It seems like ages since I went on a ride.  This is not strictly true.  In Echuca over Queens Birthday weekend,  my brother and I did a few Milkshake Runs and I even got Kylie on a bike.  Today’s ride though was back on my roadie, solo, on a crisp morning.  How’s the serenity?   Within the urban fringes of north western Melbourne, you could fair dinkum be in the country.  Paddocks, horses and the croaking of frogs.   Yes, even the croaking of frogs.  It did rain a river last weekend.  Maybe, some might say, only those going slow enough could hear the frogs; but hey, this ride does traverse the side of Mt Aitken and journeys up to the summit of Mt Ridley – so there is some incline to use as excuse.  At least up to 8%.   Yes! Yes! Before you jump on, they are not mountains in the layman’s sense of the of word, but technically……

The rule of thumb for this ride is you go up as you head North and down as you head South.  Sounds quite logical when you put it that way.  Just small gradients, 1 – 4% up Mickleham Rd and upwards of that famous 8% as you hit the top of Ridley.   Mt Ridley looks a lot more daunting in the distance, but in reality it’s a lot less steep than Mickleham Rd through Atwood and Westmeadows.

The route bends back around Grand Boulevard, Aitken Boulevard and Craigieburn Rd before hitting Mickleham Rd again for the final hitout home.  There is a cafe to stop at, the Waterside Cafe at Highlands, which is unusual for rides around this side of town.   Very good cafe as well.  Great water vista’s.  The view of the city from the park at the top of the ride is excellent.  Only ruined by the remnants of the apparent rave that occurred the night before; or maybe the locals treat this as their version of the view from the Hollywood Hills back across the lights of the city down below and forget to clean up after themselves.  

An excellent 24 kms.  Mickleham Rd is the only hairy bit, but with no dickheads in utes wanting to beat their chest on road ownership this morning – it made a for a great ride.

One to tackle again and again.  Could very well extend it along the Galada Tamboore Pathway; which I think I will in training for the next Around the Bay.

Have a crack.  You’ll enjoy it.