Tag Archives: Cycling

Strathbogie Cycling: Avenel – Mangalore Aerodrome Loop

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This can be a fast, flat road ride or a comfy cruise. The cropping and grazing plains surrounding Avenel are backdropped by the Strathbogie Tablelands. The township itself is worth taking your time to investigate for its many historic features and amenities. There is an excellent Avenel Heritage Walk (see link below).

Hub & Spoke Cycling Route

Route Name: 
Avenel: Mangalore Aerodrome Loop

Mode: 
Road cycling (or any other mode)

Start / Finish locations: 
Avenel Railway Station

Difficulty: 
Easy

Distance:
23km

Elevation:
136 – 155mm

Topography:
Flat

Surfaces: 
Bitumen (smooth)
Description & Features:
A loop out west past Mangalore aerodrome then back through this historic town
ship
•	River Red Gum agricultural plains country for cropping, grazing and horse studs. 
•	The route skirts Kestrel Helicopter Emergency Services and Mangalore Aerodrome.
•	Runs parallel to Goulburn Valley Freeway for a short distance.
•	Transits the historic Avenel Township.

Riding conditions: 
The terrain is flat and exposed.

Options:
Clockwise or anti clockwise

Amenities (Avenel)
Car parking
BBQ
Fuel
Shops
Seating
Parkland
Playground
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Potable water
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Swimming Pool
Railway station

Cautions:
Snakes may be active
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Anticlockwise Cues:
	Start Avenel-Nagambie Rd at Avenel Railway Station
	Left Doherty St
	Left Aerodrome Rd
	Straight Hughes St
	Left Old Hume Hwy (Henry St)
	Left Livingstone St
	Left Watson St
	Right Shelton St
	Left Jubilee Crescent
	Right Queen St
	Left Avenel-Nagambie Rd
	Avenel Railway Station

Strathbogie cycling #strathbogiecycling
Strathbogie photography #strathbogiephotography

VictoriaWalks Avenel Heritage Walk: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/4516
20201017_bro_Cycling Road Avenel Mangalore Aerodrome LoopDownload

Goulburn Broken Cycling: Graytown – Mt Black Quarry Loop

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Heathcote – Graytown National Park
Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Route Name: 
Graytown – Mt Black Quarry Loop
Heathcote – Graytown National Park
Start: Graytown Prisoner of War Camp Heathcote – Graytown Rd., Graytown 3608

Mode: 
Gravel, Mountain Bike, Hybrid, eBike

Start / Finish locations: 
Graytown Historic Prisoner of War Camp

Map:
-36.815797, 144.949878

Difficulty: 
Intermediate

Distance:
17km

Elevation:
Between 168 and 232m

Topography:
Gravelly, undulating hills, with some short steepish climbs

Surfaces: 
Loose gravel, dirt, clay with patches of dust in summer and mud in winter, some short rough rocky sections. Ruts and erosion in places.

Description and Features:
The dirt tracks and roads through Heathcote – Graytown National Park Box Ironbark Forest are dirt and in regular use. Very dry and hot in summer and can be very cold in winter. Riding conditions vary with the seasons and over time. 

This ride passes significant historic sites and lookouts you may choose to explore along the way including: Graytown POW Camp, Cemetery and diggings, Mt Black, Mt Black Quarry and Melville’s Lookout. See the walking track links below. 

Riding conditions: 
Dirt tracks shared with occasional vehicles and motorbikes.

Alternatives:
1.	Start anywhere either direction.
2.	You can choose to reduce or increase the distance. There are several dirt roads or tracks for various alternative routes. 
3.	Return via Surface Hill Rd and Graytown Cemetery Rd to avoid the 1.8km of Heathcote – Nagambie Rd bitumen.

Clockwise Cues: 
Start Graytown Historic POW Camp 
East on the dirt track below and parallel with Heathcote – Nagambie Rd
Left Graytown Cemetery Rd
Left Surface Hill Rd
Right Ballieston Rd
Roght Mt Black Quarry Rd
Right Tin Hut Track
Right Heathcote – Nagambie Rd back to start.

