Vic- goldfields trail gravelburn road trip.

mike14 said:
For those that have ridden the Daylesford to Castlemaine section, how difficult would you say it would be for people who probably haven't really ridden a bike in 15 years, and haven't done any 'proper' mountain-biking in even longer, if at all?
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would b a hard slog, its just short of 50km, we took most of our club couple yrs ago, we rode off so we could fin <3 hrs but the rest took 4 with a stop at vaughan, & were tired. its the best section imo, and best bike would be xc dually, i never advise gravel bike on it, too rough, and ive seen too many bug out as soon as it got rough, broken rims, slashed shitty gravel tyres etc... if u can gravel road it to mt franklin,, avoid the drop into hepburn, scoot around on the east side, near the main daylesford rd, but head toward glenlyon then go straight north, will save 1/2 hr but your legs will thankyou later.. i uslally start at mt franklin as its most directy route if i ride the 20km from my place to link on
 
boyracer said:
Couldn't see any threads, any tips on Goldfields trail and surrounds. Just trying for an interesting shakedown run for new (to me) rig. Something different to my normal hot, dry broadacre for miles and miles. Have been thorough area on Motorbike and thought it would be good to explore the dirt a bit more. Leaving this weekend for a road trip. Have lightweight Bivvy but planning on pubs/ cabins rather than camp but go with the flow.
Rusty has suggested some newish built trails half-way ( aqueduct/Castlemaine??) but also suggested they'd be better on MTB than gravel bike with 43 mm panaracers.
Start at Bendigo? Ballarat? Ride out n back or one way? Anyone wanna catch up for a beer enroute?
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Bump.
Didn't happen in 2023. Anyone of the eleventy billion gravel bike owners on here now keen for a ride sometime in school holidays this year? Could be effin hot/ fire restrictions in January but see how we go. Was also thinking Geelong > Lorne but peak caravan and cruiser season. There are some crackin' roads and tracks down there.

I'll be coming over from SA, most likely driving.
 
Daniel Hale said:
would b a hard slog, its just short of 50km, we took most of our club couple yrs ago, we rode off so we could fin <3 hrs but the rest took 4 with a stop at vaughan, & were tired. its the best section imo, and best bike would be xc dually, i never advise gravel bike on it, too rough, and ive seen too many bug out as soon as it got rough, broken rims, slashed shitty gravel tyres etc... if u can gravel road it to mt franklin,, avoid the drop into hepburn, scoot around on the east side, near the main daylesford rd, but head toward glenlyon then go straight north, will save 1/2 hr but your legs will thankyou later.. i uslally start at mt franklin as its most directy route if i ride the 20km from my place to link on
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Its a killer, it has been made much harder than 10 years ago..
Would do it again on an ebike.
 
boyracer said:
Bump.
Didn't happen in 2023. Anyone of the eleventy billion gravel bike owners on here now keen for a ride sometime in school holidays this year? Could be effin hot/ fire restrictions in January but see how we go. Was also thinking Geelong > Lorne but peak caravan and cruiser season. There are some crackin' roads and tracks down there.

I'll be coming over from SA, most likely driving.
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If you have the Facebook look up the GDT 400 and check out the course, when I did it a few years back they had a section from Castlemaine that veered off the actual GDT trail and did some great gravel road’s from just out of Castlemaine then around to link back up to GDT trail just before Hepburn. I did it on a full rigid MTB and plenty have raced it on gravel bikes, just depends on how much singletrack you’re willing to do on your gravel bike, personally a hard tail MTB would be more fun than a gravel bike but then again run what you brung.
There is plenty of other places to ride around the area on gravel bikes if that’s your thing especially from Daylesford to Blackwood area, I have a few loops if you’re interested from Bacchus Marsh and depending on what you want go from 50 to 120k’s with a little bit of elevation in there for good measure 😉
 
Computer say no to FB.
GDT 2023 posted earlier in thread? Happy to take my chances - travel light and stay in pubs.
Riding Knolly cache on 50's. Could take monster cross on 2.4's with 100mm rock shock but it won't fit bags well.
NBD.
 
cammas said:
Here’s the course and the link to the discussion group

www.facebook.com

GDT400 and Goldfields Track Bikepacking Discussion Group | Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

ridewithgps.com

GDT2024

398.6 km, +5494 m. Bike ride in Quarry Hill, Victoria
ridewithgps.com ridewithgps.com
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That goes past my parents place. Saw one bloke go past on a gravel rig with frame bags as I was heading out to pick up the singletrack where it crossed Porcupine Ridge Rd a couple of weeks ago. The fire trails are all looking very bloody civilised these days - Mum says they've been spending a lot of time on maintenance lately, which is nice as they are alternative exit routes for us in the event of a bush fire.
 
boyracer said:
Bump.
Didn't happen in 2023. Anyone of the eleventy billion gravel bike owners on here now keen for a ride sometime in school holidays this year? Could be effin hot/ fire restrictions in January but see how we go. Was also thinking Geelong > Lorne but peak caravan and cruiser season. There are some crackin' roads and tracks down there.

I'll be coming over from SA, most likely driving.
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If timing is right I could join you for a section somewhere around the Ballarat area. Or at very least I could chuck some beers at you as you pass by!
 
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