And who said bike trails are lame?

The other day during lunch, another fellow bike rider commented that he’d never ride on bike trails around Melbourne because the trails are boring, so he stays resolutely stays on road for all his travels. This got me thinking as I’m an avid fan of the bike trails as I don’t fancy the idea of having to constantly dodge semi-trailers during my ride.  So on this perfect sunny morning, I set out to proof that bike trail riding can have its own kind of reward. 

Here are some of the images taken during my little pedal, starting from home, to Dandenong & Carrum via Dandenong Creek bike trails, onto Port Melbourne via Beach Road bike path, and returning home via Gardiner and Scotchman’s Trail. 

Bike of choice – my trusty GT Tequesta (Modified for maximum road efficiency, of course)
Subject to Flooding?  Err a slight understatement!
First obstacle – waist deep water from the overnight rain in the underpass.  Believe it or not I rode through it but I wasn’t too happy about it afterwards.
Sun’s up, drying me out after earlier scuba diving.
Leaving the industrial town of Dandenong behind – this is what most people don’t get to see.
A boat floats by while I took a pee break at the river bank….
Home of the rich and not always famous.  Patterson Lakes.
50km mark & I was starving.  Luckily found a great little Japanese shop opening early at Chelsea.  Teriyaki beef & chicken roll, salmon and avocado roll and tuna rice ball.
View from Beach Road bike trail at Black Rock.  (Hot bikini girls jogging on the beach edited out to keep this blog G-rated.)
St Kilda Marina.
A sculpture making an ideal backdrop for my bike to pose with
St Kilda beach & some kind of wind sailing racing in the foreground.
Station Pier & that little boat called Spirit of Tasmania beached.
Southgate – tricky to take a photo where there is no one in sight.
Next shot – people are everywhere.
Couldn’t resist an arty shot….
Heading home via Gardiner bike trail next to M1.  This sign is difficult to miss.
Trail next to the Yarra River – no car to fight with for the next 5km.
109.11 Km in 4:45.  Not a bad way to spend a morning ride.

I think the pictures above speaks for itself.