Nix-Tracks

We are finally getting some spring weather; the Mt Camel range grape vines are bursting into a new cloak of bright green leaves.

Firstly, I’ve driven or ridden all of this route this month to check the condition after recent rain and surface flooding events. It is all rideable!

Summary pics for a ride-through guide

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—————- Original pre-ride post ——————-

• Date and Time: Saturday 26th November 2022. Start at 9:00am.
• Distance and Duration: Around 70 to 95km depending on how many wineries you visit. Personally, I’m planning a relaxed all-day ride, stopping for a while at some of the 12 Cellar Doors and along the way. More detail on route options is provided below.
• Start and Finish Location: Palling Bros Brewery, 168 High Street, Heathcote. Assemble in Chauncey Street on the corner of High Street.
• Amenities: Heathcote at start and finish. Up to 12 Cellar Doors and a brewery along the way. Be aware that while wine tastings are often free at cellar doors, food is usually relatively expensive. There are more details and maps of how to get to all 12 wineries and the brewery below.
• Accommodation: There are accommodation options at both the north and south ends of the loop. So it is easy to do this ride as an overnighter with 2 days riding, which will also allow more time at winery stops. At the south end, Heathcote has more accommodation options (and a central booking service). At the north end, Heathcote II and Shiraz Republic offer accommodation, although these are relatively expensive and rooms may only be available for 2 nights minimum. Nearby Toolleen Hotel is more suitable for bikepackers; this has basic rooms although they are not listed anywhere, you have to contact the hotel directly. There is also a free campsite opposite the Toolleen Hotel and general store. This campsite has toilet facilities, but it may also have some noise from the main road nearby.
• Terrain: There is one significant climb – Chinamans Bend (about 1.5km at 8%). The remainder of the route is rolling. Expect 600 to 900 vertical metres depending on how many side trips to wineries you make. See profiles below for more detail.
  • Less capable riders should not be deterred by the Chinamans Bend climb. It is short enough to hike-your-bike on the steepest sections if necessary, and most riders will stop at the hairpin bend half-way up to take pics looking out over the scenic vineyards, so you will get a rest.
  • There are also some short, steep climbs of only a few hundred metres on the western side of the route, and on driveways spurs into wineries.
• Roads and Ride Surfaces: Irrespective of route choice the surface information is the same. About 75% gravel, mostly in good condition although there are occasional gouges and potholes. Watch out for a few full-width transverse ditches across the road caused by recent heavy rain runoff. These ditches are only about 30-40 cm wide and 15-30 cm deep, but you don’t want to hit them at speed. I’m planning to stop and lift over these ditches. The remaining 25% of the route is sealed road. The only clay / dry weather road is the short-cut road option (about 4 km on Hagans Lane) and this was rideable when I checked it earlier this month.
• Heavy Traffic Sections: Three sections of sealed road are busier and more risky than I’d like but there are no other options. These are 4 km on C347 (Heathcote-Rochester Rd), 3 km on Chinamans Bend climb where drivers could be distracted by the hairpins and views, and probably 3 km on B75 (Northern Highway) near the end of the day. These locations are marked on the map below. Please do your own research and make sure you are prepared to ride on these roads. Lights and high-visibility clothing are recommended.
• Bike and Tyres: No need for suspension as most of the surfaces are fairly smooth. But riders will probably find the jarring and vibration from the gravel roads uncomfortable on tyres less than 30 mm wide. To be comfortable you should have tyres wider than 40 mm if possible.
• Navigation and Communication: There will not be any signs or marshalls. Parts of the ride are on very quiet forest tracks and un-signed back roads. Riders are unlikely to stay in large groups. Every rider should be able to navigate by themselves using gpx files and appropriate devices. Adventure riders should always carry personal locator beacons for emergency situations.
• GPX Files: GPX files are below and available to download. I expect riders will need to use more than one gpx file. I suggest using a mobile phone app that allows multiple gpx files to be loaded at the same time in different colours to distinguish between the through-loop, and out-and-back spur rides to cellar doors. I use GPX Viewer which can load and track against multiple differently coloured gpx lines at the same time in its free version.
• On Bike or in Day Bags: As well as navigation and emergency communication devices, riders should plan to support themselves for a full day on the road in changing road and weather conditions. Some suggestions – food, water, sunscreen, insect protection, lights, puncture management, bike tools and spare parts, first aid including a snake bite kit, and clothing options for hot, cold, wet and low-visibility conditions.
• Highlights: Gravel roads in mostly good condition with low traffic. Scenic views of vines in new season’s leaf. A wide variety of winery cellar doors with relaxed ambience, a range of food choices and some live music. Conviviality – everyone I met was relaxed, friendly and happy to chat. And great wines!
• Costs and Support: It costs nothing. For that you get to ride completely self-supported, self-navigating and at your own risk. There will be no marshalls, no route markings and no physical or mechanical support people or vehicles. Please do your own research and risk assessment to determine if this is a suitable ride for you.
• Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol will impair your ability to ride safely and also cause dehydration which increases health risks further. Please drink in moderation and drink lots of water during the ride.
• Seasonal Ride Series: This route is part of the GABCY Seasonal Ride Series – a set of monthly rides that are in harmony with local weather patterns and natural environments. The aim is to showcase the most suitable and scenic time to ride in each location, as well as show the wide variety of rides available across the GABCY Network.
• Route also connects with: If you want to incorporate this ride into a longer multi-day ride trip, this route has connections with O’Keefe Rail Trail, Leen Down the Dale, Camel Cornella and Golden Black Track. See – the GABCY Network.

