Bowral Classic | Is Road Cycling in Australia Struggling?

[@patrickwebb6245]

As a Bowral local rider, I really hope that this doesn’t mark the end of the Classic. It’s so good for our community and it’s an event I look forward to every year, even if I get to ride these roads whenever I like. Thanks for showing how amazing our region is for cycling and I hope to see you here again soon.

[@felixoates]

Patrick, thanks so much mate that is a lovely comment and exactly the spirit I was hoping to see in the comments! Really happy with the consensus that generally, people want to see more events, more of the classics and that the country/region is one worth exploring on two wheels! I’ll be riding in Bowral again for sure - thanks again for watching and supporting the vid 🙏🏻

[@mghrisc]

I'll be there next year for sure. ❤

[@joshkwan]

Holy cow, rapid edit also good to see you out on the course, albiet briefly :)

[@felixoates]

I can't move away from Da Vinci mate I'm too comfortable... I owe you big time for that reco 18 months ago! Also so great to see you too bro

[@ModerateCyclist]

No messing around getting this one up. Going to join you in Highlanders next year. Keep the videos rolling 🤙

[@felixoates]

Sorry mate completely missed this one - great work on your channel and we'll cross paths soon I'm sure!

[@alexyehorov2359]

Did Oxfam Trailwalker in August last year and it got cancelled. Did the Snowy Classic in March this year and it got cancelled. Was about to do the Bowral classic...

[@felixoates]

It's such a shame hey what's happening!! It feels like the social side of the sport is growing but the events side is receding. Thanks for watching mate it's much appreciated!

[@dura-ace-9100]

Awesome video. That was ridiculous that Bowral been cancelled in the last hour. My friends was just formed a group by themselves and rode "on their own risks". Also, you fancy peaks challenge next March?

[@robalexander7348]

Thank you Felix, a very nice video and Thanks for the nice comment on our Southern Highlands, it is so much like the UK 👍

[@felixoates]

Thanks so much for watching Rob and that's my pleasure - the likeness to the UK is glaringly obvious for visitors and you can see why the European (particularly British) settlers were drawn there, that's for sure!

[@cycleonSK]

It was a pretty disappointing start but looks like most of us still had a great day out! Weather was perfect, the police were a great assistance and great to see all the stalls in the event village still flat out at the end of our ride... all in a beautiful part of the world.

[@gppgarcia]

Glad to see it all went well in the end! Well done mate! Bowral is gorgeous isn’t it? 🇦🇺💎🚲

[@wilsonrobb10]

Nice one mate. Great to meet you. Was a weird day but awesome that most people made the best of a bad situation.

[@felixoates]

Thanks king so great to see you and looking forward to a roll! Glad you enjoyed your day too man

[@johnlarkin7861]

Great vid. Really well shot. Hope this isn't the end of the Bowral Classic. I did the road component of Gears and Beers a few weeks before. A really well run event.

[@felixoates]

Thanks so much - that means a lot!! I’m sure it won’t be, it is such a good event when it all goes as planned. with the road bit of gears and beers - can you sign up as a road cyclist and just do that part?? Thanks again mate!

[@johnlarkin7861]

@@felixoates In answer to your question: once you've signed up, the organisers don't really police what you do - they just support really well. They all just seem happy for you to be part of the event. You could sign up for the Dirty 130 and do the road instead, or vice-versa. There is a gravel component for the road route, but my friend, who isn't confident on gravel as well as lots of other roadies, just turn around at the halfway point and head back on the road. Being older (in our sixties) we were the last of the roadies to turn around and head back the long way (the difference isn't huge), so we had our own support car for about 10km. At least we did until we started overtaking our fellow roadies once they emerged from the gravel component. Keep the vids coming. Respect. Larks :)

[@stuartbutler7921]

southern NSW cycling events to consider include snowy valleys cycle challenge in November from Adelong , the Tumut cycle classic in January and Gears and beers in October in Wagga

[@felixoates]

Thanks for the recommendation mate its very much appreciated!

[@FloSommermann]

Also did the 150 on Sunday. Really lovely ride and bummer that it went how it went. I am gonna do the Giro della Donna in November, its near Melbourne. Could not really find more fondos in the Syndey Area.

[@felixoates]

Thanks so much for watching! It was such an awesome ride in the end hey... that's a great suggestion thanks heaps! Looks like I'm going to have to venture down to Melbourne more in the future for these events hey - not much going on up here. Thanks again!

[@marcus_velo_9970]

if you do one epic event per year its Peaks Challenge, requires serious training to break 10 hours and super well organised by bn with a great spread of riders, its a commitment cost wise, accommodation options at falls are tight but always doable. you get a tdf like stage with 3 tough climbs - plus great training around Bright. memorable day on the bike.

