What we’re about
Welcome to bicycle touring!
It’s all about what the great Australian outdoors has to offer, the only thing missing is you! This is the Meetup page for Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club.
There’s nothing quite like the ‘spirit of place’ and freedom you will experience when riding a bicycle on an isolated back road through farmland, along a bush track, over a mountain range, or across a desert. The satisfaction and sense of independence is incomparable.
The Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club has been running recreational rides and tours continuously since 1973. Check out our rides program and see what’s coming up this weekend.
At MBTC we aim to give you a large variety of rides that cater for a broad variety of people, from simple sightseeing metro rides all the way up to multi week expedition touring and everything in between. Many of our rides are suitable for many different types of bikes as we often ride along bike paths and rail trails. We run social get together rides that start in the CBD and take us along a beach or river path to have either breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a nice place with some amazing people.
Our most common rides are one day urban or country tours which may start in Melbourne or at a country location. These rides may be either car or train based.
We regularly run overnight tours that will cater for people who prefer to travel light and stay in accommodation, but we also cater for the hard core tourers who prefer to load up their bikes, carry everything out to a great spot in the bush and tell stories around the campfire. We also run regular social nights at various venues near the CBD, as well as special club meetings throughout the year.
Meetup Riders are not automatically financial MBTC Club Members, but are welcome to take up full club membership by visiting www.mbtc.org.au/membership. Our club policy is that visitors may participate on three rides before making the decision to join our club for an annual fee of $25. Benefits include other club rides and activities not listed on Meetup, member-only rides, weekly club emails, social events, club meetings, Ride With GPS club subscription with premium navigation features & offline maps, etc.
For more information about MBTC please feel free to take a ride through our website www.mbtc.org.au and follow us at:
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Understandably COVID-19 is affecting how we do our rides. Our COVID-19 page ((https://www.mbtc.org.au/covid-19/) describes what you must do when riding with us.
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. It is now a requirement of this group that you use a recognizable profile photo of yourself.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Yellowbelly camping ride - 90km - IntermediateNagambie Station , Nagambie
What better excuse to celebrate the start of daylight savings than a ride along the Yellowbelly Track between Nagambi and Shepparton.
This will be an easygoing ride with bush camping and time to enjoy some outstanding riverside scenery. Please RSVP only if you are a current financial member of MBTC : )Following the Goulburn River, the Yellowbelly Track is a route that pieces together existing dirt, gravel and sealed back roads. We’ll ride Nagambie and Shepparton section, Now well and truly on the cycle touring map, it was mapped out by a north east cycling enthusiast. Read more here.
Riders will need to be confident on dirt trails as we’ll need to negotiate some uneven sections and potholes. 32mm tyres minimum recommended. Conditions could be quite changeable depending on rain.
DAY ONE – Nagambie to Toolamba – 55km
Train leaves Southern Cross at 9.16am, arriving Nagambie just after 11am
On the way out of town we’ll check out a few local sights including the Black Caviar statue, Lake Nagambie walkway and historic bridges.
A 30km ride on sealed back roads will see us in Murchison for a bakery stop and some river rambling along the Goulburn. From there we’ll continue on to set up riverside camp then option to go into Toolamba (about 1km away) to pub dinner and water supplies.Please be aware this is a bush camping site. It is a lovely secluded spot but with no toilets or other facilities. Water can be picked up in Toolamba for washing/breakfast.
DAY TWO - Toolamba to Shepparton – 40km approx
Leaving camp near Toolamba we’ll cruise along the Goulburn River on mostly dirt tracks, taking in some stunning vistas.
This section is very flat but has a few spots where we’ll need to push bikes in and out of steep gullies (a little challenging but nothing too crazy).
After a lunch stop at Bill and Beats cafe, we’ll come into Shepparton and take in some of the town’s excellent riverside cycle paths.
There will be options to visit Victoria Lake and the Shepparton art museum and café and/or a ride on the Broken River path.
Train to Melbourne departs at 16.09pm (last train).
Routes to be provided following RSVP.
FOOD
You’ll need to bring camp breakfast for the Sunday and snacks. There will be a short opportunity to buy supplies at the Nagambie IGA at the start of the ride.TRANSPORT
You can do this entirely as a train-based ride or alternatively drive /leave your car in Nagambie and travel back two stops on the Shepparton line.
One option would be to travel up to Nagambie on the Friday night, staying in caravan park, motel or Airbnb accommodation.EQUIPMENT
You’ll need a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat along with other essentials such as a torch, power bank/charger and insect repellent. Bring a camp chair if you have one!It’s recommended to download the route to your phone so you can ride ahead or in the event you get separated from the group.
