Visiting : Westons Hut, West Kiewa Logging Road, Mt Beauty
Distance : 41km
When : Friday 26th May 2017, 6:30am @ Westons Hut
Birthday Ride 2017 – Part 2. After staying the night in Westons Hut up near the Bogong High Plains, it was time to return to Mt Beauty. Should be all downhill, right?
Right?
Visiting : Mt Beauty, West Kiewa Logging Road, Westons Hut
Distance : 36km
When : Thursday 25th May 2017, 9:00am @ Mt Beauty
Birthday Ride 2017. As usual, I over-thought, over-planned and over-packed in the leadup to this ride. As usual, I reaped what was sown.
A lot of things I’d do differently – some things I wouldn’t change for the world.
Visiting : Healesville, Black Range, Molesworth, Mt St Leonard
Distance : 167km
When : Saturday 8th April 2017, 5:00am @ Healesville
Another ride with a simple concept: Ride the full length of Black Range, from Healesville all the way to Molesworth. This was a good solid day through some of my favourite country and a ride that I’d recommend to others.
Visiting : Jamieson, Woods Point, Mt Matlock, Mt Terrible
Distance : 120km
When : Thursday 23rd March 2017, 6:00am @ Jamieson
This was a ride with a clear and simple concept – I wanted to ride from Matlock to Jamieson via the “high road” which starts with Mt Matlock, finishes with Mt Terrible and has a whole lot of fun in between. Type 2 fun, of course.
Visiting : Cambarville, Mt Bullfight
Distance : 55km
When : Saturday 18th February 2017, 5:30am @ Cambarville Picnic Area
(Note: This is another solo ride from my backlog. Bear with me as I’m writing this well after the fact and my memory may be hazy.)
This was a nice little loop out of Cambarville, just behind Lake Mountain. Simple navigation, beautiful area and oh, just a bit of hike-a-bike.
Visiting : Toolangi, Blowhard Rd, Marginal Rd
Distance : 62km
When : Sunday 8th January 2017, 7:00am @ Toolangi
(Note: This is another solo ride from my backlog. Bear with me as I’m writing this well after the fact and my memory may be hazy.)
This was a short simple loop in Toolangi. My main goal with this ride was to see Blowhard Road for the first time and to see more of Marginal Road, as well as just have a nice roll around Toolangi of course.
Visiting : Gantner Hut, Crosscut Saw, Mt Howitt
Distance : 20km
When : Sunday 4th December 2016, 11:00am @ Howitt carpark
(Note: This is another solo ride walk from my backlog. Bear with me as I’m writing this well after the fact and my memory may be hazy.)
Vague plans make for vague days sometimes. I had plenty of ideas for this ride/walk and a big list of things to see and do – Mt Howitt, The Crosscut Saw, Zeka Spur, Wonangatta Valley. I had so many ideas, in fact, that I wasn’t sure how to whittle them down into something do-able. As a result, I found myself barreling down the Princes Freeway at 7am, still throwing ideas around my head like I had all the time in the world to plan this imminent adventure.
Hm.
Anyway, here’s how to do an overnight bikepacking trip with 11 hours driving, 5 hours hiking, no bike riding and the most comfortable camping spot you’ll ever find (assuming your own bed is comfortable).
Visiting : Lady Talbot Drive, McFadyen Track, Rubicon Valley
Distance : 97km
When : Saturday 29th October 2016, 5:45am @ Marysville
(Note: This is another solo ride from my backlog. Bear with me as I’m writing this well after the fact and my memory may be hazy.)
Wow. I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I did this ride. Time gets away. From memory, this ride was intended to be a nice cruise through familiar territory. A few old roads, a few new roads and my first time through the area on a geared bike.
Visiting : Kinglake, Extons, Hazeldene, Jerusalem, Old Kinglake, Everard
Distance : 112km
When : Sunday 3rd April 2016, 8:00am @ Hurstbridge
I wasn’t going to write about this ride but I ended up seeing a couple of things that are worth mentioning. Sometimes you’re just out for a local roll and you get struck by the majesty and absurdity of life… This had a bit of both.
Visiting : Warburton, Starling Gap, Noojee, Toorongo, Forty Mile Break
Distance : ~128km
When : Sunday 28th February 2016, 8:00am @ Warburton Information Centre
I’m not too familiar with the country east of Warburton so this ride is all about new (to me) roads and finally putting faces to the names I’ve read on maps. Starting out of Warburton we’ll climb up to Starling Gap then bomb down to Noojee for a refuel. From there it’s up Ridge Road through some logging areas before joining Forty Mile Break for some awesome ridgeline riding along the border of the Upper Yarra Reservoir catchment area. This whole area is full of lyrebirds, eagles, roos, black stinkers, black cockies, Wonga Pigeons, Sambar Deer etc. etc. etc. Such a beautiful part of the world.
