Great Victorian Bike Ride

Incredible Snowy to Sea adventure

Northcote High had nineteen students, two staff and two parents venture to Gippsland to participate in the Great Vic Bike Ride from Orbost to Sale titled ‘Snowy to Sea’ last Saturday. I can’t speak highly enough about the student’s resilience, organisation and self-sufficiency. Even for seasoned riders each day had tough sections of climbing that the students clawed their way up, along with the thousands of others.  

By the last day, the students had knocked over 2600m of the 2800m of elevation and only had the easiest day left, a flat 82km Wednesday ride to Sale from Paynesville with a tailwind, but the 30-60mm of rain pouring all day meant there wasn’t a safe window to ride and under 18s were ordered to not ride by Victoria Police. But everything from Saturday morning to Tuesday night was borderline perfect and rewarding for all involved. Riding conditions were clear and humid with afternoon rain coming after tents were setup each day – miraculous considering the forecast leading into the event. 

The students mingled on and off the road, formed new friendships along the way riding in groups at their own pace but nobody being left behind. Once everyone was bored of me talking about Strava segments from the day’s ride, each afternoon and evening was filled with exploring the new town. Snowy River walks in Orbost, Raymond Island koalas in Paynesville and then heading to the nightly movie or the marquee for the evening entertainment like trivia or karaoke in the talent show headlined by Ms Fleming and Eliza in Lakes Entrance. 

Orbost to Buchan – 58km (998m elevation) 

Buchan to Lakes Entrance – 84km (1024m elevation) 

Lakes Entrance to Paynesville – 75km (610m elevation) 

Paynesville to Sale 82km rained out – 82km (228m elevation) 

It's a cliché, but the ‘Great Rider’ award, that each school got to choose, really could have gone to anyone in the group, but we settled on Eliza Saligari. Eliza showed amazing grit, persevering after a burst tyre tube to finish the 84km ride with the uphill, headwind finish into the aptly named Paynesville when most would have jumped in the support vehicle and called it a day. Rebel voucher and a medal for her troubles.  

Big thank you to the parents, James Thyer (Will) and Bruce Thompson (Josha and Lukesh), who were keen for the school to do the trip and proved indispensable in being an extra pair of hands and eyes. Ms Fleming was phenomenal and might have even ended up enjoying herself after being roped into the trip as the female staff member.  

Next year Bicycle Network have announced GVBR once again spans the last week in November and is somewhere in NE Victoria without a specific route locked in yet.  Watch this space!

Mr Medcalf