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IDEvent Title or Route + map linkGrade + Distance + Event TypeStart Point + cafe linkPrecis + restaurant linkNarrativeNotes / VariationsNewsletter
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N8Capital City TrailModerate 30 km circuit cyclingFederation Square
CAFE: ACMI Cafe, Federation Square		A surprisingly scenic ride for when there are time constraints, or the weather is looking risky!
LUNCH: Doutta Galla Hotel, 339 Racecourse Rd, Flemington or Great Northern Hotel, 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North.		The ride starts from the Birrarung Marr bike parking beside the river (between Swanston St and the MCG, and between the Federation Square Car Park and the river). From there we follow the Capital City Trail (comprising the Main Yarra Trail, Inner Circle Trail, Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and Docklands Trail) in an anticlockwise direction, with lunch probably at the Doutta Galla Hotel in Flemington. After lunch we continue around the Capital City Trail back to the starting point, or whatever point you decide to exit. There are many train station exit points, and connections to many cycling trails.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/capital-city-trail.		* Ride N10 is an extended version of this ride.
* If we have delays such as rain or punctures, there are many other lunch possibilities such as Lentil as Anything at the Abbotsford Convent or The Great Northern Hotel, 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North. 		125, 107, 103, 92
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N10City Loop: Yarra - Gardiners Creek - Anniversary - Capital City TrailsMedium 46km circuit cycling (or easy 28km if exiting at lunch).Federation Square
CAFE: ACMI cafe		A varied, often scenic, inner urban ride, mostly on wide cycling paths.
LUNCH: Fifteen Pounds Cafe, 21-23 Railway Pl, Fairfield		From the ACMI Café we walk to the bike hoops on Birrarung Marr then ride up the Yarra to the Gardiners Creek Trail, which we follow out to the Outer Circle Anniversary Trail at Ashburton, though taking a shortcut via the Ferndale Trail. We follow the Anniversary Trail through Camberwell and on to Fairfield via the Darebin Link Trail for lunch. After lunch we continue on to the Capital City Trail (Inner Circle Rail Trail) past Princes Park, the Zoo and Docklands back to Federation Square. * There are many train exit options all along the route.
* There are links to cycling paths to head whichever direction your home is.
* There are may alternative lunch options in Fairfield.
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N21Craigieburn - Broadmeadows Valley Park - Moonee Ponds - Flemington BridgeModerate to medium 35km point-to-point cyclingCraigieburn Station
CAFE: Syd's Cafe & Convenience		A surprisingly scenic, and pleasant, northern suburbs ride from Craigieburn back to the CBD
LUNCH: Cross Keys Hotel		From Craigieburn Station we head via Hothlyn Dr to the Aitken Creek Trail and follow that as far as Denau Place / Mission Hills Way. We follow Mission Hills Way to the T-junction at Fairways Bvd - and Syd's Cafe is near that corner. Afterwards we travel along Fairways Bvd and turn right at Lakes Dr (2nd turnoff) from where it's off-road all the way via the (not always well signed) Broadmeadows Valley Park Trail to the junction with the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail, which we'll follow all the way to lunch at the Cross Keys Hotel, 350 Pascoe Vale Rd, Essendon. From lunch to the Flemington Bridge Station is a further 7.5 km. There are several train exit points, notably Jacana Station, Strathmore Station and Essendon Station, and very few uphills on the route.* Alternative lunch options: Doutta Galla Hotel, 339 Racecourse Rd, Flemington or Great Northern Hotel, 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
* Alternative starting point: Roxburgh Park Station
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N25Craigieburn - Galada Tamboore - Merri Creek - Zagames - Merri Creek - RushallMedium 43km point-to-point cyclingCraigieburn Station
CAFE: Craigieburn Plaza Shopping Centre		A pleasant urban ride, mostly on dedicated cycling paths, quite scenic at times.
LUNCH: Zagames Reservoir, 257 Edwardes St, Reservoir		After the coffee we head due north for a couple of kilometers to the start of the Galada Tamboore Trail (beside the Hume Freeway), which we follow all the way south to the Ring Road. There we head west along the Ring Road Trail the short distance to the Merri Creek, which we follow southwards as far as Broadhurst Ave. We ride along Broadhurst Ave, then on the trail down Edgars Creek to Edwardes Lake, and Zagames Hotel. After lunch, we backtrack to the Merri Creek then follow that down to where it meets the Capital City Trail. At that point there are trails heading off in all directions for everybody to make their way home (by train or bike). There are virtually no hills on this ride and most of it will be on dedicated cycling paths (exception: Broadhurst Ave)
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N27Craigieburn - Galada Tamboore - Upfield Trail - Capital City TrailModerate 36km point-to-point cyclingCraigieburn Station
CAFE: Craigieburn Plaza Shopping Centre		A varied urban ride through open fields, industrial estates, housing and a cemetery!
