ADVANCE

Report on the Great Victorian Bike Ride: Student Feedback Summary

The Great Victorian Bike Ride (GVBR) provided a memorable and transformative experience for the 9 students who participated in this year’s event. The ride covered just under 500 kilometres over 9 days, starting in Wodonga and finishing in Healesville. Throughout the journey, the students encountered a range of challenges, from stormy and wet weather conditions to intense heat, all while navigating the diverse terrain and camping at various locations along the way.

Key Themes from Student Feedback:

1. Challenging
   The students repeatedly used the term "challenging" to describe their experience, highlighting the physical and mental demands of the ride. These challenges were amplified by the unpredictable weather, which fluctuated from stormy, wet conditions to hot, sunny days. The varying conditions, combined with the length of the ride, required significant endurance and resilience.
2. Social Experience
   One of the most positive aspects of the ride was the social interaction. Five of the students mentioned the importance of the social aspect, emphasizing how they enjoyed connecting with others on the ride. The communal experience helped to foster strong relationships and create lasting memories.
3. Teamwork and Friendship
   Teamwork and friendship were recurring themes, with two students commenting on how the ride helped to strengthen their relationships. The teamwork required to complete the ride, especially in the face of adversity, was essential. Whether it was supporting each other through tough sections or sharing responsibilities around camp, the experience taught valuable lessons in collaboration.
4. Resilience and Determination
   Several students reflected on the importance of resilience and determination. The ride demanded both physical and mental fortitude, and many felt that they had to dig deep to keep going, particularly during the more difficult sections. Phrases like “required lots of resilience” and “very rewarding” were used to describe the sense of achievement felt upon completing the ride.
5. Motivation and Positivity
   The ride provided opportunities for students to develop their motivation and positivity. Despite the hardships, many students mentioned how they stayed motivated through a positive mindset. This attitude was crucial for maintaining energy levels and determination throughout the journey.
6. Skills Development
   The students also mentioned the development of various personal and social skills. Key skills that were improved included communication skills, responsibility, and confidence. Communication was essential both within the group and when interacting with others during the ride. Additionally, managing responsibilities around the campsite helped build maturity and organizational skills.
7. Freedom and Confidence
   A few students remarked on the feeling of freedom that the ride provided, as it allowed them to explore new places and be independent. The ride also boosted confidence, as the students faced challenges and overcame them, which in turn fostered a sense of self-assurance.
8. Discipline and Responsibility
   Discipline was also a key theme, especially when it came to following a schedule, maintaining bike upkeep, and managing camp duties. The students reflected on how these elements of discipline played a significant role in ensuring the smooth operation of the trip.

Conclusion:

The Great Victorian Bike Ride was an immensely rewarding experience for the students, offering both physical challenges and the opportunity to develop crucial life skills. The feedback consistently reflected the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and social connections. Despite the stormy, wet weather and the eventual heat, the students demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination to complete the ride. The trip not only allowed them to enjoy the freedom of cycling across beautiful landscapes but also provided a chance to strengthen their communication, responsibility, and leadership skills. This adventure has undoubtedly had a lasting impact on each participant, reinforcing the value of teamwork, perseverance, and positive attitudes.

During the GVBR, each School/Community Group were assigned a Leader by GVBR organisers to assist during the event. Please see below a letter from Robyn, the lovely lady that helped us out all week

To Linda, Lachie and the lovely students who were part of the Great Victorian Bike Ride last week, I would like to say "thank you very much for allowing me to be part of your team".

I registered for the 5-day ride with the Scout Cycling Team, as a Suitably Qualified Adult, to be available to help out Scouts or schools attending the ride. As it was, most Scouts registered with their schools, so I needed to find a school to support, and it just so happened that at Wodonga I set up my tent next to Mortlake College's  Ruby and Olivia, and then Marie (the schools co-ordinator for the Great Vic) suggested to myself that I could join them if that suited us all. 

I'm so glad I did, because even though Lachie and the students were so much faster riding than I was, I could at least support them on the road when they had tyre punctures, and at the end of the day when I caught up with them. 

On the first riding day you would know already that Sam and Jobe were highly commended by an Event Marshall riding on a motorbike during the event, for their excellent communication, riding skills, and good manners. I was also pleased to be told by my sister who has been volunteering with this event for 12 years, that Mortlake College got the overall commendation for their excellent team work for the whole event, and so were awarded the cycling lights. I was also struck by how neat and tidy our campsite always was, with their tents put up well, mostly neat and tidy stashing of stuff inside tents. So many students from the other schools on the Ride left huge messes behind on their campsites, and were very messy with their gear. As a Scout Leader for 16 years, I have had to teach youth about the use and care of tents, but your students did you proud in their camping and behaviour on this event. It did help that Michael was a Scout and Luca had done Cadets, but there was a general discipline that was very pleasing to see, also in the way they treated their gear and their bikes.

It was sad to have to leave your team after my 5 days ended, but it was good that my friend Andrew Sanderson who is also from Scouts Victoria's Scout Cycling Team, arrived at the Mansfield campsite at the right time for me to introduce to Lachie and the team to continue the last 3 days of this excellent adventure.

I hope to see your team again at next year's event, which I believe will be run slightly differently in not changing campsites constantly - we will wait and see.

I would love to see a photo of the team taken by Ruby or Lachie at Mansfield before I left, if that is ok?

Cheers, Robyn