Lilydale to Warburton Advice

[Mark Sullivan]

I usually ride on roads, but I have accepted an invitation to a social ride with a group. They want
to ride the Rail Trail from Lilydale to Warburton and back. I have a good road bike but a very cheap
mountain bike. Is the surface suitable for a road bike or should I use my mountain bike?

 

[Alan Erskine]

If this group's archived, go to google and search for a thread called "Warburton Rail Trail".

--
Alan Erskine alanerskine(at)optusnet.com.au GWB the Ghengis Khan of the 21st Century

"Mark Sullivan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I usually ride on roads, but I have accepted an invitation to a social
ride
> with a group. They want to ride the Rail Trail from Lilydale to Warburton and back. I have a good
> road bike but a very cheap mountain bike. Is the surface suitable for a road bike or should I use
> my mountain bike?

 

[Peter Signorini]

"Mark Sullivan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I usually ride on roads, but I have accepted an invitation to a social
ride
> with a group. They want to ride the Rail Trail from Lilydale to Warburton and back. I have a good
> road bike but a very cheap mountain bike. Is the surface suitable for a road bike or should I use
> my mountain bike?

Really depends on what your road bike is like. 25mm tyres may not like it much, especially after
rain, but don't let that stop you. I rode from Launching Place to Warburton last weekend on the
trail on my MTB with 1.5" tyres at 100psi with no problems. The surface is generally like a fairly
good gravel road and any bike with tyres of 30mm or more width would be quite OK.

Reminds me of one GVBR. Jamieson to Eildon had a 7km descent on rough gravel road. I was riding my
MTB with the 100psi IRC Metros and expected all the knobby tyre dudes to be flying past. Not so -
the only guy who passed me was a *roadie*, who was riding singles I believe. Your road bike will be
certainly get you there.

Cheers Peter

 

[Ray Peace]

Greetings Mark, If someone else hasn't told you already, take the cheap mountain bike. The rail
trail surface is quartz toppings and would be heavy going on a road bike, particularly after the
rain we have had last night and this morning. Cheers, Ray.

Mark Sullivan wrote:

>I usually ride on roads, but I have accepted an invitation to a social ride with a group. They want
>to ride the Rail Trail from Lilydale to Warburton and back. I have a good road bike but a very
>cheap mountain bike. Is the surface suitable for a road bike or should I use my mountain bike?

 

[Mike Ayling]

I agree with the majority - road bike will be OK if it is dry but after a decent rain the surface
turns to porridge and a wider tyre would be beneficial.

Mike

 

[Mark Sullivan]

Thanks all,

The MTB it is then. (Damn) I did search Google for this but got zip - so maybe this thread will
stand as an answer to an esoteric question for posterity. Seems such a pity to leave a perfectly
good Cannondale RB sitting at home and take a no name MTB - but there you go!

Cheers

Mark

"Mike Ayling" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I agree with the majority - road bike will be OK if it is dry but after a decent rain the surface
> turns to porridge and a wider tyre would be beneficial.
>
> Mike