Some upcoming rides and meetings

Looking for some fun things to do on a Saturday or Sunday? Here's what we have lined up for the next few weeks. Hope to see you on one (or more) of these.

Market Ride – Collingwood Childrens Farm - Social Ride (Easy)

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012 9:00am - 11:00pm
A short morning ride along the Merri and Yarra paths to a great farmers market on a picturesque bend in the River. Only 10kms return. We’ll spend an hour there, browsing stalls, having a coffee, picking up whatever produce we are prepared to carry home on our bikes, and then we’ll be back by lunchtime. Depart from Jika Jika Community Centre at 9.00 am. Further info: Michael 0419 130751, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Yum Cha Ride - Social Ride (Easy - Medium)

Date: Sunday, May 20, 2012 Time: 9:30am - 1:30pm
We will follow the Yarra and Koonung Creek shared paths to a Yum Cha lunch at Box Hill (40 km return). Also an option of riding one-way to Box Hill and then taking the train back after lunch. (Lunch usually works at approx $20 pp.). Depart from Jika Jika Community Centre at 9.30 am. Contact Michael to book by Thursday 17th of May:
0419 130751, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Donnybrook Cheese Factory, cheese tastings, purchases, (48 km return). Social Ri

Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012 Time: 9:20am - 3:20pm
We’ll have lunch at the café. Try the wood-fired pizza, or a cheese platter. Meet at Rushall Station at 9.15 am to catch the 9.20 am train to Thomastown Station. Alternatively, meet us at Thomastown Station when our train arrives there at 9.41 am. We will then depart from Thomastown Station to the cheese factory via the Craigieburn bypass bike path. Booking essential. Contact Michael by Thursday 14th of June: 0419 130751, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.donnybrookcheese.com.au/who_we_are.htm

9 May 2012                                                    

Darebin BUG's next meeting on Thursday 17 May features Pip Carroll from the Melbourne Bikefest. In case you missed it, she'll fill us in on what happened in the 2012 Bikefest (with 30 events reaching over 120,000 people, it was quite a line-up) and tell us a bit about plans for the 2013 Bikefest.

Find out more - download a meeting agenda here (PDF, 25kb).

Let us take you for a ride. Darebin BUG's rides calendar extends through to November. Get out your diary and mark some dates - we have rides that are suitable for just about everyone. Scroll through the calendar here.

Families on Bikes - rides designed especially for little kids, where no one's too slow and that are always happy to stop for a rest, play, snack, breastfeed, nappy change or 'til a tantrum is over. Contact Kathy if you'd like to be on the Families on Bikes email list.

MAY 2012 EVENTS & NOTICES

PLEASE NOTE: These notices are not necessarily endorsed by Darebin BUG. If you would like an item included in future notices, please contact Kathy.

Events

Sun 13 May: Frocks on Bikes – take your Mum for a ride – Meet 10am Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy, for a gentle shortish ride with coffee stops planned (bring your own cup) and lunch to follow.

Sat 19 May: The Sweet Cycle, Rutherglen – calling all bike riders vintage and retro: this 25km jaunt will see tweed and a great deal of glamour including three epicurean experiences. Cost $90.

Sun 20 May: Milawa Gourmet Pedal Ride – a 13km social ride along the Rail Trail from Wangaratta to Milawa. The ride will pop into cellar doors, farm gates and the like till it finishes at Brown Brothers Vineyard. FREE.

Wed 30 May, registrations close for Melburn Roobaix – the Hell of Northcote on Sun 24 June: a 40km self-navigated tour covering as many cobbled alleyways and the like as they can find, and always ends with a lap of Brunswick Velodrome. It’s not a race, but it is a lot of fun and there are great prizes on offer. If you’re not able to do the ride, why not cheer on the finishers at the Brunswick Velodrome?

Sun 3 Jun: The Whittlesea Challenge – enjoy quiet roads and picturesque scenery on an undulating route with fabulous views. Route options: 110km and 50km. Suitable for bike riders of all fitness levels. $5 of each entry is donated to the Cancer Council of Victoria.

Sun 3 Jun: Come and Try Recumbent Day, 10-11am St Kilda Pier. Try a variety of recumbent bikes; bring your bike for a social ride along the Bay that will stop for a cuppa.  

Notices

A study on car dooring in Melbourne has revealed that 30% of all car door crashes occur on just four streets and 47% occur on just ten streets. Read more, and download the report at http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/93916/

CycleWise: 5 hour course that includes basic riding skills, bike set up, safety checks, confidence riding in traffic, where to ride & more. Free for concession card holders, refundable booking fee of $40/ $40 full fee. Upcoming date: 20 May. Info & bookings: 9482 5100; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Maintenance works on the M80 Ring Road Trail - may cause some changed conditions until June. Please be aware.

Position Vacant: Darebin BUG Events & Notices. Love all things bike? Want an excuse for all that reading you do about bikes? Have a chat to Kathy: 9489 4275 / 0410 667 634.

