‘Little’ bike ride now on agenda

Amodified Great Victoria Bike Ride will go ahead from March 31 to April 3 next year instead of later this year, but will be limited to a circuit around Grampians National Park.

Bicycle Victoria has announced a switch from a nine to four-day event and rebranded the ride as the ‘Little Vic’ in response to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ride, which in normal years can attract up to 3000 participants, was originally scheduled to start at Rainbow on November 27.

The Little Vic will now start from Halls Gap and includes stays at Dunkeld and Halls Gap.

Organisers had already postponed the event from last year.

Bicycle Victoria events general manager Rebecca Lane said despite considerable effort, the usual nine-day ride was impossible under pandemic circumstances.

“We have done everything in our power to try to run a Great Vic this year, but a nine-day riding and camping event is not possible in the current COVID-19 climate,” she said.

“We’ve worked hard to put together a ride which delivers on many of the best parts of the Great Vic.

“Importantly, the Little Vic will also provide a significant boost to our many volunteers, suppliers and gracious hosts in the Grampians region.”

People over the age of 12 attending the Little Vic will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. A 3000-rider cap will apply.

Ms Lane said highlights of the Little Vic would include Grampians National Park, a Halls Gap arrival day, finish line at Seppelt Winery Great Western and that the event would help support the ongoing economic recovery of small communities in Grampians district.

She said it was also great to know that participants would have a high propensity to revisit the destinations they travelled through on their journey, ‘effectively creating up to 3000 ambassadors for western Victoria’.

Ticket holders for the Great Vic Bike Ride 2021 can transfer their ticket to the Little Vic, carry it over to the next Great Vic in November 2022 or request a refund.

The Little Vic Bike Ride will be a fully supported bike riding and camping holiday.

Taking part costs $635 for adults, $579 for concession, $505 for teenagers aged 13 to 17, $325 for children aged six to 12 and is free for children aged five and younger. Bicycle Network members get 10 percent off all prices except for concession tickets.