SEVENTEEN Great Victorian Bike riders have been taken to Latrobe Regional Hospital for observation after extremely wet conditions.
Organisers have also bused several hundred riders from along the route between Rosedale and Trarlagon to their destination while another 3700 decided to power on through the rain.Day four of the ride took riders along Grand Ridge Rd, winding through the Strzeleckis, to Traralgon.
Bike rider John Myers told Weekly Times Now the day was "wet, cold and there were a number of very cold bike riders".
He said despite the miserable wet conditions this morning spirits among riders was high tonight.
Tomorrow is a rest day.
"Spirits are high at tent city. . . the route for next year will be announced tonight.
"Saturday was hot and we've had a couple of beautiful days but today it rained constantly for a fair chunk of the morning," he said.
Bicycle Network Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan said he had spoken to the ride's medical team and the rumours of hypothermia were untrue.
"No one was treated for hypothermia. Seventeen riders were collected for observation. Some were cold and wet," he said.
He said several hundred decided to take the "warmer option" and catch buses from today's lunch stop at Balook to tonight’s camp.
"It was a tough day for riders. Riding is an outdoor activity. The veteran riders were used to the conditions. For some of the school groups it was an extremely tough day."
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said 17 patients were bused to Latrobe Regional Hospital after paramedics worked to triage riders.
The ride finishes at Phillip Island this weekend.
