Pedal power : an epic 300km ride through the rain

On Saturday 23 November, 25 students plus staff and parents set out to complete the five day Great Victorian Bike Ride from Wodonga to Mansfield via Myrtleford and Wangaratta. After the first travel day to Wodonga, approximately 300km were ridden over 4 days – the same distance as Northcote High to Wodonga! What a bunch of fabulous kids who showed amazing resilience through constant and sometimes torrential rain plus the general demands of the ride. The last day was the biggest in the ride’s 40 year history – a whopping 113km from Wangaratta to Mansfield. It was great to see students from multiple year levels come together to support each other and connect over the week. The teachers (Mr Medcalf, Ms Hudson and Ms Tait) were so impressed with the camaraderie of the whole group and would also like to extend our utmost appreciation to the parents who attended and gave their support to make the event a huge success. A special mention goes to a parent, Lachlan Spencer, who wrote the following article for this newsletter.

Northcote Tour de Vic

Clean dry clothes, shiny bikes and gleaming anticipation saw Northcote’s roster of 25 riders and 7 domestiques line up at the team bus for the long transfer north to Wodonga. The reality of the parcours loomed large at the rest stop with the foothills of the Alps peeking through the trees to our east, and the dry brown flats south of Wangaratta to our west. In between were the rolling foothills that seemed so docile at that point.

Riverside camping was hot, damn hot. Tents were erected and the night was sweated out. By morning it had cooled a little as the team hit the bike paths of Wodonga. A million pedals long millipede snaked its way east, with enthusiasm tempered by the narrow path and a thousand calls of “passing on the right”. Yep we get it. Stay left.

The hills came gently at first, then steepened, and became relentless. As is the way, the ups seemed much longer than the downs. Team Northcote strung out up and down the road as small groups of purple found their own pace. The front runners were set on out-running the rain. The tail was set on not giving up. All were impressive, especially those who gritted their teeth through the constant rain, despite setbacks, to proudly ride all the way to Myrtleford. It was a big day for a regular cyclist and a massive achievement for those who hardly ride at all. Everyone now knew what lay ahead.

The team work continued with making sure a dryish spot under a big oak was secured and all tents were up so everyone had a refuge from the rain. The curry and rice was hearty. Sleep came easily.

The sound of rain was constant through the night but eased to drips by sunrise. Second day pack up was slightly more efficient and an hour after the designated departure time, team Northcote again hit the road. Small early rises made the initial selection, but big groups remained. Once the left-hand turn from the Murray Valley highway came the trains were all lined up. The purple lines working together and crushing the kms was a sight to see. It made light work of the short day with Wang looming large come early afternoon.

Campsite claiming was impressive, we seemed to have twice as much space as the crammed in sardines from other schools. The Great Vic teaches many skills.

Tomorrow is the loop then the big mountain top finish in the Vic alps. Great first three days.

The lessons of day four were meteorological: few heard the rolling thunder in the distance at 4am, but it began a game of cat and mouse with the passing the thunderclouds. If we begin at 7am will we be clear of the hills by the time the rain hits or if we wait 23 minutes will the eye of the storm have passed?

In the end, after the brains trust checked the rain radar for the 48th time, 7.16am was when the purple wave rolled out. Then it was approximately 7.42am when the rain hit. In a way it was a relief to finally get wet. The words of the start announcer were prophetic: “Once you are wet, you are wet, so just keep riding!” And ride they did up and over the two big hills of the day. Views aplenty and some hair-raising descents for those who let their wheels spin, stretching for those who pulled on the brake levers as if life depended on it.

It was mid-morning and sunny when the bunch were all back. The day passed with walks by the river, playgrounds and Woolworths raids. all the while checking the rain radar to keep dry.

All the while one eye was on tomorrow’s forecast, ride profile and start time calculations. No matter how many times it was checked the equation remained the same: we ride at dawn, through rain and wind, up and up into the gateway of the high country. Like the Man from Snowy River before them, Northcote’s riders will face the day as it comes and not pull on the reins when others do.

Is the anticipation of riding 5 hours in driving rain worse than actually riding five hours in driving rain? Many pondered this as the rain pounded the tent roofs through the night. Far from an ideal preparation for a 5 am rise to break camp and get rolling by seven.

When the faint dawn came it was only drizzle and there was hope it might not be that bad. At least the thought of rain kept everyone from worrying about the distance and relentless climbing.

Taking on your first 113 km ride sets you amping at the most resilient. Taking on your first 113 km ride with 750 m of climbing and in the rain is for the mad.

No one chose the bus and 25 took off with steely determination. It was dry for the first three blocks. Then it rained while we traversed the relative flats out of Wangaratta. Then the road tilted slightly. The hills cooked us slowly today, no big climbs: just one big 80 km up.

Mr Medcalf’s maths was wrong again, but this time it was because everyone came in well ahead of even the most optimistic expectations. And it was done!

Last thoughts from Team Northcote Riders:

• In the end rewarding and character building

• It really brought everyone together for the last day as a lot of Northcote rode together

• The week has built a real connection

• It was hilly and wet but really rewarding

• One of the most mentally and physically challenging things ever done

• It was a mental challenge but really good

• The last day was really beautiful

• The week was great.

And there it is. Northcote does Great Vic Bike Ride.

Thursday 12 December	Semester Reports published
Friday 20 December	Last day of Term 4

2025 School Year
Thursday 30 January	All students return
Thursday 6 February	School Photos
Thursday 20 February	Year 7 and 8 Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 26 February	Year 7 Picnic Year 12 Meet and Greet
Friday 7 March	Whole School Athletics Carnival

For your diary

Key Dates