Lunch at Cofield Wines for these suffragettes during the 2026 Rutherglen Vintage Bike Ride.
There was no fixed route, and no prizes for coming in first, just a ride from Rutherglen to Wahgunyah and back via the Rail Trail and Rutherglen Loops.
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The 2026 Vintage Bike Ride headed out from Rutherglen Convent to Cofield Wines on the weekend, in the perfect autumn weather – fine, cool and sunny.
This is the event’s third year, and raised money in aid of Rotary Australia’s campaign “Say NO to domestic and family violence” and the Cornishtown CFA.
In past years, beneficiaries have been MND Research, Australian Paralympic Cycling Team and the Rutherglen and Wahgunyah CFA.
More than 200 riders lined up to start, many dressed for the occasion in vintage clothing and vintage cycling gear.
A BBQ lunch was provided by the Rotary Club at Cofield Wines with food by the Rutherglen Butcher, Brooke Henderson Catering and the IGA.
There were 215 riders in this year’s event, with one travelling from the USA.
There were two fabulous bike displays – one, of Colnago bikes at the Convent, many with famous historical connections and some even gold plated - the other of vintage bikes at Cofield Wines including a penny-farthing actually ridden during the event.
During lunch, Mike Tomalaris who is the “the voice of cycling” and former host of SBS’s coverage of the Tour de France for 26 years, interviewed legends of Australian cycling.
They included Wayne McCarney, a dual Commonwealth Games champion in 1986 and Olympic Games bronze medallist in 1988, Don Allan, 1972 Olympian and first Australian to win a stage of a Grand Tour (Vuelta a España 1975) and winner of 17 six-day races, and Clyde Sefton, 1972 Olympian and only Australian man to have won a medal (silver) in an Olympic Games Road Race.
The Penny Farthing is always a fun sight.
Clyde held the audience spellbound with his recollections of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games especially the terrorist attacks on the Israeli team.
Also attending was dual-Olympian Louise Jones, a 10 times British champion who represented Wales and UK.
Especially encouraging was the enthusiasm of the younger attendees, dressing in vintage clothing.
Many had travelled long distances, including some from Queensland and one from the USA, which is a testament to the growing interest in the event from within cycling circles near and far.
Many of the riders dressed for the occasion in vintage costumes.
Back at the Convent in the evening the VBR raffle was drawn by Michael Hepburn, leader of Explore Rutherglen, the region’s tourism body.
First prize was an electric bicycle, with other prizes including accommodation, wine and beauty products, all from Rutherglen businesses.
The Vintage Bike Ride is strongly supported by local businesses providing prizes for the raffle, products for the event and publicity and promotion.
Next year the event will be held on April 24, providing an opportunity for an Anzac Day long weekend in the region.
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