Wildwood Loop Ride 24/10/2010

Synopsis

A peaceful ride in the countryside by 4 happy cyclists, with a well-deserved drink at the end at the Melbourne Airport Club (thanks to Neil and Iain for the shouts, we owe you).

Four cyclists met at the carpark of Gladstone Park Hotel for what promised to be a pleasurable ride in the countryside. The weather was fine, with the sun breaking out between clouds, though the wind was a bit on the strong side.

We rode through the Tullamarine industrial area, taking a shortcut through to the Melbourne Airport. We rode through to Sunbury Road, no doubt earning a double glance from motorists not accustomed to cyclists at the airport.

On Oaklands Road, passing Woodlands Historic Park, the result of some type of vehicle accident could be seen, with a couple of cars off the road, one even parked in a ditch! Continuing on, we had to overcome several large hills. At the top, two riders stopped to admire the view while waiting for the other two riders to catch up. This stretch of road was so exhausting, one rider ended up on the ground as he stopped! The reward, however, was a nice view of the countryside, with beautiful views over to Mt Macedon.

Another few hills had us riding very fast downhill, racing the few vehicles in the area. Eventually, the terrain it leveled out, and we were able to cruise at a comfortable pace while appreciating the peace and solitude of the Hume countryside.

We rode past Wildwood CFA, stayed on Wildwood Road and through onto Martin Dillon Reserve where we had a 10-15 minute break to relax in the coolness of the reserve on the roadside. The historic bridge here has recently been repaired and was of much better quality than previous rides. A long uphill section from Light House Gully had other riders passing us making us look weak. Hang on, they were motor bikes!

We continued to Sunbury Road and back to Melbourne Airport, instead of the planned Somerton Rd route. The Melbourne Airport Club beckoned, so Iain and Neil invited us in for some deserved refreshments. Perhaps the only photo on the wall that was not of airplanes was their own photo, taken during a Melbourne Summer Cycle ride.

Our ride was nearly complete. We rode to Gladstone Park Hotel and after a brief chinwag, parted ways. It was a memorable ride, beautiful weather, nice scenery, one or two little fun incidents, and rejuvenating refreshments.

Check our Facebook page here, our photos here and the map here and here.

"Unofficial" HumeBUG Westmeadows to Flemington Ride 3/10/2010

This ride had been cancelled due to the clash with the 2010 UCI World Championships, the road race from Melbourne to Geelong. However, several riders did meet at Westmeadows, with three of them starting down the Moonee Ponds Creek Path. A discussion ensued as to where we should go. By the time we reached the Ring Road Path, it was decided to head west to Brimbank Park. Along the way was a detour through Gowanbrae. The directional signs weren't the best, but we managed to find our way back to the Ring Road Path. At Brimbank Park, the opportunity to take a photo of the group with a beautiful background was seized.

We continued on, making our way down the path along Keilor Park Drive, across Milleara Rd and literally down the residential streets to Steele Creek Path to make our way to the Maribyrnong River Path. Again, we stopped to admire the view, this time of Melbourne City and the Defence land opposite the lookout.

It was a quick downhill ride to the river from there. Past the Anglers Tavern, the new Edgewater Estate and opposite the Flemington Racecourse. At Newells Paddock Wetlands Park, we crossed the river and made our way through the Newmarket Saleyards. This is a beautiful bike path along the original stock run and with trees amongst the tight housing. A short uphill section had us stopped for breath. Fortunately, a drinking fountain is located there and bottles were refilled.

We soon came out from the Saleyards onto Racecourse Road. A short stint on the footpath and we stopped at the Train station. One rider separated here to ride to the Collingwood Family Day at Gosch's Paddock (GO PIES!!!). The other two continued a short way up the Moonee Ponds Creek Path to Albion Rd before they, too, separated, with one continuing and the other riding back to Docklands and Port Melbourne.

It was an enjoyable ride in nice but windy weather.

East Hume Loop Ride 19/09/2010

5 riders met at Grand Boulevard General Store and Cafe in Craigieburn for the ride along the Galada Tamboore Path (Hume Fwy). We stopped near the Whittlesea Public Gardens to look at the new path and bridge works along the Merri Creek. We continued riding, and again stopped, this time at the Upfield Railway Crossing of the Ring Rd Path, to discuss the planned extension of the Upfield Bike Path. We arrived at Westmeadows, where it was discovered an sms had been sent from someone who had arrived late (very late) to the start.

After a cuppa at Westmeadows Bakery, the group separated, with only two cyclists continuing back to Craigieburn. They rode along the Attwood Creek Path, onto Erinbank Crescent to the Broadmeadows Valley Path. They arrived at Craigieburn with the whole day still ahead of them, or so it felt. So, they decided to do a little more riding, then parted.