Amenities:
Car parking
Historic features
Road and track signage
Alternative routes
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Open water
Mine shafts
Steep climbs
Soft shoulders
Rocks may fall
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
No potable water
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Be mindful to keep within the Reserve
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions
No dogs
No firearms
No hunting
No camping
Take rubbish with you
No rubbish dumping
No firewood collection
Do not remove soil or rock
No theft of forest produce
Historic relics are protected
Native flora and fauna are protected
Do not remove timber from standing trees
No fires in the open
Closed on days of total fire ban
No 4WD or bike use of walking tracks
Drivers/motorbike riders must: use formed roads only, be licensed, be registered

Heathcote - Graytown National Park camping at Dargile (Heathcote-Graytown National Park) Camping & Picnic Ground, Plantation Track, Mt Camel 3523

Goulburn Broken Cycling #goulburnbrokencycling

For some excellent walks along this cycling route check out the links below .....

VictoriaWalks Mt Black walk: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/4573
VictoriaWalks Melville's Lookout Walk: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/4513
VictoriaWalks POW Camp, Gold Diggings and Cemetery Walk, Graytown:https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/4572
20201105_bro_cycling-graytown-mt-black-quarry-loopDownload

Strathbogie Cycling: Euroa – Arboretum Loop

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Hub & Spoke / Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Route Name
Euroa – Arboretum Loop

Mode: 
Gravel Grinder, mountain bike, hybrid, eBike

Start / Finish locations: 
Euroa Railway Station Railway St., Euroa 3666
•	Straight off the train, start at the station
•	Arriving by car, park in Railway St. to start

Map:
GPS -36.749156, 145.568173

Difficulty: 
Easy – intermediate (not for road bikes)

Distance and time:
17km plus a couple extra if you include the Arboretum. 1 – 2hrs.

Elevation:
163 – 202m 
Topography:
Flat with one small rise.

Surfaces: 
•	Good condition bitumen, with a nice wide shoulder on the Euroa – Main Rd return section
•	Good condition gravel.
•	Airstrip and Earnshaw Roads are two wheel dirt tracks which may be rutted. They have some dust drifts in summer, muddy in the wet.

Description and Features:
A ride from the sedate, urban areas of rural Euroa Township into the surrounding plains country. Flat expanses of cropping and grazing lands, with Strathbogie Tablelands as a backdrop. Wooded roadside vegetation. Many fine rural properties. A sad looking local airstrip. Large scale free range chicken farms.

Take a break at the excellent locally indigenous Arboretum. There are a few Km extra of intertwining bushland tracks to enjoy. Other amenities include shelter, picnic facilities, public art, wetlands, a bird hide, a small lake and the site supplied nursery is well worth your perusal.

Riding conditions: 
Minimal gradients. Very little traffic. Exposed to the elements.

Options:
It is about 3.5km (7km return) to the Euroa Arboretum via the Euroa – Main Rd.
Anti or clockwise

Anticlockwise Cues:
From the Euroa Railway Station
Right Scott St
Left Elliot St
Right De Boos St
Straight Branjee Rd
Right Cowells Lane
Left Wood Rd
Left Airstrip Rd
Straight Earnshaw Rd
Left Angle Rd
Opposite Euroa Arboretum entry
Straight Euroa – Main Rd
Left Birkett St
Right Handbury St
Right Elliot St
Right Scott St
Left Euroa Railway Station

Amenities (across Euroa & Arboretum)
Car parking
BBQ
Fuel
Shops
Seating
Parkland
Playground
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Potable water
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Swimming Pool
Railway station
Road name signs
Alternative routes
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Soft shoulders
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
No potable water outside town
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:
Take rubbish with you
Historic relics are protected
Native flora and fauna are protected
No fires in the open
Use formed roads only

Strathbogie cycling #strathbogiecycling

http://euroaarboretum.com.au

20201119_bro_cycling-grinder-euroa-arboretum-loopDownload

Strathbogie Cycling: Euroa – Geodetic Loop

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Hub & Spoke / Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Route Name / Address: 
Euroa – Geodetic Loop

Mode: 
Gravel grinder, MTB, Hybrid, eBike

Start / Finish locations: 
Euroa Railway Station Railway St., Euroa 3666

Map:
GPS -36.749156, 145.568173

Difficulty: 
Easy – intermediate. 

