Cyclocross track near Melbourne

[deedend]

Hi all,

I have just bought a CX bike as a commuting vehicle for roaming around Melbourne, because it is my main and only way to move and I would like to try to use it for what is created for I ask you if there are some cyclocross tracks near Melbourne, I live in Yarraville so western Melbourne is my zone but if it's necessary I can move to the other side of the city.
I am used to do some mountain biking in Trentino from where I am but I prefer road bike actually, with a bit of off-road if it is possible!

Thank you for any suggestion!!

[Mulger bill]

You could try the Fields of Joy at the north end of Essendon aerodrome.

[deedend]

Thanks mate, I will try it as soon as I can!

But... Is it near Moonee Ponds Creek in the Boeing Reserve?

[BenGr]

Larkin Ct Essendon Fields

[macca33]

EVERY dirt road is a CX track mate - get creative!

[jules21]

fields of joy is only set up for races, otherwise it's a industrial/shopping/airplane complex.

closest off-road stuff near Yarraville is probably Yarra Trails starting on the Yarra River at Abbotsfor or Plenty Gorge.

[deedend]

Today I have travelled the Marybinong River trail until Brimbank Park and the latest piece of the track was awesome... Anyone have tried it? Sadly in the park some kind of little seed with spikes have flattened both my tyres and I had only one spare tube, so I had bad time to return home (Yarraville)... Here an imagine of the seed:

Definitely I have to buy some kind of puncture resistant tubes!

[dalai47]

Looks like Three Corner Jack. Evil stuff!

[Thoglette]

Emex australis? Welcome to Austraaaaaalia. If it's not double gee (another name for this import) it's Caltrop (Tribulus terrestris)

Definitely I have to buy some kind of puncture resistant tubes!

Or fill your tubes (or tyres) with Stan's no-tubes (or similar)

[deedend]

Or fill your tubes (or tyres) with Stan's no-tubes (or similar)

What is Stan's no-tubes?

[bychosis]

Liquid product with latex that seals up holes that form in your tubes/tyres. Tubeless tyre users pop some in to prevent flat tyres. I tried it in a tube once and didn't get any flats, but that might have been luck. Seems to work well in my experience.

Another alternative is tyre liners. I have some on my road bike and fixie (Mr Tuffy brand), and haven't punctured since installing them where I was getting punctures about every fortnight on the path to work. With the tyre liners, you can use any tyre, not just a puncture resistant one.

[slian]

Thread resurrection!!!

Another unfortunate encounter with a car has resulted in some extended downtime, which I'm using to plot my next return to cycling.

At the moment it's looking like more off-road eg cx, gravel. I'm also based westside of Melbourne and looking for 1 or 2 hours ride that can replicate typical efforts like Boulie or Mordy but off-road.

Are there any such rides easily accessible around inner Melbourne? Appreciate if anyone can point me in the direction of any loops, group rides or websites.