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Parramatta Cycling Club - 2022 Tour - October in Bright, Victoria
06 Aug 2022
What – You are invited to join us for a week in the Victorian Alps in beautiful Bright. PCC will organize a variety of rides and some social events. Ride options are from 10km to 110km, with flat rides and mountain climbs to suit multiple levels. Participants will make their own accommodation and travel arrangements. PCC and friends are welcome, along with non-riding others.
Where - Bright is a town of 2,500 on the Ovens River in northeast Victoria. Nestled at the foot of the Alps, it’s surrounded by well-known climbs like Mt Buffalo, Falls Creek and Mt Hotham, but also easy valley rides and mountain bike parks. It has plenty of accommodation, several restaurants and many cafés. With pubs, brewery, supermarkets, bakeries, bike shops, and an ice cream shop, it has all we require! In the area are gold and bushranger history, wineries and produce, and walking trails along the river and the national parks.
It is 700km from Sydney, along the Hume Hwy to Albury, and then just over an hour due south.
When - Sunday 2 Oct 2022 – Sunday 9 Oct 2022. Bright will be coming into bloom. Bright averages 6-20°C in October, so there’ll be chilly mornings and maybe snow on the high peaks. It is the second week of the NSW school holidays.
What will PCC provide?
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The rides and the company
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Opportunities to meet to socialize & dine (potentially one at a winery)
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We can connect you to organize group accommodation, though you’re responsible for booking your own. Contact us as social.parramattacc@gmail.com.
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A great time!
The rides – Attached is a sample itinerary of the ride possibilities for the week, which of course would be subject to local conditions and the needs of the group.
Coming? Questions?
We’d love to know. Please contact us at social.parramattacc@gmail.com.
Indicative ride itinerary (subject to change!)
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Date
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Longer ride
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Terrain
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Km
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Shorter ride
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Terrain
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Km
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Sun 2 Oct
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Bright to Mt Beauty return via Tawonga Gap.
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Line up for a solid 8km climb on both sides of "The Gap" 5%-8% gradients. Bright is at 300m altitude and the Gap is at 895m. It's a little harder returning from the Mt Beauty side - no pedalling required for last 20km!
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60
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Bright to Tawonga Gap and return.
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Join the longer ride for the first 20km to the Tawonga Gap, then coast (well, "whizz") back to Bright for coffee.
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40
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Mon 3 Oct
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Mt Buffalo -From Bright to the Chalet back to Bright. Extras to Dingo Dell via Lake Catani or even to the Horn lookout
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The classic climb, 20km all up, for a 1040m elevation gain. Fairly consistent gradient 5-6% all the way to the top, then a short downhill before climbing to the Chalet. Beyond the Chalet, the road reaches the ski fields.
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80
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Mt Buffalo -From Bright to the Chalet back to Bright.
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Great climb, very doable despite the distance with excellent scenery and views. Steepest pitches are in the first 5km past the National Park entry station. The fantastic views from the Chalet lookout make it all worthwhile.
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70
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Tue 4 Oct
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Happy Valley in an anti-clockwise direction via Tawonga Gap and Kancoona Gap.
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There are 2 gaps, but this is a ride of the valleys framed by the ranges. Over the Tawonga Gap then rolling low hills for 20km, a 4km climb over Kancoona Gap, then a delightful descent and up the Ovens Valley along the Great Alpine Road.
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110
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Wandiligong - the Wandi classic
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Relieve tired legs with a gentle ride up Morses Creek cycle path, and explore the diggings at Wandiligong. The Wandi Pub is great place for lunch
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15
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Wed 5 Oct
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Myrtleford to Beechworth
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Loop ride from Myrtleford (30km from Bright), up the Stanley Road and Gap and then through apple and chestnut orchards to Beechworth, and then nearly traffic free back down the rail trail to Everton and Myrtleford.
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76
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Rail trail return from Everton to Beechworth
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Offroad on the rail trail, with a gentle climb from the valley to the gold rush town of Beechworth. Long steady (railway) gradient up, and coast home. This is a 100% traffic-free ride through forests, fields and vineyards.
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40
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Thu 6 Oct
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Bright via Tawonga Gap/Mt Beauty to Falls Creek and back down to Mt Beauty. FYI Mt Beauty is in the bottom of the Kiewa Valley(!)
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Leave Bright over Tawonga Gap to Mt Beauty. Then the fun begins, with 30km up to the Falls Creek ski resort. It undulates initially but the last 15km are a steady 5-6% gradient through beautiful snowgums to Falls. Return to Mt Beauty, & optionally a further 30km back home.
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90, or 120
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Mt Beauty to Falls Creek and return.
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Drive to Mt Beauty for the big 30km climb. After a 4km ascent the road undulates to the 15km point and then heads up to the ski resort, just above tree line.
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60
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Fri 7 Oct
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Harrietville and the Meg
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To Harrietville is a false flat up the valley, and then up to the Meg on the slopes of Mt Hotham, with the option to continue if you wish for big mountain views (snow dependent)
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60
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Harrietville
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False flat up the valley to Harrietville, where the Ovens Valley ends at the epic Mt Hotham climb. Cleverly, we stop here for coffee (and maybe some blueberry picking or the lavender farm), and then coast back to Bright
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50
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Sat 8 Oct
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Happy Valley in a clockwise direction via Ovens and Kancoona Gap and Tawonga Gap.
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Flat for the first 25km then very gradually rises to Kancoona Gap at 3% gradient, then up the Kiewa Valley Hwy to the Tawonga Gap climb from where its 20km all downhill to Bright. Same route as Tue, but a totally different ride in the opposite direction.
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110
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Bright rail trail to Eurobin
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The rail trail rolls down the valley through vineyards and farms, with views across to Mt Buffalo. You can easily go as far as you like, but Eurobin is a nice spot to turn around and return to the Rail Trail Café.
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30
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