Route Options

Please refer to the map below to understand the various route options.

• Blue line – this is the basic loop. It is 69 km without visiting any cellar doors. The loop is rolling with one significant climb (1.5 km at 8% on sealed road), and approx 600 vertical metres total.
• Green line – a shorter route using a short-cut across the loop to avoid doing the northern section. Riding this loop is 57 km without visiting any cellar doors. This loop is rolling with a longer, shallower climb (2.8km at 3 to 5% on clay and gravel road), and approx 470 vertical metres total.
• Red spur lines – these are connecting roads or driveways to all the cellar doors. These are all out-and-back extensions; they add distance to the ride. If you decide to ride all the red spur lines to every cellar door shown, as well as the blue route, you will ride 95 km in total. This ride option is rolling with one significant climb (1.5% at 8% on sealed road), and approx 880 vertical metres total.

This route setup allows individual riders or small groups to tailor their ride to their own interests and capabilities. Riders can choose which cellar doors they wish to visit and how far off the base loops they want to venture. This will determine the total distance each person rides.

To continue reading about this ride, including downloading the gpx files and seeing detailed information about all the wineries click this link – Red Ridge Ride – Heathcote Wineries Tour.

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Update 23/10/22: Ride Cancelled.

Unfortunately, I am cancelling this ride. For two reasons.

Firstly a dam has extended out over a track and the water looks too deep to ride across. The water is over an s-bend in the road so not sure where the road would even be under the water. We could detour around it but that would entail riding about 10 km on an unpleasant road. Because it is a dam, the forecast rain will flow into this blockage so it is not likely to clear before Saturday.

Secondly, most of the wildflowers have gone. It looks like the heavy rain stripped them. Some more flowers might pop up but it is unlikely before this weekend when more heavy rain is due.

——————– Original Post ——————–

It’s a La Nina season with plenty of spring rain. This means it is a good season for native ground fungi, and a great season for the wildflowers that depend on fungi for part of their nutrition.

Spring wildflowers are plentiful in the Rushworth Ironbark forest and are often most abundant close to grass trees (Xanthorrhoea). Both plant types are more prevalent in areas of forest that have been less disturbed since European settlement.

The thin sandy topsoil and gravel tracks on the rolling hills of the Rushworth forest also drain well, so it is better riding there in a wet spring than on flat muddy river plains.

