Downhill Mountain Biking

*NOTE: This has changed to **Saturday** ============================== Who wants to join us for a **Saturday Pre-Christmas Picnic Lunch** ride to Williamstown? All welcome on the day 😀 Bring what you like to eat or purchase from the local shops in Nelson Place We'll have a cruisy ride from town over the newly opened Dixon Veloway (aka the Green Snake) and find some space in the park, Commonwealth Reserve, then ride back by mid afternoon. You could exit to the train if you like or depart at any time, of course. You are very welcome to pop over by car and join us without your bike if you'd like. Let me know by the day, please. **Forecast:** 21°C and possible shower https://reg.bom.gov.au/places/vic/williamstown/forecast/detailed/#d2025-12-20 **Bike**: Any mechanically sound bicycle. Pump your tyres beforehand, please. Maybe wear some Christmas bling or decorate your bike to get in the spirit? **Speed**: 22 km/h max (Easy). **Distance**: 32 km or so. One or two stops on the way to make it interesting **Bring**: Water, sunscreen, insect repellent, snacks, Myki, tube and tools. Food and drinks for yourself or wander over the street to the local shops *All trains should be running but do check PTV journey planner before the day for any unplanned outages affecting your trip into town: [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/journey](https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/journey).* **Contact** \- Neil Griffiths \- 0419 560 409 \***Photo**: Picnicking in the park - Commonwealth Reserve, Williamstown "All riders are riding at their own risk and Melbourne Cycling does not take any responsibility for any injuries or accidents you may have on any of our rides"

Hi, Join us for a casual ride out to the water! (Carrum/Patterson Lakes). We will start at Yarraman station and head south on the Dandy Creek trail until we pretty much hit the water before a U turn at the bridge over the river mouth. From there we will head North through Chelsea, and onto Waterways where we will stop at The Nest café for refreshments (approx 24km in). After a break we will continue North through Braeside park before heading East back to Yarraman on the Lower Dandy Road Trail and Dandy South Trail. Distance is getting up but its a pretty flat ride so have kept it as a beginner+ ride See the RWGPS map here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53383190 We will kick off from Yarraman Railway Station @ 9.00am. I'll be on a black Giant gravel bike. **There is a train from the CBD that arrives at 8.42am (departs Flinders 8.02 Pakenham line) providing there are no disruptions nearer the time!** At the moment the long range forecast looks 'TBC' Hopefully see you all there for a lovely morning out! **YOUR BIKE** Suitable for any well maintained bike **Note: End time is a guesstimate only** **ESSENTIAL ITEMS** Spare tube, puncture kit, pump, basic tools - good to have with you. Rain & warm gear (according to conditions) Plenty of water for the distance especially if it's going to be hot! Always better to have too much than enough! Check your app for any changes the night before, and on the day of the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances. **If you realise you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' immediately even if you are still on the Waitlist.** "Liability Waiver: The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being. By joining this event, you agree to this liability waiver." Please just ride with some courtesy, use your bell/call out when required passing people, single file on narrow sections, blind corners etc just common sense.

Hello Climbers! Just meet at the yellow sign and introduce yourself :) From there we pair up to climb. If we have an odd number of people, we can make a rotating group of 3. There is also a self-belay area if you want to get in more climbing if in a group of 3 or arriving earlier. If the event you are planning to go to only has one or 2 people on the ‘attending’ list, we encourage organising a climbing partner in advance so you can make sure you have at least one other person there to climb with! Feel free to reach out on the event wall or message a host :) Meet up will start at 6pm but if you want to start earlier you certainly can, but again you will need to organise a climbing partner in advance. New climbers are welcome, however your mandatory induction takes about 15/20mins. Harnesses, shoes and chalk bag can be hired also. Book in here for your induction: https://www.hardrock.com.au/online-booking/ If you are unwell, please don't attend!

A Christmas hash-tacular hared by Arseholemaine, Back Alley, ISO Horny and Lazarus. Join us for a progressive piss-up with drink stops hosted by hashers. There'll be driveway down downs, carport chaos and inner-city boujie beers. Meet at 12pm at the little park on the corner of Napier and Moor St Fitzroy (home of the Courage statue and sometimes called Whitlam Place depending on what map you're using) to get into the spirit. We'll depart at 12.30pm. The on in will be close to the start. All drinks provided and no ride fee for anyone who has paid at least one ride fee in 2025. There will be snacks but not necessarily a full meal - ie eat beforehand. Collingwood or Parliament are the closest stations.

Please join us this Sunday as we explore the question of Intelligence. This session will be moderated by Glenn. We will meet at the **CAPTAIN MELVILLE**, 34 Franklin St in Melbourne CBD, at 2.00pm for 2.15pm start sharp. There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background; all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared have your own assumptions challenged! Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve merely as a springboard towards a deeper discussion in waters unknown... Some points and questions to consider before the event: * What is intelligence? * What are the differences between human, animal and artificial intelligence? Which differences matter? * Is intelligence best thought of as a capacity, a process or or an outcome? * Are IQ tests useful? If so, useful for what? * Is intelligence distinguished from wisdom, creativity or rationality? Why? * Intelligence is biologically costly. Why do you think we evolved it at all? What problems does it solve? * Are humans intelligent because of individual brains or cumulative culture? * In what sense is AI intelligent or not? If it can do intelligent things, should we say its intelligent? * Is it just that intelligent people are rewarded in the market and society? Are there stupid people? How should they be treated? Hope to see you there!

