“It’s like going on holiday with a big group of your best mates.”

Beginning in 1984, Victoria’s favourite annual regional ride is a rite of passage for people who ride bikes and has established a proud reputation for being much more than a cycling event. The Great Vic is a rolling bike festival that pedals to a new town each day, setting up camp where riders can soak up an evening of entertainment.

For seasoned campaigners, it’s an annual catch up with 3,000 friends. For others, it’s the first time they’ve ridden more than a few kilometres at once – let alone nine days in a row. But for everyone, it’s a great escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life in and around tranquil and inviting regional towns, and this year promises to be no different.