A considerably more enjoyable and relaxing ride than Hwy 1 would be to take the Lochside Trail east from Victoria to some point where you could cross the Pat Bay Hwy (which is the hwy between the Sidney Ferry Terminal and Victoria) and head over to Brentwood Bay. From Brentwood Bay take the short ferry ride to Mill Bay and then follow the Vancouver Island Rotary Bicycle Route up to Duke Point. Beyond Duke Point you could continue a short ways to Nanaimo.
Check out the following sites for more details:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/lochside/
http://www.rotaryroute.org/