www.Muggaccinos.com    The Bullsheet

Sunday, 4 Apr – Cinque Montagnes (anti-clockwise) from -
*     Turramurra station 6:45am  100km  ETR  12:55pm; or

*     Hornsby station      7:25am    72km  ETR 11:55am

•           Cyclists commencing at Turra' do not pass Hornsby start point, rather usually catch those departing from Hornsby when approaching Pie in the Sky

•           Ride Leader:   Brian Willis  9807.6439

•      Ride Organiser:  Phil Johnston 9498.3684 hm 

•           Hardcopy these ride directions and bring on Sunday

Both below ride start points to arrive at initial Nosh Stop -  Pie in the Sky for Brunch approaching 10am:

 ¨      Longer Ride - Cinque Montagnes [104km]

Arrive Turramurra car park [North/East side of station] for a 6:45am rollout in/out of Bobbin Head, arriving at Kalkari Reserve 1st Sag Stop (5 min) after 13.5km from 7:20am.  4km later, take a R onto Pac Highway at lights after passing Asquith Golf Course on LHS. Then due Nth to the Hawkesbury.

 ¨      Shorter Ride - Three Hills [72km]

Arrive at Hornsby car-park [100m Nth/West of Railway Hotel in Jersey St] for 7:20am roll out cycling 600m Nth up Jersey St and turn L and 60m later R [at traffic lights] onto Old Pacific Highway for the 26km ride to Pie in the Sky, after scaling the 3.9km climb from Brooklyn Rd.

Both groups pass Cowan station from 7:50am.  After passing Pie in the Sky and descend to water level, we 'U' turn at Brooklyn Rd around 8:30am for the hard fought slog back up to the pie shop for 1st Nosh Stop (25 min) at Pie in the Sky approaching 8:45am (skip the climb from Brooklyn Rd if you're slow).

9:15am we return Sth for about 8.2km before taking a R into Berowra Waters Rd and descend to picturesque Berowra Waters for 2nd Sag Stop (10 min) around 9:45am during ride on the punt. [Or continue south and return to either Hornsby [46km] or Turra’ [76km] car parks]. 

After cycling thru rural Berrilee and Arcadia arrive at 2nd Nosh Stop (35 min)  - in park outside Green Shades Nursery Café Galston for lunch from 10:50am - leave bikes outside the rest rooms and inside the green metal doors on LHS.

Allowing a 30 min repast if the weather is pleasant, we commence our return home via Galston George at 11:20am pulling in at the familiar Hornsby Heights' bus shelter at 11:45am for 3rd Sag Stop (5 min).

ETR -
¨             Hornsby     11:55pm -   72km -  3 hills

¨             Turra'          12:55pm - 100km -  5 hills

Whippet’s rap-up of Sunday, 28 March "Tour de Windsor" - from Turra’ 100km (6 Departed Turra to join Whippet at The M2)

Last Sunday witnessed a return to E.S.T. in the Land of Oz.  Council Elections were 'all done' the day before, with Terry aka Navigator re-elected as a Councillor on Ryde Council.  Shortly, Terry will contest the esteemed position of Mayor of Ryde Council where there are another 4 potential candidates. 

Over recent days, a 6:45am start meant an extra hour’s shut eye.  However this morning’s low cloud prevented any sight of the early sunrise.  The roads were dry from Turra’ via Kissing Point Rd to the short, sharp climb from Brown’s Water Hole.  Whippet was waiting on que at 7:05am at the entrance to the M2.  When exiting the tunnel we experienced a fleeting shower which evidenced protection tops being hastily applied over hot bodies.  That was the only time the skies opened during our entire ride.  Shower jackets marginally reduce the high-speed shoot-out along the 15km M2/Abbots Rd to the second Sag Stop at Johnson Ave where the sun was now shining, so most removed a layer to reveal those bright coloured Lycra tops. 

Numbers were down this morn’ where some of our regulars, incl Rummager, Samurai, Rocket, Kaza, Tornado, The Printer 'et al' had cycled north to meet-up with other Muggs’, incl Alana aka Spanner and Maria/Ross, enjoying the NSW Big Ride which was returning into Sydney.  Our Windsor group included CamelPack Mark, BeanCounter, Adam ‘n Eve, Koala Bear & friend Chris, although BigGears who had indicated his participation, was a ‘no-show’.

After Johnson Ave the pace was reigned-in to a Peloton via deserted back streets where the new ring-road is under construction (may be our exit to the west !!? on future rides) thru Marayong, Riverstone, Vineyard etc, with lots of twists & turns to cross the rail line before reaching the off road cycle way adjacent to Windsor Rd, but alas this path way was being re-constructed to a new concrete path for the remainder of the trip into Windsor.

At 8:50am on que we pedalled into Historic Thompson’s Square after cycling mostly together.  With a tad over 50 clicks on the dial, we searched out a café, opting for the Wood Fired Pizzas Café, ‘cause a table in the sunny alcove beckoned, and pancakes with maple syrup had been sussed out on previous rides.  The rest of us patiently waited for scrumptious Mokador coffee.

Around 10am we commenced our return home, Gene ‘n Chris opted to retrace the flat forward leg via the M2 with the Kissing Point Killer Climb at the end.  Our route along Cattai Ridge Rd still had 50km to go, with two real hills from The Creek and up The Gorge.

After an uninterrupted run along Pitt Town Rd, Old Stock Route Rd, Scheyville Rd to Cattai Ridge, the group held together pending the climb from the wooden planked bridge over Cattai Creek to the top of the Ridge.  our reduced contingent of 5 hammered-on to the junction of Halcrows Rd, once more that steep little part where the road swings left, was most challenging before a short heart-reviver Sag Stop.  Following the 13km ride along Cattai Ridge Rd to the Buss Stop Sag Stop, we opted for the easier route along Old Northern Rd where BeanCounter lead CamelPack, Adam ‘n Eve & Whippet to the Sag Stop at Galston Park after taking the Mid Dural Road to Galston.  Whereupon we scurried on along more familiar territory down/up from The Gorge.

The two-minute breather at the familiar Hornsby Heights Bus Shelter was most welcome before rolling back to Hornsby where we said cheerio to Adam ‘n Eve, Grant then at a more sedentary pace, via the short-cut back to Turra’ along the eastside of the rail line, as there were no takers for Bobbin Head.

Around midday our ride was over, whereupon Whippet headed-off down Kissing Point Rd towards Browns Water Hole where he met Publican way out in front on a BN ride, then came across Gene & Chris who departed Windsor to retrace our M2 route.   

The Whippet   29 March '04