GREAT Victorian bike riders are pumping thousands of dollars into country towns as they pedal along the Murray and into the Goldfields.

Great Victorian Bike Ride event manager Darren Allen said the ride, which started in Swan Hill on Saturday, was a huge boost to regional economies.

Today, there are about 3300 riders, 400 volunteers and 200 support staff on the road or working along the route from Kerang to Barham in NSW.

"We are self-sufficient with toilets, showers and campsite. But on average riders spend $35 each a day outside the campsite.

"It's about a $100,000 minimum spend a day in towns," Mr Allen said. 

"Eighteen months of planning goes into the event. There's a lot of co-operation with councils and communities."

He said the riders felt like celebrities with the welcome town's gave.

Mr Allen said many shops were extending trading hours and offering return deals to boost tourism after the ride.

The riders will pedal for 100km to Echuca tomorrow before relaxing on Wednesday's rest day.

The riders have already experienced wind, 30-plus degree weather, and a thunderstorm.

"They are resilient people. They understand it is a camping holiday and after the six hours of rain the other night there was no whinging."

The ride finishes this Sunday in Castlemaine.