COTA (Council on the Aging) cycling group Bike rides in 2019 for people 50+

PLEASE READ We ride every Wednesday of each month except January.

The 1st and 3rd Wednesday rides are short (20- 30km) to encourage less experienced riders to join us and the route is mostly chosen on the day. The 2nd and 4th Wednesday rides are longer (50- 60km), more challenging and for experienced riders. Rides on the 5th Wednesday are generally longer.

We generally meet at 10am at the ‘Place to meet’ (see below). A coffee stop is found midmorning and we take our own lunch and picnic together on longer rides. Riders are welcome to join the ride along the way or cut the ride short at any point.

 If the temperature is 30°C or above on the day, the long rides will be cut short. If a ride is to be altered from the published program, including cancelling the ride, you will be notified by e-mail before 8pm the night before. Please check your e-mail on Tuesday evening after 8pm.

All riders are required to register with COTA and accept the group riding conditions—go to: http://cotavic.org.au/programs-events/physical-education/cota-cycling/. We also recommend that riders consider joining Bicycle Victoria for the insurance and service they offer.

Please contact Richard Hawkey by e-mail [email protected] or on 0428 329 450 to discuss details.

Date Place to Description Grade meet

July 3rd Southbank Short ride footbridge

July 10th Southbank Scotchmans Creek to Ringwood and Medium footbridge Blackburn Start at Southbank, up Yarra and Gardiners Creek, coffee at Ferndale. South along the Alamein line to East Malvern, up , lunch at Jells Park.

Up Dandenong Creek to the railway near Heatherdale, then along the railway path to Blackburn Station. Distance about 60 km, some gravel north of Jells Park. Peter and Joan to lead

July 17th Southbank Short ride footbridge

July 24th 10:03 Carrum-Warburton Trail Hard Lilydale Ride the relatively new section of bike path station between Lilydale & Bayswater, part of what is now being called the Carrum-Warburton Trail. Ride around Lilydale Lake and get onto the 'new' trail. Morning tea at the Lower Deck Café in Croydon . Ride Croydon to Bayswater with possible bailout from Bayswater station. 17 Km Lilydale to Bayswater, 25 Km Bayswater to Ashburton Station. Mike Sheidlinger to lead

July 31st Extra ride. To be advised

Aug 7th Southbank Short ride footbridge

Aug 14th Jacana Down the Maribyrnong Medium Station. Tra From Jacana west along the Ring Road to in leaves FS Café for coffee, and about 10 at 9:32, km down the Maribyrnong on gravel, to lunch arriving at at Canning Reserve (Cordite Road). Jacana at 10:03. After lunch, continue down the Maribyrnong to Footscray Road and east, via Docklands to Southbank. Total distance about 50 km. Peter and Joan to lead

Aug 21st Southbank Short ride footbridge

Aug 28th Lilydale Warburton Rail Trail Medium Station Janet and David to lead

Sept 4th Southbank Short ride footbridge

Sept 11th Mordialloc Peninsula Link Trail. Easy Station Coffee at Mordialloc station southside then ( Frankston ride the Long Beach trail to Patterson River. Line). Train Then the Peninsula Link trail to Robinson’s leaves F.S at Park for lunch. (BYO) Return along Peninsula 9.12, arr Link trail to Frankston trail to Frankston station Mordi 9.55 ~ 50km. Tricia to lead.

Sept 18th Southbank Short ride footbridge

Sept 25th Ferry to Port Arlington Don to lead Port Arlington

Oct 2nd Southbank Short ride footbridge

Oct 9th Moreland Woodlands Historic Park Medium, Station on Follow the Upfield path, then backstreets to about the Upfield the trail, follow it north 16K of Line to Westmeadows village for coffee, then on gravel, Train from into Woodlands Park for lunch. We’ll return to total 50K Flinders St the city via the . at 9.44 Possible end points at Pascoe Vale station or arrives at Strathmore station. Not suitable for road Moreland bikes. Cathy Mead to lead at 10.04.

Oct 16th Southbank Short ride footbridge

Oct 23rd Rosanna Mernda. Medium station. Paths & streets N via Bundoora Park, Stables Train dep FS SC (coffee), Sth Morang, Mill Park Lakes to 9.20, arr Mernda Village (lunch). To rail trail and S to Sth 9.59 Morang station. Plenty Rd and Ring Rd paths to Greensborough station. 48 km. Can extend down to eg Heidelberg (10 km). (Short section on Plenty Rd—good bike lane) Les to lead

Oct 30th Cranbourne Cranbourne Station Ride to Cranbourne Australian garden for coffee and walk around. Please bring a lock. From there head up to Berwick and lunch then back to station. Will be around 50 km Yvonne to lead

Nov 6th Southbank Short ride footbridge

Nov 13th Southbank State Rose Garden Medium footbridge Ride the west to Williamstown for Flat all coffee. Then lunch at the State Rose Garden in the way Werribee. Ride to Hoppers Crossing for train back to city. ~50kms. Richard to lead

Southbank Short ride footbridge

Nov 27th Keilor Plains Westward Ho. Easy station. Streets N to Taylors Ck trail and service rd to apart Train dep FS Keilor (coffee). Climb to top of Brimbank Pk from one 9.39, arr climb and Ring Rd. S then Forrest Rd path to 10.10 Sunshine and rail trail to West Footscray, Seddon and back to city. ~43 km Les to lead

Dec 4th Southbank Short ride footbridge

Dec 11th Bayswater Bayswater to Seaford Easy Station North to Dandenong Creek, then west and Express south along Eastlink, to coffee at Chesterfield leaves FS Farm. 9:26, arr Bayswater Follow Dandenong Creek to Dandenong for 10:07. If lunch. starting at Continue downstream to Peninsula Freeway, other then south along freeway and Seaford stations wetlands to Seaford Station change at Laburnum Distance about 55 km. Peter and Joan to lead

Dec 18th Southbank Short ride and Xmas Lunch