Muggaccinos.com    The Bullsheet

Sunday, 7 Jan '07 - "Tour de Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, Yarramundi, Richmond"

(i)            Turramurra rollout between 6:30am and NO LATER THAN 6:40am via Browns Water Hole, (or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield), M2 to Blacktown station - train to Emu Plains, then ride to N/E Richmond up Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, along Hawkesbury Rd, descending Springwood Rd to Riverstone, thence train back to Seven Hills and ride M2, Browns Waterhole - 93km - ETR 12:50pm

(i)(a)     Avoid very steep 2.33km Old Bathurst Rd by staying on train from Emu Plains for 3 more stops and alighting at Blaxland station for 9km flattish ride to Springwood Nosh Stop; or 

ii)            Dural from 6:40am and NO LATER THAN 6:50am via Old Northern Rd, Seven Hills Rd to meet Turra' starters at Blacktown station by 7:45am.  Eventually returning to Riverstone station to cycle via Annangrove Rd – 88km - ETR 12:15pm

Separate Turra' and Dural start routes meet at Blacktown station from 7:45am for the 7:54am train to Emu Plains or Blacktown station (if you want to skip the climb up Old Bathurst Rd)

Ride back from Windsor for 120km route

Print explicit street directions for both start spots at URL for Distance on 'Ride Calendar 2007 - Jan to Mar' page, or by clicking on 92.8km or 91km

Ø    Ride Organiser:  Phil Johnston  9114.6689

Ø    On the return route, be careful entering Abbott Rd from either Johnson Ave or Prospect Highway, as traffic veering Left up Seven Hills Rd isn't partial to cyclist veering across right into Abbott Rd

Ø    Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

Ø    Expend 10 mins studying your UBD/Gregory's to familiarize with below, 'cause this is a complex route

Ø    RTA paints a solid centre-line on single lane roads when there isn't sufficient vision to overtake.  'Ipso facto' always cycle single-file if an unbroken centre-line.

Ø   Cycling without Public Liability cover is as asinine as driving without 3rd Party - join Bicycle NSW for $20m PL insurance, so that all Muggs are better protected

Ø   Click on: Risk Warnings which warns of the dangers of cycling on public roads with motor cars, potholes and over bridges with vertical timber planks with gaps, and of the prospect of being sued for big bucks if your negligence causes a 3rd party to be seriously injured

1st leg:  27km - Start between 6:30am and before 6:40am in Rohini Street carpark NE side of Turramurra station to Blacktown station
Cycle 200m up Rohini St to Pac H'way, R for 100m, L down Kissing Point Rd, to Browns Water Hole and Vimiera Rd entrance.  Or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield.
Ride West along M2 for 14.4km, 1.4km along Abbott Rd passing Johnson Ave on RHS where road ahead becomes Prospect H'way and continue another 450m.

Right after 450m of Prospect H'way at traffic lights into Lucas Rd for off-road Sag Stop [5 min] at Children Crossing sign outside Seven Hills Primary School immediately on LHS;

Ahead from Morris St Cnr along Lucas Rd for 2.2km; 

Ahead into Sackville Rd for 1.4km;

Left into Sunnyholt Rd for 800m;

Right into George St for 200m to Blacktown station arriving 7:40am for 14 min wait for hourly train to Emu Plains departing at 7:54am arriving 8:11am.

1st leg (alternate):  23km - Start 6:40am Porter Scenic Lookout carpark before Dural Country Club

Right down Old Northern Rd for 11.5km

Right into Seven Hills Rd for 6.5km

Ahead into Prospect Highway for 450m;

Right after 450m into Lucas Ave for off-road Sag Stop [5 min] outside Seven Hills Primary School

Ahead orris St Cnr along Lucas Ave for 2.2km; 

Ahead into Sackville Rd for 1.5km;

Left into Prince Rd for 800m;

Right George St for 200m to Blacktown station arriving 8:40am for 14 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:54am.

Two 2nd Leg options:
Hard 2nd Leg:  17km from Emu Plains station up mega precipitous Old Bathurst Rd to Blaxland station, thence Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at delightful Aroma Cafe in Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd

Alight train at Emu Plains station at 8:11am on southern side and take path under rail line entering Old Bathurst Rd from Mackellar St for a level 2km stretch to a short but really steep KOM Climb starting 15m past traffic lights at Bus Stop sign and ending 2.05km later at Bowaga Ave.

Easy 2nd Leg: 9km from Blaxland station thru Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at Aroma Cafe in Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd
Alight train three stations later at Blaxland station at 8.27am and wait for cyclists in Wilson Way (300m after we turn Right from Old Bathurst Rd) on our route to Warrimoo and Springwood.  Thence on roads which hug the Great Western H'way to Springwood for a Nosh Stop [30 min] at Aroma Cafe 300m down Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd after 41.2km. 

3rd Leg:  26km from Springwood to Richmond station alighting at either Seven Hills or Riverstone station

Retrace 250m back down Macquarie Rd;

Left following signs NE to Richmond, along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru Yarramundi pulling-up at Hawkesbury Heights Lookout on RHS after about 12km for 5 min Sag Stop whilst gawking at the awesome view.  Thence descend from the Hawkesbury Heights Lookout to Richmond to catch train half hourly service at 10:46am (or 10:16am or 11:16pm). 

4th Leg:  25km from Seven Hills station to Turramurra - ETR 12:50pm

Alight at Seven Hills at 11:24am  -

Left into Terminus Rd for 300m

Left into Prospect Highway for 700m (care two lanes but no shoulder, so try and cycle with another cyclist beside you to occupy the entire lane);

Right into Abbott Rd/M2 for 15.6km being careful as some traffic roars up Seven Hills Rd;

Left at Light Tower into Browns Waterhole for 1.45km;

Ahead up Kissing Point Red for 3.7km with a 65m section just before the apex which is killer;

Right onto Pacific Highway for 200m; and

Left into Rohini St for 250m to carpark.

4th Leg (alternate):  23.7km from Riverstone station to Dural - ETR 12:15pm

Alight at Riverstone at 11:10am  -

Bank Teller's rap-up of annual New Year's Day ride to Nth Wollongong - 89km - 5 cyclists

After aboarding at Nth Wollongong station and alighting 40 mins later at Waterfall station, only Ian aka The Flash and Phil aka Bank Teller took the Left Turn to the 4km drop down McKell Ave to RNP, with Jean aka DishPig, ToothFairy and PapaBear taking the shortcut up the Princes H'way to Sutherland Leisure Centre, Waratah Park

Audley Weir was up a tad higher after a heavy burst of early morn' rain which evidenced Warragamba Dam cop 68mm.  Whoope-doo!!!

Scribe  -  26 Dec 2006