Hell Ride each Saturday still stirs passions for cyclists in Melbourne
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Melbourne's so-called Hell Ride is back in the news after footage showing cyclists riding through red lights appeared online.
The weekly ride is a high-speed training race from Black Rock in Melbourne's south-east to Mount Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula.
The video was made to promote a crowdfunding campaign raising money for a documentary on the controversial ride, which can have as many as 200 riders.
It made headlines in 2006 when a cyclist taking part hit and killed an elderly pedestrian, and again in 2015 when several riders were seriously injured in a crash.
Amid the renewed attention, a handful of hell riders shared with ABC Radio Melbourne their surprising opinions of the event.
Tommy: It's all about community
Tommy Nankervis is a former Oceania road race champion with a decade of overseas racing experience.
Almost every Saturday — rain, hail or shine — he dons lycra and heads to Black Rock for the 80-kilometre ride.
"No-one owns it, there's no organisation, no committee, it's just a bunch of people who share a common interest," he said.
"I've got friends I don't see all week ... I know I'll see them at the same time, same place, on the same loop; how many events in the world are like that?"
For Mr Nankervis, the ride is more about community than crossing the line first.
"It's about encouraging other riders to be the best they can," he said.
"Of course there are bragging rights, but it's really about reaching your full potential."
Lee: It's fast and predictable
The ride has twice helped Lee Turner find his racing feet.
More than 20 years ago, when he was relatively new to road racing, the expertise of seasoned hell riders helped him hone his speed and skills.
Last year, in a horror bike crash, the 44-year-old broke both his wrists and spent three months on the sideline.
He said taking part in the Hell Ride was the perfect opportunity for him to dust off the cobwebs.
"So many group rides are unpredictable, but the Hell Ride is fast and predictable," he said.
"I know the cyclists in front of me are a professionals, so I'm free to focus on my own game.
"It was the safest place to get back into the swing of things."
Matt: It's the culture
Matt left Italy to live in Australia in 2011.
"You have to establish yourself, build your profile and earn people's respect all over again," he said of moving.
In Italy, Matt represented the national triathlon team.
He thought his athletic ability could open doors and help build connections in his new home town.
"I started going in the Hell Ride, building relationships and figuring out how Melbourne works," Matt said.
"I saw all these guys who loved cycling, who committed their whole week to the ride ... I thought this is where I want to be."
Last week Matt received his Australian residency.
He said Melbourne's cycling culture was one of the reasons he decided to settle there permanently.
Cameron: It's a misunderstood cultural phenomenon
Cameron Nicholls came to cycling later in life, but he made up for lost time by immersing himself in the sport.
Like many keen cyclists, the physicality and speed of the Hell Ride appealed to him.
"It's the biggest and fastest bunch ride so completing it was something to aspire to."
His interest gradually switched from taking part in the ride to viewing the ride as a cultural phenomenon.
"Personally, I find the amount of interest in it fascinating," he said.
"It's very divisive. It's controversial and really, I think, quite misunderstood."
The co-founder of online marketplace Bike Chaser is now seeking funding to make a documentary about the ride.
"I see it as an interesting thing to examine," Mr Nicholls said.
"Why do so many people want to ban it? Why do so many people love it? Is it really as dangerous as people say?
"The clincher is that we can educate cyclists and the broader community and hopefully break down the us-versus-them narrative many people have."
Topics: cycling, road, exercise-and-fitness, human-interest, vic
