You Yangs and Yonder

The forecast was for strengthening northerly winds during the day but wind didn't play a big part is this ride.
Approximately 27 riders departed at 8am on Sunday 18th April from Merryn and Stephen's place at Werribee and headed west towards the You Yangs. A well known series of granite peaks protruding out of the grassy plains to the west of Melbourne and to the north of the Melbourne-Geelong freeway. We headed out of town as a bunch that progressively disintergrated out along Bulban Road.

 Stephen leads everyone away

The short sharp climbs of Granite Road singled everyone in my vicinity out and so by the time we were in the Brisbane Ranges and climbing on the Geelong - Ballan Road we were all riding solo. I had Leigh in my sights ahead and knew Stephen was a little way behind but by the time we were climbing up from our first climb out of a Moorabool River valley the 3 of us were together courtesy of a short stop by Leigh and some honest pedalling from Stephen. The first control was at the Meredith milk bar as the coffee shop appeared to be thoroughly occupied by a car club. Some of the locals were also out for a stroll. [below]

 A Meredith family enjoying a walk

 Riders relaxing at the first checkpoint

Following refreshments I headed off solo down the familiar road through Steiglitz to Maude with 3 good solid climbs but also some pretty fast descents. Turning to the east at Maude onto Thomsons Road came the most challenging climb in the ride out of another Moorabool valley peaking at 14% but holding 12% for much of the ascent. I then headed back across to Geelong Ballan Road again before turning north to the second control at Anakie general store. As I was about to hit the road Leigh rolled in. My ride through Staughton Vale, Balliang and around the side of the You Yangs was quite uneventful but for once having drunk pretty well and eaten enough my performance was not tapering off like it often does. On Bulban Road along the railway line I was travelling at about 35 kph with a nice south westerly breeze at my back thinking what a cruise it will be back to the finish when within metres the wind changed to a fresh easterly that left me with a bit of a slog for the final 5kms. I arrived back at Merryn and Stephen's place about  2:15 pm to a lovely cup of coffee and cake. Some chat with Merryn and other finishing riders rounded out a great day.

Another Greendale Permanent

No scheduled Audax rides this weekend and a fortnight since the last "long" ride so a 200k permanent seemed like a good idea. I chose to do Stephen Rowlands Greendale Jaunt as it has some good solid climbs totaling nearly 1900 metres. I need to do a bit of climbing to ensure I can cope with 2 crossings of Lavers Hill in the upcoming Western Districts Wanderer 1000k which is now only 3 weeks away. It was only back in February when I last did this ride but it is good course and is nice and convenient.  As is usual with daylight saving ending overnight I was confused with what time to get up to ensure an early before dawn start. I got it right and set off from Werribee at 5:30 am.

Werribee is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country and even in the past few months the houses seem to stretch even further to the north and for an early Sunday morning there were more cars than one would expect on the roads around town. Maybe they were late getting home from the night before? Finally on reaching the open country out towards the end of Tarneit Road I was apalled at the amount of domestic rubbish along the roadside. Everything from garbage bags to mattresses and lounge suites. The ride slowly climbing up past Rockbank to Toolern Vale was uneventful but with clear skies you get rewarded with some great views back towards Melbourne and down the bay towrds the You Yangs as you travel along the Diggers Rest Coimadai Road. You then skirt the essentially dry Lake Merrimu before dropping down past the sand quarries into Bacchus Marsh for the first scheduled stop.

"along the Diggers Rest Coimadai Road"

After Bacchus Marsh you take a short trip along the freeway and then there are some good climbs that lift you above the Western Freeway and Werribee Gorge as you head up through Myrniyong and on to Korobeit.

"above the Western Freeway and Werribee Gorge"

From Korobeit you turn westwards and head across to Greendale before a high speed descent into the town. Turning at the roundabout at the local pub and you are soon climbing again on another one of those 8% or so hills. Once topped its down again before the long climb which passes back over the freeway into Ballan. Just through town you turn south over the railway and on towards Meredith.Along the way you get some good views across towards Mt Egerton, Warranheip and Ballarat. You pass through Ballark, nothing there except a farming property with that name, and then Morrisons which has a very steep descent on a very rough valley road. There is a short 10% climb out of the valley and then before long you arrive at Meredith. This is the second controle and the obvious lunch spot.

Road to Meredith

Leaving Meredith you immediately enter the Brisbane Ranges. There are no flat roads here, its either up or down and its not long before your flying down towards the Moorabool River. A good climb out of that valley and you are soon hurtling down into the old gold mining town of Steiglitz with its historic buildings with the most notable being the courthouse. Up out of town you then turn east and on to DeMotts Road which has this nasty short climb that peaks  at 15%. Once you reach the high point approaching Anakie you get some great views towards Geelong and Corio Bay. 

 Approaching Anakie with views towards Corio Bay

The road then sweeps down into Anakie where you turn and travel up past Fairy Park and on to Staughton Vale. Leaving the bushland you now hit farmland at Balliang which will be featured for the rest of the ride.

"farmland at  Balliang"

Shortly you are travelling around the back of the Ford Proving Ground and traversing the edge of the You Yangs with a relatively flat 20k to go to Werribee to complete a 200k that has a lot of variety and scenery on quiet country roads

"edge of the  You Yangs"

Greendale Jaunt 200k