Essendon Cyclery - Wednesday Night Shop Ride
The Wednesday night Essendon Cyclery (EC) shop ride is a mid-week dust off.
For those of us who don’t get to ride every morning either on a bunch training ride, or as a commute, this is the perfect mid-week blitz around Essendon, Tullamarine, Keilor and then back to Essendon.
Kirra McDonald reports
The EC guys put on a shop ride… and they do it well! Gareth Huth, owner of EC, supports the ride. He ensures that who ever starts the ride finishes it. And not in a horrible suck it up kind of way, but with a sense of camaraderie and mateship, along with a few laughs, a few lessons and some helpful tips about pedalling.
Meeting out the front of EC for a 6:20pm departure for a social pace, or a 6:30pm departure for a good old push until you pop kind of pace.
What we really like about this ride is that it truly welcomes all abilities. No one is turned away. The guys encourage the ‘newbies’ to bunch riding or riding in general to pop in and talk to the guys befoe the ride, for some helpful tips and so that they can be helped along the way if required. Love it.
The bunch trails out through the pretty suburbs of Essendon and Strathmore… Heading for the Melbourne Airport TOWER…
The route itself is moderately undulating. There are a few pesky rises and some short ripping and winding descents.
There are a number of regulars that attend every week. If you are new to the group it’s always good to watch them for the ‘how to’, or ask questions.
In terms of difficulty it is not extreme. You won’t feel like you are climbing in the Alps… but there are still some pinch climbs along the way. With about 400-450m of elevation over 40km (depending on where you start and finish), it is a great ride to get out on for a mid-week blast!
The EC Wednesday ride goes ALL YEAR round… Yes, these are the hard men and women of Essendon! The winter loop is slightly modified to ensure a well-lit route for rider safety.
What will you get out of this ride? Some top company, some great fitness improvements, and a seriously good fun bunch ride that keeps the mid-week blues away!!
