[VIC] BNA social ride - Sunday 9th November

[m@]

Yep, it's a BNA social ride! There will be coffee, stickers and perhaps a hill smash-fest... wear your BNA kit if you have one!

For anyone who missed the earlier thread, or is looking for times and locations - read on!

• 7:30 sharp - depart from the western end of the Fairfield Pipe Bridge for a lap of the Eltham Hills and Mount Pleasant Road (~50 km, 950 m) - with optional bailout depending on motivation levels of whoever shows up Social rather than race pace - but we will need to keep rolling to make the 9:30 meetup back at Fairfield.
• 9:30 - meet at the lookout at the intersection of Yarra Boulevard and Yarra Main Trail - above the eastern end of the Fairfield Pipe Bridge.
• 9:45 - depart - plan is to ride along the Yarra Main Trail, Merri Creek Trail and Capital City Trails to Brunswick, with coffee stops at Green Park (formerly St Ali North) next to Velo Cycles and Code Black Coffee (Weston Street), but we can of course play this by ear. The timing will depend on pace, so probably best to aim for the 9:45 departure rather than try to meet at the cafe.
• From there - who knows!

There is some parking at the top of Fairfield Park Drive, just off Heidelberg Road. From memory it is a 4 hour zone - but not sure whether this applies on the weekend, or how busy it is with kayakers etc. on a Saturday morning. Dennis railway station is fairly close, and of course we will pass by Rushall station on the way through.

The fine print: this is not an official Bicycles Network Australia organised event, this is a social ride on open, public streets and shared paths. As a social ride, there is no formal registration, there is no cost and no public liability or personal insurance is provided. All riders take part at their own risk. Riders who chose to join the social ride agree to follow all road rules and council by-laws. Bicycles Network Australia does not make any guarantee nor take any responsibility for your safety or the actions of other riders or members of the public. It is recommended that you organise your own insurance if you have any concerns about riding a bicycle on public roads and paths.

The invitation is extended to, but not limited to members of the Bicycles Network Australia - Australian Cycling Forums. Participants need to be competent bike riders and need to exercise courtesy and care while riding for their own safety and safety of other riders.

[m@]

Weather is looking perfect - thunderbirds are go!

[rodneycc]

A big thanks to Matt for organizing this today. The numbers were a little down but still a lot of fun.

[shortass_jr]

did you find your way home mate? how was the hill haha

[rodneycc]

did you find your way home mate? how was the hill haha

Yeah got a little lost around boathouse rd thinking it was the one up near fairfield park. But once over the eastern freeway I was on track. The hill was actually fairly tame compared to the ones up in the dandenongs so I was ok with that.

We just have to get a few more bods to come with us next time.

Cheers.

Ps will have to go and do the Boule properly next time now I know it a bit better.

[Mulger bill]

Sorry I missed it lads. Slept through me alarm Brain still in night shift mode.

[cyclotaur]

I've been riding around Melbourne in BNA kit for over a year but have never seen another.

[rodneycc]

I've been riding around Melbourne in BNA kit for over a year but have never seen another.

You would of seen two today

[Summernight]

I completely missed the turn off to the trails on the way back from the coffee stop, so led RodneyCC and Shortass_jr astray. Sorry folks, especially RodneyCC, considering he parked his car at the top of the pipe bridge hill and we realised only when we were at Johnston Street so he had to do part of the Boulevard.

Hope you found your way to the Richmond Boulevard, Shortass_jr. I was thinking after we parted "I hope I didn't direct him the wrong way too!!!".

I would have loved to have done another Kew Boulie ride on the way home, but alas my get home mindset took me the straight short road way.

Great to meet a few of you!

[rodneycc]

I completely missed the turn off to the trails on the way back from the coffee stop, so led RodneyCC and Shortass_jr astray. Sorry folks, especially RodneyCC, considering he parked his car at the top of the pipe bridge hill and we realised only when we were at Johnston Street so he had to do part of the Boulevard.

Hope you found your way to the Richmond Boulevard, Shortass_jr. I was thinking after we parted "I hope I didn't direct him the wrong way too!!!".

I would have loved to have done another Kew Boulie ride on the way home, but alas my get home mindset took me the straight short road way.

Great to meet a few of you!

Not a problem at all. Was a nice ride actually besides the bit I stuffed up (and the terrible signage along that stretch). But your directions were spot on.
I'm sure we'll do it all again some time
Cheers Rod.

[m@]

Haha, it was a day for getting lost... ironically the only time I didn't miss a turn was on the pre-meetup ride; a route I've only done once before

Great to catch up with @rodneycc again, and meet @Shortass_jr and @Summernight

I still have plenty of stickers - so reckon we'll aim for another meetup, maybe in summer - and perhaps a bit later in the day

[gabrielle260]

No - please do the social part, where we get to chat to each other, early so us parents can be there!
Thanks,
Andrew

[thecaptn]

Is there going to be another one of these? I missed the last one because of work.

Pete

[rodneycc]

Yeah would like to see it being an annual thing. Its a bit cold and wet this time of year but would love to meet up again early/mid Nov.