[@felixoates]

Peaks is the one by the sounds of it hey! I’ve had heaps of mates do it that absolutely loved it so I need to get my act together and make it happen! Thanks for the recommendation and for watching - I appreciate it!!

[@shred3005]

Sadly the original Alpine Classic (long before Peaks Challenge Falls Creek) run by Audax since 1985 has ended due to shortage of organising / volunteers. The 250km start / end in Bright on a longer version of Peaks Challenge Extreme is epic (as was the 320km extended route to include Mt Buffalo). I’ve been involved in organising open races and it’s sad to see some of these events dying due to the virtual exponential increases in traffic management costs and police fees

[@felixoates]

@@shred3005 This is a great insight thanks for educating the newcomers to the scene like myself! The original Alpine Classic sounds absolutely savage, I would have loved to give that a crack! Do you see any solutions or actionable things we can do to rally against the pattern? Community based initiatives? Thanks for watching it's much appreciated!

[@shred3005]

@@felixoates oh the challenges of running road cycling events is storied! That’s one to discuss at length over a beer (or three)! I’ve speculated that is one of the reasons why gravel cycling events have taken off. Fewer restrictions, approvals and resources required if you are using fewer public roads and more trails. Also why criteriums have become the staple of club racing. Closed circuit not on roads is so much easier to run. But the problem is that young people coming into the sport are getting fewer opportunities to race high quality road races as events are gradually disappearing due to the challenges of putting them on.

[@doctorscoot]

@@shred3005 and also what happens is that club runs and charity rides become defacto (unsafe) races

[@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy]

The Traffic Management Team would be subject to penalty on that surely. It is not just the event itself but the financial outlay for the event, wasted money on insurance for example.

[@felixoates]

God knows - can’t comment and wouldn’t want to!

[@mikeg4541]

@3:49 you included the clip in sounds! Love that satisfying ASMR

[@felixoates]

So glad you enjoyed it mate and thanks for watching!!

[@swtelfer1]

I believe there is ride at next years TDU….they didn’t have one this year. Its the cost of insurance, cost of marshalls (traffic management) that is blowing these events out of the water

[@felixoates]

Thanks for your comment! I'm in for TDU - lets do it! Yeah cost is definitely the common thread in all of these comments... I just hope the community can find actionable solutions with event managers/legislators and riders alike

[@bretthallam9567]

Great video mate! Love it

[@felixoates]

Cheers bruv thanks for featuring!!!

[@R_Polly]

Probably good to mention that last year the Mudgee classic was changed from a timed bib number ride to a "organised" ride on fully open roads, only a few days before the event. That time they blamed the police. The grand fondo scene in Australia is sadly in very bad shape. Now we can really only rely on Peaks and Amy's.

[@rocstar76]

And Tour de Brisbane

[@felixoates]

Hey hey thanks for the comment and that's a shame to hear about the change to Mudgee, I can't comment on that but the broader topic area of these events receding and not having many options is a bit saddening, especially for someone like me who hasn't enjoyed any of them yet!! You have reaffirmed my interest in Peaks and Amy's though!

[@felixoates]

Tour de Brisbane got cancelled??

[@rodneyallwood1394]

Great blog, we travelled from Central Queensland for the event and although it was cancelled we still had a great experience and ride. Everyone was so positive during the day. Hopefully it's around next year.

[@felixoates]

Thanks so much! Ahhh so sorry you came all that way for what wasn't the desired result, although, so glad you got to soak up Bowral/Gundungurra - it's an incredible place and we are definitely blessed to experience it on two wheels

[@jamesbrickwood7414]

Newcastle Overnighter in November. Incredible ride if you haven’t done one yet

[@felixoates]

James this could actually be THE perfect training ride for my Sydney to Melbourne ride to raise funds for TriMob! Thanks so much!! Is it safe enough?

[@jamesbrickwood7414]

Last year was my first ( work had gotten in the way of the past few I’ve wanted to do) It’s no problem. The first part up the pacific highway is the busiest but you’re riding with everyone for the start of it you safety in numbers. The rest of the way is nearly no traffic. You’ll be right with the Melbourne ride. Are you riding with all your gear ? I motel hopped down the princess Highway from Sydney to Melbourne in 2014 and it was unreal. Two panniers on a CAAD9 and I was away. All the newer bike packing bags didn’t really exist back then.

[@jamesbrickwood7414]

Just make sure you use the map on your gps and have enough juice in your lights

[@felixoates]

@@jamesbrickwood7414 good suggestion I think this is the one thanks again mate!

[@jamesbrickwood7414]

@@felixoates if you’re doing 32k average on a ride to Wiseman’s and back, you’ll have no problem with the overnighter what so ever 🤝

[@carstenprien9462]

Well done, well played, well recorded. See you on the road

[@felixoates]

Thank you Carsten! I really appreciate your support!

