Many of us see groups of cyclists lining up for coffee in their helmets and cleats on a Sunday morning. Cat decided to multiply the group and lengthen the distance. Here’s how she found herself bikepacking across Victoria.

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which this adventure takes place who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants, for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Last year, I was added to a group chat that was organising a nine-day bike ride. As a proud owner of a vintage bike and a self-identified ‘commuter’ (does 15 mins to work count?), I was immediately inspired to register.

The ride in question was the Great Victorian Bike Ride (GVBR), an annual nine-day bikepacking adventure that has taken thousands of riders across Australia for the past 40 years.

Now we all know how difficult it is to get the trip out of the group chat, so I wasn’t surprised when it was just me who pulled through.

Read more: What I Learned On My First Overnight Bikepacking Trip

 

My First Bikepacking Trip Was 9 Days Long & With 2,600 Other Riders, Photo from Catherine Hill, Great Victorian Bike Ride, Victoria, black spur drive

I’m ridin’ solo

Packing for Bikepacking

Firstly, I needed a new bike. I enlisted a bike enthusiast to help me find a cheap road bike on Facebook Marketplace. It took a while to get used to the gear shifters and I found the seat very uncomfortable, however, the frame was ultralight.

Secondly, the bike had to be disassembled for the plane ride to Victoria. In the interests of time, I trusted my local mechanic to take apart the bike and pack it flat into a box. While this is an incredible service, bike disassembly is a skill that saves money should you wish to travel more in the future.

 

There’s a flatpack hack for ya!

 

Thirdly, I wanted to look the part. My cycling mate generously gave me a couple of bibs, which did the trick. Bibs may cost a bit and look a little funny, but the brace straps prevent the suit from sagging, and the lack of a waistband allows you to breathe deeper. I also found that the padding makes a huge difference in preventing a sore bum!

Read more: A Beginner’s Guide to Bikepacking Bags

My Bikepacking Experience

This particular GVBR saw 2,600 cyclists through Victoria, from Wodonga to Healesville.

Riders travelled on all types of bikes, including road, mountain, gravel, electric, tandem, recumbent, and even penny farthing!

Read more: 15 Best 2P Bikepacking & Hiking Tents in Australia

 

It’s like a festival out there

 

My grandpa taught me to ride a bike when I was five. My first bike had pink handlebar pom-poms and training wheels. My next one was a blue mountain bike I rode after school. And up until my road bike, I had a vintage bike complete with a basket. I never rode for more than a couple of hours. That was until the 113km Long Day of the GVBR.

In addition to the distance, the day itself was ridiculously wet and undeniably hilly. Despite these adversaries, the sense of camaraderie achieved through collective experience and the thousand words of encouragement meant that I didn’t feel as burdened as if I’d ridden alone.

 

‘We’re going to Bonnie Doon!’ 🎶

 

As a solo female traveller, I felt very comfortable riding through country Victoria surrounded by a force of cyclists. One woman taught me how to change my tire. Another showed me the etiquette of group riding by using hand signals to indicate potholes, and warning calls such as ‘car back’. Solo-travelling allowed me to explore at my own pace while remaining available to socialise with those around me.

As I’m in my mid-20s, I found myself straddling age groups – there were hundreds of school students on one end, and adults spanning from 40 to 99 years on the other. This unique environment assisted me in forging valuable intergenerational friendships.

 

My Bikepacking Future

At the time of the ride, Bicycle Network stated that there would be a transformation going forward due to the lack of major sponsor support, however, it was recently announced that a five-day GVBR is on the cards for November 2025!

While I’ve got my fingers crossed that the next bikepacking trip will make it out of the group chat, if it doesn’t, I know now that I can do it all by myself.

 

Got the set up down pat all by myself

 

If you want to become a bikepacker, my biggest piece of advice is to make friends with other cyclists. They’re a knowledgeable and generous bunch who can show you parts of the country you thought previously inaccessible.

 

The 2025 Great Victorian Bike Ride is on from Monday 24th – Friday 29th of November. 

Keen to Get on Two Wheels? Get Pedalling on These

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