Originally Posted by
lisitsa
I participate in non-competitive events but only those that I can ride to. In Melbourne here, we have a reasonably active bicycle organization (bicycle victoria) that organizes a few cycling events each year such as Great Victorian Bike Ride, Around the Bay in a Day. Problem is Around the Bay is 210km for the longer ride, and if I had to ride to the city and back that'd be 250. In fairness, I don't fancy myself doing either of those distances in one day.
250 kms in one day isn't bad, a person could cover that distance in daylight ... it's when you have to cycle to a 400 km or 600 km brevet, ride it, and then ride back that it starts to get a bit long.
You've got a train service in Melbourne that's a bit better than the public transportation where I currently live, and it allows bicycles on it, so I imagine that would make it a bit easier to get to events if you live right in Melbourne, wouldn't it?