Amy Gillett ride a success

The oldest was 75, the youngest just one, but all 2,500 participantsrode to remember budding cyclist Amy Gillett and encourage betterunderstanding on the roads between drivers and riders.

Cycling champions Cadel Evans, Phil Anderson, Robbie McEwen and PhilLiggett also got on their bikes to support the Amy Gillett Foundation'sfundraiser in Geelong on Sunday.

The foundation was formed to reduce the incidence of death and injury caused by the interaction between cyclists and motorists.

It works "to promote a shared respect between motorists and  cyclists", it says.

Amy Gillett, a promising young rider, was killed in Germany in 2005when a car ploughed into the Australian road racing team on a trainingride. Four of her teammates were seriously injured.

Her parents Mary and Denis Safe both rode on Sunday, as did her husband Simon, said ride spokeswoman Brooke Tully.

But the youngest to take part was 12-month-old Freya Jacobsen whowas ridden around the event's short course by her mum Melinda.

Sunday's event raised more than $230,000.

After paying for staging the event, the money will go toward funding the foundation's various programs.