut-off times.   

If a participant falls behind the designated cut-off times, Around the Bay staff will ask them to either board a SAG wagon or remove their rider plate and continue independently, acknowledging that they are no longer part of the official event

You can update your ticket preferences by logging into Race Roster and following the prompts to access and edit your registration.

You can also contact us directly to update your ticket preferences.

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. Changes can only be made to 30 days before event (26 September 2025, 11:59pm). A processing fee applies, please refer to the T&C’s. 

• Downgrading ride to a shorter distance – no refund will be provided when changed to a ride option with a lower fee. 
• Upgrading ride to longer distance – riders will be required to pay the difference between prices and a processing fee.

Yes, to transfer your ride entry to another rider please give us a call on 1800 639 634 or contact us via our website.

Please check our terms and conditions of entry. For all details and applicable fees.

We’ve teamed up with Cuore to bring you exclusive Around the Bay merchandise this year. Click here to be taken to the shop.

Merch sales are direct with Cuore and will be shipped by them, separate from rider-packs and early-bird jerseys. Delivery timelines are available in the merch shop by Cuore.

Please find terms and conditions for the ride here.

For those who didn’t pay for postage, rider pack collection begins on Wednesday 22nd October at Bicycle Network’s Melbourne office and Albert Park on Saturday 25th October.

Bicycle Network Office: 
Wed 22nd October: 10am – 4pm
Thursday 23rd October: 10am – 7pm

Albert Park, Pelican Lawn, Event Site. 
Saturday 25th October: 10am – 4pm

Entered during Early Bird 1st release?

Ends midnight 6 May – A bonus event jersey is included with all early bird 1st release 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.) 

Entered during Early Bird 2nd release?

Ends midnight 30 June – Tickets purchased during early bird 2nd release include a free jersey for 100km+ ride options.

Entered during standard pricing? 

Tickets purchased during standard pricing include a free jersey up until the 11th August. After this date you will have to purchase a jersey.

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.

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.

There will be no exchange available for Around the Bay jerseys in 2025.

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 (for 100km+ ride options and if registered before 10 August 2025) 

• Rider number plate. 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. 

• Wristband. You must wear your wristband in order to get your lunch and nutrition on route. 

• Cable ties to attach your number plate to your bike 

• Sponsor collateral 

 
Please note: Purchased merchandise will be available to collect at pack collection or posted separately 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 organizers and photographers to see. Do not fold, cut or tamper with your number plate.

Many riders already use their own tools to track performance, so official timing has become less necessary. To keep the event affordable and accessible for everyone, we will not be offering event timing this year. Our priority is delivering the best event possible while ensuring its sustained future, and this change helps us achieve that.

If tracked timing is important to you, we recommend using your own bike computer, like Garmin or Wahoo, or apps such as Strava or Ride with GPS.

The Classic (220km)

There is an optional free valet service for The Classic riders.  

If using the valet service, you can pack an A4 sized plastic satchel to carry items you may want when you arrive at the Queenscliff 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. 

Drop your valet items at Albert Park on Saturday 25 October 2025. Valet will be open from 10am till 4pm. Valet bags will be available at the valet drop-off location in Albert Park.

Bring your own small bag to the Geelong start line to the finish line, and we’ll transport it to the finish. 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.   

135km Geelong Start

Bring your own small bag to the Geelong start line to the finish line, and we’ll transport it to the finish. 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.    

The Classic 220km

No need to book! There will valet bags available at the valet drop off marquee in Albert Park. Drop it off at the event village on Saturday 25 October between 10am and 4pm and we’ll take the valet bag to the Queenscliff rest area for you. 

135km Geelong start

Bring your own small bag to the Geelong start line to the finish line, and we’ll transport it 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.

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.

Valet satchels not collected on-event will be brought back to the Bicycle Network office post event. The owners of these satchels will be contacted and informed when they can collect these items. All items not collected will be disposed of thoughtfully or donated.

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

• 135km (pick-up at Frankston rest area) 

• The Classic (220km, pick-up at Queenscliff rest area) 

Lunch pack includes: sandwich & fruit 
 
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 100km riders will be able to pick-up a snack at the Mordialloc rest area. Snack pack includes: sweet treat & fruit. 
 
The Family Ride and 50km do not include a lunch or snack packs. 

The following options are catered for the lunch pack for 135km and Classic (220km) rides:

• 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 Race Roster 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.

The lunch pack for the following distances will be available from the following rest area: 

• 135km at Frankston 
• 220km at Queenscliff  

 
The snack pack for the 100km will be available for pick-up at the Mordialloc rest area.  

 
Please check your specific route information to see what will be available for you at the specific rest areas.

If you are participating in either the 135km Geelong start or The Classic 220km ride, 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: The last ferry for the135km participants is at 9:00am and the last ferry for the 220km participants is at 1:00pm.

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

• The Classic (220km) – 12:30pm is your cut-off time for arrival at Queenscliff. 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 – 8:30am ferry is your cut-off time for arrival at Queenscliff. 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.