Road R ides | Mo untain Bike Rides | F amily Rides macedon ranges RIDE GUIDE 114km 1hr Melb 82km 27km 40km 17km Contents 03 Contents 04 Experience the region 10 Be Safe 11 Ratings/Strava Family Rides Distance Rating 12 Romsey to Lancefield Return 15.9 km « 14 Woodend to Hanging Rock 26.6 km « 16 Kyneton to Malmsbury Return 27.5 k m « Road Rides 18 Kyneton Twin Reservoirs 29.3 km «« 20 Woodend Carlsruhe Loop 40.1 km «« 22 Mount Macedon, Newham to Carlsruhe Loop 40.3 km ««« 24 Gisborne, Sth Gisborne, Barringo Loop 48.1 km ««« 26 Mount Macedon Woodend Climb 42.0 km «««« 28 Kyneton, Springhill, Woodend, Carlsruhe Loop 71.7 km «««« 30 Three Town Scenic Route 74.0 km «««« 32 Kyneton, Lancefield Loop 82.2 km «««« 34 The Cross and The Rock 63.1 km ««««« 36 Macedon Ranges Grand Tour 103.8 km ««««« 38 Figure 8 Grand Loop 117.1 k m ««««« Mountain Bike Rides 40 New Wombat Loop 17.0 k m ««« 42 Woodend, Mount Macedon by Dirt 24.2 km ««« 44 Woodend Firth Park Return 36.5 km ««« 47 Region fold out map 50 Help? CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 3 2/03/2016 10:32 am 04 Experience 05 “many of these rides conveniently start and finish at stations” Avenue of Honour – Woodend Experience It brims with boutiques, restaurants Riddells Creek the region and cafés, wine bars, bakeries and It may be one of the villages closest homeware stores; while the wide to Melbourne, but the little hamlet streets of mature oaks, heritage of Riddells Creek offers country buildings and country homesteads skies, historic architecture and ade up of nine distinct villages connections, many of these rides speak of a bustling past. a relaxed country attitude. conveniently start and finish at Mwith a vast expanse of scenic Woodend Mount Macedon’s long ridges roads and trails, the Macedon Ranges stations within the villages; you’ll be clipping into your pedals in no time. Woodend, the town at the end and valleys come to the foot offers something for cyclists or all of the wood, is the region’s home of the Riddells Creek township, The rides in this Guide will take ages, abilities and interests. of mountain biking, and the base where the land opens up into you in and around the Macedon for some great road rides. It is the beautiful livestock grazing country. Rolling farmland and bluestone Ranges, from Gisborne in the south, quintessential, modern rural village. Take a break in a local restaurant, cobbles, seasonally changing to Malmsbury on the region’s northern or take your coffee to a nearby landscapes, world class events tip, and everywhere in between. Set under wide verandas, cosmopolitan cafés, bookstores and an eclectic mix shady parkland to plan your ride. and, culinary and wine excellence Gisborne of old and new wares are on offer for combine to make the Macedon Romsey Swing off the Calder Freeway and all tastes. Ranges region an exceptional part you’ll be transported to a different Just up the road, Romsey, is known of Victoria. Woodend is a country idyll, stacked for its characteristic streetscape, world. Gisborne seamlessly with a selection of beautiful things award winning wineries and country Less than an hour’s drive from combines new and old in a rural and beautiful places, ready for you hospitality. From the battered Melbourne along the Calder escape of tree-lined streets, open to enjoy. corrugated iron of the local garage Freeway, and with easy rail spaces and shops to indulge in. CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 4 2/03/2016CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 10:32 am 5 2/03/2016 10:32 am 06 Experience Experience 07 “make sure you pick up a few bottles of cool climate wine to celebrate post ride” Hanging Rock Vineyard to gothic bluestone churches the milk bar and pub are the hubs and turn of the century terraces; for commerce and local knowledge. Romsey’s main street is lined with Between them is the butcher, classic examples of Australian Close your eyes and you can imagine Mount Macedon the baker and the coffee maker architecture. Romsey has all that a dirt pathway with horses tied up serving up hearty country fare without It can be seen from every corner you need to stock a cycling picnic at posts. a fuss. Eclectic gift shopping, books, of the region, and many keen hamper; organic fruit and vegetables, art, and award-winning wineries cyclists ride to the top of tree- breads and pastries, meats and Today it’s browsers fossicking round out the local mix; Lancefield choices for coffee and cake. through luxuriant collections and clad Mount Macedon, rewarding is much more than meets the eye. hungry guests enjoying awarded themselves with a view from the Romsey is close to many boutique Kyneton summit’s Memorial Cross. wineries so make sure you pick up a restaurants