A mum and a daughter will challenge themselves again in November while spending time together through a sport they both enjoy.
Kylie Ammerlaan and her daughter Charlotte Ammerlaan, who live in Yarra Glen, will participate in the 2025 Great Vic Bike Ride.
This is their second time taking part in the ride.
Charlotte said last year’s experience was good, although the weather wasn’t the best.
“We’ve been chased by a big rainstorm most of the way down, but it was good fun,” the daughter said.
Kylie said they loved every minute of last year’s ride and were joined by three more friends, which made the experience even more special.
“It was good to do it with friends and meet lots of new people, see parts of the countryside where we’d travelled past in a car before,” the mum said.
“It’s lovely to spend the time with Charlotte and get to do something that we both enjoy together.
“(Last year, we started from) Wodonga and we finished in Healesville and we got to ride through the Black Spur, which was a highlight.”
Kylie has loved cycling throughout her life, but she had to stop it for a while after having kids.
She got back into cycling about 12 years ago, joining a group of mums from Gruyere Primary School on Friday mornings.
Charlotte started road riding last year, but she had been into mountain biking before.
“Mountain biking is much more technical. You have different styles of trails. Road riding is an easy but longer ride,” the daughter said.
The 2025 Great Vic Bike Ride will give bike riders a choice of arriving in Mortlake on either Sunday 23 or Monday 24 November before setting off for Koroit.
The route includes Port Fairy, Port Campbell, Timboon and Camperdown.
The ride is a fully catered, tent-based holiday.
There is extensive on-route support, luggage transfers, entertainment, medical team, bicycle repair facilities, eBike charging and much more.
Both Kylie and Charlotte want to have one more great experience this year.
“It’s set in another part of the state, it’s a different journey. Going down to the Western District and having the opportunity to ride on the Great Ocean Road will be a highlight,” Kylie said.
To get prepared for the upcoming challenge, the mum and the daughter have been doing different exercises.
“I’ve been riding 50 to 100km each week throughout winter. I also do pilates for strength and flexibility,” Kylie said.
“Charlotte played footy for Healesville during the winter. With school and work on top of that, it’s been tough for her to squeeze in riding.
“Footy finished recently, so she’s finally ready to get back on the bike and join me and our friends on a Sunday ride”.
The mum said she loves that cycling has become something her family can all do together as a way to stay active, challenge themselves, and connect with each other.
“For the past 10 years, my family has spent a week during January in Bright,” Kylie said.
“I’ve tackled Mt Buffalo many times as part of the Alpine Classic with my friends, while Charlotte and her dad enjoy mountain biking through Mystic Park
“This year, my husband, Charlotte, and I all rode up Mt Buffalo together. Next year, we’re setting our sights on Falls Creek”.
