Great Victorian Bike Ride fails todeliver on promise, say publicans

SMALL towns west of Ballarat have been left disappointed and angry after the Great Victorian Bike Ride.Hotel owners in Rokewood, Beaufort and Cobden claimed they were misled by ride organisers, investing in thousands of dollars in food and liquor, which they were unable to sell.Three country publicans said they were unaware the ride, which wound its way through the Grampians region in December, had its own bars and entertainment.And business people in Rokewood and Cobden said they were angry that riders were detoured to avoid travelling down main shopping strips.Beaufort Hotel owner Wayne Owen said he spent $13,000 stocking up on cans of beer and sold less than $400 worth."We built a bar out in the bottle shop, put on extra staff, all for nothing."I put up a marquee across the road and I put hay bales in there. I was the only (one) who sat under it."Rokewood publican Kerry Gawley said he was massively overstaffed for the amount of business generated."They told us on several occasions that little country pubs could take a year's takings in a night, that publicans could take their wives overseas on the profits," he said."I had 20 staff and needed no more than half of them. We were busy, but nothing like they suggested."Both Mr Gawley and the owner of Thompson's Hotel in Cobden, Toni Oswald, complained riders were directed around the main shopping strip in each town.Ms Oswald said she was surprised the event had its own onsite bar, which serviced thousands of riders and discouraged them from using the town's facilities."We stocked up to cater for 300 meals - we did 70," she said. "Thankfully we were supported by our regulars."Members of Progressing Cobden, the town's community association, are writing to ride organisers Bicycle Victoria to express their disappointment at how the event was run.More than 4000 cyclists rode in the nine-day event, which looped through the Western District and the Grampians.But in Rokewood, the community organisation has blamed local businesses for not being involved in event planning, and therefore missing out on "vital information".Rokewood Inc committee member Jenny Jones said the local pub and takeaway food store only came to a few planning meetings."People who were not part of our group were not privy to the information that we were getting through the Great Victorian Bike Ride meetings, so they missed out on that vital information," she said. "They were extremely busy so I don't understand when they say it was unsuccessful."Ms Jones said Rokewood Inc considered their participation an "outstanding success", raising $2000 for the community and promoting the town.But general store owner Fiona Lynch said the Rokewood Inc's activities had been in competition with her business, with community stalls selling goods normally sold by her business.