What we’re about
We ride all over Victoria and sometimes beyond, on trips ranging from a few hours to multiple days and covering all kinds of surfaces, levels and places.
Our club has a proud fifty year history.
You can take part in three riding days (RSVP via MeetUp) before deciding to become a full member for $25 per year.
- Read more on our website: www.mbtc.org.au
- Follow us on Facebook or Instagram
What is the Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club?
MBTC brings together like-minded people keen to share their experience. We’re a great club for anyone interested in exploring longer-distance bike travel, including camping and overnighters.
What is bicycle touring?
Bicycle touring (some might call it bikepacking) is all about experiencing the world on two wheels. Scenery, sightseeing and socialising are an integral part of our rides, and we love a good bakery (or cafe or market or pub).
Please be aware that everyone is riding at their own risk and the club does not take responsibility for any injuries or accidents you may have on any of our rides.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- East Gippy Kings Birthday ride - Intermediate - 47+50+60Howitt Park Playground, East Bairnsdale
A long weekend base camp ride exploring rail trails and surrounds.
*UPDATED INFO & ROUTE PLAN*
In early June the forests and rolling hills of will be lush and green. Much of the ride will be on the East Gippsland rail trail with some back roads or gravel forest roads sections.We'll start and finish in Bairnsdale and stay two nights in Nowa Nowa.
For this winter time ride, we'll use indoor accomodation at the Mingling Waters Caravan Park where there is an excellent pub/restaurant and camp kitchen. A general store across the road has limited snacks such as chips and pies.
Preparing for the ride
You'll need to be confident riding on mixed surfaces for this ride, and be aware there are medium-level hills! : ) Strongly recommend carrying gear in panniers or bikepacking bags rather than a backpack.Food and snacks
You'll need to carry or buy supplies for 2 x breakfast, 2 x lunches, 1 x dinner plus snacks.
For Sat night dinner we can eat the pub. (Sadly the chef will be on holidays but they will do either a food truck or pizzas).Sun night dinner will be cook-your-own at the caravan park BBQ or kitchen.
The Nowa Nowa General store (8am-5pm) has a range of grocery staples, fresh meat from local butchers (sausages, rissoles, steak, chips, chicken, mince & kabana), basic fruit & veg & frozen supermarket meals.
They will have a new sit-down area in the store for coffees, pies, salad sandwiches/rolls and toasties.Other things
For Day 2 forest picnic lunch please bring plenty of warm layers for our stops along with (if you can) a camp chair or something to sit on.Don't forget to bring plenty of easy-to-access warm layers to put on while riding when we stop to regroup or have outdoor picnics. Bring a camp chair or something to sit on if you can for the Day 2 forest ride.
It's super helpful for the organisers if you can enable notifications for your MeetUp app OR check in for messages in the week or two before the ride (thank you).
Cabin accomodation
Depending on final numbers, the plan is to have a male and female cabin. Bedding and towells are provided and there is heating.Route plan (updated)
DAY ONE - Bairnsdale to Nowa Nowa - 47km - 450vm
Meet at Howitt's Park (just near start of the rail trail) at 12pm for a prompt pedal off. We'll have lunch at Nicholson before continuing on a mixture of back roads and rail trail.
Day 1 route map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50840440DAY TWO - Loop ride - 50km - 490vm
A loop ride through the Colquoun forest. We'll start on the Princess Hwy (riding in the shoulder) before turning off on gravel forest roads. We'll ride up the Discovery Trail (single track) turning back on the main rail trail. Picnic lunch will be at the old Quarry site or Log Crossing campground.
Day 2 route map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50840447OPTION: Those looking for a more relaxed ride can instead ride out-and-back ride to Orbost along the East Gippsland rail trail. This might be a wet day backup plan too.
DAY THREE - Nowa Nowa to Bairnsdale - 60km - 430vm
We'll ride entirely along the rail trail and you're welcome to ride ahead if you need to.Lunch stop will at the delightful village of Bruthen. There are lots of options including Tambo Honey which has cafe meals along with honey tasting.