LUNCH: Acustico Cafe, 32 Union St, Brunswick		After the coffee we head due north for a couple of kilometers to the start of the Galada Tamboore Trail (beside the Hume Freeway), which we follow all the way south to the Ring Road. There we head west following the Ring Road Trail all the way to an exit near the Fawkner Cemetery (just over 5 km). From there we follow John St, West St, Hilton St/Box Forest Rd to the Fawkner Memorial Park. We pass through the park to the Upfield Trail, which we follow for 6.5 km to the Acústico Cafe for lunch. After lunch you can exit at Jewell Station, or head south to the Capital City Trail, which links to many other train and cycling options.* Alternative lunch option: The First and Last Hotel, 1141 Sydney Rd, Hadfield (near the start of the Upfield Trail).
* There are virtually no hills and it's mostly on dedicated cycling paths.
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N41Fairfield - Darebin Ck - Ring Road - Merri Ck - FairfieldMedium approx. 47km circuit cyclingFifteen Pounds Cafe, 21-23 Railway Place, FairfieldA scenic, relaxing ride along the Darebin and Merri Creeks
LUNCH: Zagames Reservoir, 257 Edwardes St, Reservoir		From the Fifteen Pounds Cafe we head to the nearby Darebin Creek Trail and follow that northwards all the way to the Western Ring Road Trail. We'll take that, heading west, for about 7.5 km to the top of the Merri Creek Path, where we'll head south as far as the Broadhurst Av exit. Broadhurst Av and the Edgars Ck Path will take us directly to our lunch point overlooking Edwardes Lake, Zagames Reservoir, 257 Edwardes St, Reservoir.
After lunch we'll retrace our steps back to the Merri Ck and follow that southwards back to our starting point at Fairfield Station, or to any convenient exit point along the way. (Nomads event)		This route gives us a lot of options in case of inclement weather, and the final stages of the ride connect with a host of convenient cycling paths and train stations.116, 124
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N43Fairfield - Merri Ck - Pentridge - Upfield Path - FairfieldEasy to Medium 24 km cycling circuitFairfield ParkA scenic and not too taxing bike ride - especially designed for Good Friday.This will be an easy, social ride. There will be numerous short sections (medium grade) where gear changes will be required to use bridges, go under roads, etc. We'll start at the Fairfield Cricket Club Oval, heading up the Merri Creek bike path to the Coburg Lake for a “pit stop”. If we find an open cafe along the way, we'll stop for a coffee. Leaving the Lake we'll explore the housing development in what used to be Pentridge Prison. From there we'll make our way to the bike trail that runs beside the Upfield railway line exiting at a suitable intersection for lunch. After lunch we will return to the Upfield Line Trail until we turn “left” onto the cycle path along what used to be the Inner Circle Railway Line, which takes us back to Rushall Station then on to Fairfield Park. There are many stations along the way if you wish to exit early.96
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N45Fairfield - La Trobe - Main Yarra - FairfieldMedium 32.5km circuit cyclingYarra Edge CafeA scenic, mostly off-road middle suburban ride
LUNCH: La Trobe University food court		From the cafe we head east to the Chandler Highway to join the Main Yarra Trail, then the Darebin Link / Darebin Trail to La Trope University. We take the La Trobe Ring Rd, exiting out via the path at Car Park 6 to get to Earnest Jones Reserve. We turn right to follow the linear park path to Cherry St and Macleod Station, then Erskine Rd to turn right at Greensborough Rd to join the River Gum Walk through to Waringal Parklands and the Main Yarra Trail, which we follow back to Fairfield.
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N47Fairfield - Plenty River - Ring Road - Northern Pipe Trail - FairfieldModerate 22km or Hard 49km circuit cyclingYarra Edge CafeA varied ride, very scenic at times, with challenging hills.
LUNCH: Greensborough Hotel, 75 Main St, Greensborough		From the cafe we head up the Main Yarra Trail until we divert onto the Plenty River Trail, heading UP to Greensborough for lunch. After lunch we continue on the Plenty River Trail to the Metropolitan Ring Road Trail, which we follow westwards to the Darebin Creek Trail. We exit the Darebin Creek Trail at Reservoir, we will link up with the Northern Pipe Trail (St Georges Road), for the final leg down to the Capital City Trail and round to Fairfield, or whichever direction to return home. There is a substantial hill climb both before and after lunch. Exit options at Greensborough or Reservoir Stations.