An enjoyable day. Check out the maps on our Ride With GPS profile at http://ridewithgps.com/trips/107302 and http://ridewithgps.com/trips/107300.

Westmeadows to University Hill Bundoora 15/08/2010

Written by Iain Indian.

8:00am : Sunday morning came all too soon. 6 hours sleep saw me struggling to exit the warmth of my lodgings, way before my body relented. The evening before I went on a night training ride in the freezing still coldness, but found myself at good friend John's "going away party" enroute. Some time later I decided to leave the cheerful gathering and catch a few hours sleep before the big ride. Sadly I got lost and 500m turned into a 5km tour of Tullamarine and surrounds. (Ed's note: A bit too much to drink the night before?)

Sunday 9.00am: Arriving with friend Neil at the marshalling point (Westie Bakery) I could sense the nervous energy as riders arrived, buffed in their lycra and smelling of coffee. It was a colorful sight as we embarked, participants jostling for position. George formed an early break-away and surged into a commanding lead. It took considerable will power for others in the peloton not to break with George but rather bide their time. At this point I realized that this relaxing Sunday ride appeared rather analogous of chess.

The ride glided purposefully down the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail toward the Broadmeadows Sporting Club where we veered left and up the steep valley wall toward Jacana overpass. It was here as I struggled for my next breath that I realized how nice poached eggs with crispy bacon could taste a second and indeed third time around. Cresting the long hill climb we proceeded under Pascoe Vale Rd then over Jacana Station to join the Western RIng Trail. From here the riding became very flat and relaxed as we headed east along the Western Ring road. Soon after, the peloton again made contact with George who was swallowed by the anonymous mass.

Carefully crossing several main roads we arrived at the La Salita Café where clever banter and magnificent coffee was used to wash down fresh muffins.

Mounting our trusty cycles we headed home at a leisurely pace. Riders dropped off at various points along the way (Ed's note: Luckily for Greg he didn't "drop off" when he ran off the path speeding downhill to Moonee Ponds Creek. He did well to maintain his control and balance, and recovered superbly.) to make their own way home, and relax after yet another enjoyable diversion to our daily grind.

Check out our ride maps (not quite the whole ride because Kevin's GPS app sometimes lost tracking and even crashed) at:

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/86993 Westmeadows to Ring Rd Jacana, 3.3 km

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/86996 Ring Rd Jacana to University Hill Bundoora,15.4 km

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/86995 University Hill to Dalton Rd Thomastown, 4.0 km

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/86994 Edgars Rd Thomastown to Westmeadows bakery, 12.5 km

and our photos at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HumeCityBUG/WestmeadowsToUniversityHill20100815?feat=directlink

HumeBUG Aitken Creek Ride 1/08/2010

Composed by Iain Indian

Waking up at 8.00am, I was intending to participate in the 14-km Craigieburn family ride. Reminiscent of years gone by when I lived near the the surf beach I dragged myself from the warmth of my cot in the pre dawn. There was a sense of stillness and anticipation as I snuck a look out the front door and sniffed the air. On this occasion however I could hear the rain and realised that the ride was unlikely to proceed. I fired a quick SMS off to Kevin our ride leader to
confirm my analysis and headed back to bed. The previous evening was a late one. Kevin replied to my text saying that he would head to the start line anyway, in case others should front up.

At 9.30am I thought that I might just head over and meet him anyway. My wife Janine heard me preparing and by some miracle decided to keep me company and donned the lycra. Originally I had intended to ride up and back from Gladdy. With the clock ticking, I threw the bikes on the
car instead and headed for Mickleham Rd. By 10:00 we marshalled at the start point at Craigieburn Library and received a few inspirational words from Kevin prior to departure. Team photos taken, we proceeded with a rolling start. It wasn't long before the riders started to break off into smaller groups. One rider, Kevin shot into the lead with a cracking pace approaching 14-km per hour along Aitken Creek. The main peloton consisting of Janine, her first time on the
"Tour", was wondered how long he could sustain this speed and decided to pace herself and wait for a gap to emerge. As the tail ender, I managed to just keep in contact with the peloton and built up a nice camaraderie as we called out to each other along the way. At the end
of the first section Kevin was in the lead followed closely by Janine and then myself.

We had a well earned rest at the Highlands Lake Cafe overlooking the lake. As elite athletes we were mindful of the body's craving for energy. We indulged the craving with a little "carb' loading". Kevin had pancakes, Janine fruit toast and I tackled the Eggs Benedict. Very nice indeed and washed down with coffee. After a quick warm up we left in the same order to make our way back to the Craigieburn Library along Malcom's Creek. The scenery along the creeks and wooded areas was really very picturesque. In some areas we took to the back streets and admired some really nice homes. Overall Kevin led us on a guided tour of some of the really nice areas of Craigieburn and stopped occasionally to point out places of interest. The ride proceeded at a relaxed pace and had a very social feel. It was certainly within the grasp of any beginners and kids. A thoroughly worthwhile ride.

