After buckling my last frame, I've built another gravel bike using an old repco off-road frame that can take up to 38mm tyres. Gave it a test run at a local BMX track today. Good fun, I think it's ready.
I’m not from Melbourne. Barry Day will have better info. But the names I keep hearing are:
Beach Road - although avoid on weekends,
1:20 and The Crucifix - see http://theclimbingcyclist.com/ for details. Plus Arthurs Seat and Donna Buang if you can get transport part of the way there, they are a long hike from Melbourne if you can’t.
Kew Boulevard if you want to dodge tacks and time your hot lap of the teardrop section.
More sedate and separate from traffic - Lilydale to Warburton rail trail and Capital City Trail.
Ta, I've been doing some reading and seen a few of those mentioned. Donna Buang in particular looks rad.
I’m local to that ride but way out of shape at the moment. 17km climb 1000m elevation, hardest part is coming up to Cement Creek ending where Donna Buang Rd meets the Acheron Way about 7 km into the ride, after that it eases off considerably up until you are nearly at the summit, where it kicks up a bit.
I love riding down it. If you are a good descender, you don’t need much time on the breaks and can pedal down in at 50 to 60km per hour, be careful though because there are some hairpins that may slip your mind on the way down.
There is also a spring at the top of the carpark near the summit which is a great place to fill water bottles, it is concreted piped and accessible from the carpark.
What are you planning to ride up it, road bike, cyclocross or mountain bike? If you go on something that can go on the gravel rail trail, a ride from Yarra Junction is a nice warm up (13km flat mostly) or if you need to be on the road, I think it is better to park in Warburton and ride out to East Warburton and back to warm up and keep away from the busier part of the highway, which doesn’t have any shoulder in a lot of places.
There is also a less steep mostly unmade approach to Donna Buang via Don Valley and Panton Gap which is very quiet but longer.
I'm not from Melbourne. Barry Day will have better info. But the names I keep hearing are:
- Beach Road - although avoid on weekends,
- 1:20 and The Crucifix - see http://theclimbingcyclist.com/ for details. Plus Arthurs Seat and Donna Buang if you can get transport part of the way there, they are a long hike from Melbourne if you can't.
- Kew Boulevard if you want to dodge tacks and time your hot lap of the teardrop section.
- More sedate and separate from traffic - Lilydale to Warburton rail trail and Capital City Trail.
These are good. Personally Beach Rd is a bore.
I’d strongly suggest Kinglake (it’s my regular https://www.strava.com/activities/428434008) , and the Dandies (1:20, The Wall, Devil’s Elbows). “The Crucifix” is actually 4 of the iconic climbs in the Dandies - 1:20, The Wall, Devil’s Elbows and Inverness Rd (https://www.strava.com/activities/349064488)
If you really like climbing, Mt Donna Buang, but I’d suggest driving out to Warburton before starting. Mt Macedon is another option.
If you’re keen for a big day, you could go for the demon’s double.
Reefton Spur (from Warburton) to Marysville, then back via Lake Mountain, and if you have a bit of energy Donna at the end. It’s definitely on my “to do” list.
I’m bringing the Propel down, so I have almost no clearance between my rear wheel and the frame … not real keen on gravel. Was looking at Cycling Tips’ gran fondo and it mentioned that same gravel section. I just wonder how compacted it is.
I’m also not the keenest descender, either, for as much as I do love a good climb.
Thanks for the links Barry, the crucifix looks like a good party. Stuff the Demon’s Double though … more climbing than Peaks in 50km less distance?!
I'm bringing the Propel down, so I have almost no clearance between my rear wheel and the frame ... not real keen on gravel. Was looking at Cycling Tips' gran fondo and it mentioned that same gravel section. I just wonder how compacted it is.
I’m also not the keenest descender, either, for as much as I do love a good climb.
Thanks for the links Barry, the crucifix looks like a good party. Stuff the Demon’s Double though … more climbing than Peaks in 50km less distance?!
Donna Buang from Warburton is 100% sealed, so not a problem on the Propel, the gravel is just if you want to use the rail trail, but not necessary. As per Barry, I would drive to Warburton rather than ride from anywhere because of the distances, roads being narrow with red neckish traffic (some loggers up our way).
After Warburton the traffic is not too busy on the Woods Point Rd if you want to warm up on the flat by riding out to East Warburton (further than it sounds). Then you can go straight up Donna on Donna Buang Rd. On the way back, just as you come back into Warburton there are some OK bakeries and other food places, not top shelf but OK.
Cyclists usually just go to the bakery which used to be a petrol station many years ago, which means it is easy to ride up to the front and park your bike and either eat in or outside (very easy to see on the right as you begin to ride back into Warburton after your descent).