Day 3 route map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50840450
TRAVEL
Driving is probably the best idea as trains on this line are limited. Please consider where you will park your car.If travelling by train, you'll need to book your ticket ahead as it is a reserved service.
VLine trains depart Southern Cross at 07.54. Returning home on Monday public holiday, trains dep Bairnsdale 4.53pm.RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
Please complete at least two days before the ride. https://www.mbtc.org.au/registration-forms-rider.ESSENTIAL ITEMS
Functioning headlight & tail light
Spare tube and a puncture kit
MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, 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' well before the ride day.
This ride is for MBTC club members. To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership
When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that 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.
- Meredith Meander Camping Weekend; Grade - Beginner/Intermediate, 102kmBallan Railway Station, Ballan
This is a back-roads exploration of the lands just to the west of Melbourne, west of the Brisbane Ranges. Yes, it is getting cold for camping, but we shall camp by the pub and be able to do dinner and relax by the fire indoors.
We shall catch the train out to Ballan, then after a short coffee stop, head out to Mt Egerton for a lunch-stop, then south through Bungal to the Moorabool East River crossing at Ballark. A few turns takes us to Morrisons and the scenic valley of the Moorabool River cut into the tablelands here. Watch out for old gold tunnels in the valley sides here. A short distance on we come to Meredith.
The Meredith Hotel has a good review for meals, and they have camping out the back.
Next day we will ride across to the Brisbane Ranges National Park, stopping along the way at the ghost-village of Beremboke. In the Brisbane Ranges we can stop at Boar Gully camping area for lunch. The afternoon ride takes us down some long descents out of the ranges, then over the Dog-trap Gully and a final ridge-climb before the descent to Bacchus Marsh.
It may be feasible for people to plan a shuttle back to Ballan using the train, if they wish to travel out on Saturday by car.
Route for the weekend is HERE.
Some views of Beremboke, in particular the old school - https://youtu.be/W36HO0XaboY?si=oPeplo0oq4tjGUes&t=1014
RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
This will be available within a day of the ride being announced. Preferably it is to be completed when you RSVP, but no later than the day before the ride. It can be found at
https://www.mbtc.org.au/registration-forms-rider.ESSENTIAL ITEMS:
Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, matt at a minimum)
Food for lunch and snacks during each day. There is a small shop at Meredith on Sunday morning.
Functioning headlight & tail light
Spare tube and a puncture kit
MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc
WATER**Please note - as this is a camping ride it is expected that you have at least a basic tent to camp overnight in and suitable pannier bags to carry it and your gear.**
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' at least one day before the ride day.This ride is for MBTC club members, or those who have not yet done 3 days riding with us. To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership
When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that 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.
- Seymour, Murch East, Heathcote, Seymour Grand Final Wkd. 64km 73km 85km. Hard.Baracca Lane, Seymour
Details to follow.
Apparently train timetables for the Friday public holiday will be available by August 1.
Depart Baracca Lane Café opposite Seymour Station.
We’ll follow the Yellow Belly Trail to Murchison Riverside camping ground with dinner at Lazy Cow or Railway Hotel.
Route can be viewed on Ride with GPS.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50946913
Day 2.
Murchison Rushworth rail Trail.
Morning tea in Rushworth.
Gravel roads through state forest to Heathcote.
Camp or accommodation at Golden Meadows CP. Dinner at Commercial.
Route can be viewed on Ride with GPS.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50947099
Day 3.
Brekky at Gaffney’s. Gravel road south to Mission Hill road, trying to skirt the very steep climb on Dairy Flat road. (Nothing flat about Dairy Flat road).
Then across to Pyalong for Sunday lunch at Pyalon Hotel.
Then what appears to be a winding road of even gradient to Seymour, with a last little busy and unpleasant bit as we get on the main road just as it goes under the Hume Freeway and into Seymour.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50947216
For those who train they could alternately take the rail trail back to Bendigo on Day 3. (54km)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50318097
