Big bike ride coming to town

FOR the first time, this year’s Great Vic Bike Ride includes an overnight stop at Inverleigh and will finnish in the home of Australian cycling, Buninyong.

Earlier this week, the annual ride’s 522-kilometre route suitable for road, hybrid and mountain bikes was announced.

The ride begins at Koroit on Saturday, 26 November with final leg from Inverleigh to Buninyong on Sunday, 4 December.

Bicycle Network’s general manager of events Caitlin Borchers said the ride will take cyclists past volcanic craters, the Otway rainforests, the Great Ocean Road and through Golden Plains.

“This will be an iconic Great Vic with riders enjoying the best parts of Western Victoria, charming host towns and incredible scenery,” she said.

As well as Inverleigh, other overnight stops include at Noorat, Timboon, Birregurra, Apollo Bay and Anglesea, with a travelling festival from town to town with live music, food trucks, craft beer, yoga and an outdoor cinema at each campsite.

The ride is fully catered and tent-based with plenty of support for luggage transfers and medical and bike repair support.

Registrations open at greatvic.com.au in May, and entrants can choose to ride for seven, five or three days.