OTHER ESSENTIALS
- Gear should be carried in panniers or bikepacking bags on your bike, not in a backpack.
- Please bring pump, tools, spare tube, money, MYKI, and a bike lock.
- Lights are essential as we may return to camp in the dark.RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
This is to be completed by the day before the ride and can be found at:
www.mbtc.org.au/registration-forms-rider, preferably when you RSVP.ETIQUETTE
- We will travel at touring speeds of average 16-18 kph, regrouping at key points.
- No one is left behind with a puncture.
- If you cannot make the ride please change your RSVP as early as possible.
- Check for updates on the day/morning before. Extra and info and reminders will come to you via the Messages function on MeetUp (so please check).PHOTGRAPHY
Please let the ride leader and others know if your photo can't be taken. Be aware it is club practice for participants to take photos and upload them to Meetup or club social media.LIABILITY
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. - Lilydale to Powelltown Campover. 110km/1400vm. Mainly gravel. Pub dinner. M/H.Locavore Cafe, Lilydale
Railtrails and hilly back roads. Tent camping in centre of small, historic timber milling town. Pub dinner. Cafes and a brewery.
You will need to bring camping gear for saturday night, and sunday breakfast.
MEET at Locavore Cafe at 9.30AM. Park your car at the Lilydale railway station carpark, or catch the:
8.39AM LILYDALE train from RICHMOND, arriving 9.35.
Cafe is a short 250m from the station on main street.
SATURDAY : 55km/900vm. 85% gravel/15% sealed. Medium/hard.
DEPART Lilydale cafe at 10.00AM via Lilydale Lake, then onto the Warby Railtrail.
Lunch will be at Launching Place fresh fruit, veg & produce store, via nearby bakery.
More challenging, hillier gravel back roads then take us past orchards, vineyards, tall forests & fern gullies to our destination in Powelltown, with some possible short, side bush treks to a waterfall & a secret lakeside swim spot.
Saturday route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48544803
Camp will be at the public hall grounds, with basic toilet block (NO hot water), picnic tables, flat grass, and shady oak. Donations appreciated.
The small pub is only a short 100m walk away. I will book a table closer to the date. The pub has a very basic store / post office attached, which you might be able to get some basic supplies from on saturday.
BYO camping gear, and sunday breakfast.
SUNDAY : ~55km/500vm. 60% gravel/40% sealed. Medium.
After camp brekky and a look around town, we’ll head 18km along the main road to Yarra Junction (via a short side trek to view mobs of kangaroos) for a more substantial brunch at one of two recommended cafes.
20km of railtrail to Mt Evelyn (with maybe a stop at Carriage Cafe Seville), then 10kms of backroads sees us to Coldstream for late lunch / refreshments at the Brewery, followed by the last 5kms of the Yarra Valley Railtrail back to Lilydale (via the pump track!)
City trains depart Lilydale every twenty minutes on Sunday afternoons.
Sunday route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48544943
Good fitness, gravel skills, and suitable touring/gravel bike and good camping gear (tent, sleeping bag) recommended. It can get very cold at night. You might like to bring along cooking / coffee making gear, and on the trail food and snacks.
Photos & RideWithGPS routes form part of ride description.
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.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.
- Lara - Portarlington, 55 kms (Intermediate, social)Lara Railway Station, Lara
A pleasant ride from Lara past Geelong Grammar School, through the Geelong industrial heartland and along the Waterfront, followed by the Bellarine Railtrail to Drysdale. Coffee in Geelong, late lunch in Drysdale.
Then we will climb the Bellarine Alps into Portarlington (10 km). This will require riding in 80 km/h traffic between Drysdale and Point Richards; there is a reasonable verge in most places.
Depending on arrival in Portarlington, we can be a drop in at my place for coffee and afternoon tea before catching the 5 pm ferry back to Docklands (arrives 6.10 pm).Take the 9.10 am train from Southern Cross to Lara (arrives 10.13 am), where I will be waiting. There is an earlier train at 8.30 am (9.33 am arrival).
Please book your return ticket on the ferry to Docklands via Port Phillip Ferries | Melbourne Ferry and Boat Cruise Service. This can only be done on-line; don't forget to add BIKE to your ticket. My recommendation is to buy the ferry ticket first before RSVPing to this ride as bike slots are limited. Please let me know if you have trouble.
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34714119
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
Functioning headlight & tail light
Spare tube and a puncture kit
MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc
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' 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.