Nillumbik Explorer & Dark Horse Cafe. Intermediate. Hilly. 47km, 50% unpaved.

SCENIC, HILLY loop ride, starting and finishing in DIAMOND CREEK.

47km. 750vm. 50% unsealed. Intermediate.

A mix of sealed & unsealed quiet back-roads & trails, with a tiny bit of singletrack, a cafe for lunch, a lookout tower, & a brewery at the finish.

Suitable for most geared bikes with appropriate tyres for mixed, undulating surfaces. Riders need to have some hill fitness and gravel experience.

RIDE ROUTE HERE:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/57518175

Please make sure you read & understand the route elevation profile & surface details - we will encounter more than a few short, steep, 10%+ inclines.

TO GET TO START:

Drive & park on the north side of DIAMOND CREEK train station, off Station Street, near McDonalds, around 9:00 am.

Alternatively, catch the 7:59 AM Hurstbridge TRAIN from FLINDERS STREET, arriving 9:09 am.

A bit of time for pre-ride refreshments at Maccas, before we:

PEDAL-OFF at 9:30 AM.

(If you miss the train, are running late, OR would like to shorten the ride by 8kms, you could catch the next train, & meet us on the Diamond Valley Trail in Hurstbridge at 10:00 am)

From Hurstbridge, we climb on scenic back roads up to Smiths Gully, descend through some bushland Reserves, then continue on through to:

LUNCH @

Dark Horse Cafe in Watsons Creek:

https://darkhorsecafe.com.au/index.html

We will spend about 45 minutes here.

ARVO:

We climb again on hilly, quiet gravel roads & aqueduct trails to the Kangaroo Ground Memorial Lookout Tower, then on through Research to Diamond Creek for post-ride refreshments at:

https://www.goldenhillsbrewery.com/

Please bring a worthy bicycle, tools, spare tube, pump, water & snacks. 🙂

This ride is for financial MBTC members, or those who have not yet done three single day rides with us.
To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership

WATER
It's your responsibility to check the temperature and distance for the day and carry an appropriate amount of water. When riding outside suburbia remember that carrying too much water is better than not enough as the distances between water availability may vary greatly from the planned route due to road closures or other unforeseen circumstances.

Check Meetup for any changes the day before the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

If you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' as soon as you know but no later than the day before ride day.

When I RSVP for this event/activity, I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss, injury, or death, and that I am responsible for my equipment and associated hazards. I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC, I will absolve from liability the MBTC, its officers, and any event organiser from all claims, demands, or suits whether for personal injury or property loss suffered whether by negligence or breach of contract or otherwise, save for any right I may have pursuant to the Australian Consumer Law. I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me during MBTC rides and social events, and that it is club practice that these photos will be published on Meetup, Facebook, and the club website. I will notify the ride leader and other riders if I wish to not be photographed. MBTC cannot guarantee that my photo will not be published and will promptly honour requests to be removed from MBTC controlled sites.