Lyneham Shops – Leaving 7:30am

Lyneham Shops your local shops and cafes during your stay. You might like to try breakfast at Tilley’s Devine Cafe Gallery or The Front Gallery and Cafe.

The route details are available on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3405908374827855568 and GPX File

Capital Brewing – Leaving 9:30am

Welcome to Canberra. Today’s ride will take us to one of Canberra’s lesser known ‘industrial’ areas Fyshwick. The purpose is to find Capital Brewing a microbrewery that has been around 2016 and is the first brewery in Australia to be 100% Climate Active Carbon Neutral certified. The beer and food is pretty good too!

But being an Adelaide Bromponeering ride there are a fair few plot twists to be had before we arrive at Capital Brewing for lunch.

The ride starts out pretty simply by following the C3 and then the C1. But as Adelaide Bromptoneers we’re not going to stick the road well ridden. We’re going to leave the C1 to take some back streets and laneways. But for good measure there is 3.5km of dirt trail at the base of Mount Ainslie for us to try. All pretty easily handled by the Brompton. Fortunately, we have a rest stop at the Bragg Street Neighbourhood Park before we tackle the dirt track. Your thermos (that you placed in the support car before going) with your preferred morning drink and snacks will be available.

We leave the dirt track just behind the Australian War Memorial. We will leave the Australian War Memorial at 12 noon, which should provide us with an hour or so to look around. We then tour past the many memorials along Anzac Parade before scooting through Campbell and then crossing in to the heart of the Defence establishment in Reid before arriving at the shore of Lake Burley Griffin.

A gentle ride around the lake and past some cows will lead us to our lunch spot of Capital Brewing. After lunch we continue through the Jerrabomberra Wetlands back to the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin. 

We ride through Kingston Foreshore before passing the National Gallery, National Library and High Court. We will be back on Wednesday with a couple of hours set aside to explore. But, if you want stay here a bit longer and return at your own pace just let us know your plans at lunch. The main group, however, will continue back onto the C8 and then C3 back to Alivio.

The route details are available on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3402487591925144260 and GPX File

I have some optional Strava routes if you want to avoid the gravel or would like the challenge of climbing Mount Ainslie.

Rest Stops/Running Schedule

1. 10.2km (10:15am) – Coffee and Snack – Bragg Street Neighbourhood Park – (on street parking)
2. 15km (11:00am) – Australian War Memorial and Poppys Cafe – (paid parking)
3. 27km (12:30pm) – Capital Brewing – (car park)

The Embassy Ride – Leaving 9:30am

Today’s ride will take us around the world by visiting many of the Diplomatic Missions located in Canberra.

We start with a quick mosey through Canberra CBD and then across the Waterloo Bridge. Not long after this our world tour starts with the British High Commission – an OBVIOUS spot for a Brompton line up.

The first coffee stop will be near Nara Peace Park and a bunch of other parks. A chance to go to the toilet and enjoy your coffee and a snack. 

Part of the route is based on the National Capital Authority’s Diplomatic Missions Self-Guided Driving Tour. More details are available from their website. The first group of Diplomatic Missions involve some gentle undulations.

Before getting to the second group of Diplomatic Missions we will pop into the Royal Australian Mint for 60 minutes. 

We visit a few more Diplomatic Mission (and a few more undulations) then we arrive in Woden for lunch. All being well the lunch spot will be in the park at Friends & Momos or you can bring your own. For those who want to turn their Brompton into a stunt BMX please visit the nearby skate park at lunch.

The final set of Diplomatic Missions involves some steady climbing (this were the bulk of the vertical gain is achieved). Then we head to the peak of Red Hill for some stunning views and another public toilet. For those wanting to avoid the climb, arrangements can be made at the lunch spot for transportation to the next meeting spot … with the appropriate foldable donation. Or alternatively, you can ask for the route with the shortcut after the Mint.

After Red Hill we scoot down the hill with a fantastic view of Capital Hill, we then pass by new and old Parliament Houses and then back towards Canberra CBD. We head around the other side back towards Alivio Tourist Park.

