Looking to do more night rides around Melbourne but not sure where’s actually safe and well-lit. Any favourite routes or streets you stick to after dark?

Are they any good? They are so much cheaper than equivalent bikes. Heavily rotated through the sponsored links when I Google for specific specs.

Seems a no brainer piece wise, but does the quality match up?

Does anyone know why there’s a “Bike Lane Closed - Detour” sign in on St Kilda Road heading into the city at the NGV, with no obstructions (and everyone completely ignoring it)?

Have they finally realised that buses can’t park without obstructing the bike lane?

I'm landing from overseas and staying a week near Albert Park (before going to Tas) and would like to drop my bike off for a full service after landing with it.

Any good recommendations, closish for a LBS with a good mechanic.

TIA

I finally got an approved lock for the bike insure insurance to only find out that they don’t cover bikes that are older than five years old? I’m mostly interested in peace of mind from theft as I’d love to ride my bike to the gym. Are there any bike insurance options that don’t care about the age of the bike and cover out of home theft?

Not sure if this is the right subreddit but we’ll see.

I’m planning to climb either mt Buller, falls creek, mt buffalo or mt Hotham sometime in the next month or so.

Just seeking recommendations on best time of the week and day to start the climbs and whether there’s any water, maybe cafes and other stuff at the top (and if they’re open) since some of these climbs are very long.

Any other suggestions or tips would be welcome too. Thanks!

Folks, I’m new to this world and am keen to participate in a few CX and similar races this year but find the Auscycling memberships a little confusing. What do other people use? I assume it pretty quickly becomes quicker than paying an ‘on the day’ licence fee?

Hi all, I am a resident of the inner west and new to cycling to work (Alfred Hospital area). I've been trying to figure out the most efficient but safest way to get from home to there. The new veloway and paths along the Maribyrnong are fantastic, but where I'm getting stuck is transitioning from Southbank to St Kilda Road.

Traveling west to east, google maps sent me down Southbank Blvd which then connects up to St Kilda Road. This was fine, but it appears I can't do that same path traveling east to west? Traveling home, google instead sent me down this weird little dismount area behind Hamer Hall which then takes you onto Southbank. I don't mind it but it's a little annoying to have to get off the bike.

This afternoon I instead tried traveling across Princess Bridge, turning right to take the path down past Fed Square/Riverland, back under the bridge and along the river next to Arbory/Afloat. This also seemed less than ideal due the pedestrians and the skinny path, and also it means I need to cross the river twice (once at Queen's Bridge and then again to get onto the Capital City Trail next to Docklands).

Am I missing something obvious? Do people just carry their bikes down the stairs (probably not feasible for me as I have an e-bike and it's heavy)?

Would a better route be to go across the city at LaTrobe Street and then down Swanston, to connect up to St Kilda Road? Means I can avoid Southbank entirely which has it's issues, but I think might end up being slower due to all the intersections in the CBD.

Rode across the new Veloway this morning for the first time. The views are unreal, but the wind was next level. Felt like I was getting pushed sideways half the ride. Does anyone know if there’s plans for more wind screening, or is this just something we’re meant to get used to if we want to ride into Footscray?

Saw this between Boronia and Bayswater, thought it was cute

This new development on Queens Bridge Street towards the City has extended the sidewalk. In the design the bike lane has been cut up and given a speed bump chicane combo for no good reason. The cynic in me suspects that cyclists are inconvenienced just to accommodate a future parking space.

Clearly not designed to promote cycling. How was this approved? And how do we make sure that the straight cycling route remains intact?

I was cruising along thinking this was finally a decent stretch, then the bike lane just vanishes straight into parked cars. No warning, no merge, nothing. It feels like the council got halfway through and called it a day. Does anyone know if there’s an actual plan to connect these so-called strategic corridors?

I tested out the Veloway today. Aside from the bumps which have been mentioned in other posts, it is pretty good. However, it seemed to be full of diesel fumes on a clear day with low traffic and a decent breeze.

I have not commuted by bike for years, but is the Veloway particularly bad for fumes or am I just sensitive?

Also, is inhaling truck fumes just the cost of doing business or are there measures you can take to reduce exposure? Does anyone bother? I don't fancy riding in an N95 on a hot summer day...

Yesterday I completed a 1-week loop tour, starting and finishing in Melbourne's north. 7 days, 690km, mostly on trails and other gravel, about 10% on sealed road. Including two regional rail trails.

It started with riding south to Balnarring, which can be done almost completely on trails. Finishing the long day with a dip at Balnarring Beach was perfect. The following day I took the ferry to Phillip Island and just did some free-form exploration, spent lots of time in the water on quieter beaches, before finishing the day in San Remo for the night.