Distance:
34km. 2 hours.

Elevation:
159 – 184m

Topography:
Flat

Surfaces: 
Good condition bitumen
Good condition gravel
Reynolds Rd is a two wheel dirt track that may be rutted. Dust and gravelly drifts in summer, muddy in winter 
Flooding is common when there has been a bit of rain.

Description and Features:
A nice and flat, often gravel, loop for taking in the surrounding countryside. This is a broad grazing and cropping plains landscape with the Tablelands as backdrop. Pleasant roadside vegetation with some grand paddock trees. The occasional small stream crossing. You may spot some wildlife like the Goanna above.

Riding conditions: 
Not much traffic. Exposed to the elements.

Options:
Pranjip Rd is an bitumen alternative to the rough bit of Reynolds and Wood Rd.
Anti or clockwise

Anticlockwise Cues:
Start Euroa Railway Station
Right Scott St
Left Elliot St
Left Handbury St
Straight Drysdale Rd
Left Creightons Siding Rd
Right Nelsons Rd
Right Geodetic Rd
Right Angle Rd
Left Reynolds Rd
Right Wood Rd
Right Cowells Lane	
Left Siems Rd
Straight (almost) Rowe St
Right  Elliot St
Left Scott St
Left Euroa Railway Station

Amenities (Euroa):
Car parking
BBQ
Fuel
Shops
Seating
Parkland
Playground
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Potable water
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Swimming Pool
Railway station
Road signs
Alternative routes
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Soft shoulders
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
No potable water
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:
Take rubbish with you
Native flora and fauna are protected
Riders must: use formed roads only

Strathbogie cycling #strathbogiecycling
20201119_bro_cycling-grinder-euroa-geodetic-loopDownload

Strathbogie Cycling: Nagambie – Murchison Loop

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Link & Chain / Road Cycling Route

Download from the link at the end to view route photos.

Route Name / Address:

Nagambie – Murchison Loop

Start / Finish locations:

Nagambie Railway Station Prentice St., Nagambie 3608

Mode:

Road bike (or any other mode you prefer)

GPS 36.785292° S 145.160579° E

Difficulty:

Easy – as long as the distance is OK for you

Distance:

50km

Elevation:

211 – 145m

Topography:

Flat

Surfaces:

Sealed bitumen. Narrow around Kirwans Bridge and Goulburn Weir. Firm dirt shoulders. Murchison East has quite a bit of through traffic, but broad sealed shoulders. Morningside Rd has quite a bit of patching. It is the roughest section, not too bad.

If you wish to join the Rail Trail to Rushworth at Murchison (another 7 – 10km one way dependent on where you start), you will require a bike able to manage a gravel surface.

Description and Features:

Nagambie is well serviced, Murchison less so, but can offer accommodation, food and drink. This is flat river plains country. The route parallels the Goulburn River, Weir and major irrigation canals most of the way. There are various scenic sites, such as the aged Kirwans Bridge, broad vistas across prime grazing and cropping land, quality horse studs and wineries.

Riding conditions:

Generally, fairly low traffic during the week with more tourists about on the weekends. Some long straight stretches. There is little shelter from the elements on the road.

Options:

Include the Rail Trail to Rushworth.

