GREG Cahill of Maiden Gully will parti cipate in his 13th Great Victorian Bike Ride this year.
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This year's ride will travel through the Central Goldfields region at the end of the year.
Mr Cahill said it was great the ride was coming through Bendigo as it gave him a chance to show off his home.
More than 3500 cyclists are expected to take part in this year's event.
Mr Cahill is hoping among that number will be at least four of his children.
He said they were not as avid bike riders as he, but wanted to have them be a part of it.
He took up cycling in 2001 after he retired and his brother-in-law encouraged him to get involved.
Mr Cahill regularly rides with eight of his good mates of Sundays, they call themselves the 'Hashbrown Hasbeens' and eat breakfast together after they ride.
"It is pretty clear that we are all hasbeens, most of us are at retiring age," he said.
"And we are the 'Hashbrown Hasbeens' because we start and finish at McDonalds."
Mr Cahill will celebrate his 69th birthday on the final day of the bike ride.
He said the ride was a great experience for so many reasons.
"You get to meet some really interesting people," he said.
Mr Cahill remembered seeing a couple on a tandem bike towing a child carrier behind with a blind dog perched inside.
He said he was amazed on his first ride how many children participated.
This year's event will span some 540km of stunning Goldfields countryside, with 3500 riders expected to trek from Ballarat to Bendigo, traveling through the historic townships of Avoca, Dunolly, Inglewood, Heathcote and Castlemaine
The Bicycle Network is encouraging residents of Bendigo and surrounding regions to get in
early to secure a place in the 32nd instalment of the Victorian cycling event, which finishes in their home town.
Early-bird tickets are available from Monday, May 18, until Friday, August 4, and riders who register during this time will save $100.
For more information, visit www.greatvic.com.au