Wine + Ride suggestions

[CommuRider]

Ok country folks, hope this thread is for those who can suggest or post link to wine + bike rides for weekend tourists from the big smoke like me.

Mudgee Muster I know is just around the corner (Easter Weekend! argh competing interests)

http://www.bikemuster.com.au/

but hope other regional areas pick up on this. I hear the Riverina has a mini-one but more for the serious roadies.

[Cardy George]

I'm sketchy on the details, but if you're ever in the Barossa Valley there is a self guided tour thru the wineries. You can even hire bikes (yech ) from the Tourist Info Centre.

Bike SA also run various tours, on which the majority of riders know more than a thing or two about a nice drop!

[martinjs]

Mildura is a good choice for a holiday for cycling and winery's. I must confess although I've been going there for 20 years or so it's always been with kids. (Yep, got rid of 3 older ones and going with a younger 2 now) So I've never done the winery's but there are a few.

Martin

[CommuRider]

That reminds me, Ruthreglen tourist info centre does the bike hire thing. I think the bikes were Trek and they looked pretty new too.

[ruscook]

Riesling Trail: http://www.southaustraliantrails.com/to ... p?riesling

Did this last month and had a ball. Here's a brief video of the trail a day after heavy winds:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-60YY8UYac&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]

[Spork!]

If you ever find yourself in Launceston (it's not really as bad as people say) in Northern Tassie you could easily plan a winery tour along the Tamar Valley. There must be at least half a dozen vinyards with cafes, coffee shops, and/or cellar door sales / tastings within 50k's along there. The first one you would come to is Velo wines, it's owned by a retired cyclist I believe. Can't think of his name, but apparently he rode TDF back in the day. Thats only 10k's from town. 2-3 more in the next 10k's. The roads that way are very popular with cyclists too, so motorists are at least aware of your presence.

Heading the other way you could ride out to Relbia. Sharmans do cellar door wines, and have a lovely spot for you to pic-nic (BYO food). I think you may need to phone them and book ahead though, and you will most likely have to walk your bike back up their driveway, because it's very steep gravel, and even with the right gearing, traction is a problem. A little further along you come to Cromeys (*sp) who also do light meals etc. and during the warmer months often have a jazz band or something going on too.

[CommuRider]

@ruscook, if I had a broom with me on the bike....looks like the riesling trail isn't being looked after

@spork, I had to check out Velo Wines



to see if they had something similar to the label of the Arrogant Frog range



Alas, it's a plain old text with no bike to speak of *grumble, grumble*

Thanks for the tips around the Tamar. I was there a couple of years ago and I agree that region is spiffingly great (for wine, food, views etc) and I need to tour it on the bike next time.

[bosvit]

McLaren Vale has two places to hire bikes from. The Almond Train, yep its an old train carriage that sells almonds, they used to send a bus around to pick up your wine (I think it was them anyway) or if you want better bikes Oxygen Cycles hire bikes as well.

Lots of wineries, over 54 last time I worked in the area. Lots of hills in the Northern section but flat as a tack for most of the Southern section so plenty to choose from.

Not as pretty as Claire, not as commercial as The Barossa.

[ruscook]

@ruscook, if I had a broom with me on the bike....looks like the riesling trail isn't being looked after

Those tumbleweeds and most of the rest of the debris, blew in (literally) overnight. I'd done that route 2 days before and there was nothing there. It all came in with a storm overnight. That said there are a couple of spots where the trail is deteriorating (the surface itself)