Start anywhere

Clockwise or anti

Clockwise Cues:

Start Nagambie Railway Station

Straight Prentice St

Right High St

Left Lobbs Lane

Left Kirwans Bridge Rd

Right Goulburn Weir – Murchison Rd

Right High Rd

Right Wahring – Murchison Rd

Left Morningside Rd

Straight Hayshed Rd

Straight Grimwade Rd

Straight High St

Left Prentice St

Straight Nagambie Railway Station

Amenities (in each township):

Car parking

BBQ

Fuel

Shops

Winery

Seating

Parkland

Waterway

Playground

Picnic tables

Public toilets

Potable water

Walking tracks

Accommodation

Historic features

Sports Reserves

Swimming Pool

Railway stations

Directional signs

Information signs

Extension routes

Cautions:

Open water

Soft shoulders

Limbs may fall

Embankments

Uneven ground

Slippery surfaces

Subject to flooding

Road surfaces vary

Snakes may be active

Beware of vehicle traffic

Mobile reception may be unreliable

No potable water outside townships

Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart

Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:

Take rubbish with you

Historic relics are protected

Native flora and fauna are protected

Riders must use formed roads only

20201125_bro_cycling-road-nagambie-murchison.docxDownload

ABC Breakfast Radio interview

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This morning’s interview with presenter Matt Dowling regarding my work on tracks and trails promotion in the Strathbogie region. Commences at 43.30minutes.

ABC radio tracks and trails interview

Cycling: Ruffy – Red Gate Lane Loop

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Ruffy Store start and finish (check opening hours). Good condition gravel, broad vistas, bit of a climb back up.
Map: Ruffy – Red Gate lane Loop
Hub & Spoke

Route Name: 
Ruffy - Red Gate Lane Loop

Mode: 
Gravel Grinder

Start / Finish locations: 
Corner of Longwood – Ruffy Rd & Nolans Rd., Ruffy 3666

Difficulty:
Intermediate 

Distance:
14.5km

Elevation:
394 – 547m

Topography:
Undulating with some steep inclines

Surfaces: 
Longwood – Ruffy Rd is sealed
Nolans and Red Gate Lane are gravel

Description and Features:
Depart the Ruffy main street for rolling green hills of pasture, sweeping views and treed roadsides
	Rocky outcrops

Riding conditions: 
Little traffic, road conditions are generally good, can be very hot in summer and cold in winter

Options:
Clockwise or anti clockwise

Amenities (Ruffy):
Ruffy Store open intermittent hours or by booking
Car parking
Seating
Parkland
Playground
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Directional road signs
Information signs

Cautions:
Steep climbs
Soft shoulders
Uneven ground
No potable water
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Be mindful to keep within the Reserve
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Anticlockwise Cues:
	Start corner of Longwood – Ruffy & Nolans Rd
	Straight Nolans Rd (west)
	Right Red Gate Lane
	Right Longwood – Ruffy Rd
	Finish corner of Longwood – Ruffy & Nolans Rd

A bike for every occasion?

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My recently acquired touring ebike. Battery assist range 150km. It includes an auto power selection mode. Pedal pushing is always required, but you can choose how much effort to put in. You will keep fit!

Sub title: Central Victoria, the Centre for eBikes.

As I have aged (now approaching my mid 60s), I have progressed from road bikes to mountain bikes to hybrids and now, ebikes.

My message to everyone out there who rides or is contemplating riding is “Get on your bike!” If you are fit and able enough to provide your own power, find the bike that best suits your journeying and ride. If you think you are past it, reconsider. From 8 to 80 years old, anyone with balance who can get astride a bike frame now has bicycle touring at their feet!

With the advent of ebikes for all modes of cycling, the Central Victoria region is perfect for you and your bike. There are many kilometres of un-trafficked rural roads and tracks traversing diversely beautiful landscapes. You will be amazed at where an ebike can take you, from sealed flat stretches across the plains, amongst rustic rolling foothills, to tall treed dirt tracks through mountain forests.

Many people have asked me about the different modes of cycling I refer to in the cycling route descriptors I publish. Most often, about Gravel Grinders. Gravel Grinders as a specialty appeared somewhere in amongst my cycling experience. I missed their rise until alerted by a mad keen cycling cousin.