The descent isn’t too scary, as I said you need to pedal to go fast much of the way, it is a beautiful mostly shady ferny climb up. The gravel bit on the guide probably refers to the Don Valley, Panton Gap approach which is accross a saddle. Very nice, but probably best done on a cyclocross at least.
Yeh, no gravel at Donna Buang unless you go the “donna done dirty” way, coming in from Mount Toolebewong, rather than from Warburton.
They could also be referring Acheron Way, which is gravel, but suitable for road bikes; however, that’s probably something you’d want to do with a few others…
Agree Beach Rd is a bore if you do it all the time, but first time will still be great. If you kick on past Frankston and continue down Mornington way its a great ride. A few hills but not too taxing. I used to live in Bentleigh and the round trip was about 140-150 clicks from memory. It was my main training ride for Around the Bay too.
Agree Beach Rd is a bore if you do it all the time, but first time will still be great. If you kick on past Frankston and continue down Mornington way its a great ride. A few hills but not too taxing. I used to live in Bentleigh and the round trip was about 140-150 clicks from memory. It was my main training ride for Around the Bay too.
Yeh, it’s my usual Saturday spin, because my mate doesn’t like hills. It’s not too bad down to Mordi, but that stretch from there to Frankston is tedious.
It’s better after that, especially if you cut back to the coast at Mornington and head south from there.
Yeh, no gravel at Donna Buang unless you go the "donna done dirty" way, coming in from Mount Toolebewong, rather than from Warburton.
They could also be referring Acheron Way, which is gravel, but suitable for road bikes; however, that's probably something you'd want to do with a few others..
Yeah CT’s ride is going Acheron Way.
Would it be dull to just drive to Warburton, ride up the mountain and back?
Agree Beach Rd is a bore if you do it all the time, but first time will still be great. If you kick on past Frankston and continue down Mornington way its a great ride. A few hills but not too taxing. I used to live in Bentleigh and the round trip was about 140-150 clicks from memory. It was my main training ride for Around the Bay too.
Yeh, it’s my usual Saturday spin, because my mate doesn’t like hills. It’s not too bad down to Mordi, but that stretch from there to Frankston is tedious.
It’s better after that, especially if you cut back to the coast at Mornington and head south from there.
Ha! I'm hearing you. Geez I remember when I first started riding and had no idea how narrow the Nepean was from the Mordi roundabout and din't know about Station St running parallel... learnt that lesson pretty quickly!
And Rioli, I would describe the inclines past Franga as rolling hills - hills you can power up and enjoy the ride down in quick succession. Oh and you get to ride the well known Oliver’s Hill in Franga - just make sure you go up the service road, Hope’s Rise. It’s steeper than the road too!
Yeh, no gravel at Donna Buang unless you go the "donna done dirty" way, coming in from Mount Toolebewong, rather than from Warburton.
They could also be referring Acheron Way, which is gravel, but suitable for road bikes; however, that's probably something you'd want to do with a few others..
Yeah CT’s ride is going Acheron Way.
Would it be dull to just drive to Warburton, ride up the mountain and back?
You could ride up Donna, return to Warburton then up Reefton Spur to Lake Mountain. That would be a nice day.
Yeh, no gravel at Donna Buang unless you go the "donna done dirty" way, coming in from Mount Toolebewong, rather than from Warburton.
They could also be referring Acheron Way, which is gravel, but suitable for road bikes; however, that's probably something you'd want to do with a few others..
Yeah CT’s ride is going Acheron Way.
Would it be dull to just drive to Warburton, ride up the mountain and back?
You could ride up Donna, return to Warburton then up Reefton Spur to Lake Mountain. That would be a nice day.
checks Strava
Now we’re talking.
Reefton Spur 20km @ 3%
Lake Mountain 10km @ 3.7%
Donna Buang 17km @ 6.7%
Wonder if it’d be best to do first or last … or bookend it
Yeh, no gravel at Donna Buang unless you go the "donna done dirty" way, coming in from Mount Toolebewong, rather than from Warburton.
They could also be referring Acheron Way, which is gravel, but suitable for road bikes; however, that's probably something you'd want to do with a few others..
Yeah CT’s ride is going Acheron Way.
Would it be dull to just drive to Warburton, ride up the mountain and back?
You could ride up Donna, return to Warburton then up Reefton Spur to Lake Mountain. That would be a nice day.
checks Strava
Now we’re talking.
Reefton Spur 20km @ 3%
Lake Mountain 10km @ 3.7%
Donna Buang 17km @ 6.7%
Wonder if it’d be best to do first or last … or bookend it
Donna’s a plenty enough challenging climb IMO, it’s rated #5 in Victoria. Mind you, it is well short of the hell that is Mt Baw Baw.
So do you feeling like spending all your pennies first or last …