Victoria – State of the Bike

30 August 2011, 3:02PM
Femme

While Melbourne raised Cadel Evans made his mark on the global cycling stage with his win of the 2011 Tour de France last month, Melbourne and Victoria have likewise taken their place on top of the cycling podium.

Melbourne has been acknowledged as one of the world’s top cycling cities, securing the title of ‘Bike City’ from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) the international governing body for sports cycling – to become only the second city after Copenhagen to receive the prestigious designation. Criteria for the label include the international standing of the city and its active commitment to develop cycling, such as organising of cycling events across various disciplines, provision of cycle tracks and other quality facilities. 

The announcement coincided with the launch of Victoria’s Cycle Tourism Action Plan 2011-2015. The first of its kind in Australia, the plan draws on Victoria’s natural strengths to position Melbourne and Victoria as the premier cycle tourism destination in Australia. 

Melbourne is, as the ‘Bike City’ label suggests, a bike-friendly city: it offers a Metropolitan Trail Network spanning 1,200 kilometres (existing and proposed trails), an extensive network of bike paths, a bike hire scheme and a growing number of cycling tours. The city’s major events calendar also regularly boasts both national and international cycling events with UCI Track Cycling Championships to be held in Melbourne 4-8 April 2012.   

Victoria’s natural landscapes, varied terrain and climate provide for an almost endless array of cycling options from mountain biking and road cycling to leisurely rail trails, bike paths and cycling events. What’s more, the heady concentration of regional food and wine offerings, quality accommodation and villages scattered throughout the state, mean that you’re never far from a well-brewed coffee, fabulous regional fare or a convivial place to rest up.

Some of the most popular cycling trails are made from disused railway tracks.

The 105 km Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is located in North East Victoria, 250km from Melbourne. It starts in Wangaratta and travels through historic Beechworth and Bright to Rutherglen – renowned as one of Victoria’s premier wine regions.

Regarded as one of the prettiest rides in Victoria, the popular Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail begins in Lilydale, (Dandenong Ranges) an hour’s drive from Melbourne, and weaves through forests along the Yarra River valley with the backdrop of the Yarra Ranges National Park.

Located in South Gippsland, 129km from Melbourne is the 49km Great Southern Rail Trail starting in Leongatha and ending in Foster. The trail is gently undulating with a wide and well-graded surface that meanders eastwards through the lush dairy cattle farmland and remnant bush of the Gippsland hills. Visitors are rewarded with views of Wilson’s Promontory National Park in the distance.

The picturesque Bellarine Peninsula – at the top of the Great Ocean Road – also has its own rail trail. Join the 32.5km long trail in South Geelong and follow it to Queenscliff. This is the perfect ride on a short holiday or weekend and the Bellarine Peninsula boasts plentiful wineries, beaches and stunning seascapes to enjoy along the way.

Each rail trail attracts visitors from near and far to cycle through spectacular scenery with tempting gourmet delights along the way.

Home turf for the region’s official ambassador, Cadel Evens, the Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong and Great Ocean Road offer not only delightful rail trails but also road cycling on Victoria’s most iconic coastal drive, challenging mountain biking in the Great Otway National Park with 40km of purpose-built tracks, and numerous popular cycling events.

For mountain bikes, one of the longest and most fascinating rides is the recently launched Goldfields Track. The 200km journey weaves its way through Victoria’s historic and culturally significant Goldfield towns. Begin the ride in Bendigo and continue to the villages of Castlemaine, Daylesford and Creswick on to Ballarat. Regular train services run from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to both Bendigo and Ballarat and riders can take their bikes on board.

Victoria’s High Country becomes a mountain biker’s dream in the summer months. The Dirty Dozen is a collection of the best mountain bike trails in Mount Buller, Falls Creek, Beechworth, Bright and Mount Beauty and together make a perfect base destination for mountain bikers looking for an adrenalin-pumping adventure.

Follow the tracks around the Horse Hill Chairlift on Mount Buller, from easy terrain to the ‘Abominable Downhill’ track that crosses Chalet Creek. There’s even a chairlift to take you back up to the top. Grab the chairlift for easy access to tracks at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham during peak holiday times in summer and over Easter. Bikers can also opt to go further afield to Mount Beauty and the Bogong High Plains.

For lovers of the tarmac, the sealing of the Bogong High Plains Road between Falls Creek and the Omeo Highway means that cyclists can now ride along the spectacular Alpine Loop from Falls Creek, through Omeo, Mt Hotham, then back to Falls Creek via Mt Beauty. This is one of the most challenging and rewarding cycling experiences in Australia.

Cycling Tours

When cycling is about getting from one culinary experience to the next, bike riders can opt for a guided tour. Milawa is the culinary heart of the High Country, and Milawa Tour’s High Country Bike Adventures is a fun ride gourmet food and wine bike tour. It caters for two or more people door-to-door with bus and bike transfers in the region; cyclists can be collected from Melbourne or Albury Airports on request.
(www.milawatours.com.au)

Pedal to Produce is a popular self-guided ride also in the Milawa region. Pick up a copy of the map in Milawa and follow the 28km ride.  Cyclists can hop on and off and visit a wide variety of wineries and produce outlets dotted throughout the region, fill their baskets with gourmet treats and relax on the banks of the King or Ovens Rivers and enjoy a memorable picnic.
(www.ridetoproduce.com.au)

Snowy River Cycling runs memorable cycle tours through the natural landscapes of East Gippsland. Cyclists can join fully supported or self guided half day to six day tours, amidst spectacular scenery. (www.snowyrivercycling.com.au )

Cycling Events

Victoria hosts a variety of major cycling events that attract local, interstate and international participants, including:

• The Jayco Herald Sun Tour, 12 – 16 October 2011
Australia’s oldest stage race features riders from around the world. The race travels through popular tourist destinations such as the Goldfields, the Great Ocean Road, Bellarine Peninsula, Mornington Peninsula and finishes in Melbourne.
www.heraldsuntour.com.au

• Around the Bay in a Day, 16 October 2011
The Great Victorian Bike Ride is one of the world's biggest and most popular mass cycling participation events. With a choice of five ride distances (250km, 210km, 100km, 80km School Challenge or 50km), 'Around the Bay' offers a challenge for riders of all abilities.
www.visitvictoria.com/events

• The 3 Peaks Challenge 2012, 11 March 2012
This is a European-style road cycling event in Victoria’s stunning alpine region – arguably one of the most challenging and rewarding cycling experiences in Australia.  The 13 hour race covers 235 kilometres over Towonga Gap, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek
www.bv.com.au/general/great-rides/93353

 

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