www.Muggaccinos.com     The Bullsheet

Sunday, 31 July, by 8:45am from St Ives for "Brunch at Warriewood" - return via Wakehurst Parkway - 94km - ETR 2:00pm

• Cyclists should target arriving 1st Nosh Stop of West Head (BYO nibbles).  If you are slow, start early.  If ya fast, start by above times.

• Ride Organiser:  Phil Johnston - 9498.3684 hm who is cycling in USA, but returns for Tour de Macarthur w'end on 20/21 Aug

• Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday.

• DON'T cycle 2 abreast on single lane roads with an unbroken centre line

• Get well off the road at Sag Stops.

• Road cycling may be dangerous with cyclists and 3rd parties getting killed or badly injured each year.  Membership of Bicycle NSW provides $20m Public Liability cover if you injure a fellow Mugg or motorist. 

• If you cause an accident to another Mugg or 3rd party, you could lose your personal assets.  Or conversely, if you are badly injured by another cyclist, you might litigate the negligent cyclist.  If you regularly park your butt on a bicycle seat, and if you aren't a member of a cycle racing club, join Bicycle NSW or Bike Vic or check your household insurance policy which might cover 3rd party beyond your front fence or you might be able to add extensive 3rd party coverage to your household policy el cheapo.

1st Leg: St Ives to West Head, via Duffys Forest - 41km - 113 min
Depart St Ives car-park between 8:35am and 8:45am depending on your ride speed:

• E along Mona Vale Rd for 6.2km;

• L [opposite Forest Way - at Mona Vale Fruit Barn] into Myoora Rd and take a fleeting Sag Stop (3 min);

• 3km along Myoora Larool Rd until Tepko Rd which is 70m before Booralie Rd;

• L into Tepko Rd (70m short of Booralie Rd) for 400m;

• L into Booralie Rd and pedal like "shit out of Shanghai" 6.7km flat/fast stretch past Terrey Hills Golf Course and rifle range to Duffys Forest (amidst real pigs, goats, horses 'n cows);

• "U" turn at the dead-end of Cow Corner – slower cyclists must turn around as soon as they see lead cyclists returning to return via same route and pull up under shady tree [left of the white road line] 150m past Terrey Hills neighbourhood shopping centre [opposite Terrey Hills Thai Restaurant] for a Sag Stop (3 min) - if you are slow, feel free to continue on to West Head;

• Down McCarrs Creek Rd enter Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park for 3km to "V" (dual entrances to the park);

• R at the "V" anti-clockwise and descend to McCarrs Creek;

• L over bridge for 1.8km to "T" juncture (Akuna Bay Marina is 2.8km on LHS);

• Ahead 12km along West Head Rd to the headland.

Pack lots of nibbles, ‘cause we take our 1st Nosh Stop (15 min) from 10:30am for a snack and a gawk at the majestic, shimmering blue peninsula - Pittwater/Lion Island stuff.

2nd Leg: West Head to Warriewood - 28km - 71 min
10:45am -

• Return 12km to "T" juncture with Akuna Bay,

• Ahead descending 1.8km to McCarrs Creek bridge [55km],

• L into McCarrs Creek Rd for 8.8km past Church Point, Bayview Marina and pulling up 50m before Cabbage Tree Rd (or immediately after turning,

• R into Cabbage Tree Rd for Sag Stop from 10:45am - lift bike off the road above gutter (5 min) (Bayview Golf Course will be on both L and R);

• Ahead for 1.5km leads into Samuel St and crosses Mona Vale Rd at roundabout,

• R into Warriewood Rd 200m later crossing Pittwater Rd at traffic lights and immediately climbing up Hunter St [dog-leg L, then R] which leads to views of Blue Pacific overlooking majestic Warriewood Beach [around 12pm - 69 km] for 2nd Nosh Stop (35 min).

A neighbourhood, strip-front shopping centre is immediately on RHS in Narrabeen Park Pde.  Nautilus Café is about 4 shops along.  Sunrise Milk Bar, on the Cnr, makes grouse burgers.

ETR 2pm - 94km.

Whippet's rap-up of Sunday, 24 July, "Hornsby to Pearl Beach" attracted six starters on a cool, brisk morning with the temp hovering around 15^o
Whippet opted for the earlier train from Woy Woy to get computer fixed, Publican was making his first ride so decided Brooklyn & return for a well earned rest at PitSky after a Blond Bombshell shot by on the climb, asking  Publican, "How are you feeling?"
Arno, Pacific Pete, Adam 'n Eve continued on to Pearl Beach to be greeted by Sarah, Jules & our future riders - 85km, and then caught the later Woy Woy train back to Hornsby 

The ride from Hornsby departed on schedule with Scribe away, spinning on his new bike around in the USA. The pace was brisk with Heineken who commenced from his Mt Ku'ring'gai digs up front.  The lead was shared to Pearl Beach with the return of Adam after many weeks mountain biking around Yarramundi Park.

Adam 'n Eve were away early from the Hornsby start to be first into Mt. White to the hoard of leather jackets & noisy motor machines. Our first caffeine fix at Harley’s Hangout, the Mt White Village Store after 35km whilst Arno being a slow starter was last in, after doing 130km the previous day around the Sackville loop before their first stop at Windsor, and that night swinging at the Crows Nest Inn with Peter B. and some of the crew before Rummager's departure to Chile into the arms of his betrothed.  Tony McD. aka Publican was on his first ride back after upsetting a nerve in his lower back.  Tony prudently opted to turn around at Mt White.  Let's hope that Tony woke-up on Monday morn' none worse the wear, as he's an affable, unassuming, contributing chap, and his presence has been missed since a hip replacement necessitated his absence seemingly almost a year ago.

Heineken upped the pace over the remainder of the ride.  The next 30km to Woy Woy, included another KOM climb from the Mooney Mooney bridge. This time Heineken pushed to the front to be clear of the pack, whereupon we took a fleeting Sag Stop at the Kariong roundabout before the run down to the sweeping left handed turn before the gentle climb to the turn off to Woy Woy.   

We didn't bother with a Sag Stop at the familiar Kariong Shell garage, rather we sped past to turn right into Brisbane Waters Rd for the climb to the lookout before the run down to the rail crossing. However, at Woy Woy Whippet opted to catch the express train at 12:22pm which pulled into Hornsby at 1:07pm as Whippet had to get his PC fixed.  Ann-Marie aka Eve got slowed up a little attending to a flat tyre.

On a warming blue sky Winter's day there can't be too many nicer spots to sit down to a picnic brunch than the verdant grass affronting Pearl Beach (opposite Sit ‘n’ Chat Café).  Most opted for the good value hamburgers from the store around the corner. Our peloton was met by "Mine Host Sarah", little Yvonne, Kiwi Jules & Sarah, Joe (another young mother) as these young mums were spending a long weekend at Pearl Beach; our new generation of female riders.  Perhaps Yvonne on a tagalong might slow Heineken down!!!

Samurai's rap-up of last Saturday's 130km ride in order to celebrate that evening with a clear conscience - 5 cyclists
Last Saturday Arno, Pete Williams aka Gobbler, Pete Allwork, Matt Malone and Samurai rode 130kms along Berowra-Sackville-Windsor-Cattai Ridge Rd-Andy's cafe-Berowra loop on a perfect 21 degree Winter's day so as to celebrate Pete Blaxland's engagement and Pete Allwork's birthday that night.

Scribe   25 July '05