Students from Sacred Heart College Kyneton are gearing up for this year’s Great Vic Bike Ride.
From November 26 to December 4, the big cycle features the Great Ocean Road, volcanic craters, Otway rainforests and Golden Plains.
College teacher Craig Durroch said it was great to see how much the seven students were getting out of being involved.
“The event gives students the opportunity to set goals and achieve them by completing the ride,” Mr Durroch said.
“The Great Vic is a fantastic opportunity for students to be involved with such a large group of people with a common passion. Our students grow so much in confidence from the experience.”
Starting in Koroit, the ride’s overnight stops will be in Noorat, Timboon, Birregurra, Apollo, Anglesea, Inverleigh before finishing, after 522 kilometres, in Buninyong.
The ride is put on by the Bicycle Network, and events general manager Caitlin Borchers said this year riders would have the chance to ride the Great Ocean Road without traffic, explore country towns and enjoy gourmet produce and wineries.
“Western Victoria has some of the best bike riding in Australia: gentle gradients, quiet country backroads and inspirational scenery – making it ideal for bike riders of all levels,” she said.
Mr Durroch said the students had been training for the event, with long rides on Wednesdays as well as 40 to 60 kilometre weekend cycles.
“The physical benefits of the Great Vic Bike Ride are obvious as we begin training in late May each year after a couple of theory sessions,” he said.
“Like other schools I have a dedicated team of staff and parents alongside me that enable us to train the students and support them on the ride”.
Elsie Lange
