BRIGHT residents Andrew Palm and Susan Rochford and their children Shelby and Bronte are among those taking on the full nine day ride in this year's Great Victorian Bike Ride.

The ride kicks off this Saturday from Wodonga and finishes 500km later at Healesville on December 1.

“Susan and I have been cyclists for a long time, we did the Great New Zealand Bike Ride in 1992 and Susan did the Tassie ride before then as well,” Mr Palm said.

“We’ve been living in Bright for eight years now but have been visiting for more than 30 years with our bikes to ride up here so the kids used to do some mountain biking here.

“We then all did the three day Great Victorian Bike Ride in 2022, and there were a few tears but we made it, then did the five day last year and are now doing the nine days.

“Shelby is 20 now and Bronte just turned 16 so we’re running out of time to do it as a family and this is really the only thing we cycle together at.”

Mr Palm said he started riding as a young child, as a way to get around.

“I found I enjoyed the freedom of it, as well as the exercise element and, later, the social element of cycling,” he said.

“We knew about the Great Vic Bike Ride but it used to see 5000 participants, which felt almost too big for us, so we did the NZ one and it still remains one of my favourite holidays ever.

“These rides are such a good way to get out and see the country, there are some beautiful spots to ride through.

“This year we’ll be on roads that I’ve driven on plenty, so it will be interesting to do them on the bike because I wouldn’t ride them if not for this event.

“I highly recommend getting the family involved, cycling is a low impact sport and plenty of people can do it.”

For more information go to https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/rides-and-events/great-victorian-bike-ride/.