Cycling Circuit: Fairfield - Reservoir - Fairfield

An easy and relatively scenic cycle ride up the Darebin Creek for lunch at the friendly Lady Bower cafe in Reservoir, with an optional return via the St Georges Rd Trail.
GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE:  Easy 16km cycling ride, with optional 11km extension after lunch back to the starting point.
MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10:30am | Yarra Edge Cafe, Yarra Bend Rd, Fairfield.
MAP REFERENCE: Melway map 44 grid H1; Google map goo.gl/maps/37c8c47Jo992.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: There are good cycling connections from all directions to Fairfield Park.  However, if you need to travel by public transport, take a Hurstbridge or South Morang line train to Clifton Hill Station - the Hurstbridge line train that departs Flinders Street Station platform 1 at 9:58am arrives at Clifton Hill at 10:18am.  From the eastern exit, ride along Spensley St to the end.  Continue a short distance through the park and turn left onto the cycling path, which you should follow to Heidelberg Rd (only about 200 metres - don’t turn right down the steep descent).  At Heidelberg Rd, turn right and use the footpath on the bridge to cross the Yarra, then immediately turn right to follow the bike path to meet Yarra Bend Rd at the small car park.  Turn right at Yarra Bend Rd, and the cafe is about 200 metres on your left.
FOOD | WATER: Bring a litre of water, but no lunch - we’ll have lunch at The Lady Bower cafe in Reservoir.
APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Wear helmet and cycling gear suitable for the forecast weather conditions.  It will be chilly, so don’t forget gloves, scarf, warm layers and a waterproof layer in case of rain.  Hybrid or mountain bikes are best, but road bikes should be OK - most of the ride will be on off road trails though, with the chance of striking the occasional gravel section.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: After having a coffee at the Yarra Edge Cafe, we’ll cycle to the Main Yarra Trail via the Chandler Highway - an opportunity to inspect the progress of the new Chandler Highway bridge.  We’ll follow the Main Yarra Trail for a short distance, then use the scenic new link through to the Darebin Trail, which we’ll then follow to Dunne St, just prior to Bundoora Park.  From there we'll take some quiet suburban streets for lunch at The Lady Bower, 1A Marchant Ave, Reservoir.  After lunch, there's the option to exit the ride via Reservoir Station, or to head south a short way beside High St to pick up the bike path that runs along St Georges Rd and follows the South Morang train line, with train station exit options never more than a kilometer or two away.  At Westgarth Street, we'll turn left onto the Merri Creek Path, which connects with the Capital City Trail and options to disperse in whichever direction you wish to, or catch a train home from stations such as Rushall, Clifton Hill, Royal Park, Flemington Bridge or Fairfield.  There are some short, minor climbs but the ride is predominantly flat.
LEADER | RSVP: Alan D. | by Friday 29th June online at www.thenomadsinc.org.au.