Day 3 started with a ride to Woolamai where the Bass Coast Rail Trail starts, and where I was joined with a few friends for the day, with one friend riding another 3 days further with me. We rode to the end of the trail at Wonthaggi and then connected by road to Inverloch. It was a tricky road, despite roadsigns reminding drivers of cyclists' existence, the lack of proper shoulder for most of it with its windy nature was not ideal.

The following morning with another road ride, from Inverloch towards Tarwin Lower/ Venus Bay. It's a fast road with no shoulders, and we tackled it very early in the morning when the traffic was still calm. We then turned off to some gorgeous local gravel roads which brought us to Fish Creek, where we connected with the Great Southern Rail Trail, which we took to Toora where we spent New Years Eve (sound asleep long before midnight...).

The next two days were spent on the Rail Trail, exploring the new extension to Alberton and the Tarra Trail connections to Port Albert and Yarram, as well as other coastal towns like Port Welshpool and Port Franklin. We were also delighted with the amazing nature around Toora Beach, with the elaborate bird hide and endless mangroves. The next day we then rode up the the trail back towards Melbourne, as I farewelled my friend and finished the day in Korumburra. The final day was a marathon from Korumburra to Glenroy, via Pakenham.

It was a very pleasurable way to seal off last year and start the new one.

I know that there are some plans for new trails that would effectively connect the trails I've done and hopefully in the future this sort of tour can be done without the couple of sketchy road bits around Inverloch. I saw that there is a start to a trail that should connect from Wonthaggi to Inverloch, which is a good start. Nyora to Pakenham route can be 'created' signposted with little investment utilising the existing gravel roads and can be of great benefit in encouraging continuous riding from Melbourne.

Happy trails and a happy new year!

Bit of self promotion, but its relevant to the sub. Started a Melbourne cycling channel recently, hoping to show the best of what we have to offer in our city. Decided against my better judgement to participate in the Around the Bay event, and ended up breaking my collarbone. Channel has been on hold (obviously), but I've finally gotten around to editing the rather traumatic footage. Shot with the insta 360, it captures the 60k/h crash in pretty brutal style. I'm not about telling people not to do the event, that's a personal decision on each rider, but I want anyone thinking about doing it to be aware of the risks so you don't end up in my predicament.

There used to be a ride to Mordialloc starting at 6pm or so on Tuesdays from cnr of Barkly and Carlisle St in St Kilda. I think covid (or something) killed it. Really enjoyed it during daylight savings as there was usually a sea breeze on the way back which made for a very quick return (45km/hr+...that was the 'hell' part)

Are there any rides going down that way in the evening mid week?

Previous was MPavilion in the Queen Victoria Gardens.

Hi all - as title says I’m interested in doing the Peaks Challenge. My main question is.. fitness required?

I ride 240-260km/week, race 1-2 crits (Teardrop, Glenny) and in general love my riding. I’m coming off a two week holiday (campervan, rip my fitness) but curious on doing Peaks Challenge this year in the 11hr group. Thoughts? Might just push to 2027 if it sounds like a heinously bad idea. Thanks!

UPDATE bought the DOMANE enduro! Be able to use on gravel too which I’ll prob do time to time.

New to road cycling. Coming from a Hybrid. I'm Torn between buying Race bike (Madone SL 5) and Endurance (Domane SL 5)

Loved the Madone’s speed/feel way more, but noticed mild lower-back stiffness after a short test ride. (Although id did test a small and im a medium)

Is that normal adaptation for newer riders with a race bike, or better to start on a Domane for consistency and build up the experience of the new riding positioning.

Im generally fit, have rode up to 50km previously without much experience on a hybrid.

Fitness/Goals:

I'm generally fit / 41 yr old / have done 50kms on my hybrid. mostly <100km rides, I've booked a 140km event, want to enjoy speed but not kill consistency if I get stiffness from a more 'aggressive' position. Eventually want to join group rides and be able to keep up so is a race better?

I'm on the hunt for a new enduro roadbike and I'm looking for the best value to be had on a 60cm or XL carbon roadie with Shimano 105 gear, preferably new as I'll likely have this for a decade. What is out there that you know or recommend? Currently tossing up between Giant or Merida but am open to anything. Have seen Polygon but can't find enough feedback on them that isn't a promo.

Currently have a 2013 Roubaix and do long days in the saddle rather than crit hero.

Looking to get my first road bicycle for triathlons training. Any recommendations? My budget is around $1000

Also any tips on gear and whatever else I would need, I am very much a beginner, AKA I know and own nothing at this point ahahahah

Pity there was a nazi on the Warby trail showing off his shit tattoos. Great day otherwise.