A 9 day ride along Victoria's Southern Coastal region starting from Portland, terminating in Geelong, and amongst other things, traversing the Great Ocean Road, the GVBR was a rolling barrel of fun for 5,000 riders (with a bit of water chucked in)!
Here's a linky for the route and other ride details:
2009 Great Victorian Bike Ride.
I participated as a WARBY (We Are Right Behind You), a volunteer rider assisting paying participants with minor mechanical and minor/major psychologicals whilst they tootled along the route. Yes, I say 'paying' participants because, amazingly enough, WARBYs get to ride the tour for free, in exchange for a bit of work and TLC dispensing! Gotta luv that gig! Obviously, there is work and assistance to provide everyday along the route, but that's an integral part of the fun: and there's also the benefit that people seem to love WARBYs :) (No, not in that way perverts!).
Arrived the Thursday before the start of the ride and was most kindly provided accommodation for the night by two lovely people I'd met on the WA Great Escapade Ride in March: many, many thanks David and Lynn. David was also WARBYing on the GVBR which was cool.
Next morning it was off to the train to get to Melbourne Southern Cross Bus Terminal for the loading of bikes and humans onto the trucks and buses transporting all to the Portland start point. This was the gathering place for the ride officially commencing on Saturday the 28th Nov. On to a synopsis of the ride proper!
Day 1: Portland to Cape Bridgewater to Portland Loop - 53km
The first day was a loop ride along a scenic and rolling road down to a beach point and back. Not that I got to see the beach point: I just followed the loop back to Portland as I was one of the last WARBYs to leave and a series of rider mechanicals (mostly punctures) left me at the back of the bunch. I'd also seen enough water on the road and on me to not have a great deal of interest in seeing the salty variant – it pissed down most of the way. Which was strange – some people reported only getting drizzled on? I'm surmising the main rain front sussed out I hated water more than a manicured cat and parked itself above me on most of the loop! Me wasn't happy! But a t-shirt I saw later in camp summed it all up: it read "Suck It Up, Princess!".
Day 2: Portland to Macarthur - 66km
Don't remember much about Day 2 – I think I was still trying to come to grips with the "Suck It Up, Princess!" ethos and hadn't quite got my head around it yet: the patches of drizzle didn't help. It was genuinely flat I recall, and a little busy with mechanicals again.
Similarly I don't recall seeing the township of Macarthur at all – my enduring memory of the destination was of the campsite.
In March 1942, General Douglas MacArthur landed at Batchelor, near Darwin, in the Northern Territory and during the subsequent rail journey south stopped at Terowrie, South Australia and gave his famous speech which included in part the words "...I will return".
Well, unlike MacArthur, I resolve never to return to this campsite. Not knocking anyone, but a bovine's version of heaven-on-a-stick is diametrically opposed to mine! I believe I spent the night sleeping on a mound which coincided with the exact middle of my tent, and radiated outwards to a sufficient degree that no matter where I placed my mattress and sleeping bag, I ended up likely looking like Homer Simpson in that episode where he falls back on a rock and is arched over in a monstrously agonizing position!
I also remember cow turds...LOTS of cow turds...
Day 3: Macarthur to Port Fairy - 48km
Day 3 saw me slowly uncracking myself and crawling out of the tent into...Rain! Oh FFS! Now, starting out dry and getting wet is one thing, but starting out wet and getting wetter is another! For God's sake, I come from WA! Rain is something that you see on the horizon, and question the authenticity of!
Still, the profile said mostly downwards today. Which would have been good, except for the unrelenting headwind which turned a 48km downward blat into a 80km-like uphill grind for a lot of the riders. An unrelenting headwind which by all local's accounts, was the only recorded headwind ever in known history at this time of year in these parts! It was tough for many, and the motivation was a little low towards the last 10km or so. Which is where WARBYs come in – we are there to motivate people and get their engines revving with renewed vigour. Strangely enough my verbal encouragements of "Suck It Up, Princess" went down like a lead balloon?
