If you are free on the Labour Day holiday, Monday 9th, the day after the club’s regular Sunday breakfast, then please come along on this short but very enjoyable countryside ride.
What
“In the Wake of Classics??” What on earth does that mean David? Well, the club occasionally organises special rides just for members who own older classic 2-stroke Vespas. Modern auto Vespas aren’t welcome on these rides as we want to set a slow relaxed pace. However here is an opportunity for auto Vespa owners to come along and see what kind of shenanigans our old smoke belching beasts get up to. Of course classic scooters are very welcome too.
Where
We are venturing into the rural fringes outside Melbourne in the hills around St Andrews just east of the city. Our destination is Hurstbridge - the long way round. Some of my earliest sojourns on a Vespa in the 1960s were to Hurstbridge which was a remote rural hamlet back then. Pete Zimm’s Hillbilly Heist Ride in 2017 was also inspirational. The slow-paced ride uses a carefully planned route that keeps us away from busy traffic. The quiet scenic winding roads in the area are a delight to ride. You’ll find it hard to believe that we are only 28 kms from the CBD as the crow flies.
The Route
Much of our 105-km route will be on sealed semi-rural roads with little traffic. The scenery is very pretty and you’ll enjoy meandering along at a leisurely pace. There are a few exhilarating challenges however. The route from Heidelberg to Hurstbridge is about 72-kms and will take us about 2 hours 20 mins. Much of it is along one of Melbourne’s famed “Green Wedges” - the Nillumbik Shire Green Wedge. As we breathe in the fresh air, we may find the intoxicating aroma of 2-stroke oil still lingering in the valleys from last year’s classic Blue Smoke ride. After lunch we have a short but pretty 30-km scenic return route to Ivanhoe East where we’ll enjoy a farewell coffee.
Skill Level
This route was designed for older manual-gear-change Vespas. Its actually a bit of a technical ride. There are many narrow roads without lane markings, tight curves, blind corners, hairpin bends and steep hills - both up and down. These are things that experienced riders usually enjoy but which might make beginners rather nervous. Make an honest assessment of your own ability to decide whether this ride is suitable for you.
Lunch
Lunch will be in Hurstbridge. There is a great bakery in the town with a range of delicious pies and pastries to suit all tastes. We may eat on the spot or ride the short distance to Fergusons Paddock, Bring your own food if you wish.
Departure Point and Time
Heidelberg Cricket Ground Car Park <see map here>.
At the Burgundy Street and Beverley Road intersection.
Departure is at 10 am sharp
Have breakfast beforehand. If coming from the city, go along Burgundy Street through the Heidelberg shopping strip and turn left just after Rosanna Road down into the parklands. If coming from the east, use Jika Street. The car park is sign posted just across a small creek before the oval. This location puts us very close to those quiet back roads without having to contend annoying traffic lights.
Note
There will be no fuel stops on this ride so please arrive with a full tank.
Hope to see you for a grand day out, David
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