Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
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Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby zarniwoop » Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:27 pm
I've been out of riding for a year or two now owing to two new additions to the family and during that time we've also moved to the hills. I'm looking to get back into riding but frankly the roads around here look bl**dy dangerous. Does anyone have any experience of riding in the Gembrook, Emerald, Pakenham (north in the hills) areas and if so can you advise on your experiences?
Cheers
Zarniwoop
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby andione1983 » Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:35 pm
I'll be curious to hear what people say on this... I'm about to start venturing up that wayzarniwoop wrote:Hi All,
I've been out of riding for a year or two now owing to two new additions to the family and during that time we've also moved to the hills. I'm looking to get back into riding but frankly the roads around here look bl**dy dangerous. Does anyone have any experience of riding in the Gembrook, Emerald, Pakenham (north in the hills) areas and if so can you advise on your experiences?
Cheers
Zarniwoop
Sent from my Galaxy far far away....
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby kb » Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:49 pm
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby VRE » Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:39 pm
Just remember that the amount of risk you're exposed to on the roads depends to some extent on your riding style. Be assertive, claim lanes when needed, make eye contact with motorists, etc.
I agree with what kb said about Beach Rd. The motorists down that way have problems sharing the road with cyclists. I know this from 1st hand experience, as I lived in Parkdale for a few years not so long ago, so Beach Rd was part of my daily commute. On the other hand, on weekends there are so many cyclists on Beach Rd that the "safety in numbers" factor starts to assert itself. Of course, this still doesn't mean you shouldn't be alert for motorists doing silly things, e.g. pulling into or out of the many beach-side carparks without looking.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby yarravalleyplodder » Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:34 am
Overall I have had more issues down on the flats surrounding the hills than I have up in the hills and you probably have to be more mindful of damp roads and leaves and bark than you do of cars
2012 Fuji Nevada 2.0
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby racka » Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:13 pm
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby djw47 » Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:56 pm
Two things not to do on the twisty narrow roads though: don't ride 2 abreast when the roads are hard for cars to overtake on, that really winds up motorists, and don't sit in the centre of the road when there is traffic backed up behind you. If you want to avoid confrontation with vehicles, try and accomodate them and move over and let them past.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby djw47 » Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:02 pm
There's no way I'd ride along the Warburton Hwy. Jump on the Warburton Trail (runs parallel to the Hwy) and you can ride all the way from Lilydale to Warburton without any traffic (apart from horses and people walking dogs!). The trail is hard packed gravel and is no problem on a road bike. Lilydale to Warburton and back is about 80km and it's very easy going as it used to be a rail track so the slopes had to be gentle for the trains.kb wrote:Well, there are impatient drivers everywhere but I've found the hills pretty good with the right balance of assertiveness and courtesy. On the other hand, I've ridden along beach road maybe a dozen times and seen 3 doorings involving ambulances. Some of the approaches to the mountains aren't quite as pleasant and riding along Warburton Hwy wasn't entirely comfortable the time I tried it.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby kb » Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:06 pm
Yeah, will do that next time. It had rained all day and was after dark so I didn't really want to take my chances on an unknown surface. On the plus side the hills had overtaking lanes but there's not much shoulder and it vanished frequently. Also a high speed differential - so I'm counting it as this year's stupidity/luck used updjw47 wrote: There's no way I'd ride along the Warburton Hwy. Jump on the Warburton Trail
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby Dimis » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:31 am
When you consider the risks you take just when you wake up in the morning, its safe enough.
I ride up there frequently, never an incident.
If you are courteous and give drivers a quick wave they tend to look after you.
That said while most drivers in the area are used to cyclists, there is always the odd clown who thinks he's Brocky's brother. You can't help these tools, just do your best to avoid them.
