An early spring 2012 fully loaded tour by backroads and bikeways from Canberra to Melbourne.
1000 km 15 days.
Crossed the Snowy-Monaro region and down the Gippsland coast and via Phillip Island into Melbourne.
Used the Barry Way and Snowy River Road to get across the divide.
A very enjoyable ride. Very little traffic the entire way.
A full route description, photos, references, accommodation list etc are available in this journal.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/laketolake" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
-
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:17 pm
- Location: Canberra
-
- Posts: 800
- Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:54 pm
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby Uncle Just » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:39 pm
Well done Graham. I followed your ride with interest and looks like you got a real nice weather window. Nice pics too.
BTW I think I saw your party at Sandringham last Sat morning heading along Beach Road. I recognised one of your party, a bearded bloke on a Mongoose. There was recumbent rider too but he may have just been passing.
BTW I think I saw your party at Sandringham last Sat morning heading along Beach Road. I recognised one of your party, a bearded bloke on a Mongoose. There was recumbent rider too but he may have just been passing.
- il padrone
- Posts: 22931
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
- Location: Heading for home.
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby il padrone » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:39 pm
Sounds a great tour through marvelous country.
I think your SKS stay end-caps are not correctly fitted. Have you worked their set-up out?
An aside by the way - I think we met your daughter (?) in Central Australia at some location (can't recall exactly where). She told us all about her dad riding from Canberra to Sydney on a first cycle-tour and I twigged something familiar and asked "Was it the 'House to House Tour'?" She replied in the affirmative. It may have been at the Alice Springs YHA as I think it was fairly early in our tour, or maybe at Yulara.
I think your SKS stay end-caps are not correctly fitted. Have you worked their set-up out?
An aside by the way - I think we met your daughter (?) in Central Australia at some location (can't recall exactly where). She told us all about her dad riding from Canberra to Sydney on a first cycle-tour and I twigged something familiar and asked "Was it the 'House to House Tour'?" She replied in the affirmative. It may have been at the Alice Springs YHA as I think it was fairly early in our tour, or maybe at Yulara.
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
-
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:17 pm
- Location: Canberra
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby Vintagetourer » Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:06 pm
No recumbent in our group Uncle Just, but yes Will was on a Mongoose and we did go through Sandringham. Small world.Uncle Just wrote:Well done Graham. I followed your ride with interest and looks like you got a real nice weather window. Nice pics too.
BTW I think I saw your party at Sandringham last Sat morning heading along Beach Road. I recognised one of your party, a bearded bloke on a Mongoose. There was recumbent rider too but he may have just been passing.
We had fun trying to catch the pelotons with our loaded bikes.
I was amazed at the number of cyclists along Beach Road.
-
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:17 pm
- Location: Canberra
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby Vintagetourer » Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:16 pm
I'll have another look at the SKS caps. Thanks. Fitted (badly) my first mudguards in 30 years and we had a 15 day dry spell on tour!il padrone wrote:Sounds a great tour through marvelous country.
I think your SKS stay end-caps are not correctly fitted. Have you worked their set-up out?
An aside by the way - I think we met your daughter (?) in Central Australia at some location (can't recall exactly where). She told us all about her dad riding from Canberra to Sydney on a first cycle-tour and I twigged something familiar and asked "Was it the 'House to House Tour'?" She replied in the affirmative. It may have been at the Alice Springs YHA as I think it was fairly early in our tour, or maybe at Yulara.
Not sure who you might have chatted to in Central Australia. There have been a few people use the CGOAB route description of the House-to-House, including a couple from Canberra and another couple from WA. It could have been one of their rels.
Yes...the area between Jindabyne and Buchan is superb. It was the highlight of the ride I think, but it was all good.
- Aushiker
- Posts: 22395
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:55 pm
- Location: Walyalup land
- Contact:
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby Aushiker » Sun Oct 14, 2012 12:44 am
Looks like a great ride. Thanks for sharing.
Andrew
Andrew
Andrew
Aushiker.com
Aushiker.com
- RonK
- Posts: 11508
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:08 pm
- Location: If you need to know, ask me
- Contact:
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby RonK » Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:13 am
Nice read Graham, that area is on my todo list for a Melb-Bris ride.
Off to NZ on Friday.
Off to NZ on Friday.
Cycle touring blog and tour journals: whispering wheels...
-
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:17 pm
- Location: Canberra
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby Vintagetourer » Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:12 am
Thanks Ron. All the best in NZ.RonK wrote:Nice read Graham, that area is on my todo list for a Melb-Bris ride.
Off to NZ on Friday.
The ride to Melbourne gave my skinny Marathon Supremes a good test out on a full range of surfaces. I was very pleased with their handling, toughness and nice rolling. The section from Captains Flat to Numeralla was particularly hard on sidewalls. Ample sharp,protruding rocks. No problem.
I had one flat. Coming into Foster, a short, sharp tack made its presence felt.
A couple of times they slewed sideways a bit in deep, dust filled ruts on the Barry Way but I think any tyre except wide nobblies would have behaved similarly.
If there is any other info. on the Canberra to Melbourne backroads route you'd like, or think should be on the blog pls let me know.
-
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 8:06 pm
- Location: Newcastle NSW
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby rog on a bike » Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:12 pm
Graham! Great read, providing useful and interesting information.
I looked with interest at your training regime . It obviously worked
Cheers Rog
I looked with interest at your training regime . It obviously worked
Cheers Rog
EVERY HILL HAS A CREST. GETTING THERE BEFORE THE HEART ATTACK IS THE TRICK.
-
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:17 pm
- Location: Canberra
Re: Canberra to Melbourne by backroads route
Postby Vintagetourer » Sun Oct 14, 2012 10:33 pm
Thanks Rog.rog on a bike wrote:Graham! Great read, providing useful and interesting information.
I looked with interest at your training regime . It obviously worked
Cheers Rog
If there's any other info you'd like or suggestions to improve the blog I'd be pleased to receive them.
Yes...I should have done more training but I've never been good at homework. The second day just about floored me.
By Day 15 I was just about fit enough to catch one or two of those Beach Road pelotons.
Regards Graham
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.