HumeBUG Westmeadows to Williamstown Ride 18/07/2010

Nearly a dozen shivering cyclists met at Westmeadows Bakery on a cold but sunny morning. Many bought a cuppa and even food to prepare for the long ride ahead.

We departed down the Moonee Ponds Creek Path to the Western Ring Road Path, where two cyclists, Laurie and Matt, continued down the creek path instead of riding up along the Ring Rd Path towards Keilor. Their attention was finally brought to the fact they were alone, and when they retraced their path and caught up with a fellow rider, it was agreed they would meet up with the group at Williamstown after meeting up with two other expected cyclists who were riding slowly along the Western Ring Rd Path at Gladstone Park. They didn't join the main group heading towards Williamstown and we hope that they had a good ride wherever they went. This was where Laurie and Matt separated from the main group. The others made a cracking pace towards Keilor.

At Keilor Park Drive, we rode across to Keilor and down to Steeles Creek. This on-road section was low traffic with a smooth surface and downhill for nearly every metre. Steeles Creek had an awkward gate that prevented us wheeling our bicycles through, so we all (other than one cyclist who rode across the grass and dirt through a vehicular access gate) carried our bikes through.

Onto the Maribyrnong River Path and up to the lookout where we regrouped, admiring the view across to Melbourne City and making the best of the photo opportunity.

We continued on down the path, past the Anglers Tavern where we kept an eye out for another cycling group (from Bicycle Victoria) that were going to meet at the Anglers Tavern but we did not see anybody so it's possible they cancelled their ride. We rode past Flemington Racecourse to Footscray Rd and down Hyde St where Iain received a puncture after approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes into the ride. While waiting for Iain to repair his bike, Laurie and Matt then caught up with the group, having found their own way from Jacana. The others regrouped at the Westgate Memorial. It is nearly 40 years to the day since the disaster of the bridge collapse.

Before long Iain had repaired his puncture and rejoined the group. We continued and before long were in Williamstown, where we stopped at the Atomic Bar for a cuppa break. There were so many bikes leaning against the cafe barrier, and with the wind blowing strongly it partly collapsed!

Soon we were ready to depart. We rode down to the Point Gellibrand to check out the view, then rode back up Nelson Place and The Strand onto the bike path around the Newport power station.

We started up the Maribyrnong River Path where the ride leaders recommended a cafe at the Footscray Community Arts Centre. We turned back around and rode up to Footscray Rd/Docklands Hwy and along to the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. From there we rode up the path, sometimes stopping to regroup. Near Moreland Rd, also after approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from the Atomic Bar, Greg became the second, and thankfully the last, rider to get a puncture on the day's ride. Several cyclists continued up the path, confident he and his small band of bike mechanics would be able to catch up.

At the freeway overpass at the end of Bell St, the leading group waited for Greg and Dennis, but as they were taking such a long time, we continued on. The weather was threatening to rain on us. We all regrouped under the western link railway bridge at Glenroy, but by the Ring Rd we had spread out again. Several cyclists separated from here, while others separated at the Jacana Reserve. Five continued on towards Westmeadows, and three of them separated along the way. Eventually, the last two cyclists made it back to the starting point at Westmeadows Bakery, where the ground was very wet from a shower that thankfully had missed the cyclists.

Check out our ride maps at:

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/70885 Westmeadows to Williamstown 32.9 km

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/70884 Williamstown to Westmeadows 36.4 km

Westmeadows to Brimbank Park Ride 4/07/2010

12 cyclists met at Westmeadows Bakery at 9:00 am. We left and made good time down the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail to the Western Ring Rd. The hill up to Gowanbrae commenced here and sorted the fit and experienced cyclists from the not so fit and experienced. After a wait at the top to regroup, we continued along the Western Ring Rd Path towards Keilor. We regrouped again at Keilor Park Drive and crossed over to the Park. At the start of the downhill section, Dennis received a puncture - so close to the destination! He was able to carefully ride on it for the last few hundred metres to the cafe with a small team of cyclists, while the majority rode on the path down to the river and very speedily made their way to the cafe.

Dennis, with the help or hindrance of his "support crew", was able to repair his punctured tube. Everybody enjoyed the break to catch up and chat over a cuppa. Other cyclists also arrived at this time.

The blog author had to depart at this time, and the main group with the ride leader also departed. It was an enjoyable ride for everybody, though some riders appeared to struggle with the distance. Never mind, keep riding with HumeBUG and gain fitness and experience! It was fun riding with you all.