Your attitude towards risk will determine how safe it is.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby jules21 » Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:15 pm
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby VRE » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:00 pm
I've had as many (or more) issues with motorists on Mountain Hwy, compared to the Tourist Rd. But as I mentioned previously, these issues are pretty rare.jules21 wrote:as mentioned - in the 'Nongs, try and stay away from the Tourist Road, i.e. stick to the range of B roads which branch off it. motorists are resigned to the Mountain Hwy being taken over by bikes
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby racka » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:22 pm
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby zarniwoop » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:34 pm
Only problem now is I live on top of a hill so all directions go down, just have to make sure that I don't go too far to start with as getting back will be a bitch.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby clackers » Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:42 pm
I like Tecoma-Kallista-Monbulk-Wandin East-Yelingbo-Emerald-Tecoma on my roadie.
Belgrave out to Cardinia reservoir is great, too.
On a MTB the Gembrook-Tonimbuk loop is good value (and of course you can nick into the Bunyip State Forest while you're there).
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby defy1 » Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:04 pm
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby dalai47 » Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:03 am
Enjoy - if you are interested - timing starts at the 60 sign at the end of the Basin shops and finishes at the 50 sign just before Sassafras. Km markers counting down the distance to go are painted on the road will be a good or bad thing depending on how you are going...defy1 wrote:Gonna try the 1 in 20 in Mt Dandenongs on the weekend for the first time...
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby Dimis » Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:55 pm
Yippee! Good for you!defy1 wrote:Gonna try the 1 in 20 in Mt Dandenongs on the weekend for the first time...
It will be the start of your new romance with climbing.
Now unless you have either photos or a time (preferably both), it never happened. Haha
So with that in mind, time to start a poll.
Not knowing you, or your fitness levels I'm going to guess - 26mins 15sec for a 1st up effort.
Best of luck, and enjoy.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby il padrone » Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:38 pm
A key advantage of riding in the hills - the winding roads generally slow drivers to a maximum of about 60-70kmh, so passing traffic is much less of a threat.
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby kb » Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:20 pm
It can definitely be addictive. My first 1:20 (or any climb) was September last year at around 22mins. Down to 19:55 and hoping for 18:00 by the year's end. Last several weeks I've also climbed Baw Baw and 3 x Donna Buang plus the trip back to Blackburn. Also gone from not wanting to go down again to enjoying most descents. Wouldn't have imagined it a year ago. Partly it's because climbing repays effort very obviously and you get positive reinforcement, but mostly because mountains are gorgeous .Dimis wrote:Yippee! Good for you!defy1 wrote:Gonna try the 1 in 20 in Mt Dandenongs on the weekend for the first time...
It will be the start of your new romance with climbing.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby dalai47 » Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:20 pm
Interesting to see peoples differing opinions. I ride in the Dandenongs at all times and never find it an issue...il padrone wrote:Sunday afternoons up the 1 in 20 and on the main ridge of the Dandenongs is not very nice
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby jules21 » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:00 am
there are a lot of sections in which overtaking is unsafe. when it gets busy, such as on sunday afternoons, you can build quite a following of cars. i'm amazed to hear that they are all so patient with you. i wouldn't say it was dangerous, but some of the locals have 'had enough' with cyclists.dalai47 wrote:Interesting to see peoples differing opinions. I ride in the Dandenongs at all times and never find it an issue...il padrone wrote:Sunday afternoons up the 1 in 20 and on the main ridge of the Dandenongs is not very nice
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby defy1 » Sat Aug 03, 2013 12:52 pm
It wasn't too bad traffic wise, and there were a lot of cyclists about, but it was cold and windy.
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby kb » Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:36 pm
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Re: Cycling in the Yarra Ranges/Dandenongs: Is it safe?
Postby il padrone » Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:40 pm
By "not very nice" I did not mean noticably dangerous, just a somewhat unpleasant ride. Less than desirable. Speaking as someone who enjoys riding the quietest country lanes and forest roads by preference.jules21 wrote:there are a lot of sections in which overtaking is unsafe. when it gets busy, such as on sunday afternoons, you can build quite a following of cars. i'm amazed to hear that they are all so patient with you. i wouldn't say it was dangerous, but some of the locals have 'had enough' with cyclists.dalai47 wrote:Interesting to see peoples differing opinions. I ride in the Dandenongs at all times and never find it an issue...il padrone wrote:Sunday afternoons up the 1 in 20 and on the main ridge of the Dandenongs is not very nice
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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