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N50Fairfield - Reservoir - St Georges Rd - FairfieldEasy 16km (+optional 11km) circuit cyclingFifteen Pounds Cafe, 21-23 Railway Place, FairfieldAn easy and relatively scenic cycle ride up the Darebin Creek for lunch at the friendly Lady Bower cafe in Reservoir, with an optional return via the St Georges Rd Trail
LUNCH: Lady Bower Cafe		After having a coffee we cycle up the Darebin Trail to Bundoora Park, where we take a scenic tour around the park then backtrack via the Darebin Trail to Dunne St. From there we take some quiet suburban streets for lunch at The Lady Bower, 1A Marchant Ave, Reservoir. After lunch, there's the option to exit the ride via Reservoir Station, or to head south a short way beside High St to pick up the bike path that runs along St Georges Rd and follows the Mernda train line, with train station exit options never more than a kilometre or two away. At Westgarth St, we turn left onto the Merri Creek Path, which connects with the Capital City Trail and options to disperse in whichever direction you wish to, or catch a train home from stations such as Rushall, Clifton Hill, Royal Park, Flemington Bridge or Fairfield. There are some short, minor climbs but the ride is predominantly flat.To extend the ride, start further south (e.g. East Malvern and ride along the Anniversary Trail, or even Fairfield Park and ride along the Main Yarra Trail and Darebin-MYT-Link)113
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N55Glenroy (or Jacana) - Ring Road - Upfield Line - FlemingtonEasy 17 km point-to-point cyclingGlenroy Station
CAFE: bakery in Pascoe Vale Rd		An easy, short ride with many bailout options: good for rainy winter days.
LUNCH: Doutta Galla Hotel, 339 Racecourse Rd, Flemington		After a coffee we head north to Jacana Station then east for less than 2 km along the Ring Road Trail to take the exit at John St. We follow John St, West St and Hilton St to the Fawkner Cemetery, and through that to the Upfield Line Trail, which we follow south to Flemington Bridge Station, then take Racecourse Rd to the Doutta Galla Hotel, beside Newmarket Station. If starting at Jacana, get a coffee at First and Last Hotel, 1141 Sydney Rd, Hadfield.
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N65Mernda - Bundoora Park - Darebin Creek - FairfieldMedium 40km point-to-point cyclingMernda Station
CAFE: Turners Bakehouse Eatery, 107 Schotters Rd, Mernda 		A pleasant urban ride, very scenic at times, virtually all on wide cycling paths.
LUNCH: Bundoora Homestead Cafe, 7 Prospect Hill Drive, Bundoora		From Mernda Station we head north to the excellent Turners Bakehouse Eatery for a coffee. Afterwards we double back to ride along the trail beside the railway line between Mernda and South Morang. From South Morang we continue along the path to join the Darebin Creek Path and follow that down to Bundoora Park for lunch at the Bundoora Homestead Cafe (26 km). After lunch we continue down the Darebin Creek Path to Fairfield (and beyond). The ride is relatively flat (trending downhill).
Lunch alternative: Lady Bower Kitchen, 1A Marchant Ave, Reservoir (then return home via the St Georges Rd Trail).
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N70North Fitzroy - Northern Pipe Trail - Ring Road - Plenty River - FairfieldHard 42km circuit cyclingMitte Cafe, 76 Michael St, Fitzroy NorthAn extremely scenic ride, especially the Plenty & Yarra River sections.
LUNCH: Greensborough		From the cafe head towards Rushall Station then up the Northern Pipe Trail (i.e. St Georges Rd) to Reservoir then take the Dalton Rd Trail to link to the Ring Road Trail. Follow that eastwards to Greensborough, then follow the Plenty River Trail to its junction with the Main Yarra Trail, and follow that back to Fairfield (and optionally beyond).To get to Mitte Cafe from Rushall Station, follow Falconer St (perpendicular to rail line), turn left into Michael St. If coming from the CBD via Edinburgh Gardens, exit the gardens at Rowe St, and follow Rowe St to Michael St.
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N80South Morang - Darebin Creek - Ring Road - Merri CreekMedium 32.5 km point-to-point cyclingSouth Morang Station
CAFE: station kiosk		A pleasant urban ride, ideal for winter.
LUNCH: Zagames Reservoir, 257 Edwardes St, Reservoir		After a coffee at the South Morang station we follow the rail line to the Darebin Creek Trail, which will take us down to the Ring Road, which we follow westwards to the Merri Creek Trail. A little way down the Merri Creek we exit at Broadhurst Avenue then take the Edgars Creek Trail down to Edwardes Lake for lunch at Zagames, a total distance of 21 km. Following lunch we return to the Merri Creek Trail and ride to Rushall Station in Clifton Hill - a further 11.5 km. From here several options are available depending on the direction to your home. From Rushall it is approximately 7 km to the city.To extend the ride, start from Mernda Station and/or finish by following the Capital City Trail (either direction) to Fed Square.
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