great victorian ride (Australia)

[grannieann]

hi all, I have been reading your forum for quite a while but havent had the courage to join in. I love riding & have 2 bikes an Avanti road bike for training/bike trails & a more serious lighter Bianchi that I have done a few races on with the Vets. Now that I have retired from work I have more time to get out on the road & I am about to do the great Victorian bike ride which starts from my home town & travels around the north-east for 10 days. Distances vary from 40k to 80k with some steep hilly climbs. I am going alone camping & am looking forward to it immensley. Any chance that someone else reading this discussion group is going too?
Ann

[SJCzar]

That's sounds like a great ride. I'm on the other side of the world, so sorry to say I won't be there.

If it's anything like the bike tours over in the US I'm sure you'll find that there are very many riders that came solo. You'll be making new friends before you even get your tent set up the first day. (that's what happened with me on the weeklong tour I did this summer)

[kiwi girl]

Hey Grannieann

I'm not going this year, but me and BF have done it the last two years. I had work issues this year (although as it happens those have resolved themselves in the past 24 hours - but I wouldn't have been able to get the training in). We are going to do the NSW big ride in March instead.

There was another women enzed on these boards who usually volunteers on the GVBR but she hasn't posted for a while.

You'll have a great time - there are plenty of opportunities to meet people. Have you been hanging out on the Bicycle Victoria forums at all?

[Trekhawk]

hi all, I have been reading your forum for quite a while but havent had the courage to join in. I love riding & have 2 bikes an Avanti road bike for training/bike trails & a more serious lighter Bianchi that I have done a few races on with the Vets. Now that I have retired from work I have more time to get out on the road & I am about to do the great Victorian bike ride which starts from my home town & travels around the north-east for 10 days. Distances vary from 40k to 80k with some steep hilly climbs. I am going alone camping & am looking forward to it immensley. Any chance that someone else reading this discussion group is going too?
Ann

Hey grannieann and welcome to TE.

Im sure you will have a great time and meet heaps of fun people on the way.
Please post a ride report after and let us know how you got on. I would love to do this ride on my return to Aust.

Have fun.

[light_sabe_r]

Welcome grannieann!

^_^

You didn't happen to do bay in a day this year? BF and I were there... Him competing and me just watching. :P I'm slack I know.

I've seen some of the hills you victorians do through the grampians... Just watch out for the roos.

Hope you have fun. Make sure you come back and tel us all about it! ^_^

[enzed]

Hi it's enzed here. I admit I don't write much on these forums, but i do enjoy reading all your stories.
I have been a catering volunteer on the last 3 great Victorian rides. And I'll be back again this year, this time as part of the Breakfast shift.
My countrylink tickets are booked and this time next week I'll be sitting at a pub in Wangaratta enjoying a cold drink (preferably a Ruskie).
I'm looking forward to looking after this year's intake of cyclists and will make sure you won't go hungry at breakfast.
There'll be new people to meet and also a chance to see some familar faces again. 9 nights camping under the stars, shower trucks to share, new pubs to visit and the chance to see the country. I can't wait
Good luck to all those cyclists going on this years ride. I hope you have a great time

[grannieann]

thanks to those who replied re my ride November 25. I will be looking out for you enzed at the breakfast tent or maybe the local pub. I know the spirit of the ride means I will meet lots of like minded people & it will be a major buzz. Have done one before two years ago along the Great ocean road-they had 8000 or so folk -just a few too many!
Cheers & will let you know how it goes
Ann

[enzed]

Hi Grannieann. How's the packing going?
I've just been shopping and have got some last minute camping supplies.
So now I've got to find a way of fitting it all inside my travelpack.
That should be an interesting experience - I'm just lucky that vollie luggage is hardly ever weighed

By the way, to make it easier to find me on the ride - I go by the name Louise and I'm one of the few vollies who have a kiwi accent.

Happy Riding