Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
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Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:07 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby piledhigher » Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:25 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby misterhorsey » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:34 am
Here's a thread where I asked the same question, well, I was looking for a trail only route. There's a bit of info there you may find useful.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=66970&hilit=melbourne+to+warburton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There's the the Capital City Trail from the CBD to Kew, then the Koonung Trail from Kew to Ringwood, which then connects you to the Mullum Mullum Creek Trail to Oban Rd in Ringwood Nth. Then its all road until Mt Evelyn. Then from Mt Evelyn to Warburton its the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.
I did it again on Australia day. I had the same issues with slightly heavier traffic than I thought was enjoyable from Ringwood to Mt Evelyn. If there was a link between these two suburbs it would be trail all the way!
Here's my strava of the ride.
https://www.strava.com/activities/246370385" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Note that I took a trail from Swansea Rd in Mt Evelyn up Mt Evelyn. Google Maps says its a bike trail and the top bit is. But the bottom bit is just a grassy hill that I think is intended for horses, so I had to walk up this section.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby dalai47 » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:57 am
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby cyclotaur » Wed Feb 04, 2015 12:10 pm
For example you can do a great ride around the Warburton/ReeftonSpur/Marysville/AcheronWay/Warbuton loop (105kms?) on top of the 75kms return along the trail. You could even nip up to DonnaBuang on the way for an extra 20kms or so. All of it beats city road riding.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:24 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby cyclotaur » Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:51 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby dalai47 » Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:38 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:28 am
Is the trail tarmac or is it sandy/stoney?cyclotaur wrote:Personally I'd take the trail rather than the highway Lilydale to Warburton. It's way safer, better graded and just a better ride experience.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:28 am
Even on a Sunday?dalai47 wrote:Never heard safe and Warburton hwy in the same sentence...
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Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby kb » Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:31 am
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby dalai47 » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:16 am
I've ridden it enough times over the years and am still alive, but it is never a relaxing ride. Like kb I hit it as late as I can which for me is Woori Yallock.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby dalai47 » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:21 am
Fine gravel. Many have ridden it on 23mm tyres...zill wrote:Is the trail tarmac or is it sandy/stoney?cyclotaur wrote:Personally I'd take the trail rather than the highway Lilydale to Warburton. It's way safer, better graded and just a better ride experience.
Example footage - not mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzQD4agmSNo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby cyclotaur » Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:05 pm
Mostly better than a lot of the local roads. Certainly preferable to the highway IMHO.dalai47 wrote:Fine gravel. Many have ridden it on 23mm tyres...zill wrote:Is the trail tarmac or is it sandy/stoney?cyclotaur wrote:Personally I'd take the trail rather than the highway Lilydale to Warburton. It's way safer, better graded and just a better ride experience.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:12 pm
But would you ride a race bike with tubular wheels on that trail?cyclotaur wrote:dalai47 wrote:zill wrote: Mostly better than a lot of the local roads. Certainly preferable to the highway IMHO.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby cyclotaur » Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:39 pm
I'd still ride the trail for safety reasons but it's up to you.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Sat Feb 07, 2015 8:13 pm
How does Warburton HWY compare with Mountain Hwy (1 in 20) in terms of saftey?dalai47 wrote:Day or the week is irrelevant. It is THE road out to Warburton and beyond. Other than locals, there is a decent amount of tourist traffic out through to Warburton and beyond such as 4WDs and boy racers on their motorbikes heading for the Reefton Spur.
I've ridden it enough times over the years and am still alive, but it is never a relaxing ride. Like kb I hit it as late as I can which for me is Woori Yallock.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby cyclotaur » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:02 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:42 pm
cyclotaur wrote:1:20 is a bike trail compared to Warburton Hwy - lower speeds make a lot of difference. Warburton Hwy is an open country highway, traffic is faster, more of it etc.
What about descending down the 1 in 20 compared to just travelling on Warburton Hwy?
(Although it does seem that the cars are very careful when passing riders when descending)
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby dalai47 » Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:53 pm
Should be okay, just saying it isn't my favourite stretch of road on a bicycle. Which is unfortunate as I love the riding out Warburton and beyond!
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby kb » Sun Feb 08, 2015 10:27 pm
https://www.strava.com/activities/251883408
It's only from Blackburn instead of the CBD and only 1 Donna but quite scenic
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby human909 » Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:20 pm
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Mon Feb 09, 2015 9:57 am
kb wrote:Here you go zill, I did this ride just for you
https://www.strava.com/activities/251883408
It's only from Blackburn instead of the CBD and only 1 Donna but quite scenic
That's a great effort! Rode there myself as well on Sunday. Took longer than expected. Rode on Warburton HWY as well as the trail. The HWY is not ideal as been said. The trail was fun and probably the closest I'll ever get to doing mountain biking.
Looks like you took Warburton HWY all the way? Why not the trail?
Mt Donna Buang seems like a grander version of the noongs.
The climb itself was tough. I wonder if A graders are able to do the whole climb apart from maybe the last 300m in the big chainring?
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby zill » Mon Feb 09, 2015 9:57 am
2 potential issues are getting caught in the tracks and getting a puncture.human909 wrote:I'm confused why you would think that 23mm tubulars would have issues with the rail trail. It seems absurd not to take the trail.
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Re: Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?
Postby djw47 » Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:32 am
The rail trail is absolutely fine for a road bike on 23s, I ride it all the time, it's well maintained and smooth (if a little dusty in the dry). It's a trail, not a railway line, there are no tracks and haven't been for decades. It's covered in fine gravel for the full length and there is no more likelihood of puncture than you would get on a sealed road. It's also fairly flat the full length unlike the highway which has a number of steep pinches. 23mm tubulars will cope absolutely fine.zill wrote:2 potential issues are getting caught in the tracks and getting a puncture.human909 wrote:I'm confused why you would think that 23mm tubulars would have issues with the rail trail. It seems absurd not to take the trail.
As for the Warburton Hwy - it's similar to the Maroondah Highway out through the Yarra Valley to Healesville in terms of traffic but without the bike lane - speed limit is 100, it's a busy, main road out to Warburton and is not bike friendly. Seriously, if you value your life, take the rail trail.
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