[@2rismo]

Betteridge's law of headlines applies here.

[@doctorscoot]

The Cunningham Classic in SE QLD got cancelled this year. There was an alternative event organised but again not enough entries. I did the brisbane to gold coast charity ride two weekends ago - it was only on partially closed roads and not a race. Apparently the cost of organising road closures is killing events, it can’t help if the traffic provider doesn’t know what a calendar looks like! Geez, that’s professional incompetence. I feel for the organisers, that’s a very sad outcome. There’s the Tour de Brisbane in April 2025 (it’s a UCI grand fondo worlds qualifier too, for the course next year which will be the amy’s grand fondo course i believe).

[@felixoates]

Thanks for your thoughts!! This is feeling like an all too familiar story right across the country. You're right, it's super sad - we all believe in the positive force of cycling, that much is true! But it's clear that cycling events are not being prioritised by Police/Governments/Councils with road closure being too much for small event providers to afford. Those that are making ends meet cannot afford errors like this... It's motivating me to sign up to more tbh and I hope that's the same for everyone else!

[@doctorscoot]

@@felixoatesyou can see why criterium survives - we have several permanent crit tracks up here. There’s still a qld state road racing series. The TdBNE is part of the Brisbane cycling festival - and Brisbane city council does fairly well with the cycling paths (not suitable for racing of course). But you can also see why gravel is becoming more popular - it’s easier to get the closed roads if they’re state forest roads etc.

[@felixoates]

@@doctorscoot yeah this all makes a lot of sense thanks for taking the time! It’s so easy to see why gravel is prospering - also have you raced crit in Sydney on Heffron? No thanks 😅 In any case, I’m having a couple ideas that’s for sure!

[@shred3005]

@@doctorscoot as one of the organisers of the Cunningham Classic over recent years, I can confirm that the sad loss of this much loved event after 41 years is all down to two things (3 things actually). Traffic management costs (both the traffic management contractor and police fees) and entry numbers. I know the financials intimately and the only way the Cunningham could be run in recent years was through the generous key sponsor. I won’t go into the fine detail but after AusCycling take their 20% fixed and variable fees out of the entry fees, you need more than 300 hundred entrants just to cover Qld Police Service and traffic management fees. That’s before covering any other event costs. 300 entrants isn’t even close to a break even. 2022 was 190 entrants partly because AusCycling jammed the Cunningham between two major races, one the weekend before, and another the weekend after. Last year it did better with 290 entrants but that’s not sustainable. The contributing 3rd reason is the change of route enforced by the QPS for safety reasons to stay off the highway. That brought in more intersections that require traffic management and so the fees went up even further for both the QPS and the traffic management contractor. But if you could be ensured of enough entries, say 400, then it becomes viable. It just seems that there’s fewer cyclists willing to race these really tough road races. Remember Elite A raced the 172km route up to around 5/6 yrs ago but then some complained that the full route was too tough (I don’t blame them!). The Cunningham Classic is an amazing point to point race and I’ll be very sad if there isn’t a way to get it up again in the next couple of years. Remembering that all these sanctioned events are 100% underwritten by clubs with the support of sponsors. The cycling clubs ultimately bear all of the financial risk.

[@doctorscoot]

@@shred3005 thank you for the first hand information. I had heard similar but through club discussion rather than anything first hand. Myself I’m training to get fit enough (for an old bloke) to do the TdBNE and would be on my goals list to be able to hope to complete something like the Cunningham Classic, if you can get it back. But I’m just one of the additional hundreds you need. :-(

[@barleymaltextractxex4147]

The cost for such events are becoming prohibitive.

[@felixoates]

Thanks for the comment mate - is that cost on the event management side of things, the participant or both?? Thanks for watching!!

[@andrewgordon6179]

Have to agree, I used to do Bowral and Noosa Classic and B2B annually,on top of state cycling events, but I can't justify the cost anymore. It's was getting to be over $ 1500 in total for these weekends away when look at travel accommodation and food

[@TheRealMaxDrax]

Bicycle network also announced that The Great Vic Ride has become too expensive for them in its current form and will be changing from next year. People are probably looking to save a bit more as well with the cost of living pressures

[@barleymaltextractxex4147]

@@felixoates what is the purpose of event management. Its bike riding, freedom, adventure. I just did a ride with two mates from Jindabyne to Charlottes Pass and back, total cost, $40, 20 for petrol share and 20 for breakfast, carried own food. Look into Audax rides, become a member, $6 for a ride between 50km to 600 km, unsupported, real planning.

[@rhysbrett9312]

cool vid - thanks for posting!

