Anniversary Trail – Sunday, 26 May 2024

By special request, this month we’re riding the Anniversary Trail, sometimes also referred to as the Outer Circle Railway Trail, in the hope that there may still be some colourful autumn leaves to appreciate.

Anniversary Trail has a few hills because it mostly runs beside an existing train line. To help cater for our growing numbers and experience levels, there are two route options to chose from.

Route Option 1 – Easy Moderate

Return ride along Anniversary Trail, from Alamein Station to the highest point on the trail, just past Camberwell. Return is 13.4km, and is likely to take 60-80min. Meeting time is 11:15am. See Route 2 below for brunch/lunch notes.

The route is a well-used share path. Expect to encounter other riders, walkers (including dog walkers) and joggers. Pour riding pace (speed) will not exceed what the slowest member can cope with, but I’m hoping we can average at least 10km/hr.

UPDATE: Although short, this section is quite undulating. Depending on how hilly, far and frequently you currently ride, you may find this section easy, challenging or something in between. Please ensure to bring a MYKI in case you need to catch a train back to your starting point.

If you’re catching a train from the city or eastern suburbs, it might be less hassle to catch a train to East Malvern Station on the Glen Waverley Line, from where it’s very close and easy to ride across to Alamein Station.

Please advise if you plan to ride this option so we know to look out for you at Alamein Stn.

Route Option 2 – Moderate (but longer)

Starting at and returning to Federation Square, we will ride up Gardiner’s Creek Trail, meet up with anyone starting at Alamein Station, then continue along Anniversary Trail before returning to the city. Suggestions/votes for casual lunch locations will be taken on the day. My nominations, all within ~500m of each other, in our direction of travel (south to north) are:

1. Leo’s Fine Food & Wine Supermarket
2. Baba Sus
3. Golden Child Cafe
4. Haiku

We might need to spread out between two or all of them if it’s a popular day to be out (which seems to be every Sunday), or even for dietary preferences.

While the majority of the route is on share paths, the return ride to the city will include riding on roads with separated bike lanes and quieter back streets. There IS a late, large hill coming back via Yarra Bend Park if we keep to off-road paths. The short section of road riding along Heidelberg Road between Chandler Hwy and where the separated bike lane starts (and even after that at points) can lead to interactions with thoughtless drivers.

• Meeting time: 10:00am
• Meeting place: Federation Square, opposite Flinders Street Stn
• Route length: ~40km
• Average speed: 12-15km/hr
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2.5-3hrs plus brunch/lunch stop (location TBC)

Potential conflict points highlighted in orange. Route decision to be made on day. Be prepared for the hill!

What to Bring

• You bike, in good working condition
• Helmet
• Sunglasses, suncream
• Waterbottle
• Appropriate layers for the weather (light jumper, rain jacket, neck warmer, arm sleeves etc)
• Spare tube and toolkit (if you have them)
• MYKI (just in case)
• A snack (in case lunch isn’t as close as you’d hoped)

Reminder that you’re welcome to bring a friend. As long as they are friendly, polite and are a responsible rider, a Brompton isn’t a strict requirement.

Should I join this ride?

To join either option, you should be comfortable with basic bike skills; braking safely, signalling, and using your gears – although these rides are also practice for using your gears, and advice from other members is free for the asking. If you aren’t sure how to signal to the group on a ride, or you need a refresher, please ensure to watch the video below.

Questions?

If you have any questions please:

• Comment below if you are happy for your question/comment to be made public; OR
• Email me (Dayna) if you do not want your details/question/comment to be made public: melbournebromptonclub@gmail.com

Happy riding! : )

Docklands to Altona – Sunday, 28 April 2024

Time to breath some salty air again with a ramble along the Bay Trail west to Altona Beach. We can check out the new pier!

The pretty flat terrain makes this an easy ride for all to join. If you’re concerned about the distance you can opt to ride one way and catch the train the back. The route is predominantly on share path, although there’s a short section through Williamstown that will be on the road.

• Meeting Place: Cow Up A Tree, Docklands
• Meeting Time: 10:00am
• Distance: approx 25km one way to Altona Beach
• Duration: approx 2-2.5hrs one way, approx 6hrs round trip (including lunch stop)
• Average pace: most people joining this ride can comfortably cruise on the flat at 15km/hr
• Difficulty: easy-moderate (depending on whether you return by bike or train)

For our lunch stop, you can bring your own or choose from one of many choices along Pier St (Altona). Logan Reserve (corner Pier St and Esplanade) is a nice spot to base ourselves – a couple of people can watch the bikes and bags while the rest of us go and forage for lunch. There are also public toilets available.