An afternoon at Urban Climb, Blackburn! If you haven't been to this gym before, you will need to do an induction. This gym also has a bouldering area. We typically start with a warm-up session from 2:00 to 2:30 PM before moving on to top-rope or lead climbing - through you’re welcome to start top-rope or lead as you prefer. If you’re looking for the host, they will be in bouldering area during the warmup. You can also spot the host on climbing wall, easily recognizable by a dangling ducks hanging from their harness.

Melbourne Flames Dragon Boat Club is your gateway to the exhilarating sport of dragon boating. As one of Australia’s fastest growing water sports, dragon boating is truly unique as men and women of all ages can train and compete together in one crew. We welcome new members regardless of gender or fitness level (minimum age is 12 years). Come along and try dragon boating with one of Australia's top teams for FREE! Simply sign up for a Dragon Pass (1 month free trial) via the link below and follow the instructions sent to your email. You will need to download TeamApp and RSVP there to confirm your spot. [Registration - Melbourne Flames](https://members.melbourneflames.com.au/registration/) We recommend you attend a welcome Sunday session for your first training. After you've learnt the ropes, you can join any of our Tuesday and Thursday on-water sessions or gym workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. **What to bring to a training session** * Water bottle * Weather appropriate clothes that you don't mind getting wet i.e. hat and thongs in summer, thermals and shoes in winter * Towel and a change of dry clothes * Any friends you think would be interested, get them to register for DragonPass and TeamApp as well! * A sense of adventure and a positive attitude! All equipment, including a lifejacket and paddle, are provided. If you have any questions, please message the page!

3 Teams. 3 Goals. Hexagonal Pitch. A game of alliance and betrayal in equal measure. We are looking for new players and returning players alike to come play a match. Players of any ability, fitness level or background are welcomed - the game is intended to be fun for a Sunday morning rather than super competitive. If you've never played before, that's okay - the rules are as simple as this: * There's no offside - roam where you will * Defend your goal at all costs * No hands (this is soccer-style football after all) Come down for 9:00am, we make some balanced teams and warm up for the match starting at 9:15. Three thirds are played of 25 minutes each so we're usually done by about 11:00am. All fitness and soccer skill levels more than welcome and encouraged! A note regarding junior players: We very much enjoy and encourage junior players to come along and play however please be aware of the following: * As most attendees are adults, all players must be a minimum of 1.5m tall and 13 years of age. Soccer may have incidental contact when contesting a ball, and we would hate for someone small to be injured as a result of running into someone larger than them. * Any players under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a playing parent or guardian. How to find us - We meet on the astroturf pitch near the Baselball and Hockey clubs in Albert Park. The main location we use is called "Dorothy Coleman Field". If we aren't there then there may be a couple of other locations, [as noted on this dynamic map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1JdDwV4AOV5e-xP5d56m16-eu29GlnZQ&usp=sharing) \- generally we will follow in number order\.

***FREE TOUR TICKET FOR ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL MEETUP MEMBERS*** Use Promo Code **MEETUP2025** to get your free ticket and route smart guide at [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sol-in-columbus-oh-a-smart-guided-short-one-way-loop-bikeway-tour-tickets-769120860197](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sol-in-columbus-oh-a-smart-guided-short-one-way-loop-bikeway-tour-tickets-769120860197) You can do the tour solo/with your favorite peeps, or try to generate a group ride of Meetup CycleNuts by RSVPing here and posting the day and time you are interested in others joining you. Either way, have fun on your memory-making adventure, and thank you for being a CycleNut! ### SOL in Columbus, OH \- A Smart\-guided Short One\-way Loop Bikeway Tour Short One-way Loop (SOL) in Columbus on bikeways. The smart-guided tour is mostly through scenic riverside parks with a quick downtown peek. All of that in 10 miles! 83% of the route is bikeway, and the rest is Google Maps designated "bicycle-friendly roads". This short ride passes through several beautiful riverside parks. Passing through downtown the route runs alongside Huntington Park baseball stadium, Nationwide Arena hockey stadium, near North Market (worth a stop if you enjoy markets with lots of tasty treats), within a few blocks of the state capitol, convention center, art museum, center of science and industry, several first-class hotels, and much more (see Points of Interest list below). Easily, anywhere along the way, the tour can be detoured to nearby points of interest. This smart-guided route comes with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee. Sweating is optional. If your bike has gears, you might use them to climb in a few spots. All bikes are appropriate for this smart-guided tour (even a single-speed if you do not mind walking your bike up the spots mentioned). The route is shaded about 50% of the way. Sweating is optional - you set your pace, starting time, and touring agenda. Points of interest: COSI Scioto River North Market German Village The Scioto Mile Brewery District Huntington Park Nationwide Arena Columbus Union Station Arch Greater Columbus Convention Center **The Meetup plan = Show up, Rally with whoever else shows up, and Roll following the smart-guided instructions.** This is a smart guided tour route that can be ridden any day or time, solo or with others. It is only posted with a repeating set time and date with a tour leader to fit the Meetup format, and, more importantly, to encourage you to get out and ride when it is convenient for you. **If you are going to ride it and would like the company of others, then simply RSVP and post in the comments when it is that you are going to ride - date and time.** Take pictures/videos and share. Have fun! ***This is a repeating event on the calendar***\*, but the date and time do not necessarily need to be what is posted. **If you are interested in riding with a group, then simply RSVP and leave a message in the comment section** giving the date and time you would like others to join you. If you are interested in riding by yourself or with your private group of friends, then simply do it.\* ***The mission of this format is to create a catalog*** *of free group tour routes available for CycleNuts to ride as a group, or solo, in an area spanning several states. **The goal is to get people out cycling** either in groups or solo. **The vision is a cycling community with resources** available for bike tours, bike talk, and a format for lives experienced at the speed of bike.*

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.