[@felixoates]

Thanks for watching dude I really appreciate the support!!

[@rhysbrett9312]

I live locally and it is such a fantastic day each year seeing so many bikes out - your edit showed some of the best cycling views!

[@felixoates]

@@rhysbrett9312 hey hey thanks for your kind words that means a lot! It’s definitely the intention to show these amazing places and inspire people to have a crack 🙏🏻 thanks so much for watching

[@samuelhill5290]

Yes

[@zazzleman]

Just about everything within 200kms of home is now cancelled.

[@felixoates]

Zazzleman what do we do!? Do you ride? Any good bunchies or events?? Thanks for watching :)

[@AndyTychon]

#savetheclassics Tour of Brisbane is one you could attend. It’s a UCI qualifier for the Worlds next year too if you haven’t qualified already.

[@felixoates]

Tour de Bris I'd be very keen for! Might have to check that out hey! R.E. qualifying for worlds, will have to work very hard on that FTP hahahah - thanks mate really appreciate the comment and you watching

[@AndyTychon]

@@felixoates top 25% of each age category qualify for UCI Worlds…..which incidentally are being held in Victoria (Great Ocean Road) next year. Tour of Brisbane is in April next year.

[@felixoates]

@@AndyTychon this is good to know! I like the element of unified competition which I the likes of Ironman or Hyrox does for other sports

[@phoenixtwelve1972]

Sad day of cycling in Australia really... lols. When the people managing don't check in with traffic control to ensure the details and then pass the buck as quickly as possible its not a reflection on cycling in Australia, its a reflection on leaving things to emails and not picking up the bloody phone. Honestly, how do you not recognise that the VMS boards were not out ?! Anyone who knows anything about traffic control and has been to these events will tell you the VMS boards are out (In general) at least a few days before the event.

[@felixoates]

Hey hey - your feelings are valid and the event provider mucked up. This is true. And it is pretty sad to be honest - for everyone involved. I think the general trend in the comments if you're reading is that these types of events have been receding for a while. I think that's the more important conversation; 'what can we do to support event providers in the context of the events becoming harder to manage'. Thanks for your comment and for watching!

[@DanTuber]

Come to Vic and do 3 peaks if you need an event.

[@felixoates]

Mate, would you have any recommendations for a practical accomodation set up for Peaks?? I'm fanging for it to be fair! Thanks for the comment dude

[@DanTuber]

@@felixoates Can't help sorry. I do know staying in the resort area is very expensive and often booked out. Many stay well out of town and have to drive to the start on the morning.Check the website ...links to stay there.

[@felixoates]

Thanks anyway mate I appreciate the response! Will have a gander

[@proctermorris6657]

Re Peaks:- I've booked in Mount Beauty down the bottom of the hill. No way I was paying what they were asking up top at Falls Creek.​@@felixoates

[@ItsMaxMann]

He plays no games this bloke… only 24 hours later and he’s posted 😂 Good to put a face to a name mate.

[@felixoates]

Hot off the press brother! Hahahah so good to meet you dude and can't wait for our next outing!!

[@NoelyBob]

Its not for lack of rider support, lots of riders there. Slack management is the problem.

[@AndyTychon]

The slacker these events are run, the more hesitant riders become to enter them, wondering if the event will even take place. Australian cycling deserves better.

[@felixoates]

I can’t speak to the event management having not attended many. But the rider support at Bowral in spite of the late change was so evident - there’s 100% an appetite for these events! Thanks for the comment 🫡

[@felixoates]

@@AndyTychonI’m optimistic Andy - you have to be! I’m going to stay proactive on this conversation and hopefully cover great existing events 🤞🏻

[@monkeays]

It wasnt the organisers fault, the Traffic Management company completely screwed them over.

[@felixoates]

@@monkeays In spite of the Classics not looking good in this situation, it does sound like the traffic provider has had the shocker of a lifetime.

[@damodamo7219]

Road cycling racing in Australia is cooked. Won’t exist in 5 years.

[@felixoates]

Damo, thanks for the comment mate but we all have a vested interest and it's still alive! What can we do? If not events, what can we do to grow cycling in our community? Let me know your thoughts but I'm keen to build the communal vibes and make cyclists in Australia feel connected

[@ssusggus]

@@felixoateswhat if we just do it with no event organisers, it would be free and yeah we would hold up traffic but with enough cyclists what are they going to do? We get our ride in, at no expense. Community planned ride. Maybe raise money for charity too. Idk.

[@felixoates]

@@ssusggus Check out my everesting challenge videos! That's why I have done this stuff in the past - organise an insane experience off your own back and go and explore/experience it all without constraints!

[@ssusggus]

@@felixoates thanks I’ll suss it out! Cheers mate