Maldon Cycling Group has just published a book with information about 16 local bike rides. They all start and finish in Maldon and are of varying distances and difficulty – from a short one around town to much longer rides. Peter Strang, one of the team who produced the book said, “There are some great rides around Maldon. Hopefully, this book will help some locals and visitors explore the area by bike”.
The book contains nine A4 maps showing 16 road rides. Each with detailed route descriptions, elevation profiles and local photographs. The rides cover a wide area. These include Bridgewater in the north, down to Daylesford, out to Maryborough, and across to Leanganook (Mount Alexander).
The rides are on surfaced roads, suitable for most types of bikes. All start and finish at Maldon, but you can join at other points on the route if you like. Many of the rides are via Castlemaine. Routes are on quiet roads where possible, but some sections with heavier traffic can’t be avoided entirely.
“There are many different types of bike riders. This book includes some challenging road rides. We plan to produce a book of gravel rides and one for more casual riders,” said Peter.
The book is sold at Maldon Newsagency, Mt Tarrengower General Store (formerly The Book Wolf), Maldon Bicycles, Maldon Getaways new hub store, and the Maldon & Castlemaine Visitor Information Centres. It is also at Stoneman’s Bookroom in Castlemaine and Giant Bike Shop (Hargraves Street, Castlemaine). It is also available in Maryborough and Bendigo. RRP is $15, but the price may vary at some outlets.
Maldon Cycling is a local group of bike riders who run the Maldon Classic, a display of classic steel bikes (to be held again in early 2024). They also have a team in the Murray to Moyne cycle relay and raise funds for Maldon Hospital. The maps (and some gravel ride maps) are on the Maldon Cycling website – www.maldoncycling.org.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 15 September 2023.