This alert coincided with the commencement of my mapping and publishing of walks and cycling routes in and around the beautiful Strathbogie region. A good port of call for those interested is the Gravel Grinders Melbourne fb page. The article linked below may be American, but is brief and indicative of gravel bike features for the uninitiated, as well as being fodder for dreamers. It is worth noting that one of the bikes listed is an ebike.

apple.news/AJlzTcm5gRhO2EROnKg-VTw

The cycling routes I have been recording will be found here on seanmathews.blog/cycling and the Connecting the Goulburn Broken Catchment Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/591666734808645 .

Walks can be found at strathbogierangesnatureview , VictoriaWalks and in Pozi online mapping

Cycling: Longwood – Pranjip Rd Loop

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 Hub & Spoke Cycling Route
  
 Route Name: 
 Longwood: Pranjip Rd Loop
  
 Mode: 
 Road / Hybrid / eBike
  
 Start / Finish locations: 
 White Hart Hotel, Longwood
  
 Map (satellite):
Longwood – Pranjip Rd Loop
 Difficulty: 
 Easy
  
 Distance:
 29km
  
 Elevation:
 136 – 179m
  
 Topography:
 Flat terrain plains country
  
 Surfaces: 
 Bitumen, some ridging from tree roots in places
  
 Description and Features:
 The township is well worth exploring before or after. The wide un-trafficked streets lend themselves to pleasant cruising around. This route takes you into sheep grazing country, occasional swampy areas, past a few creeks, along wooded roadsides and through open pasture
 Þ   Roadside and patches of Grey Box and Casuarina woodland
 Þ   Bridged creek crossings
 Þ   Return alongside Pranjip Creek
  
 Options:
 Clockwise or anti clockwise
  
 Amenities (Longwood):
 Car parking
 Shop and Hotel
 Seating
 Parkland
 Playground
 Picnic tables 
 Public toilets
 Accommodation
 Historic features
 Sports Reserves
  
 Cautions:
 Soft shoulders
 Limbs may fall
 No potable water
 Road surfaces vary
 Snakes may be active
 Be mindful of vehicle traffic
 Roads may be subject to flooding
 Mobile reception may be unreliable
 Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
 Be equipped for self-reliant riding  
  
 Anticlockwise Cues:
 Start: car park opposite White Hart Hotel
 North Longwood-Pranjip Rd
 Left Pranjip Rd
 Left Longwood-Shepparton Rd
 Left Grimwade Rd
 Right Longwood-Pranjip Rd
 Finish White Hart Hotel

Cycling: Euroa – Balmattum Grassland Loop

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Hub & Spoke / Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Start / Finish locations: Euroa Railway Station Railway St., Euroa 3666

Mode: Gravel Grinder, MTB, Hybrid, eBike (fats)

Map: GPS -36.749080001925385, 145.56809969105484

Difficulty: Intermediate

Distance: 32km

Elevation: 158 – 199m

Topography: Flat

Surfaces: Good condition bitumen Gravel varies, but overall pretty good. A bit rougher on the minor road end of Balmattum Siding Rd. Old Euroa Rd has a significant camber in places, take care on the gravel when moving laterally for traffic.

Description and Features: Flat with its own form of beauty, you have to be in it to appreciate it. Arrive at the Railway Station by train, car or bike. Euroa is an historic and pretty rural township with amenities aplenty. Appreciate it as you head through town to the fast straightaway of Balmattum North Rd. This smooth sealed bitumen parallels the Hume Freeway, but the traffic there isn’t too intrusive. There are more small waterways than expected and the countryside is quite appealing with the Strathbogie foothills to your right. There is a roadside stop at the only rise. When you hit the gravel you will find tree tunnels and enjoy vast plains vistas. Balmattum Grassland Nature Conservation Reserve is a great stopover for refreshment. Watch out for the playful Grey-crowned babblers. Return to Euroa alongside more waterways, swampy wetlands and lovely wooded roadside.

