IT MAY have been the easiest day's ride of the week, but there were plenty of challenges on the second day of the Great Victorian Bike Ride.
After a night of heavy rain and wind, 5000 weary cyclists dragged themselves from wet tents and hit the road to Macarthur.
The 66km route took them northeast, through Narrawong and Tyrendarra, then past masses of blue gum plantations now the focus of court action as a result of the collapse of managed investment scheme companies Timbercorp and Great Southern.
Lunch was at the beautifully-named Bessiebelle, (it was named after a local station owner’s daughter, Bessie, who was, naturally, the belle of the district) before a short ride with a tailwind into Macarthur.
With many cyclists eager to hit the road early from Portland, thousands arrived in Macarthur to find the camp closed while it set up.
This would easily have been the biggest crowd to hit Macarthur - population 300 - for a long time, with thousands of cyclists crowding the streets as they waited to enter the campground at the local football ground.
And to add some spice to the occasion, a heavy rainstorm hit the town, forcing cyclists to scurry for any shelter they could.
But no one was blaming organisers for the delay.
Having to move a tent city to accommodate and feed 5000 riders, 500 volunteers and 200 support staff is a daily logistical miracle.
Tomorrow’s stage is 48km south to Port Fairy, with forecast headwinds.
The 550km ride finishes next Sunday in Geelong.
