By Dan Oakes
IN THE crisp early morning, a brightly hued tribe gathered in Geelong to celebrate the life and mourn the death of one of its own.
The thousands of cyclists assembled in the Geelong Botanic Gardens yesterday to take part in Amy's Ride were an impressive sight in multi-coloured jerseys.
As they departed in a seemingly never-ending stream, it was difficult to imagine a more appropriate commemoration of Amy Gillett-Safe.
The fund-raising ride was the brainchild of Simon Gillett, husband of Gillett-Safe, who was killed while training in Germany six months ago with other elite Australian road riders.
A young driver veered across the road and slammed into the group, leaving Gillett-Safe dead and five of her teammates seriously injured.
The proceeds of the event, which comprise four rides of varying difficulty around the Bellarine Peninsula, will go to the Amy Gillett Foundation, which has been set up to promote the safe sharing of roads between motorists and cyclists and to fund up-and-coming female riders.
"There's been a tremendous reaction from all the cyclists, and not just Australia's national team cyclists," Mr Gillett said.
"Anybody who can ride a bike is affected in some way. Hopefully, we can capitalise on that support and make something happen.
"We're hoping to raise around $60,000 or $70,000, and we'd like to make it an annual event and repeat it in a few cities around the country. So when we get organised, look out." Alongside Mr Gillett in the front row of the ride were Gillett-Safe's parents, Mary and Denis Safe, who said they had been in training for the 45-kilometre ride.
"It's actually Amy's birthday on Monday and I think this is the best party Amy could ever have wished for," an emotional Mrs Safe said.
Also in the front row was the slight figure of Katie Brown, one of the riders who survived the crash, albeit with horrendous leg and wrist injuries that have kept her out of competitive cycling. Yesterday was the first time she had ridden in a pack since last July.
"Riding in a bunch is obviously very different from just riding with another person, but I'm here for the cause and I'm really looking forward to it," she said.
"It's fantastic to have Amy's mum and dad and Simon here, and all the girls who were close to her here to support the foundation. Even people who went through the elite cycling program before are here to support it."
Brown was joined by the other four victims of last year's crash: Alexis Rhodes and Kate Nichols — both of whom are riding in the Bay Cycling Classic held this week — and Lorian Graham and Louise Yaxley.