Riding conditions: It is flat, so exposed to the elements in some locations. Well wooded roadsides provide some shelter in others. Not much traffic.

Options: Access Balmattum Grassland via Wilbrahams Rd. However, the kink in Balmattum Siding Rd makes it a more interesting approach. Anti or clockwise

Anticlockwise Cues: Start Euroa Railway Station car park Railway St Head north east Right Kirkland Ave Left Tarcombe St Left Saxon St Right Balmattum North Rd Left Balmattum Siding Rd Right Old Euroa Rd Right Balmattum Grassland entry South east Old Euroa Rd Straight Riggs Creek Rd Bear left Moglonemby Rd (south) Left Boundary Rd North Straight Melbourne to Sydney Railway underpass Right Railway St back to the Station

Amenities: Car parking BBQ Fuel Shops Seating Parkland Waterways Playground Picnic tables Public toilets Potable water Trail head sign Walking tracks Accommodation Historic features Sports Reserves Swimming Pool Railway station Directional signs Information signs Alternative routes Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions: Open water Limbs may fall Embankments Uneven ground No potable water outside Euroa Slippery surfaces Subject to flooding Road surfaces vary Snakes may be active Beware of vehicle traffic Mobile reception may be unreliable Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart Be equipped for self-reliant riding

Restrictions: Take rubbish with you Native flora and fauna are protected Riders must use formed roads only

Cycling: Nagambie – Tahbilk Loop

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Hub & Spoke / Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Route Name / Address: 
Nagambie – Tahbilk Loop
Nagambie Railway Station Nash St., Nagambie 3608

Mode: 
Gravel Grinder, MTB, Hybrid, eBike

Start / Finish locations: 
Nagambie Railway Station

Map (satellite):
GPS -36.785485, 145.160476
Nagambie – Tahbilk Loop
Difficulty: 
Easy. Thick gravel can add an extra push requirement

Distance:
27km, 2hrs

Elevation:
128 – 144m
Topography:
Flat with slight rises.

Surfaces: 
Good condition bitumen
Variable gravel. Mulberry Drive is smooth, but has drifts of quartz pebbles and blue metal stones. 
Mullens Rd is due to be sealed
Nook Rd and Terrara Lane both suffer water sheeting and mud in winter

Description and Features:
Excellent services, wide roads and service lanes in Nagambie itself. Prime horse stud and wine country. Lots of vast grain fields, pasture and vineyards. The Goulburn River bends and billabongs at Tahbilk Winery are gorgeous. The winery itself is an historic gem.

Riding conditions: 
Little traffic on the mapped route. If you opt to use O’Dwyer Rd there is steady traffic, but the shoulders are bitumen and wide.

Options:
Use O’Dwyer Rd instead of Habel Rd if you want to reduce the distance. 
Avoid what seems an obvious route along Vickers Rd. It has no shoulder is a narrow two way and heavily trafficked.
Clockwise or anti

Anticlockwise Cues:
Start Nagambie Railway Station
Left Nash St
Right Prentice St
Left High St
Right Nook Rd
Right Mulberry Drive
Straight Oneils Rd
Left Mullers Rd
Right Terrara Lane
Straight Nagambie – Locklsley Rd
Left Habel Rd
Left Ballantynes Rd
Right Murray St
Straight Nash St
Stop Nagambie Railway Station

Amenities:
Car parking
Fuel
Shops
Fishing
Winery
Seating
Parkland
Swimming 
Playground
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Potable water
Walking tracks
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Railway station
Directional signs
Information signs
Waterways & lake
Alternative routes
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Open water
Soft shoulders
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
No potable water while riding
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:
Take rubbish with you
Historic relics are protected
Native flora and fauna are protected
Riders must use formed roads only
Closed on days of total fire ban

