John prepares for another Great Victorian Bike Ride

LAKE Wendouree recreational cyclist John Davis will earn himself the arguable honour of being one of the oldest participants when he sets off on this year’s Great Victorian Bike Ride in November.

The 79-year-old former businessman will be among hundreds of others on the ride this year, which will for the first time be a five-day event and will take in 300 kilometres of the Great Ocean Road.

Mr Davis – who would be known to locals as the man behind the former John and Catherine Davis Great Outdoors Centre, which is now Jayco Ballarat – has been cycling informally since what he described as a mid-life crisis in his 40s.

He is now a regular participant in the event, and has completed various lengthy rides in several other states.

While this year’s Great Victorian Bike Ride will be his eighth, Mr Davis gets together with a group of friends for rides every Monday for the social and wellbeing benefits.

“We go out on a Monday and one of the guys organises where we’re going to ride for the day,” he said, adding that ride locations varied throughout the Ballarat region and further afield.

“The main reason I ride is for health and wellbeing…and the camaraderie.”

Mr Davis said he particularly enjoyed the social aspect of the more formal Great Victorian Bike Ride ride, but also took pleasure in seeing younger riders get involved.

“It’s a fun event and you see that in all the children who take part,” he said. “It’s a great way to encourage them to continue riding when they become adults.”

The Great Victorian Bike Ride, organised and run by the Bicycle Network, begins on 24 November with a ride from Mortlake to Koroit.

The 25 November itinerary is a leg from Koroit through Port Fairy, Tower Hill and along the coast, before heading to Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road on 26 November.

The 27 November schedule is a loop around Port Campbell, stopping at the 12 Apostles and Timboon, before the final stretch from Port Campbell to Camperdown on 28 November.

Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack said the Victorian riding community would make this year’s event a holiday adventure like no other.

“The new Great Vic Bike Ride will have five incredible riding days, three welcoming towns and loop rides on two of the days,” she said.

“The 2025 ride features 300 kilometres of Great Ocean Road coastlines, cliffs and winding country roads – this is what bucket-list biking is all about.”

The event’s website is greatvic.com.au.