Back lane challenge for cyclists
Giro d'Perth competitors Lucy Liongue and Ray Shortland look for clues. Picture: Sharon Smith/The West Australian
It was a chance shortcut through one of Perth's many hidden lanes that led cyclist Toby Hodgson to organise Perth's first back-lane bike odyssey - the Giro d'Perth.
Yesterday, 500 cyclists took up maps and followed clues on a treasure hunt of between 11km to 31km through North Perth, West Perth and the CBD.
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Mr Hodgson said he wanted people to experience more of their city on two wheels and had been inspired by the Giro d'Italia, a yearly bike race held in Italy.
"I just had a vision of people riding around following the map and discovering new, different and exciting places," he said.
He organised it with the help of South Perth Cycling Club and is looking at a second event next year.
"Although we were limited to 500 people, we could easily have had 1000," he said. "It was fantastic. People did get lost but everyone was thrilled and we've had a lot of postive comments. And there was such a range of people, from those in lycra to BMX riders and families with kids in trailers and carriers.
"There's no event like it in Perth."
