Hi there,
Me and a few friends are thinking of tackling Mt Macedon in the next week or two and we're wondering from Essendon what is the best way to get there?
From our research we figure we could ride through the back of the Melbourne Airport up Sunbury Rd to Sunbury and then onwards to Gisborne and Mt Macedon from there via Riddel and Dalrymple Rds.
Has anyone ever gone through this route or is it better to take the Calder Hwy.
Also, from all accounts it sounds like a relatively challenging ride? Can anyone give us some insight. We've done Kinglake a few times and I hear its tougher still.
Like to hear people's thoughts.
Thanks
Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:33 pm
- oldnewby
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:38 pm
- Location: Berwick, Victoria
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby oldnewby » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:49 pm
I've done Kinglake twice, and Macedon (both sides) once.
I think Kinglake is a bit longer, but there are some very steep pinches on the Macedon side of Mt Macedon. Average gradient from bottom to top wouldn't be higher than kinglake, but I reckon there's bits that are 12-15%. Offset by some false flats, and even downhills near the top.
I found Woodend side not too bad, but Macedon side definitely harder than Kinglake.
I think Kinglake is a bit longer, but there are some very steep pinches on the Macedon side of Mt Macedon. Average gradient from bottom to top wouldn't be higher than kinglake, but I reckon there's bits that are 12-15%. Offset by some false flats, and even downhills near the top.
I found Woodend side not too bad, but Macedon side definitely harder than Kinglake.
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels"
- clackers
- Posts: 2065
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:48 am
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby clackers » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:07 pm
The Woodend side is pretty even. You could just go down the other side but the trip into the memorial park to the cafe's worth it.
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby Mulger bill » Sun Jan 13, 2013 5:54 pm
I'd avoid the Melbs airport to Sunbury section like the plague, the road aint the best and the traffic has that banzai factor that'll want you carrying spare knicks and baby wipes. The climb out of the valley just this side of Bulla hurts your legs and the powered vehicles seem to want to hurt your body.
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011
London Boy 29/12/2011
- saintdarth
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:13 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby saintdarth » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:14 pm
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/co ... to-macedon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Lancefield Road can be a bit hairy with cars passing a high speed
Lancefield Road can be a bit hairy with cars passing a high speed
-
- Posts: 844
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:30 am
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby __PG__ » Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:38 pm
I went almost the same way on Christmas day, but I took Mascoma Rd around the back of Essendon Airport. Strava linksaintdarth wrote:http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/co ... to-macedon
Lancefield Road can be a bit hairy with cars passing a high speed
Kinglake is easier than Macedon.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:33 pm
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby A-Style » Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:23 pm
Thanks for this feedback. We had planned to go this way but it sounds like it might better to stay off these roads.Mulger bill wrote:I'd avoid the Melbs airport to Sunbury section like the plague, the road aint the best and the traffic has that banzai factor that'll want you carrying spare knicks and baby wipes. The climb out of the valley just this side of Bulla hurts your legs and the powered vehicles seem to want to hurt your body.
I've done Wildwood Rd several times so I am acquainted with those roads although parts of that loop can be a little hairy given the way some idiots drive around there. Somerton Rd is particular dangerous I find with parts with no bitumen bike lanes and only a very narrow shoulder. In some parts the soil has eroded away from where the road starts which makes riding there even more difficult.
What's the Calder Fwy like to ride on?
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby Mulger bill » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:10 am
I quite like it, you will get a workout. You'll have to get on at the new Kings Rd interchange and watch where you put your wheels between Thunderdome and south Gisborne, the shoulders collect some serious crap, including a long dead fox I couldn't avoid near the Gap Rd exit northboundA-Style wrote:What's the Calder Fwy like to ride on?
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011
London Boy 29/12/2011
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:33 pm
Re: Essendon to Mount Macedon - best way there + tips
Postby A-Style » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:40 am
Ok. This might be viable option as well. I would have thought it might be a little daunting just given the fact that cars motor by. What's the road surface like? Is it a rough bitumen or smooth?Mulger bill wrote:I quite like it, you will get a workout. You'll have to get on at the new Kings Rd interchange and watch where you put your wheels between Thunderdome and south Gisborne, the shoulders collect some serious crap, including a long dead fox I couldn't avoid near the Gap Rd exit northboundA-Style wrote:What's the Calder Fwy like to ride on?
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.