Avenel: Tarcombe Rd – Upton Rd Cycling Loop

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Bump & Grind

Mode: Gravel Grinder

Start / Finish location: Jubilee Park, Avenel

Route Map

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 39km

Elevation: 150 – 480m

Topography: Flats through to steep gradients

Surfaces: 25km bitumen / 14km gravel

Description & Features: Quiet roads. Beautiful scenery. Vistas to grazing pasture, rolling hills, cherry orchards, vineyards, forested waterways and granite outcrops. • A steady gravel climb to views across to Mt Wombat from Upton Hill • A winding bitumen return downhill • Avenel Maze is passed on the return leg

Riding conditions: It can be very cold in winter and very hot in summer. Check local weather conditions before leaving.

Options: Choose clockwise or anti clockwise, the 14km of gravel is at the eastern end of Tarcombe Rd

Amenities (Avenel): Car parking BBQ Fuel Shops Seating Parkland Playground Picnic tables Public toilets Potable water Accommodation Historic features Sports Reserves Swimming Pool Railway station

Cautions: Steep climbs Soft shoulders Slippery surfaces Subject to flooding Road surfaces vary Snakes may be active Mobile reception may be unreliable Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart Be equipped for self-reliant riding

Anticlockwise Cues:  Start Jubilee Park car park  Right Ewings Rd  Right Livingstone St  Left Mitchell St  Right Jones St  Cross Hume Fwy  Straight on Tarcome Rd  Left Upton Rd  Right Tarcombe Rd  Cross Hume Fwy  Straight Jones St  Left Mitchell St  Right Anderson St  Left Ewings Rd

Diary of a Retiree: Day 273

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Mt Wombat Road

Fitness

While walking along the Goulburn River a couple of days ago, I realised I was getting a bit short of breath going up hills. I haven’t been doing much strenuous exercise in recent months and I think it is telling. So, I got on the bike for a 10k tester to see where I was at. I need to get the cardiovascular system pumping again! The legs felt heavy and I was puffing away on inclines that have never bothered me before. My conclusion is that walking is a wonderful form of exercise for keeping you active, the joints mobile and getting some fresh air into your lungs, but you most certainly need to get the heart rate up on a regular basis as well.

Getting back on the bike mid-winter around here is something of a challenge though. Even on this sunny afternoon, the chill factor on the downhill cruise was quite uncomfortable across my chest. I will need to pick my times and use the resistance trainer in between. Still, these are good options and I think I am in the right frame of mind for regular cycling again.

I also started a Quigong class a couple of months ago. This is an ancient form of Chinese martial art practiced in a fluid, slow motion, somewhat like Tai Chi. It is excellent for coordination, balance, mind / muscle control and range of motion. I am yet to remember the 64 sequential movements necessary to take myself to the most basic level of fluidity, but that will come in time.

Company

There have been quite a few visitors lately. The most recent, a lovely visit from Lyn, an old school friend. This weekend brother Keir and nephew Caleb are arriving for some riding and bushwalking. It has been wonderful to see so many friends and family make the effort to come here. We really value and appreciate their stays. Interestingly, I don’t always know the people that come. Recently we had a visit from Mitch (who used to work for Mary) and his wife Jacqui. In their mid 20s, I had only briefly met them at their engagement party a while ago.  What a delight to have such vital, intelligent, young visitors in the mix. They were great company and I really hope to see them again.

I love it when we have people of all ages come. Mary’s Melbourne book group is a case in point. 10 of them, half in their late 20s / early 30s, half in their 60s, are a highly entertaining bunch. I am lucky to be able to sit in when they meet at our place. Their birthday book club lunch meeting celebrating Darren’s 30th and Mary’s 60th was a real hoot. There was lots of laughter, perceptive book talk and conversations all over the place. I was sorry to see them go.

It is also great to see people arrive with their baggage and begin to leave some cares behind as they settle into the groove of just being here, no pressure to do anything, time to talk and walk, to look around, become part of the landscape and change down a cog, to begin to match the pace of the place. At least, this is the way I see it and I hope this is the way they find it to be.

 

Sean