Event Expo – Spectator Info

2024 EVENT PROGRAM

FINISH LINE AND EVENT CENTRE

Location: Forrest Football Ground, Forrest VIC

The Otway Odyssey and GOGG weekend is far more than ‘just another bike race’ and includes the Event Expo as a massive extra feature on race day and is the ideal place to park the family and your friends while you flog yourself around the course!

What’s on:

  • Start and finish location for all races
  • Intermediary points for 100km, 50km and 30km MTB races
  • Sponsors expo and display stands
  • The only spot on the course where MTB riders can receive outside mechanical support – including from the onsite bike shop.


FOOD STALLS: 10AM – 5PM SATURDAY AND 8:30AM – 3:00PM SUNDAY

A wide range of stalls will be up and running in the expo, including items such as:

  • Coffee, smoothies, soft drink, water and more
  • BBQ food with sausages, hamburgers, egg and bacon rolls
  • Paela
  • Baked Potatoes
  • Pizzas
  • Forrest Brewery
  • Healthy rolls and salads


SPONSORS EXPO: 10:00AM – 5:00PM SATURDAY AND 9:00AM – 2:00PM SUNDAY

All sponsors of the Otway Odyssey, as well as several other biking and tourism related companies will have stands at the Forrest Football Ground including:

  • Focus and Cervelo Bikes Australia – will be set up with a selection of their bikes and the opportunity to have a chat about their range of MTB, gravel, CX and road bikes
  • Bikecorp – displaying and retailing Michelin Tyres, Knog lights, Leat clothing and Super-B tools
  • Skratch – selling and sampling a range of hydration and nutrition products
  • Krush bike wash – wash, try, buy their comprehensive range of bike care products
  • Velo Therapy – providing last minute bike mechanical work and repairs
  • ISI Bike Carriers – displaying their bike racks
  • Rubber Side Down – displaying their cargo jerseys and other bike clothing
  • Steigen – retailing their great range of running and riding socks
  • Gear up Cycling – Offering mountain bike coaching in a safe learning environment.

“This is a fabulous weekend of MTB and Gravel Grind racing in the beautiful Otways.  The atmosphere of the festival village is family friendly and the food is wonderful. The trails are diverse and challenging and with the huge variety of races available, they are within everybody’s reach. I could not recommend the Otway Odessy highly enough for the whole family.” – Pamela Hammond, multiple-Odyssey participant.

Forrest Brewery event bar

The award winning local business – The Forrest Brewing Company – will be operating a thriving event bar right next to the finish line all weekend. Serving 4 of their locally brewed beers from their stylish Airstream Bar and they are the centre of post race celebrations.

We’ll also have Coast Seltzer, Flow State Distillery and Australian Sports Beer serving drinks on the day!

Finish line refreshments thanks to Top Bike Tours

All riders will receive a free can of soft drink after you finish your race thanks to the generous support of Topbike Tours – Emma Colson and David Olle. Please consider Top Bike’s riding tours when planning your next international dream holiday – including Sicily, Corsica, Tuscany, Italy, Spain, France and more…)


MUSIC AND MCS

It’s non-stop entertainment with event an interactive MC providing commentary throughout the day, and some chilled out live music playing on the stage between 11am and 3pm to welcome those who have finished this epic event.

KRUSH Bike Wash

Event sponsors KRUSH will have a huge hand bike wash set up under their A-frame tent near the race chute with plenty of free product, water, buckets and brushes so you can give your bike some tender loving care. You can also buy their product direct from the source at their marquee near the rego tent.


KIDS ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES: Sat 11am – 2pm and Sun 11am – 2pm

Kids will have plenty of things to keep them busy whilst mum or dad are out riding, with an arts and craft area and a massive jumping castle to use up all that boundless energy.

Plus there’s the Grommets ride and activities for little kids! Read the Course Description for more details.

FIRST AID

The Forrest Football Ground will be the central First Aid point for the event with onsite medical centre, Ambulance Victoria and trained paramedics to help you if you’ve come unstuck. Please respect that they must give priority to the more serious cases over simple cuts and grazes.


SUPPORTING YOUR RIDER

The Forrest football ground is the only place where MTB riders can accept outside assistance from their support crew.

Competitors may only receive external support from handlers or support crew within the confines of the Forrest Football Ground at the following points:

  • 100km course: 42km and 76km points
  • 50km course: 31km point
  • 30km course: 12.6km point

This area is defined as any section along the course that is within the playing surface of the Forrest Football Ground. So if you are a support crew be aware of this opportunity, but also the limitation that this requires in that you cannot provide any drinks, food or other support anywhere else along the course.

Any riders seen to be receiving any external support outside of this designated area will be given a 30 minute penalty – this includes collecting water bottles or other hydration or nutrition from spectators as well as items that have been ‘pre-placed’ on the course for collection during the race. This will be strongly enforced.

PIT TENTS

We openly encourage riders and clubs to set up your own track-side ‘pit tents’ on the Forrest Football Ground. Please set them up beside the race track on the far side (northern side) of the feed zone near the footy goals.