Rediscover the lost art of group training rides!

BanyuleCC provides several training rides during the week for members and non-members. Led by experienced Masters racers, our training rides are focussed on practising efficient bunch riding skills and race craft such as rolling turns. Our training rides are also frequented by Northern Cycling Club members.

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THURSDAY BLACK ROCK TRAINING RIDE

6:00am (Flat 50km / 1.75hrs, moderate fitness level)

The Black Rock ride departs from the corner of Station St and Heidelberg Rd Fairfield at 6am.  The ride heads through the city to South Melbourne where you can unload your bags for the trip down the beach.  We head to Black Rock at talking pace (28 – 35km/h) and the trip back is always ridden at a good tempo rolling smooth controlled turns (35 – 45km/h).  THIS IS NOT A RACE, you must be aware of all traffic and other riders around you all the time but teaches the intermediate to strong rider to ride at a good hard pace while concentrating on race techniques.  The slower riders are welcome to sit on the back when it becomes too tough.  We arrive back to South Melbourne at around 7.45am where you can collect your bags and enjoy coffee at the Daily Grind before heading off to work.

WEEKEND TRAINING RIDES

Saturday 6:30am (Hilly 60 – 80km / 2 – 3hrs, moderate fitness level)

Saturday training rides leave 6:30am from the The Centre Ivanhoe on Upper Heidelberg Rd (look for the large clock tower). Saturday rides generally head out north around Hurstbridge, St Andrews, Kinglake, Panton Hill, Kangaroo Ground and Warrandyte on a variety of routes including many of the short and steep hills in that part of the world.  A tough ride usually around 60-80km, ride details are confirmed on the website and twitter late Friday afternoon.

Occasionally we’ll venture down to Mordialloc via Beach Rd and the Dandenongs, or hold special training events publicised well in advance via our website, newsletter, twitter and Facebook.

As the majority of our members race on Sunday’s your best option for a Sunday training ride is the long running Bundoora Hotel ride that leaves from the Bundoora Hotel on Plenty Rd at 7:30am and heads to Whittlesea, with some riders continuing onto the Humevale climb before returning the same way.

Below are some sample routes we use for our Saturday training ride:

Warrandyte ride (Hilly 55km / 2.25hrs, moderate fitness level)

Departs 6am Ivanhoe clock tower, 6:10am cnr Heidelberg Rd / Chandler Hwy Alphington

This ride follows the rolling terrain of the well regarded Tour de Burbs route through Kew, Balwyn and Doncaster to Williamsons Rd before heading out to Warrandyte via the Heidelberg – Warrandyte Rd. From Warrandyte the ride takes on the challenging climbs through to Kangaroo Ground. Riders wanting a longer ride can head to St Andrews to take on the Kinglake climb from here whilst the rest of us make our way along Main Rd towards Research. There’s a short respite from the hills as we travel Main Rd back towards  Lower Plenty before a little more climbing through the back streets to Heidelberg and onto the final challenge –  the climb up the Col du Burgundy (Burgundy St Heidelberg) before returning back to Ivanhoe for coffee at Benjamin’s Patisserie on Upper Heidelberg Rd.

Hurstbridge ride (Hilly 67km / 2.5hrs, moderate fitness level)

Departs 6am Ivanhoe clock tower, 6:20am cnr Grimshaw St / Watsonia Rd Fairfield, 6:40am Diamond Creek roundabout (Ryans Rd).

This ride tracks through the inner northern suburbs towards Diamond Creek and then takes scenic and undulating back roads to Hurstbridge. Riders wanting a longer ride can then head to St Andrews to take on the Kinglake climb. From Hurstbridge the ride progresses towards Watsons Creek via the very challenging Flat Rock Rd (it certainly ain’t flat!) and Dawsons Rd and then makes it’s way back to Kangaroo Ground. We then ride along Main Rd through Research and Eltham  and back to Grimshaw St via St Helena and Greensborough. Once back on Grimshaw St we return the same way as the ride commenced for a well deserved coffee at Benjamin’s Patisserie on Upper Heidelberg Rd.

Nutfield ride (Hilly 66km / 2.5hrs, moderate fitness level)

Departs 6am Ivanhoe clock tower, 6:10am cnr Burgundy St / Rosanna Rd Heidelberg

This ride takes in the back roads of Viewbank and Lower Plenty, along Mt Pleasant Rd to Main Rd Research and then through the rolling hills of Kangaroo Ground towards Panton Hill. Just out of Kangaroo Ground we descend Flat Rock Rd (look for the green bus shelter at intersection with Dawson Rd) to Hurstbridge. Once at Hurstbridge we swing right towards Cottles Bridge. Riders wanting a longer ride can head to St Andrews to take on the Kinglake climb from either Panton Hill or Cottles Bridge, whilst the rest of us take the the road to Strathewen (signposted) to explore the scenic rolling back roads around Nutfield (Mine Rd, Bannons Lane North and Broad Gully Rd) and back to Diamond Creek. From here the ride returns via the back streets of Greensborough and Macleod to Ivanhoe for coffee at Benjamin’s Patisserie on Upper Heidelberg Rd.

Please note that riders participating in any of the above training rides do so at their own risk and must obey road rules at all times. Best efforts are made to keep the bunch together, however riders must have sufficient experience to get themselves home if they find themselves separated.