According to the reviews on the Internet the Poowong Circuit is described as "hilly and demanding". This is, of course, just the type of challenge that the members of the Warby Ghost Riders go looking for.
With this in mind three riders (Duncan, Dennis and Ross) assembled at Lang lang for a 2 pm start. The initial weather conditions were fine, cool and overcast, although the presence of a gusting wind meant that it could not all be plain sailing.
The Poowong Circuit heads from Lang Lang to Poowong along McDonalds Track (actually a sealed road), then turns North through the tiny hamlet of Athlone to Drouin South. The final stretch runs directly back to Lang Lang. The total distance is approximately 75 km.
From Lang Lang to Poowong the road is generally quiet and in very good condition. There are a few steady climbs and short descents before the final long climb up to the top of the ridge. This is fairly demanding but well within the capability of most weekend cyclists.
Poowong is a small country town perched on a most picturesque hilltop. If you arrive on a Saturday afternoon you can expect to find most of the (few) shops closed, apart from the small pub and a General Store. Possibly the highlight of any visit to Poowong might be the wooden horse at the end of the main street, erected as a monument to the founding fathers who first pioneered the settlement at in the late 1800s. On the other hand, if you are keen cyclist, you may want to take advantage of the deserted main street to practise your criterium skills.
The next stage of the circuit begins with another climb of a couple of km, followed by a long fast descent. This is a good chance to either rest your legs and lungs or to see how fast you can make your treadly move. The beautiful scenery on all sides makes this an exhilerating place to really enjoy your cycling experience.
Once down the long descent the remainder of the road to Drouin South consists of gently undulating (short) hills. For maximum enjoyment they should be tackled at your own comfortable pace. Twenty-nine kilometres from Poowong you need to turn left at the T intersection and follow the road all the way back to the start at Lang Lang. Unfortunately this part of the road is not as quiet as the previous two sections, so a little more care is required to avoid becoming another lycra clad road kill.
Although you might begin to feel that it must be all downhill from here, there is still one LARGE climb left to achieve. The ascent of Heath Hill is probably not as long as the earlier climb to Poowong but when your legs are getting tired and your backside is numb, it is hard enough to raise your heartrate by a reasonable margin. The good news is that once you are over the crest, the remainder of the ride back to Lang Lang is gentle to flat (unless you are pushing into a head wind like we were!)
When you reach the outskirts of Lang Lang the road becomes dead straight and slightly downhill - just the place for a final breakneck sprint to the finish line. We completed the ride in just under 4 hours, including a substantial stop at Poowong and several other stops along the way to enjoy the scenery and have a drink. Our average speed was about 22 kph. Of course we could have gone faster, but this was meant to be a social ride NOT a "gutbuster".
We would like to encourage other members of the Warby Riders to give this ride a go - it really is a great ride through some of the prettiest countryside you will find anywhere.