The route details are on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3475708312032874028 and GPX

Rest Stops/Running Schedule

1. 9.0km (10.15am) – Toilet Stop – Nara Peace Park (car park)
2. 17.0km (11.00am) – Coffee and cake at the Big Coins and the Royal Australian Mint (Depart 12.15 am) (car park near Big Coins)
3. 22.5km (12:45pm) – Lunch at Friends and Momos (Depart 1.45pm) (car park)
4. 33.0km (2:45pm) – Afternoon rest stop at the top of Red Hill

Verity Ln – Leaving at 6:30pm

The Sydney Building in Canberra CBD houses the Verity Lane Market a wide choice of food choices for dinner. We will leave for dinner at 6:30pm.

The route details are on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3407032350692637318 and GPX

Variation – The Embassy Ride without Red Hill

This option removes the biggest climb of the day and travels back from Woden on the C4 meeting the main route near Canberra Grammar Girls School.

The route details are on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3475708312032874028 and GPX

Parliamentary Triangle – Canberra’s Monumental Centre – Leaving 9:30am

Today’s ride will take us to the heart of our nation’s national monuments. But before we get there we will ride around Black Mountain starting with a steady climb through some lovely bush and long downhill towards the south western part of Lake Burley Griffin.

Our first stop will be a short toilet break at the beginning as the route joins Lake Burley Griffin. Those who are adventurous and with too much energy might decide they want to leave early to visit the National Arboretum. They can join us at this stop.

We continue on the Lake Burley Griffin Trail riding over the Scrivener Dam, around Government House and Royal Canberra Golf Course. The morning tea stop will be in Weston Park. You can consume your coffee with a snack or you can purchase your requirements from the Yarralumla Play Station. Toilets are also available.

We continue on the Lake Burley Griffin trail until we arrive at Commonwealth Place. We then follow the Canberra Centenary Trail. We can park our bikes at the National Portrait Galley Bike Park. In this area you can explore the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, the High Court, the National Library of Australia, Old Parliament House, New Parliament House, the National Carillon and Questacon. We will be staying in this area until 2:30pm. If you decide to visit New or Old Parliament House you can negotiate to meet the group there.

We continue on the Canberra Centenary Trail past both Parliament Houses and then some pretty natty paths. Around the back of Parliament Houses and then we a small hill climb to enable a nice downhill run through Manuka past Saint Christopher’s Cathedral and Manuka Oval. Then it’s back to Lake Burley Griffin. We cross the bridge to continue on the northern shoreline. Our afternoon tea stop is the National Museum of Australia. We will be there for just over an hour.

After the National Museum of Australia we head through The Australian National University to Bent Spoke for dinner, a cycling themed microbrewery for dinner in the trendy inner city district of Braddon. Let’s hope we don’t bend a spoke en route. After dinner, we head up through North Canberra to Dickson to join the C6.

Rest Stops/Running Schedule

1. 11km (10:15am) – Toilet Stop – (no parking)
2. 17.5km (10:45am) – Morning coffee and snacks – Weston Park (Depart 11:30pm) (parking)
3. 26.5km (12:00pm) – National Portrait Gallery (Depart 2:30pm) (paid parking)
4. 39.5km (3:30pm) – Afternoon tea and snacks – National Museum of Australia (Depart 5:00pm) (parking)
5. 45.0km (5:30pm) – Bent Spoke for dinner (paid parking)

The route is available on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3481415657318785326 and GPX

Variation – Parliamentary Triangle, National Arboretum, and Bent Spoke

The route is available on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3481556618965539656 and GPX

Variation – Parliamentary Triangle without Bent Spoke

The Route is available on Strava >>> https://www.strava.com/routes/3402498679070688864 and GPX

Variation – Bent Spoke Loop

This is a short loop to Bent Spoke leaving from Alivio.

The route is available on Strava >> https://www.strava.com/routes/3402489975585602056 and GPX

C9C7 Peripherique – Country Canberra – Leaving 9:30am

Today’s ride will take us around the northern and eastern extremities of Canberra. This is a chance to see what the countryside may have been like before they decided to plop a capital on it.

We start out by crossing North Canberra towards the new Garden City Cycleway. This is a new family friendly bike route the connects key parts of inner-northern Canberra. Some of the early birds may have decided to have breakfast in Braddon or in Canberra CBD. Your meeting point with the main group will be at the corner of Constitution Avenue. 

The first rest stop will be near the Australian-America Memorial Eagle. There is no public toilet but in the defence buildings there are a bunch of cafes. If you need a public toilet the closest is about 500m away. First we acquaint ourselves with Duntroon the only Australian military base that the public can travel through (according the internet). Please note that the speed limit for passing marching soldiers is 15km/h. For those in need of an extra challenge you can turn left on to General Bridges Drive to climb Mount Pleasant \ to see the view and the Royal Australian Artillery National Memorial.