and cafés. Time your few bottles of local, cool climate wine With its character forged on gold ride with the renowned Kyneton On a bike you’ll get up-close to celebrate post ride. rush wealth, today Kyneton is equal farmers’ market held on the second glimpses of magnificent mansions Lancefield parts rural hub, creative hotspot, Saturday of the month. Just out through huge stone gateways with heritage honeypot, and culinary of town, family operated, boutique exotic European plantings that Lancefield has the classic air wineries offer intimate cellar change with every season, and of a pastoral working town with excellence – a great place to take a surprising arts, antiques and a break and refuel for your next door and dining experiences wildlife and birds that inhabit the culinary edge. It is still the kind ride. Piper Street is a wonderfully in evocative surrounds. tall native mountain ash forest. of place where the post office, restored example of past times. Sanatorium Lake, Mt Macedon CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 6 2/03/2016CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 10:32 am 7 2/03/2016 10:32 am 08 Experience 09 Hanging Rock Macedon from riding and look at art in shop windows, on the walls At the bottom of the Mount, of cafés, and in open courtyards Macedon is a welcoming place and gardens. Browse for quality to take a break. This quiet village antiques, enjoy the peace of the offers a number of venues for you botanic gardens and take in the to sit back with a glass of local vista of the Malmsbury Viaduct, wine or cleansing ale, a delicious an extraordinary feat of stone meal and contemplate your cycling engineering. efforts in a natural wonderland. As with the other villages, you If visiting in autumn, the ride down won’t go hungry in Malmsbury with Honour Avenue, a significant a great bakery, pub and excellent avenue of Oak trees that leads to cafés and restaurants. Mt Macedon Road, is spectacular. The Macedon Ranges is yours to Malmsbury “The Macedon Ranges explore. Give yourself time to stay At the northern edge of the Macedon overnight and enjoy a few rides. is yours to explore” Ranges, Malmsbury is a great spot There is an accommodation option for an art fix. Take some time out to suit everyone. Riddells Creek CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 8 2/03/2016CycleGuide_Collated_REPRINT_2016_OUT.indd 10:32 am 9 2/03/2016 10:32 am 10 Safety, Strava & RatingsBe Safe 11 12 Ratings « Easiest «« Easy he Ride Guide uses stars and colours to rank rides. The colours, ««« Standard Taim to present a grading system Be Safe to easily identify which rides will be ««« Moderate suited to your particular fitness level, skill and ability according to the difficulty of the ride. «««« Advanced ere are some tips and hints Know the weather conditions, Green and Dark Green rated one to keeping safe when you ride particularly in summer and winter. or two stars for Easy. Blue and Dark ««««« Difficult Hin the Macedon Ranges. During summer be aware of fire Blue rated three stars for Standard. warnings, and carry extra water. Red rated four stars for Advanced. Carry sufficient water as potable ««« Moderate (MTB) Do not ride on Code Red days, Black rated five stars for Difficult and water may not be readily available and monitor www.cfa.vic.gov.au Brown rated for Mountain Bike Rides. use appropriate, well maintained along a ride route. for updated fire information. These classifications are based on bikes that are appropriate for Obey the road rules. Most of the If riding in winter, be aware it can a combination of the ride distance, the route. Some rides may seem roads used in these rides are very snow in certain parts of the Macedon elevation and bike type. It is expected easier based on distance alone, quiet and you may not encounter any Ranges. A sunny day can turn cold riders are of a reasonable fitness, and but have been rated harder due car traffic, but you should obey the very quickly, so you should be assess their ability before selecting to the elevation, specific climbs Victorian Road Rules at all times. prepared for all possible conditions. and embarking on a ride. You should and descents within. Tell someone where you are going. During autumn and spring you should be aware of possible Make yourself visible. Always carry planned burns. These can result working lights and reflective gear in road closures, and/or significant where possible. Strava smoke in the area. Planned burns www.strava.com/clubs/ridemacedonranges Respect the local area. Take all are managed by the Department rubbish with you and do not enter any of Environment and Primary Industries oin the Ride Macedon Ranges You’ll notice a QR code for each private property, including farmland.