Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?

zill
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Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?

Postby zill » Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:07 pm

Which route is best (least traffic, don't mind going a bit longer than needed) to ride to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from the city of Melbourne? Is there a very long bike trial along the way?

piledhigher
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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

Donna buang is 95 kms from the cbd by the shortest possible route, the rail trail from lilydale to warburton might shorten that slightly if you can deal with fine gravel. The bike path along the eastern freeway will add a few more kms but probably takes some rolling hills out compared with just going straight down Whitehorse rd.

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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

Hey Zill

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

On road - I ride over Mt Dandenong to Monbulk. Then small roads to Yellingbo (Monbulk Seville rd- Beenak rd or Maccessfield rd) then north to Woori Yallock and onto the Warburton hwy.

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cyclotaur
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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

If you want a ride that long I suggest you take the train to Lilydale then ride the trail to Warburton and do the extra kms from there rather than battle city roads and traffic, especially between Ringwood and Mt Evelyn (though I've ridden it myself up Swansea/York Rd with few problems).

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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zill
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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

Thanks for all the advice so far. Looks like I'll take the train to Lilydale Station then ride to Mt Donna Buang (do two ascents) via Warburton Hwy then ride back home via Swansea Rd, descend down the 1 in 20 and then on the usual trial home along the freeway. All in all, only take the train in part of the way to get there but not coming back. Not too complicated. Hope they are safe roads to ride. Probably about 7 to 8 hours in total?

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cyclotaur
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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

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 dalai47 » Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:38 pm

Never heard safe and Warburton hwy in the same sentence...

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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

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.
Is the trail tarmac or is it sandy/stoney?
Last edited by zill on Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

zill
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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

dalai47 wrote:Never heard safe and Warburton hwy in the same sentence...
Even on a Sunday?

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kb
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Best way to get to Mt. Donna Buang Hill from CBD?

Postby kb » Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:31 am

Not so much the amount of traffic but the stretches with no shoulder and 90kph. It's better closer to Warburton. My usual approach (from Gembrook) intersects the highway at Launching Place and it's not too bad from there but still not pleasant.
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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

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 dalai47 » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:21 am

zill wrote:
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.
Is the trail tarmac or is it sandy/stoney?
Fine gravel. Many have ridden it on 23mm tyres...

Example footage - not mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzQD4agmSNo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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cyclotaur
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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

dalai47 wrote:
zill wrote:
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.
Is the trail tarmac or is it sandy/stoney?
Fine gravel. Many have ridden it on 23mm tyres...
Mostly better than a lot of the local roads. Certainly preferable to the highway IMHO.
2023 Target: 9.500kms/100,000m
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zill
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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

cyclotaur wrote:
dalai47 wrote:
zill wrote: Mostly better than a lot of the local roads. Certainly preferable to the highway IMHO.
But would you ride a race bike with tubular wheels on that trail?

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cyclotaur
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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

23 tubs? Too high spec for me. I ride 25/28 clinchers, so I can ride anywhere I need to.

I'd still ride the trail for safety reasons but it's up to you.
2023 Target: 9.500kms/100,000m
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zill
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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

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.
How does Warburton HWY compare with Mountain Hwy (1 in 20) in terms of saftey?

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cyclotaur
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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

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.
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zill
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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.
:shock:

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

Totally different. The 1 in 20 is windy, lower speed limit and road where there is high bike traffic so most people know that there will be bikes. Less bikes on the Warburton highway, straighter roads and higher speed limits...

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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kb
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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

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
Image

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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

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.

zill
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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?
Last edited by zill on Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:05 am, edited 2 times in total.

zill
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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

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.
2 potential issues are getting caught in the tracks and getting a puncture.

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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

zill wrote:
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.
2 potential issues are getting caught in the tracks and getting a puncture.
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.

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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