Around the Bay Australia - Steve's Race on His VTX
A RIDE FOR EVERYONE - Australia’s Biggest One Day Riding Festival!
For many cyclists, long-distance touring brings freedom and adventure, but for others it can also mean discomfort and physical limitation. In search of a better way to ride, Steve turned to recumbent trikes and discovered a form of cycling that prioritises comfort, stability, and resilience without sacrificing performance. This blog follows that journey, culminating in an extraordinary attempt to complete the 220km Melbourne Around the Bay Classic on an ICE VTX.
"Touring on traditional bicycles was always uncomfortable, so I looked for alternatives. I discovered the joy of riding a trike from test rides on different recumbents at SPEZI. Additionally, I had the privilege of learning about trikes from Ian Sims in Melbourne (arguably the inventor of modern trikes). The comfort, stability, and quality construction of a trike positively changed my cycle experience.
For my bucket list I decided to fulfill my wish to complete the Melbourne Around the Bay Classic 220km marathon. I purchased a new 2025 ICE VTX to accomplish the task as it was light, fast, and durable. I had to disassemble the VTX into three sections and bubble wrap the parts into a cardboard cycle box to conform to Qantas cycle shipping specifications. I then reassembled and tested the trike prior to the event day."
"The Sunday October 26th event had poor weather with periods of showers, high wind, and flooding. My lead team mate and I started out at 06:00 and finished at 20:20 in the dark of Albert Park, Melbourne. I found the ICE VTX to be well suited for speed, but not as a submarine around Geelong with flash flooding and waves of water constantly engulfing my ride from passing vehicles. Although event organizers invited us to stop part way through the circuit, my team mate and I were determined to finish the event regardless of the many challenges, such as poor weather conditions, wet and cold trike chain, absent prepaid event lunch, and personal health disabilities of multiple sclerosis and stroke.
Although the one day event was the most extreme recumbent cycle experience I have ever encountered, other days had good weather and very nice cycling paths throughout the Melbourne area. Furthermore, I enjoyed travelling for the first time on the last car of a Melbourne metro train with a non-folding trike, navigating elevators, ramps, and ticket passages, which proved that it was possible for trikes to be supported on trains.
For my next bucket list item I wish to trade in my ICE VTX for an ICE Sprint to experience a light folding trike to complete the Eurovelo Atlantic coast route from Bergen, Norway to Portugal." - Steve Swettenham
In the end, this journey was about far more than completing a single endurance event. It was a testament to how the right tricycle can transform not only comfort and performance, but confidence and possibility. Together, these experiences illustrate how cycling on three wheels can open doors to adventures once thought unattainable.
Photos taken by Damian Salmon.
A perfect blend of performance, dynamic handling and comfort coupled with stunning looks and detailing to create the ultimate trike. With the lowest seating position of all our trikes, the VTX delivers superior performance guaranteed to put a smile on your face. A dynamic matt black colour scheme and custom graphics make the VTX look as good as it rides.
