Bike Path Review: Dandenong Creek Trail

Melbourne is very blessed when it comes to bike paths with a multitude of options in the north, east, south and west. I do not profess to have ridden all of them (far from it), but as I regain my fitness and get used to riding with a trailer I will be exploring a lot more! This review is about a small stretch of path that is ideal for new riders who have just come off training wheels or graduated from a balance bike to pedals. It allows them long stretches of path without road hazards.

The Dandenong Creek Trail (sometimes also referred to as the Bay to Ranges Trail can extend to almost 43kms from Kilsyth in the east to the mouth of the Patterson River in Carrum by the bay. I'm not suggesting you take your kids all the way, but there are multiple sections of the trail that have great parks along the way to stop for a rest or even a picnic. This review will be based on my local stretch of the path which begins just off Colchester Road in Bayswater North. If it is not safe for you to ride to this starting point you can drive and park at Colchester Reserve (just opposite the starting point) on Beresford Drive.

The path is relatively flat and smooth and very easy to navigate with clear signage. You will arrive at a sign that says "Allambanan Drive" which if you follow leads to a great little park for toddlers with toilets, BBQs and a water cooler. I suggest you keep going straight until you reach Glen Park a bit further up the path which is a little hidden gem as it houses the Glen Park Community Cafe which is open Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm. The cafe is mainly staffed by volunteers and they have a brand new menu for 2012. It is worth popping in to receive a coffee loyalty card - buy 5 coffees and get the next one free. A great little reward for your pedalling.

However about 3.5kms into the ride you hit the Bayswater Park or "Train Park" as it is known by the locals which I believe is worth pedalling a few extra kilometres. This stopping point is an ideal turn around point for young riders. It is a fantastic park for kids of all ages and a review of the park can be found here. The park is also across the road from a train station so you could use this as a starting point if you wish. Take a picnic and enjoy the grassy areas or utilise one of the tables on offer.

After your pit stop at any one of these parks you will reach HE Parker Reserve. Just before this is a turn off to another path which will take you on a one way path back towards Bayswater. I would only suggest venturing down this path if you have ridden the route several times and are looking for a change of scenery.

If you are feeling adventurous (or fit) you can meander onwards after your pit stop to the Eastlink Trail which is a further 5kms. From there you can venture along the Eastlink Trail to visit Chesterfield Farm (9kms) or continue on the Dandenong Creek Trail to Jells Park. Both of these could comprise an entirely separate blog post, suffice to say there are plenty of activities on offer for kids at both venues including cafes, picnic spots and toilets.

The Dandenong Creek Trail connects to numerous other paths: the Tarralla Creek Trail, Belgrave Rail Trail and Blind Creek Trail in the north. Centrally to the Scotchmans Creek Trail and the EastLink trail. In the south at Dandenong, it connects to the Hallam Bypass Trail and finally the Bayside Trail at Carrum. There are literally dozens of options to choose from to keep you spinning all day long!

Once I have my new wheels I will be reviewing other parts of this fantastic path.

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The Bike Lesson

Just discovered Dr Seuss' "The Bike Lesson"

Come here, Small Bear,

Here is something you will like

look, Ma, look!

A brand new bike!

Thanks, dad! Thanks!

For me, you say?

I am going to ride it

right away!

Not yet, not yet,

not yet, my son...

First come the lessons,

then the fun.

How to get on is lesson one.

12 things you might not know about Cadel...

Overnight Cadel Evans became a household name in Australia...and indeed perhaps the world.  Australians who had never before entertained the thought of riding to the shop for some milk, let alone donning lycra, are now caught up in the magic that is cycling.  I have goosebumps just writing that statement, because for years cycling has struggled to gain a few centimetres ad space on the sporting pages despite Australians being hugely successful on the international cycling scene.  Today we see a man in a yellow jersey grinning from ear to ear on the front pages of every newpaper in the country.  The Tour de France is THAT big.  Cadel's win is even bigger.

