About Us

Australian Veteran Cycling Council Inc.
ABN 96 724 615

The Australian Veteran Cycling Council Inc (AVCC) was formed in 1991 to cater for the interests of veteran cyclists throughout Australia. Having moved from strength to strength, the organization today has a presence in all States bar the Northern Territory and has 2,000 members on its books. It is our belief that a body run solely by veteran riders can best represent the special needs of veteran age cyclists, and over the life of the organization we have found that working without outside interference has led to a harmonious environment in which to conduct our activities. Currently, males over 35 years and females over 30 years of age are eligible to apply for membership through their state bodies. Those who join are provided with probably the cheapest and most comprehensive insurance cover in the country with riders being covered for both racing and training (with training that encompasses both riding as an individual and as member of a formal training group). Our licence allows the member to ride with any affiliated Club in the various States.

We also run some very successful national events that are open to all members from all states. At Easter, the Victorian Veteran Cycling Council runs a three-day Carnival at Maryborough, with prize-money in 2005 that exceeded $18,000. In South Australia, our affiliate has successfully organized the Veteran road, criterium and sprint racing that accompanies the international/professional 'Tour Down Under'. Fields of over 300 veteran riders have participated over the last few years. Other states also have their classics to which any AVCC member is welcome to ride. Since 1991, we have also held national championships involving, road, criterium and time trialling events, and on occasions track championships have been held. Many of these have been very successful, attracting on occasions over 200 riders. The Championships are rostered among the states, with Tasmania having run the 2004 event, the 2005 being run in Ballarat, by the Victorian VCC and the 2006 Championships having been arranged for South Australia, with track championships in Adelaide and road events at Milang. All states, and affiliated clubs also conduct full racing programmes in summer and winter. While most races are graded according to ability (with some being run as handicaps), age related races are also run. The National Championships Road events, for example, are run in five-year divisions for both male and female competitors, while on the track the current divisions are conducted in ten-year groupings.

In all states there are riders who hold dual licences that enables them to ride with both the AVCC and Cycling Australia. This is especially so among younger veteran riders who have recently moved into the AVCC and who understandably don’t wish to cut their contact completely with their old clubs. However, those holding double licences tend to represent a minority of riders, while the interest of most AVCC members is in being part of a purely veteran scene. While competition can be keen, it is also true to say that many members are attracted to the ranks because of the friendly and casual nature of competition. There is no loss of face for ‘under-performing’ and most riders see the AVCC as an organization where they can enjoy their sport, participate in a healthy pastime and enjoy the company of people of similar interests and vintage.

In 2005 the AVCC became affiliated to the International Cycling Federation (ICF), an international body that caters for veteran cyclists who wish to ride outside of UCI jurisdiction. The body has its headquarters in Belgium, the secretary being Freddy De Roo. There are a number of national bodies affiliated to the ICF, among the largest being the Belgium Veteran body and the British League of Veteran Racing Cyclists (LVRC). AVCC riders are welcome to ride with these bodies and other affiliates and there are a large number of European events to choose from. However, because of current insurance complications, any AVCC members wishing to race with these bodies should first contact the secretary of the AVCC before proceeding abroad, so as to resolve the insurance problems.