COTA (Council on the Aging) cycling group Seniors Bike rides in 2020 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 meet Description Grade Feb 5th Southbank Short ride footbridge Feb 12th Lilydale Station Warburton Rail Trail Medium David and Janet to lead Feb 19th Southbank Short ride footbridge Feb 26th Don Gorrie to lead. Details closer to the date March 4th Southbank Short ride footbridge March Southbank An inland route from city to bay. Medium 11th footbridge Yarra, Gardiners Ck, Scotchmans Ck, streets to Oakleigh (19 km—coffee) and Huntingdale. South to Karkarook Park. Dingley Bypass, Dandy Bypass, Chapel Rd, Keylana Dr, Marriot Dr, through Waterways, Jells Rd path to Mordialloc. (42 km) Train return. Les to lead. March Southbank Short ride 18th footbridge March Criagieburn Craigieburn to the Maribyrnong 8 km of 25th Station, Train Start at Craigieburn, with coffee, then down gravel leaves FS 9:14 to Yuroke Creek and the Ring Road to arrives C’burn Brimbank Park and lunch. After lunch 9:58 follow the Maribyrnong (~8 km of gravel), to Footscray Road and Southbank. About 55 km. Peter and Joan to lead. April 1st Southbank Short ride footbridge April 8th Roxburgh Park Off to the Highlands. Med, one station. Train North by paths and streets to Highlands SC climb dep FS 9.14, (11 km—coffee). South past Highlands lake, arr 9.54 down Aitken Bvd path to end. Kirkham Dr and Yuroke Ck to B'meadows Valley trail. Up to Ring Rd. Merrie Ck trail to Coburg. (45 km). Les to lead. April 15th Southbank Short ride footbridge April 22nd Start at Scotchmans Creek to Blackburn Station 5 Km of Southbank Start at Southbank, follow the Main Yarra gravel Trail and then Gardiners Creek to Ferndale for coffee. Continue down the outer circle to East Malvern and up Scotchmans Creek to Jells Park for lunch. Ride up Dandenong Ck (~5 k gravel) to the railway and along it to Blackburn Station. About 55 km. Peter and Joan to lead. Dandenong Sky Rail Trail Medium April 29th Station Leave Dandenong Station and head towards city picking up the anniversary trail. Approx 50 kms all sealed. Lots of stations along the way to bail out. Yvonne to lead May 6th Southbank Short ride footbridge May 13th Alphington Northern Loop - A loop following the Medium Station Darebin Creek Trail – Ring Road Trail – Merri Creek Trail. Approximately 50km. Tony Mew to lead. May 20th Southbank Short ride footbridge May 27th Moreland Woodlands Historic Park Medium, Station on the Follow the Upfield path, then backstreets to about 16K Upfield Line the Moonee Ponds Creek trail, follow it of gravel, Train from north to Westmeadows village for coffee, total 50K Flinders St at then on into Woodlands Park for lunch. 9.44 arrives at We’ll return to the city via the Moonee Moreland at Ponds creek trail. Possible end points at 10.04. Pascoe Vale station or Strathmore station. Not suitable for road bikes. Cathy Mead/Steve to lead June 3rd Southbank Short ride footbridge June 10th Dandenong Dandenong to Ferntree Gully. Station Via Dandenong creek having lunch at Arboretum approx 50 km several stations along the way. All sealed. Yvonne to lead June 17th Southbank Short ride footbridge June 24th Start at Upper Upper Fern Tree Gully to Clifton Hill Ferntree Gully Down Ferny Creek to Stud Road and Jells Station. Train Park for Coffee. Up Dandenong Creek to Lv FS 9:16, Arr Ringwood and Schwerkolt Cottage for UFTG 10:04 lunch. Down Mullum Mullum and Koonung Creeks to the Yarra Trail, and Clifton Hill Station. About 50 km, Peter and Joan to lead. .