Melbourne has always been a big cycling city. It’s all because Melbourne is a rider’s playground. With famously variable weather, good roads and interesting topography, there’s a particular ride for every kind of rider. There are a million rides and a million ways to ride them in this city.

If you’ve got 3 hours, fang it up Mount Pleasant Road in the city’s outer north east. It’s a punchy 65km loop from the MAAP office, racking up close to 1000m in elevation and a regular on our morning office rides if we want to push it a little further mid-week. You can roll out as a group up until the last 7.5km where it gets harder with four main short climbs.

If you happened to find yourself with a little more time, take Broad Gully Road through Nutfield on the way to St. Andrews for where you’ll find a cafe called A Boy Named Sue, which has the best brekkie pizza going around (they also run a city spot called Laserpig). If you have another hour, then you can hit the King Lake climb, which is about 5% average for 7km, before descending back down and returning to Melbs. That would net you around 110km and 2000m climbing.

If you haven’t got that long, the Yarra Boulevard is a pocket-sized estimation of Melbourne riding, with a bunch of hills, gum trees and some killer views of the Melbourne skyline, all within a short roll from the city.

What else? Get your bike serviced at Saint Cloud on Brunswick Street. Get a coffee from Proud Mary and nick around the corner to their roastery at Aunty Pegs and load up on some of Peru’s finest. Spin over to our shop in North Melbourne and get fitted for some kit. But this is an eating city don’t forget, so save some coin for a fancy dinner on Gertrude Street  – maybe at Poodle or Marion. End the night at one of our diviest bars, maybe Heartbreaker in the city. And then get up and do it all again. It’s that kind of city. 

Saint Cloud, Fitzroy
This crew knows bikes. Pop in for a service and you’re in safe hands.

MAAP, North Melbourne
Yes, we’re recommending ourselves. Pop in for a fit of our latest kit and we’ll sling you a long macchiato.

Marion, Fitzroy
Nominally a wine bar, but it’s run by Melbourne chef and restaurant baron Andrew McConnell. So have a feed with your wine.

Cutler & Co, Fitzroy
Next door is McConnell’s fine diner. It’s just adventurous enough, but with a fair share of classics.

Poodle, Fitzroy
Worth a visit for the checked-floor and marble fitout, but stay for the old-world hotel classics. It’s that kind of city.

Heartbreaker, CBD
That red neon sign has seen some things at this classic CBD dive bar. Theres a jukebox, pool table and an interesting selection of tap beer it’s hard to go wrong.

Monty's, North Carlton
A great neighbourhood haunt, perfect for giving it a nudge on a school night.

Black Pearl, Fitzroy
This place feels like it’s been around forever and it kind of has.

The Boulevard, Kew
An inner-east classic for road riders with a few climbs and perfect views of the Melbourne skyline.

North Road Bunchie
Mon to Fri, 5:45am and 6am. Corner of North Road and Nepean Highway (Caltex), Brighton.

Tour De Burbs
Head out to the suburban hills and challenge your technical skills. Tue, Thu, 6:45pm and 7pm. Cnr of Yarra Boulevard and Chandler Highway, Kew.

Mount Pleasant Loop
A punchy 65km loop from the MAAP office, racking up close to 1000m in elevation.

Kinglake
Push it further with an 5% average for 7km, descending back down and returning to Melbourne.

Dandenong Ranges
Yes we’ve got hills too. A perfect escape from the city, this ride is picturesque with a few great spots for coffee along the way.

Proud Mary / Aunty Peg’s, Collingwood
A perfect corner cafe with plenty of bike parking, with a roastery around the corner cranking out some of Melbourne’s best blends.

Code Black, Brunswick
A warehouse-sized cafe with a roastery next door. a cathedral to coffee.

Counterweight Vinyl & Espresso, Footscray
An inner-west favourite. Great coffee and great records.

Banh Mi at Nhu Lan, Footscray
One of the original Banh Mi joints, famous for their freshly baked buns and super cheap prices. They’ve lasted this long for a reason.

Porchetta at Saul’s Sandwiches, Carnegie
The things they do to pork here should be illegal.

Botanical Gardens, St. Kilda
In the back streets and surrounded by deco apartments, this is a ripping picnic spot.