Altona Station is a very easy 400m from the beachfront. If anyone isn’t up for the ride back (no judgement at all) this is a great option to get back to the city (or whichever is your closest station). And again, if you would prefer to meet us at Altona, please aim to be at Logan Reserve by noon.

What to bring

• Your bike in good working condition
• Helmet
• Water/Drink bottle
• Suncream / sunglasses / appropriate layers for the weather
• Spare tube / toolkit (if you have them)
• MYKI
• Money for lunch

Should I join this ride?

As always, you should be comfortable with basic bike skills; braking safely, signalling, and using your gears – although these rides are also practice for using your gears, and advice from other members is free for the asking. If you aren’t sure how to signal to the group on a ride, or you need a refresher, please ensure to watch the video below.

Questions?

If you have any questions please:

• Comment below if you are happy for your question/comment to be made public; OR
• Email me (Dayna) if you do not want your details/question/comment to be made public: melbournebromptonclub@gmail.com

Happy riding! : )

Capital City Trail – Sunday 24 March, 2024

Welcome to the new year, and my apologies that the couple of club rides thus far were not shared here.

This month’s social ride is one many of us are likely to be somewhat familiar with, in part if not the whole route. Capital City Trail (“CCT”) is a 30km loop around the north of the city incorporating parts of the Inner Circle Rail Trail, Merri Creek Trail and Main Yarra Trail. Not overly hilly or steep, but it can be undulating in parts, so a good grasp on how to use your gears effectively will help make this ride enjoyable. This is the most used share path in Melbourne, so you should expect to encounter plenty of other riders, walkers or joggers (with or without dogs).

We will start at District 35 Cafe (next door to Brompton Junction Melbourne/Velo Cycles on Park Street) and ride anti clockwise around the loop, with the aim to clear the city and riverside early, before the Formula 1 crowds get too large. Lunch at the end of the ride will be back at District 35 Cafe.

Detours to the official CCT route

Although Walmer Street Bridge has re-opened we won’t cross to the eastern side of the river this time, instead taking some back streets to rejoin CCT at Abbotsford Convent. There are (mostly) painted bike lanes and we will ride through as a group so no one gets lost, but please be aware that the area can be busy with vehicular traffic.

Ride details

• Meeting Place: out the front of Brompton Junction Melbourne
• Meeting Time: 9:30am
• Distance: ~30km for the full loop
• Duration: 2-2.5hrs
• Average pace: ~15km/hr (moderate)
• Difficulty: moderate
• Lunch stop: (optional) District 35 Cafe

If you’d like to join in, but don’t want to ride the whole way, you can ride with us to the city and catch a tram back to the start.

• Option A: Tram #96. Jump onboard at the stop between MCEC and Crown Casino, or ride up river to Federation Square, along Swanston Street and board on the corner of Bourke St. Exit the tram at stop 19, Brunswick Rd. Brompton Junction Melbourne is just on your right if you exit the platform’s to the south.
• Option B: Trams #1 or #6. Jump onboard along St Kilda Rd / Swanston St and it takes you all the way up Lygon Street. Exit at stop 120, Brunswick Rd. This stop is ~50m north of where CCT crosses Lygon Street. Turn east and ride ~650m to arrive back at BJM.
• Option C: Tram #11. Jump onboard on Collins Street, corner of Swanston St. It heads up Collins St and then along St Georges Road. Exit at Stop 23, Park Street and pick up CCT on the path heading behind the old building, or at the bike/pedestrian lights in front of you (and head left/west). Ride ~650m to arrive back at BJM.

What to bring

• Your bike, in good working order.
• Clothes (layers) appropriate for the weather. (It might be a cool start.)
• MYKI (just in case)
• Spare tube and toolkit – if you have them
• Waterbottle/drink
• Suncream, sunglasses

Should I join this ride?

As always, you should be comfortable with basic bike skills; braking safely, signalling, and using your gears – although these rides are also practice for using your gears, and advice from other members is free for the asking. If you aren’t sure how to signal to the group on a ride, or you need a refresher, please ensure to watch the video below.

Questions?

If you have any questions please:

• Comment below if you are happy for your question/comment to be made public; OR
• Email me (Dayna) if you do not want your details/question/comment to be made public: melbournebromptonclub@gmail.com

Happy riding! : )