• Date and Time: Saturday 29th October. Start 9:30 am.
• Distance and Duration: Route is 65 km. It will take 4 to 5 hours, depending on your number of photo stops.
• Start and Finish location: High Street, Rushworth.
• Amenities and Accommodation: Rushworth has food, water and accommodation available. There is no drinking water along the route, so please carry enough for your needs plus extra for emergency situations.
• Terrain: There are no major climbs, but the route is rolling with continual short climbs and descents of around 3-5%. Total vertical metres is 514 m for the ride. See profile below.
• Roads and Ride Surfaces: Most of the route is smooth and clear – 94% gravel and natural surface road and 6% quiet sealed road. There are some ruts, potholes and rougher gravel sections, as well as puddles and shallow water across the roads, but you can ride around these, or ride through them slowly.
• Traffic: Vehicle traffic will be light everywhere. The busiest section will be the 2 km sealed road into and out of Rushworth at the start and finish.
• Best Bike: No need for suspension as most of the surfaces are fairly smooth. But riders will probably find the jarring and vibration from the gravel roads uncomfortable on tyres less than 30 mm wide. To be comfortable you should have tyres wider than 40 mm if possible.
• Navigation and Communication: Many of the forest tracks are not marked and winding. It is difficult to maintain a sense of direction in this forest. Some areas along the route will be outside mobile phone and internet coverage. To prepare for this ride I think it is essential to download the gpx file and put it onto a gpx tracker that will operate outside of mobile and internet coverage. Adventure riders should always carry personal locator beacons for emergency situations.
• GPX File: Will be provided when the route is finalised.
• Highlights: Rushworth historic township with good food options. Rarely seen native grass trees and many wildflowers in bloom. Very low car traffic. Good riding on red, scenic, smooth, natural surface and gravel tracks rolling and winding through the forest.
• Critters: The forest is home to many snakes, spiders, magpies, wallabies and other native animals. In spring many animals become more active in seeking mates and more aggressive in protecting their offspring and territories from threats. Many small stinging insects such as bees, wasps and mosquitoes are attracted to these wildflowers and are pollinators. Please do your own research and risk assessment, and wear or carry what you need for the ride.
• Cost and Support: It costs nothing. For that you get to ride completely self-supported, self-navigating and at your own risk. There will be no marshalls, no route markings and no physical or mechanical support people or vehicles. Please do your own research and risk assessment to determine if this is a suitable ride for you.
• Seasonal Ride Series: This route is part of the GABCY Seasonal Ride Series – a set of monthly rides that are in harmony with local weather patterns and natural environments. The aim is to showcase the most suitable and scenic time to ride in each location, as well as show the wide variety of rides available across the GABCY Network.
• Route also connects with: If you want to make a longer day-ride, or multiday-ride, this route has connections with Golden Black Track, Camel Cornella, Kirwans Rushy Whroote, Lap of Local Lakes, Carag Carag Wetland Wetland. See – GABCY Network.

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To continue reading about this ride, including seeing many pics of the tracks and wildflowers click on this link – Ride: Gobarup Grass Trees and Wildflowers

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Many Victorians have a Grand Cycling Parade public holiday on Friday 23rd September. I plan to use mine riding the Camel Range canola fields. Other riders are welcome to join me.

• Date and Time: Friday, 23rd September 2022. Start 9:30 am.
• Distance and Duration: There are 3 route options 81 km, 69 km and 57 km (see maps and profiles below). The expected ride duration will depend on the route you choose and the number of stops you make.
• Start and Finish location: Cornella Brewery (Shiraz Republic Winery), Cornella.
• Amenities and Accommodation: Start – Shiraz Republic won’t have much at the start as it does not open until 11 am. So pack and bring anything you need pre-ride. Middle – Colbinabbin a small town along the route has a pub (open all day) and cafe (open until at least 2 pm). End – Shiraz Rupublic has a bar with a few food options. Both Shiraz Republic and Colbinabbin Hotel also have accommodation if you a planning a bigger trip.
• Terrain: See profiles for each route below. In general, the route is very flat with a few short steep climbs (8-10%).
• Roads and Ride Surfaces: The surface breakups are detailed for each route below. There are some ruts, potholes and rougher gravel sections, but you can ride around these, or ride through them slowly. There will be puddles of water on the roads, but you can ride around these. There are no earth or clay roads in the routes; these will be too wet to ride.
• Traffic: Vehicle traffic will be light everywhere except for the Chinamans Bend climb in the last 10 km of all rides. There will not be many cars even there, but the drivers are likely to be distracted by the views and tight switchbacks so be very cautious there.
• Best Bike: No need for suspension as most of the surfaces are fairly smooth. But riders will probably find the jarring and vibration from the gravel roads uncomfortable on tyres less than 30 mm wide. To be comfortable you should have tyres wider than 40 mm if possible.
• Navigation and Communication: Riders will have to self-navigate using gpx files available below. There will not be any route markers or marshalls to direct you. I do not know if the whole ride area has mobile and internet coverage. I believe adventure riders should always carry personal locator beacons for emergency situations.
• Highlights: Bright yellow canola fields. Relaxed riding on quiet roads through changing landscapes. Colbinabbin township with painted silos. Scenic climbs of Mt Camel Range ridgeline. Relaxed beer from Cornella Brewery afterwards.
• Cost and Support: It costs nothing and for that you get to ride completely self-supported, self-navigating and at your own risk. There will be no marshalls, no route markings and no physical or mechanical support people or vehicles. Please do your own research and risk assessment to determine if this is a suitable ride for you.
• Seasonal Ride Series: This route is part of the GABCY Seasonal Ride Series – a set of monthly rides that are in harmony with local weather patterns and natural environments. The aim is to showcase the most suitable and scenic time to ride in each location, as well as show the wide variety of rides available across the GABCY Network.
• Connections with other Routes: The routes also link to other routes in the GABCY Network – Camel Cornella, Reap the Red Ridge, Nabbin My Booty, and Lap of Local Lakes.

Some pics of the ride area last year.

To continue reading full details of the ride – including maps, route options and to download gpx files please see – Cornella Canola Roller page.

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