NOTE TO GVBR ORGANISERS: This is obviously entirely fictional and written as such to make me appear witty. I personally claim that my good cheer, and fervent and appropriate encouragement got at least half the 5000 to the line! :)
I actually really liked this day: started out wet but dried out, and a lot of people where very grateful for assistance and encouragement WARBYs gave out, which is just what we want to happen.
Arrived at Port Fairy well satisfied, but was soon severely disillusioned when I didn't see any :(
Day 4: Port Fairy to Port Campbell – 100km
First of the big days in the saddle, and it was thoroughly enjoyable, Started with a nice little climb and then onto rolling terrain thru the rest and lunch areas before another final little climb at day's end. Getting onto the Great Ocean Road was fantastic, and many riders enjoyed the coastal scenery, including the Twelve (minus a few) Apostles.
A long day, but many riders commented it wasn't as tough as the day before with its unrelenting headwind. Good cycling weather combined with a relatively trouble-free day and happy riders: perfect!
Day 5: Port Campbell to Apollo Bay – 97km
One of two consecutive highlight days. A day of climbs and magnificent scenery, it was just magical.
Pre-lunch, and it was two climbs. The second of the climbs, Lavers Hill, was an absolute picture: a nice even pitched 15km switchbacked road set amongst the most beautiful forest. The climb was interspersed by three flat sections which afforded rest to riders. A fair climb for moderate riders but also very rewarding – many people spoke to me at days end with obvious pride that they'd done it. If I lived in that area, I'd do it everyday: it really is that gorgeous.
After lunch a LONG downhill of around 15km which was equally fabulous, then a lovely 8km or so with the road winding through flat dairy cattle lands. And then a nasty little surprise for many: an 800 metre climb of around 8-9% gradient to a rest area, followed by the continuation of said climb for another 4kms! At the end of a longer day that was a tough assignment for many riders.
But it was all rewarded by the final 10 or so kms – a downhill into Apollo Bay with the most spectacular views over the Southern coastline and Ocean. The term "Picturesque" was invented for such a view.
What a day – what a ride!
Day 6: Apollo Bay – Rest Day
We Came, We Saw, We Rested.
Lovely place with beautiful views and great promenade. Ate, drank a little, and splashed out on a lovely metalwork dragonfly sculpture which was inordinately expensive but irresistible. Should be arriving soon in Perth for hanging up on the wall!
Day 7: Apollo Bay to Anglesea – 78km
Of all days on this tour, this was the one I'd been waiting for: the Great Ocean Road at its most iconic. This was the day of the tour which motivated me to do the 2009 GVBR – I would've happily paid to be a participant just for this day. Bonus – I was a WARBY!
Sometimes, things come together just so: there are those few special times when expectations are met and exceeded by reality. This was one of those days. The weather was PERFECT, the rider mood was ebullient, and the feeling was one of exhilaration and deep calm all at the same time. Kilometre after kilometre of rolling roads backdropped by the most magnificent, majestic coastline and ocean views. I can't adequately describe what a day it was – the full picture resides only in my memory. All I do know is I won't ever lose that day – it'll be crystal clear for as long as I have memory.
Day 8: Anglesea to Queenscliff – 64km
A nice flat little ride to a lovely old seaside town, and the final night of the tour. Got into town and simply rode for about 30 mins slowly around the place, ostensibly looking for a hardware store, but in reality I just didn't want to get off my bike. I wish I could do this everyday!
Day 9: Queenscliff to Geelong – 41km
Little jaunt along increasingly busy roads into the final end of the journey.
As usual, the ending was bittersweet. Stood at the final gate cheering the remaining riders in – it was lovely to see their happiness and joy coming out :)
My narrative rightfully ends on that high note :)
So, thanks to:
- BV for the event;
- the 5000 riders who made it all possible;
- the hundreds of volunteers who kept it going;
- the WARBY team for their presence and team spirit;
- Sue, for being the most charming rider I ever changed a tire for; and
- David and Lynn for their absolute kindness.
Ride safe!
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