By Oliver Lees
Bullengarook couple Greg and Cheryl Morvell are gearing up for this year’s Great Vic Bike Ride.
This will be the second time the amateur cyclists have taken on the challenge, after they rode more than 500 kilometres from Robe in South Australia to Torquay in Victoria in 2019.
“I used to ride into the city for work when we lived in Melbourne about 20 years ago, but I hadn’t really ridden since then,” Greg said.
“My wife hadn’t gotten on a bike since she was in school, we actually had to go and buy bikes for it because we didn’t have any. We were a bit nervous to be honest.
“It was fantastic and not at all what we expected, we thought we’d do it once for a challenge, but once we’d finished we immediately decided we wanted to do it again.”
The 2021 Great Vic Bike Ride will start in the town of Rainbow in western Victoria, before snaking through the Grampians as part of a 537-kilometre route.
Each year, the Great Vic Bike Ride attracts thousands of participants ranging from first-time long distance cyclists to seasoned professionals.
“I was amazed by the dedication and skills of the organisers and volunteers,” Greg said.
“If someone along the way has had enough, or they pop a tyre and don’t know how to fix it, there are plenty of volunteers willing to help and fix it for you.
“There’s also this whole communal feel and friendliness. Everyone goes at their own pace and there are regular breaks for meals.”
The nine-day bike ride runs from November 27 to December 5.
For more information, including cost, visit: greatvic.com.au
