Park your car at the roundabout at The Basin (Melways Map Ref. 65 G7) and start pedalling up the Mountain Highway to Sassafras (make sure you lock the car up in The Basin as there are lots of Bogan's to steal your stuff - my brother told me this 'cause he lives here). It's a pretty easy climb and a good warm up for the first real hill. After about 2 kms turn off right up the Tobruk Ave. It's signposted so it is pretty hard to miss. Tobruk Ave is more of a track than an Avenue, as it is a fire access road and closed to traffic. Once on Tobruk Ave, just keep climbing. It's a relatively easy climb, the surface is pretty hard packed and not really technically difficult, although I did take a mate on it a few years ago who had never ridden and guess what, he never has since! (Got to stop doing that) It's a medium sort of climb that goes for about 3 Kms through really tall gum trees. As you climb, there are a few different tracks to take, but if you just keep going up at every intersection you won't go wrong and you'll eventually reach the top at the One Tree Hill car park.

Once at the car park entrance, go to the top where the pavilion is and off to the right you'll see a fairly steep descent on a fire trail. Go down this (as fast as you can) - it is heaps of fun. About 300 metres later when you get to the hard left hand turn where there is a water tank, go straight ahead on the single track. This is a funky little trail that has some really nice technical climbs and takes you to the corner of Mt Erin Rd and Jansdell. The single track meets the road and you go left - riding on this road you should have houses on your right and bush on your left. About 200m later you'll hit a gate - go through this and get ready to laugh. It's a ripper downhill that has some very fast and flowing single track, fire trail and hard hair pin corners. Look out for single track taking off to the right, which takes off after the hard left hand turn 300 metres down the track - if you see some take it. It goes in the same direction as the fire trail but is a lot better. Keep heading down until you eventually reach the Mountain Highway again (yes, you did just turn off this before) and turn right.

You'll now feel a bit like a roadie, 'cause you'll be climbing all the way up this road to Sassafras. It is a fantastic training hill for those of you who do a bit of racing. Up all the way, a nice pitch and not too much traffic. You'll probably see roadies going up so if you really want to piss them off, race them! It's always good for a laugh. The bush around you is amazing with massive mountain ash trees and ferns all over the place. Once at the top, you'll be in Sassafras and turn left. Head up the Tourist road towards Olinda and as you hit the first right hand turn with the massive 'Cape Cod' house turn left up Aurora Rise - it's only a little road - and go up that hill. It's the back way to Olinda and has a climb that if you make it without walking, you are officially a legend. Follow Aurora Rise road along for about 400 metres until you see a single track on the right that goes straight up. You can't miss it 'cause it goes straight up for about 200 metres! As I said, very few people that have done this ride with me have ridden it. Not only do you have to be fit and pretty strong, it's very technical and slippery. A ripper challenge. When you get to the top, there's a little car park. Follow the road from this car park that takes off to the right all the way down to Olinda which is about 1 or 2 kms away. This is the best part. If you are clever, you'll have shoved a lobster ($20) in your jersey pocket. Go straight into Ranges café and depending on the time of day get any breakfast, pancake or pie. I personally recommend the Sticky Date Pudding. The food is awesome and the owner is MTB friendly and lets you leave your bike out the back so it doesn't get nicked.

The way back to the car is a pisser. Take the Tourist Road right out the front of ranges all the way back down to Sassafras, which is 5kms away. Yes, it is the main road through the Dandenong Ranges, but for fun, we always either have a rolling race - no peddling - all the way down or even better, try and go down the whole way hands free. The car drivers tend to freak out when you overtake them with no hands, especially when there is a few of you - but if you can just to see their reactions! There are no hills to Sassafras, just 5 kms of gentle downhill so it's hilarious fun.

Once in Sassafras, turn right back down the Mountain Highway, but go right at the first dirt road that takes off about 100 metres after the turn off. This is called Old Coach Rd, and it's cut off to cars with a gate about 300 metres down. This fire access trail descends down in a really fast set of twisting corners and hairpins. About 3/4 of the way down is a house off to the right in the bush with a CRAZY dog. This dog is a bit of a legend, probably been kicked at some time by a MTB rider and hates bikes. Don't stop, 'cause you'll be eaten. If you just keep going down you'll eventually come out at the bottom on the Basin / Olinda Rd. This downhill is fast, exciting and is payback for all the climbing you have done. The Basin / Olinda rd takes you back to the car, which is about 2 kms or so away. There is a single track off to the left that saves you from riding on the road so jump on that.

This is a great Sunday ride with a bit of everything. No doubt we'll be doing it on one of our Monthly Sunday rides. Call the team at VICMTB for more details on this ride or any other posted. And keep your eye on the web for the next ride review and Sunday ride date and destination

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