E-Bike the Yarra Valley Trails, Dandenong hills and mountain tracks

Ask a cyclist what one of the most satisfying things about riding a bike is, and they will tell you it is the sense of freedom. There are many cycling trails in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, and eBikes (electric bikes) have opened up new opportunities for people to explore the region on two wheels, allowing them to cycle further and longer.

Ride into an endless vista of rolling hills, symmetrical vineyards and native bushland with the sun warming your back as you get closer to your first stop: a brewed ‘just right’ coffee at a local ‘just-off-the-trail’ coffee shop. Imagine riding without the hum of traffic advancing on you and covering kilometres of terrain so that you really feel like you’re getting somewhere. Imagine yourself riding the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail knowing you can make it all the way. Impossible? No way! It’s all good with an eBike!

Touring riders have taken to eBikes because they allow riders to go into terrains they might not typically try, making more places accessible. Battery life allows plenty of possibilities. If you take an ebike from Lilydale on the Rail Trail you will easily make it to Warburton (about 40 kilometres) on one charge, including time to stop for a cafe, pub or winery lunch, a couple of stops for photographing or simply appreciating the scenery, and a few rest breaks at the pretty villages (Wandin East, Wandin North, Seville and Yarra Junction are worth exploring) along the trail.

Stay overnight and make a weekend or midweek getaway. Cycle tours (check out Yarra Valley X and Cycling Vine Tours) are the new frontier for travelling! A simple power point in your overnight accommodation is all it takes to recharge your bike and you’re off again in the morning.

You might be surprised to know that eBikes weigh only 10 kg more than a standard bike and you can set and adjust the pedal input as you ride according to how much power assistance you need. The 250-watt motor engages when you pedal and motor assistance cuts out at speeds above 25 km/h, making it easy to get the hang of riding an eBike

The eBike has also levelled the riding field for cyclists of differing abilities. In a group of various fitness levels, the eBike means the riders can still do the same ride and finish well together. It adds to the sociability of the ride and also to people’s capacity to enjoy their ride regardless of fitness level. Keeping pace is more important than winning the race!

Hardcore mountain bikers are also taking to the eBike, especially the ones who prefer the downhill challenge of trail riding. An eBike means the rider spends less time and energy going up the hills and has more to give to the downhill, but equally, the mature rider is also taking to the eBike.

There are plenty of forest trails in the Yarra Valley where eBikes add enjoyment to the ride experience. The O’Shannassey Aqueduct offers a well-maintained trail that snakes along the base of Mt Donna Buang from Millgrove through to the Upper Yarra Reservoir, and there are constructed forest trails that provide riders with experiences from easy to challenging through the magnificent forests. The natural typography of the area provides plenty of variety and that is where eBikes really find their place. The Dandenong Ranges, also a destination for avid cyclists seeking the uphill challenge, is also attracting a new kind of eBike crowd.

The Warburton Bike Park is open and offers over 70 km of trails, with 650 metres of vertical descent. There's also a bookable shuttle service to get you and your bike to the top and trails that suit all abilities and styles of rider. Warburton Bike Park is the closest mountain bike destination to a major airport in Australia. The main trailhead is found at Wesburn Park.

There are plenty of forest trails in the Yarra Valley where eBikes add enjoyment to the ride experience. The O’Shannassey Aqueduct offers a well-maintained trail that snakes along the base of Mt Donna Buang from Millgrove through to the Upper Yarra Reservoir, and there are constructed forest trails that provide riders with experiences from easy to challenging through the magnificent forests.

The natural typography of the area provides plenty of variety, and that is where eBikes really find their place. The Dandenong Ranges are also an excellent destination for avid cyclists seeking the uphill challenge.

Whether you are getting back into riding, and searching for that elusive feeling of fitness, or you just love to cycle because that’s what being out in the fresh air means to you, a bike ride is a great day out – now made even more enjoyable with an eBike.

See more of the area you want to discover and ride in terrain you don’t usually get to do. eBikes let you experience just how enjoyable cycling can be and keep on riding. “eBikes are bringing many new people into recreational riding and sports cycling. Already hugely popular in Europe and other parts of the world, the eBike is set to revolutionise cycling in Australia and you can start right here in the Yarra Valley."