Bull

Sunday, 22 Oct '06, annual 50km Portfolio Partners, Sydney Spring Cycle ride from North Sydney at 7am over a "traffic-free" Sydney Harbour Bridge to Sydney Olympic Park. Muggs return home cycling 45 mins along Parramatta river to Parramatta station (free State Rail transport to/from the ride) increasing the total route to 75km - not including any clicks you clock-up cycling to the Nth Sydney "Start". Entry fee for members of Bicycle NSW is $30.

Join our cycle bus (departing from Hornsby at 6:05am) on the Pacific H'way passing Turramurra station at 6:12am, Gordon 6:20am, Lindfield 6:25am, Chatswood 6:33am, St Leonards 6:45am arriving at the official Start in St Leonards Park, North Sydney (adjacent to North Sydney Oval) at 6:50am for 7am rollout to beat the masses.

Or catch train to St Leonards station for FREE and cycle to the Start.

Route: Cross a traffic-free Harbour Bridge and pedal into Sydney's historic old town quarter at The Rocks, heading down to Darling Harbour before arriving at the 1st Sag Stop at Pyrmont Point Park affronting Sydney Harbour.

Cross historic Old Glebe Island Bridge. Pedal along James Craig Road past the heritage fleet and super yachts in Rozelle Bay. Veer westward along Lilyfield Road and onto cycle paths along Hawthorne Canal through the backstreets of Haberfield amidst Sydney's old world charm in the traditional federation architecture. Riding along Timbrell Drive soak up the beauty of the Bay and Iron Cove. Take a 2nd Sag Stop at Five Dock Park then meander through the leafy backstreets of Five Dock and Concord. Brays Bay Reserve is 3rd Sag Stop.

Cross Ryde Bridge, over Parramatta River on to Meadowbank, along John Whitton Bridge with cycleway, on through Rhodes Waterside. Enter Bicentennial Park riding predominantly on cycle paths through Wentworth Common finishing on Olympic Boulevard. Cycle past the Olympic cauldron on LHS and past Telstra Stadium on RHS.

Enter this ride for $30 via BNSW's website Promote the event yourself by printing out the event poster and pinning it up at work.

12 Starters so far:

Arno aka Heineken and Sarah and Arno's two parents visiting from the home of 'Heineken Beer'. Anthony aka Froggy with his son on Tag-a-long bike. Angelo aka Red Fox. Andrew aka TugBoat & daughter. Scribe. John aka Auckland. Martin aka Architect and Tara aka Social Scientist

Scribe's rap-up last Sunday's Tour de Macarthur clockwise - 106km - 7 cyclists

Angelo aka Froggie, SpeedBoat, NewChum Michael, Greg aka Architect Too and Pacific Pete rolled out of Mt Annan carpark almost on time. Scribe and Laurence aka Tyro were a tad late due to Scribe cocking-up the pick-up point that he was supposed to collect Laurence.

NewChum Michael did it tough 'cause the Bullsheet had described today's ride as flat. However, Scribe had forgotten some nasty hills incl 5km up Razorback and a nasty Ball-Tearer up Barkers Lodge Rd which although only 850m is powerful hard if climbing with only a double chainring where your biggest cog on the back is a paltry 23. Pic on R of Michael was snapped at the apex of that 850m horror.

Three of today's starters, NewChum Michael, Greg aka Architect Too and Laurence, are riding Fitz's in a fortnight. Laurence and Greg are riding the 158km course. Michael, a tad more circumspect, has entered the 100km route. Details of all Muggs cyclists attending Canberra in a fortnight are in the Fitz's Bullsheet to facilitate networking.

Above pic is "Take 1" from our Mt Annan car park after a marvelous 106km clockwise circuit with Pete (back to camera) blocking out Michael. Below pic is "Take 2". Why did we need a "Take 2"? Because no one told Pete, that it was Buckie Beaver "All Smiles" picture time.

The penny had dropped in the 2nd pic, albeit good buddy, Pete, was still adjusting his skull cap.

NB: By 7pm tonite 3 of today's crew, TugBoat, Tyro and Scribe, had logged their KOM Climb Times to climb Razorback today.

Click on: KOMpm for best performances up today's Razorback KOM Climb. TugBoat pipped Tyro by a hare's breath with Scribe a distant 3rd. If you need a hand registering at www.KOMpm.com or logging a KOM Climb time, ask Scribe, 'cause he built it. it takes 5 mins to Register as a Climber, and 2 mins to log a KOM Climb Time. Instructions are at www.KOMpm.com. Presently there are only 3 KOM Climbs in the Macarthur KOM Climb Region. However, TugBoat and Scribe are gathering requisite altitude stats to on add a 4th, being the nasty little 850m section up Barkers Lodge Rd which finished at a bended tree which NewChum Michael struggled up in a lowly 39/23.