After this we spend quite a bit of time passing  through the Canberra countryside. This includes Canberra Airport, the Canberra Truffle Farm,  the Army’s Majura Training Area, Treetop Advenutres and Mount Majura Vineyard. While for various reasons we won’t be visiting these places, we will, however, take a rest stop at Majura Pines. Here there are picnic tables, basic toilet facilities and kilometres of mount biking. You will be able to get your coffee and snack from the car. From here the climbing begins. Most of it is gentle but steady.

We rejoin suburbia with a pretty scenic and fast downhill. You’ll get to spy on some of the latest suburban creations and venture into those suburbs for lunch at Cypher Brewing Co. Those of you looking for short cut can catch the new tram to Macarthur avenue and zip back to Alivio.

We will explore some more of the suburbs and lakes before we arrive at Cafe Birrigai on Lake Ginniderra for afternoon tea. From here it’s just 5km through the AIS back to Alivio. 

The Route is available on Strava >>> https://www.strava.com/routes/3402543902153785680 and GPX

Rest Stops/Running Schedule

1. 9km (10:15am) – Quick rest stop (toilets 500m away) – Australian-America Memorial Eagle – (no support required)
2. 21km (11:15am) – Morning coffee and snack stop – Majura Pines – (parking)
3. 32km (12:30pm) – Lunch – Cypher Brewing – (paid parking)
4. 45km (2:30pm) – Afternoon tea – Cafe Birrigai – (possible parking)

Lolo and Lola – Leaving 6:30pm

I am looking forward to this one. Lolo and Lola is a Filipino restaurant that is a favourite of one of our riders. We leave at 6:30pm.

The Route is available on Strava >>> https://www.strava.com/routes/3402495415792707268 and GPX

Variation – Mount Ainslie Challenge

The Route is available on Strava >>> https://www.strava.com/routes/3481772754239166492 and GPX

C5C4 Southern Explorer – Leaving 8:00am

This is the final and longest ride of the Canberra Takeover. The route will explore the outer southern regions of Canberra by following much of the cross town C5 cycleway from Belconnen to Tuggeranong.

But before we join the C5 we will visit Savoir French, a lovely French Patisserie nestled in campus of The Australian National University and then the Australian National Botanic Gardens for about an hour or so.

There will be options to visit the Botanic Gardens, ride up to the top of Black Mountain, or alternatively, you can sleep in and join us at the Botanic Gardens for our departure around 10:30am.

Before joining the C5 near the National Arboretum, we will circumnavigate Black Mountain Peninsula – a much calmer ride than the mountain itself. The route passes the same toilet stop that we passed on Day 3. This will be the last toilet stop before lunch in 14km. The morning tea stop will be at the Scrivener Dam (the dam that forms Lake Burley Griffin) lookout a few kilometres down the road.

We will continue to wind our way down the C5, taking small diversion into Waramanga and Fisher to explore the suburbs and reduce our kilometres by a little bit. Lunch will be at Kambah Village. Here you will be able to choose between the cyclists favourites of L’Epi Artisan Bakery or the Kambah Inn. You might choose to sample both?

After lunch, the route continue to circumnavigate Lake Tuggeranong where there will be opportunities to have a photo spot or two and a public toilet if needed. After the circumnavigation we will join the C4 for the return journey back to Alivio. There will be an opportunity to eat your cake and drink bought from the bakery in Kambah at Arabanoo Park in Woden. If there are any monuments that you’ve missed feel free to peel off as we pass them on the way back at around 4:00pm – but don’t forget to let us know.

The Route is available on Strava >>> https://www.strava.com/routes/3402572767299730538 and GPX

Rest Stops/Running Schedule

1. 5km (8:30am) – Savoir French (paid parking level 4 and 5 – QR Code payment)
2. 7km (9:45am) – Australian National Botanic Gardens (Leave 10:45am)
3. 13km (11:15am) – Scrivener Dam Coffee and Cake – (parking)
4. 25km (12:45pm) – Kambah Village – (parking) – (Leave 2:00pm)
5. 40km (3:15pm) – Arabanoo Park – (paid parking)

Variations – Black Mountain Challenge

The Route is available on Strava >>> https://www.strava.com/routes/3481768479253779484 and GPX