6 months ago that would have been my husband

markmywords, what sort of cycle routes are you after - leisure rides or road cycling/clubs/training, etc? I have lots of info on the latter. My hubby was a member of SKCC and Carnegie-Caulfield CC.

I have also done volunteer work for bicycle victoria. They do have maps of local cycle routes, roads with cycle lanes...tons of stuff really, but not always on the website - you might need to pop into their offices on Collins St.

Lots of good hill climbing round Warandyte/Kangaroo Ground, etc. Beach Road is best for dead flat; Albert Park circuit is also good for training as you can just do laps.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by moomin
LOL - actually I went to Cov Poly for 4 years!!

MMW's link works for me but here's the index page:
http://www.street-directory.com.au/aus_new/index.cgi

Yes, there are various useful starting levels. It doesn't just cover Melbourne, or even Victoria!

Both, I suppose. I cycle for leisure, to shake off the cobwebs and to get the exercise, but I'm not competitive and I don't really relish joining the sleekly-clothed racers on the Nepean Highway or wherever, even if I do stand a decent chance of keeping up! OTOH I do like to get a decent turn of speed up to feel as though I've done myself some good, so pottering around little cycle paths and dodging the walkers isn't my idea of fun, although it makes a pleasant change if I'm not in a hurry.

In the UK I go for country rides mostly on quiet B-roads over distances anywhere from 50 to 100 km. Starting from central-ish Melbourne I'm not going to get the pleasant countryside of course. Or the quiet B-roads I suppose!

Ok, will remember that!

Not sure if this helps but i'm looking at going to melbourne too. I found a ' UBD Concise motoring atlas of australia' (ISBN 0 7319 1312 4) . Sometimes a paper version helps visualise (at least it will probably come in useful when we get there). Maybe this is what youre looking for ?

It shows all the suburbs, next to each other in relation to city centre etc (i guess thats why they call it a motorists atlas!). Only the city centre sections show tourist attractions, post offices, etc. The book claims to be australian, and lists other titles as WA, Sydney suburbs, Australia and Mackay & Whitsuns.

Its not like a big UK road atlas, it goes into a little more detail, and is about 8" x 14", so could quite happily fit into a suitcase :-)

Found it by accident browsing in Waterstones for £8.95.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

You should try Beach Road...lovely and flat - a trip up to Mordialloc and back is about 50km round trip from St Kilda. Beach Road has more cyclists than cars on weekend mornings. I used to cycle Beach Road a lot (and I'm a girl!!) Beyond Mordialloc, some of the road isn't fun (too busy), but once you get down to places like Mt Eliza and Arthur's Seat the views of the bay are lovely. You will meet loads of cyclists too. You get all sorts on Beach Road - from the lycra-clad 60kph racers to those going at a more relaxing pace. (And they really are very nice people, those guys in lycra!!)

The cycling clubs have morning and evening training rides - you'll find that the level varies depending on the day - you don't need to be a member of the club, you just turn up. Not everyone who does the trianing rides is in it for race training - many do it just to keep fit. My husband is a racer. Melbourne was his cycling heaven (in terms of bunch rides, racing and meeting people...not so much the drivers and lack of country lanes!!).

I started out by cyling with him and then got to meet other female cyclists more at my level. Most of our friends in Melbourne we met through cycling.

But definately try Beach Road, people you have never met will cycle along side you and you can just chat. Great way to meet people. Anyway, you'll be training for next year's 'Around the Bay in a Day' - 210km round trip from St Kilda, organised by BV.

Albert Park is a 5km circuit and very flat (I'm sure you've seen it!!) - it's great for training, and an easy way to clock up the kms (especially when it's too windy to do Beach Rd!)

I used to do the Mt Dandenong climb (under duress!!) - all I can say is it's easier to go up via Sasafras. ONly problem was cycling the 30km or so from where we lived in Kew just to get to the bottom of Mt Dandenong! (The route out was just so boring - just one residential suburb after another)

Finally, I think BV have a list of cycling clubs that aren't aimed at the serious racers - more the social/weekend riders - they call them BUGs - Bicycle User Groups.

Happy cycling!

Funny, I would have said "down to Mordialloc" on the grounds of it being southbound. I suppose that's another of those southern hemisphere things...

Of course I've got to get to St Kilda in the first place. (Starting from... well, not sure, we're not there yet!)

I guessed that (you said you had a husband!) but I'm not sure how it's relevant!

We drove down to Southsea and I do remember the views... and some steep hills! Mind you that was Nepean Highway by then, AFAIR, and I'm hoping there's some alternative parallel quieter route.

I'm sure they are, they just look rather intimidating!

Definitely, if only for the chance to cycle across West Gate Bridge!

It sounds as though I'll have a lot to explore. Thanks for all the info, and I hope you're managing to get some decent cycling done in Cheshire (it is still Cheshire isn't it?)

That's right HP, you keep encouraging him - I've been saying for years that he'd look great in a pair of those lycra cycling shorts

Can you suggest any wimpy, easy cycle circuits (say 5km-ish) for an asthmatic, rather unfit, girlie...? Am dying to get back on my bike again, but will have to 'break myself in' easily to begin with....

Anya.

aah, I see, this is your other half!!

Best way to break yourself in to cycling again is to start a couple of kms away from St Kilda, cycle to Acland St, have a huge cake at one of the many fabulous European patisseries (to replenish the carbs you've burnt of course and gear you up for the return trip), and then cycle back

Me and hubby used to do training round Albert Park - (both starting at same time, and seeing how many laps it would take him to lap me!!!)

....and as for your lycra fantasies ....

Anyone know where I can get a map of Melbourne / Aus for my newly acquired pocket PC with GPS attachment? And how much!!
You might think it a bit strange that I bought that with a UK map 2 weeks before going, but at £270 it was rude not to. As long as I can get a Melb map for it of course !! Otherwise its an expensive diary..!

Yes indeedy, when we bought our shiny new Melway recently it came with a flyer proclaiming pocket PC / GPS versions of same! Alas, Melway is a heavy tome so we left it in safe hands while we sort out stuff back in Blighty, so I cannot be more precise or say how much it is. But I'm sure if you visit their web site all will be revealed.

Having read this post and not responding to it made me feel a bit guilty...

My husband and I were originally moving to Melbourne but have lately changed our mind - got approval last week and are going to Brisbane instead this August.

I've just gone through our boxes of travel books and have found a few very useful items from our trip to Melbourne last year, if anyone is interested:

1. Melway Street Directory, Edition 30, 895pp

2. Bick Paths Victoria, 179pp
- guide to 2000km bike paths in Victoria

3. Melbourne and Surrounds map (picked up free from Hertz)
- single sheet driving map of Melbourne

4. Choosing a school for your child - Victoria (No. 16, 2003-2004) 191pp
- informaiton on 350+ secondary schools in Victoria (we don't have any children but somehow managed to buy a copy of this?!)

I'll be happy to post these items to whoever needs them on a first come first serve basis.

Mrs JTL

p.s. Please PM "JackTheLad" if you would like more details - am sharing account with hubby.

Just found this web site which sells the latest and greatest Melway, Edition 31, for $41.77 p&p incl:
http://www.ausway.com/ez/category11_1.htm

They also have a large format for $59.05:
http://www.ausway.com/ez/category8_1.htm

Mrs JTL

Yikes, can you imagine the postage on a Melways? Hefty...

Only back in the UK 4 days so far and already suffering Melway Withdrawal Symptoms. Good job it's online!