COTA (Council on the Aging) cycling group Seniors Bike rides in 2021 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 Cathy Mead by email [email protected] or on 0412 688 930 to discuss details. Date Place to meet Description Grade Feb 3rd Southbank Short ride footbridge Feb 10th Lilydale Station Warburton Rail Trail Medium David and Janet to lead Feb 17th Southbank Short ride footbridge Feb 24th Craigieburn Station Craigieburn to the city via the Glada Tamboore Trail and Merri Creek trail. Further details will be provided closer to the date. Don Gorrie to lead. March Southbank Short ride 3rd footbridge March Mordialloc Station Peninsula Link Trail Medium 10th Coffee at Mordialloc station southside at 10am then ride the Long Beach Trail Patterson River. The ride Peninsula Link Trail to Robinson’s Park for lunch (BYO). Return along Peninsula Link trail to Frankston. approx. 50kms Tricia to lead March Southbank Short ride 17th footbridge March Criagieburn Station, Craigieburn to the Maribyrnong 8 km of 24th Train leaves FS 9:14 Start at Craigieburn, with coffee, then down to gravel arrives C’burn 9:58 Yuroke Creek and the Ring Road to Brimbank Park and lunch. After lunch follow the Maribyrnong (~8 km of gravel), to Footscray Road and Southbank. About 55 km. Peter and Joan to lead. March Dandenong Station Sky Rail Trail Medium 31st 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 April 7th Southbank, in front Short ride of Jeff’s shed/ Melbourne Exhibition centre April Start of Gardiners Ride Gardiners Creek Trail to Ringwood and Medium 14th Creek Trail near St return. Further details will be provided closer to Kevins the date. Approx. 70Km. Chris to lead April Southbank, in front Short ride 21st of Jeff’s shed/ Melbourne Exhibition centre April Start at Southbank Scotchmans Creek to Blackburn Station 5 Km of 28th Start at Southbank, follow the Main Yarra Trail gravel 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. May 5th Southbank, in front Short ride of Jeff’s shed/ Melbourne Exhibition centre May Alphington Station Northern Loop - A loop following the Darebin Medium 12th Creek Trail – Ring Road Trail – Merri Creek Trail. Approximately 50km. Tony Mew to lead. May Southbank, in front Short ride 19th of Jeff’s shed/ Melbourne Exhibition centre May Moreland Station Woodlands Historic Park Medium, 26th on the Upfield Line Follow the Upfield path, then backstreets to the about 16K of Train from Flinders Moonee Ponds Creek trail, follow it north to gravel, total St at 9.44 arrives at Westmeadows village for coffee, then on into 50K Moreland at 10.04. Woodlands Park for lunch. Return to the city via the Moonee Ponds creek trail. Possible end points at Pascoe Vale station or Strathmore station. Not suitable for road bikes. Cathy Mead to lead June 2nd Southbank, in front Short ride of Jeff’s shed/ Melbourne Exhibition centre June 9th Dandenong statio Sky Rail Trail Medium 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 June Southbank, in front Short ride 16th of Jeff’s shed/ Melbourne Exhibition centre June Start at Upper Upper Fern Tree Gully to Clifton Hill 23rd Ferntree Gully Down Ferny Creek to Stud Road and Jells Park for Station. Train Lv FS Coffee. Up Dandenong Creek to Ringwood and 9:16, Arr UFTG Schwerkolt Cottage for lunch. Down Mullum 10:04 Mullum and Koonung Creeks to the Yarra Trail, and Clifton Hill Station. About 50 km, Peter and Joan to lead. .