Road user or Abuser campaign - a VicRoads initiative for motorists and bicycle riders to discuss concerns. It also provides opportunities to clear up misconceptions about road rules. www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/94013/ and www.facebook.com/roaduserorabuser.

YarraBUG Radio screens live on Mondays 10-10.30am, 3CR Community Radio 855 am. Info & podcasts.

What a difference a few months makes. The last we heard, "The Baillieu government recognises the importance of cycling" and "is committed to continuing to improve Victoria's bicycle path network" and "to support this commitment, approximately $14.5 million has been provided for bicycle improvement works as part of VicRoads' 2011/12 bicycle program." (See below for a November 2011 statement from the Roads Minister).

Yet in the latest state budget, cycling has been allocated $0 (yes, zero) for new projects. Cycling is been growing in Melbourne and provides real answers for the growing problems of congestion, climate change, and health problems/obesity yet the state government hasn't even bothered to allocate even the token amounts of funding it has been receiving in recent years. We as cyclists and Victorians are disappointed and confused. What has happened? It can't be a lack of money, considering there seems to be $5 billion available to build a tunnel under the city to spread congestion around slightly. What's happened to the state's commitment to cycling?

Darebin BUG's next meeting on Thursday 19 April features a talk a photos by Gael Reid and Graham Hunter of their cycling holiday on the Munda Biddi Trail in Western Australia, featuring spring wildflowers. They were part of a group of 6 (mostly Victorians) that rode for 2 weeks along this dedicated cycle trail from near Perth to Manjimup during the peak of the spring wildflower season.  

Find out more - download a meeting agenda here (PDF, 94kb).

Let us take you for a ride. Darebin BUG's rides calendar extends through to September. Get out your diary and mark some dates - we have rides that are suitable for just about everyone. Scroll through the calendar here.

Families on Bikes - rides designed especially for little kids, where no one's too slow and that are always happy to stop for a rest, play, snack, breastfeed, nappy change or 'til a tantrum is over. Contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  if you'd like to be on the Families on Bikes email list.

APRIL 2012 EVENTS & NOTICES

PLEASE NOTE: These notices are not necessarily endorsed by Darebin BUG. If you would like an item included in future notices, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Events

10 – 21 April: ‘The Vicious Cycle’, (Comedy Festival event) - a hilarious look at cycle commuting in Melbourne. dBuG get a 20% discount when they book a ticket using 'lovemybike' in the promotional code field. Note: anumber of dBuG members have already got tickets for the Wed 11 Apr show, in case you want to be in good company.

Fri 13 April: registrations open for Melburn Roobaix – the Hell of Northcote, Sun 24 June – a 40km self-navigated tour covering as many cobbled alleyways and the like as they can find, and always ends with a lap of Brunswick Velodrome. It’s not a race, but it is a lot of fun and there are great prizes on offer.If you’re not able to do the ride, why not cheer on the finishers at the Brunswick Velodrome?

Mon 16 April: registrations for Around the Bay in a Day open for Bicycle Victoria members.

Fri 27 April: submissions to the Inquiry into the Road Safety Amendment (Car Doors) Bill 2012 close, – MLC Greg Barber introduced this bill into Parliament that has been sent to an inquiry. It proposed that maximum fines for motorists opening car doors on bicycle riders be increased from $366 to $1,220. Info, the bill and details for submitting a submission are available here.

Sun 29 April: Degani Arthurs Seat Bay 2 Bay Ride– ride options: 20 (kids/family), 65 and 113kms. The road at Arthurs Seat will be closed to cars.

Sun 6 May: 22nd Annual BAD Ride, Ballarat – ride options are 25, 50 and 100km. Ride organised by the Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club Inc.

Notices

Orders for dBuG cycling caps: numbers are required at our next meeting on 19 April. They cost $15 each and are available in sizes: M 54.5cm, L 56cm, XL 57.5cm and XXL 59cm. Note: there is a little bit of stretch in the caps, maximum 4cm, meaning a 54.5cm cap will stretch up to 58.5cm.  If you can’t make the meeting, but would like to place an order, or need more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CycleWise: 5 hour course that includes basic riding skills, bike set up, safety checks, confidence riding in traffic, where to ride & more. Free for concession card holders, refundable booking fee of $40/ $40 full fee Upcoming dates: 15 April and 20 May. Info & bookings: 9482 5100; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Maintenance works on the M80 Ring Road Trail - may cause some changed conditions until June.
Please be aware.

Position Vacant: Darebin BUG Events & Notices. Love all things bike? Want an excuse for all that reading you do about bikes? Have a chat to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 9489 4275 / 0410 667 634.

Road user or Abuser campaign - a VicRoads initiative for motorists and bicycle riders to discuss concerns. It also provides opportunities to clear up misconceptions about road rules. www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/94013/ and www.facebook.com/roaduserorabuser.

YarraBUG Radio screens live on Mondays 10-10.30am, 3CR Community Radio 855 am. Info & podcasts.