Great Divide Social Ride

03/11/2019

Day 2 our happy campers fuelled up on bacon and egg brekky cooked by our hosts Donna and Todd before hitting the rocky terrain of the Dry Diggings track with some steep pinch climbs and fast flowing descents.
Scones with jam and cream for morning tea at Vaughan Springs before the last leg into Castlemaine.

03/11/2019

Evening of Day 1 of the Great Divide Social Ride offered our soaked and tired riders a blazing fire, comfy couches, spectacular sunset and a feast at the Mt Franklin farm.

02/11/2019

02/11/2019

Awesome effort by our riders who braved the really tough conditions that heavy morning rain offered up. Woodend to the farm at Mt Franklin with a lunch stop at Trentham. Rewarded with roaring fire and a feast.

01/11/2019

Confirmation of departure. Good morning entrants. Due to the rain. We have decided to postpone start time and allow this rain front to pass. Looks better for this afternoon. Please wait for update. Email sent to all.

18/10/2019

Route options on the day
Choose your own adventure, with the rough or smoother route options, don't worry about not having the right bike, just bring whatever you've got and pick the route to suit.

Rougher route for mountain bikes and adventure bikes with 2.0" (50c) or wider tyres.
Smoother route for CX, gravel and commuter bikes with 32c or bigger tyres.

Day 1 offers dirt back roads, forest logging roads, a rail trail and a touch of asphalt to complete the mix. An additional 10km single track is offered to the rough-inclined through the Wombat State Forest .

Day 2 the rough and smooth courses are separate for most of the day with the rougher route following the Dry Diggings trails and the smoother route taking the higher, scenic route along Porcupine Ridge Rd and through the historic gold mining settlements of Vaughan Springs and Fryerstown.

Riders information pack provided before the event will include GPX files for you to self navigate with a smart phone app or GPS unit. Printed maps will be provided on the day.

30/09/2019

Bring your tents and sleeping gear but have it all carried for you. All you need to do is ride!

On arrival at the private farm at Mt Franklin, collect your overnight camping gear and set your tent up for a great night camping under the stars at this beautiful property. Showers and toilets available. Settle in for a great evening of dinner and movie night. Drinks available for purchase.

23/09/2019

Have a listen to Gayle talking to Val and Faith on 3CR's YarraBUG show this morning

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Gayle Ilievski and we settle in to listen to Val's reading from Tom Babin's Frostbike: the Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling. We then share our bike moments where Val has tyre issues, Gayle is glad she has moved to the country and Faith decides to nom...

19/09/2019

What bike will you ride? Gravel / adventure / CX or MTB.

33mm minimum tyres in good condition recommended.
Day one from Woodend to Mt Franklin will suit those on CX/adventure bikes - quiet backroads, gravel roads and single track through Wombat forest
Day two from Mt Franklin to Castlemaine will take in part of the Dry Diggings Track with sections of single track and exhilarating descents. The pain will be in the steep climbs. Rough, gravel and packed earth during the dry months.

Make sure your bike is serviced and running smoothly before the ride. Book your bike in for a service prior to the event with Russell at Woodend Cycles.

10/09/2019