Wally Sharpe is participating in his 26th Great Victorian Bike Ride. 66584Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Emma Sun
VETERAN cyclist Wally Sharpe will be doing his 26th consecutive Great Victorian Bike Ride this year.
The 66-year-old from Cranbourne said he hasn’t missed one since 1985 and thought it would be a good follow-on from his previous hobby – jumping out of planes.
“I used to jump out of aeroplanes for about 10 to 15 years and after 1600 parachute jumps I thought about what I can do,” Mr Sharpe said.
“The great Victorian bike ride was going and I thought that would be fun so I grabbed a bike from underneath my sister’s house and away we went.
“That was the start of a challenge and fitness benefit from thereon in.”
The bike ride is organised by Bicycle Victoria and the nine-day trip starts in Swan Hill with a loop ride before travelling along the Murray River for three days to Echuca.
After a rest day, the ride will continue through gold towns before arriving at Castlemaine.
Mr Sharpe credits cycling for keeping him fit and enabling him to travel around the world to do anything he wants to do.
“I went and did the Tour de France in 2008 and followed the pros around,” he said.
“My friend and I did an 18-day ride through the Alps and toured the countryside by bike – we’ve only got bumps in the road here compared to what they’ve got!
“I also did the Kokoda Track in 2009. That’s what cycling’s done for me – it’s given me the fitness to be able to do these sorts of things.”
When he’s not travelling, Mr Sharpe stays fit through cycling and swimming.
“I ride from here to Mornington and back, which is about 60 kilometres and I do that a couple of times a week,” he said.
“I go swimming down the pool on the bad days and do about 50 to 60 laps. I don’t get that tired – it makes me feel better actually.”
Mr Sharpe encourages everyone to get involved and get cycling – for fitness and for fun.
“On the Great Victorian Bike Ride, a lot of people think they just get on a bike and ride from A to B but it’s not all about the cycling, it’s all about meeting people and making new friends and just having fun,” he said.
“It’s a thing where you just take it all in, ride at your own pace, have a chat and have a look at the countryside while you do it so everybody that’s interested, come along, say hello and join the party.
“If I didn’t do this, then I’d probably be old and withered or older and more withered!”
The Great Victorian Bike Ride also has shorter packages, with three-day and one-day rides available.
The ride will go from Saturday 26 November to Sunday 4 December. Enter before 29 July and receive $100 off.
For more information and entry fees, visit www.greatvic.com.au or call 1800 616 600.
