11/09/2005
Seven members of the Warragul Cycling Club Recreational Ride It group enjoyed a city trail loop in Melbourne on September 11. The rain in Warragul was left behind early on Sunday morning and by the time we reached Melbourne the weather had cleared. Led by Craig Stutchbury, the group left from the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and negotiated a bike path leading north west from Melbourne. It was not long before the bike path hooked up with the Moonee Ponds Creek and the group headed out to Westfield shopping centre at Tullamarine.
Despite the wind, the sun was shining and there was no sign of rain clouds. After a break for lunch the group returned to the city via the Western Ring Road bicycle path, Brimbank Park and the Maribyrnong River trail. The sun came out for the section along the Maribyrnong and made for great riding along a sand path with the river on one side and parkland all the way on the other. This section also was protected from the wind, making for a very pleasant ride. There also was the opportunity for a rest on the river’s edge while Peter repaired a puncture.
Everyone agreed the day was a great success with Melbourne bike trails promising to be a highlight of each quarter’s program. The round trip totalled about 65 kilometres with most of the riding along flat, but there were a few sharp inclines along the way to challenge the riders. It gave country riders an opportunity to see a side of Melbourne not experienced before.
