On Yer Bike! Exploring the Bellarine with Good Cycles

Sometimes just going for a ride isn’t enough. Adding a boat and a stack of your colleagues into the equation is a good way to shift it up a gear. Our very lovely Docklands neighbours Good Cycles recently brought their bikes on board for a treadley adventure on the Bellarine. They’re not ones to brag, but we hear they covered all Bs: bikes, boats, beers, banter, beaches and (battered) fish and chips; you can read all about their escapades below.

CRUISING THE BELLARINE
by Good Cycles

Team building days are always great fun at Good Cycles and our most recent day out was no exception. In true GC spirit we got on our bikes and set off for a group ride adventure down to the Bellarine Peninsula.

The Bellarine is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year, but in spring, when the days are sunny and fresh, it’s perfect for a bike ride along its many trails.
Our Docklands neighbours Port Phillip Ferries run a fantastic service every day of the week from our ‘hood all the way across the bay to Portarlington. Adding a boat ride into the itinerary seemed an excellent idea – especially when the ferry has proper racks on board to secure your bike. Twelve of us took a morning ferry across, dosing up on coffee from the canteen, kicking back on the top deck and spotting the occasional dolphin. An hour later we were on the Bellarine.

The bike trail weaves around the coastline from the Portarlington Pier towards St Leonards, our destination. For the less confident riders among us (ahem, yours truly) the track was completely off-road the entire way. The views were stunning and riding at a chilled-out pace meant we had more time to take them in and keep up the high level of banter.

We all got stuck into a picnic of fish and chips as our reward (some more so than others – the mysterious case of the disappearing piece of fish will no doubt go down in Good Cycles history) then made our trip back in time for a couple of pale ales at Rockwall @ The Pier before returning to the boat.

Taking the ferry was a great way to get some stellar views of Melbourne and the bay before hitting the coastline trail. As far as team building days go, it ticked all the boxes. It was a true group ride, with everyone looking out for everyone else. We had lots of fun, shared some stories, got plenty of exercise and explored a slice of Victoria completely different to our urban work environment. A highly recommended day out 👍

If you’re keen to find out more about riding down the Bellarine, or in fact, anywhere around Melbourne and Victoria, stop by our store for a chat. Mike and the crew will only be too happy to help you out with some advice or getting your bike ready for the ride.

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About Good Cycles

Good Cycles is a bike store with a big difference.
As a social enterprise, Good Cycles uses bikes as a tool to educate, empower and find employment for disadvantaged youth. 100% of the profits from their commercial operations is used to support social programs.
Learn more at their website.

Feeling Inspired? Looking to plan your own bike-spedition?

Check out this awesome map we found. It charts some 15kms of dedicated bike track that meanders along the water’s edge of Port Phillip Bay between Portarlington and St Leonards, so you can take your own treadley adventure.