For many reading this blog you probably caught the cycling bug a long time ago and you are aware that Cadel's win is a fitting crescendo for a man who has overcome huge setbacks over the last 10 years.  We have watched him grapple with the Alps, The Pyrenees and the elusive time trial many times with bad luck and little team support.  This year was always going to be Cadel's year and he didn't let his supporters down.  On Sunday evening (AEST) he likely gained millions more followers and hero status within sport-obsessed Australia.  They know that an Aussie guy won a HUGE bike race in France and that for reasons that escape them...it is a big deal.  They probably didn't endure sleep deprivation over 3 weeks watching every gripping moment of the most challenging sporting event in the world.  But they now know who Cadel Evans is.  He is a cyclist.  Cycling is making front page news all around Australia, and for those of us who are passionate about getting more people riding more often, especially kids, Cadel's win is nothing short of a bonanza!

Cadel in his early days.  Courtesy of http://rideons.files.wordpress.com

But do people really know that much about the man who is dominating headlines around the country?  Here are 12 things you may not know about Cadel Evans.

1. Evans was born in Katherine and spent his early years in the remote Bamyili community of Australia’s Northern Territory.

2. Evans has a dog called Molly who became quite famous during the 2008 Tour de France when her master was being interviewed directly after losing the yellow jersey in stage 15. When someone got to close to the little dog, the Australian shouted, “Don't stand on my dog, or I cut your head off!” (courtesy www.cyclingnews.com)  Cadel turned it into a joke and subsequently made t-shirts using the slogan.

3. Evans is a passionate advocate for the Tibet movement and sponsors a Tibetan child "Tashi" whom he and his wife Chiara have visited. “Trying to bring awareness of the Tibet movement is something someone in my position can do. I just feel really sorry for them. They don’t harm anyone and they are getting their culture taken away from them.  I don't want to see a repeat of what happened to Aboriginal culture [in Australia] happen to another culture.'' he’s said. (quote courtesy of www.smh.com.au).

4. Before turning to road cycling in 2001, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's mountain bike event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

5. Cadel completed the 2010 TDF with a broken elbow.

6. A biography, "Cadel Evans: Close To Flying", was published by Hardie Grant Books in November 2009.

7. Cadel's wife Chiara is Italian, a concert pianist and choral singer.

8. Cadel is an only child and much of his upbringing was in a single parent family with his mum Helen.  Helen is a Bicycle Victoria member and encouraged young Cadel to ride to school, and mother and son would also ride together to the local pool. Cadel soon discovered mountain bike racing, however, and it became his passion. (Courtesy of http://rideons.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/out-riding-the-world/)

9. Cadel once rode past a friend of mine who had a flat tyre on a training ride around Kinglake.  He slowed down and yelled out to see if he was OK. That's cool!

10.  One of Cadel's favourite places to eat is Annie's Provedore in Barwon Heads, VIC (Cadel's residence when in Australia during the off-season).  He says on his website "Nice and cozy local delicatessen and cafe', now with the best pizza too!"" 

11.Cadel prefers to train in silence and also needs at least an hour's "alone" time when on Tour.  He also goes for a walk alone (or with Molly) every night after dinner to clear his head.

12. During the training season Cadel resides in Stabio, Switzerland.  Stabio has a population of around 4500 people and approximately 23% of those are resident foreign nationals.  He joins a huge number of other sporting stars and celebrities, not to mention other cyclists who also live in Switzerland including Thor Hushovd, Andreas Kloden, Jan Ullrich and Oscar Freire.

Tour de France Competition

I am running a competition to celebrate the magic in the air that surrounds the Tour de France.  Send me a pic of your little one wearing a Spin Baby "Mini King of the Mountain" jersey by midnight on Sunday 31st July and you will go in the draw to win a Spin Baby jersey of your choice valued at AUD $35.00.  Please send pics to sarah@spinbaby.com.au

Spin Baby Photo Shoot

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Bek from Little Red Photography.  Bek had agreed to take on the challenge of photographing 8 kids on bikes and trikes...and two outfit changes.  Whilst the adults were scrambling trying to keep our little ones still, calm and smiling for the camera, Bek was an absoulute pro and knew what to say or do at the exact right time to avoid tantrums and crack a smile.  She was a joy to work with and I think you will agree the end product is amazing.  I can't wait to use some of these images in my advertising.  Thanks again Bek.