a) Two alternate 1st Legs to Windsor
i)(b) above detailed below:
From Turramurra station car park via M2 to Seven Hills station, thence train to Windsor station – 22km:
Rollout Turramurra station between 8:35am and 8:45am up Rohini St to Pac H'way, R at lights and 40m later L for steep descent of Kissing Point Rd. shortly crossing Comenarra Parkway at lights and proceed to descend cycle path, Browns Waterhole, followed by a short steep climb to M2. Pedal through a narrow 20m tunnel and Sag Stop (3 min) before joining M2 on south side.
Take extreme care passing 2 on and 2 off roads during 14.2km on M2 to where Old Windsor Rd meets Abbott Rd and continue 1.4km W along Abbott Road. Continue 700m W along Prospect Highway to Seven Hills station on LHS, entering via Terminus Rd to Seven Hills station to catch the 9:50am train in a frontish carriage [joined by cyclists which commence from Dural at Riverstone station. Arrive Windsor at 10:19am.

Cycle ii)(b) above detailed below:
ii) From "Porter's Lookout, Dural" and before Dural Country Club to Riverstone station 23.7km:
Rollout of Porter Scenic Lookout by 8:50am -

2nd Leg: Windsor, Freeman's Reach, Richmond, Lowlands, Cornwallis, Windsor station - 36km

Return to Windsor station at 12:30pm to grab a feed Sag Stop to aboard the train departing 25 mins past the half hour 12:55pm (or 1:25pm) for -

Scribe’s rap-up of last Sunday Loop the Lake Macquarie - 9 cyclists - 85km

Kerry, son Tim and buddy Bruce headed off at 7:30am and went like Shit out of Shanghai around the 85 km loop. BankTeller, ToothFairy and PacificPete, still ailing from a helter skelter Tour de Hills last w'end took it easy today with lengthy rest stops at Morrisett and Swansea. We took time to smell the roses. Adam and Ann-Marie rode their touring bikes that got them around Ireland three years ago, so they were in no hurry either. Siggy aka Smiling Assassin and Liz were content to soak in the ambience. All in all a pleasant Loop of the Lake with a plus 600 throng on a balmy, albeit steamy, early March morn' which was the antithesis on Tour de Hills a week earlier, where the prospect of getting ruled-out if you missed the 12:30pm cut-off lent itself to a scurried pace.

Rex aka Pimpernel's rap-up of "Easy Peasy" Bayview Marina ride - 9 cyclists - 94km

A stunning Sydney Autumn morn', a veritable Pearler, evidenced 9 Muggs' join our ride:

* 3 from Hornsby [Grant (90km) Rex (116km) & Dave (70km)

* 5 from St Ives Arno (100+) Tony, Bazza, Kaza & Seniorita (88km)

* 1 with Tornado eventually joining us at Bayview Marina.

Our two groups joined-up at Terrey Hills Shops after our Hornsby contingent cycled via Bobbin Head and our 5 St Ives starters via the Home of Skippy at Duffys Forrest. Grant did a U turn at our Sag Stop on West Head Rd, 'cause Chores were a Beckoning. The rest of us continued on to majestic West Head, albeit some of the lumps 'n bumps on West Head Rd are in urgent need of a Hot Mix top coat.

Alas, a new recruit, Dave, was starting to struggle. Dave's biggest cog on the back was a poultry 21 - suitable for the Perth flats but not Greater Sydney/Illawarra where Muggs ride, with some keenly logging KOM Climb times for 57 KOM Climbs at www.KOMpm.com . Arno, Karen, Barry, Tony & Rex then dropped down to Bayview Marina for a very pleasant brunch by a sparkling Pittwater, where Trevor joined us. Gracinda aka Seniorita is a medico in her day job, kindly escorted a cramping Dave back to Pattersons Patisserie for R & R.

Upon climbing back up McCarrs Creek Rd for a Sag Stop at Terrey Hills shops, a few disbursed twds home. With Dave on oxygen back at Pattersons Patisserie, Gracinda rejoined us. Trevor who had caught us at Bayview Marina, returned to Manly via Akuna Bay, Karen went home, and Barry & Arno took off straight down Mona Vale Road. Tony, Gracinda & Rex returned via Myoora Rd. Bazza had a flat on Mona Vale Rd close to home and was rescued by Tony.

3 oxygen bottles later, and Dave was starting to exhibit a few vital signs. Samurai and Gracinda entertained Dave at Pattersons Patisserie while Rex rode back to Hornsby via Bobbin Head. Rex then drove back to St Ives to pick up a very grateful Dave and drove him home.

Footnote: Dave may be pondering what a hard Muggs' ride is, 'cause Bank Teller had assured him that our Bayview route is Easy Peasy - one of the easiest in Muggs' Ride Calendar. Yesterday, after reviving on those oxygen bottles, Dave was keen for a second Muggs' ride, as despite his cramping, enjoyed the company and the scenery. In the meantime Dave may care to review Scribe's below casual empiricism which highlights mathematically just how much harder it was for Dave to climb in a 39/21 combo compared with other crew equipped with triples and a 27 or 28 on the back. By replacing that 12/21 with a 12/27 or 11/28 on the back, Hills will also be Dave's Friends and Mountains his Mates.

Pic on RHS - The Kaiser, Seniorita and Bazza outside Terrey Hills Fruit Barn.
Bank Teller cogitates that if New Chum, Dave C, came on a Muggs' Ride with a double chain ring and a rear cassette with 21 his lowest gear, that Dave either has mungo quads or is a masochist. Muggs' 1st Commandment is "Hills are your friends and Mountains are your Mates!!!"
Hills are your friends if you have 1:1 gearing, or close to it, like many Muggs do. Bank Teller has a triple chain ring with 50/39/28, and a 12/28 on the rear, so his lowest gearing is 28:28 which is 1:1. Seemingly, Dave rode last Sunday with a 12/21 on the rear, so Dave's lowest gear was 39:21 which means that for every revolution of his pedals, Dave turned his rear wheel 1.86 revolutions. No wonder the poor chap was feeling poorly back at Pattersons Patisserie. Fortunately relief is in sight, 'cause Bank Teller can sell Dave a -
* Shimano Ultegra 12/27 9 speed for $84 (retails $115); or
* BBB 11/28 9 speed for $70 (retails $80).
When 28 is Dave's lowest gear on the rear, for each rotation of his pedals, Dave only asks his rear wheel to turn 1.39 revs which is a shit load easier than turning a humongous 1.86 revs (almost 2 revs).

Below pic - Arno aka The Kaiser, Grant aka BeanCounter, New Chum David, Bazza, Kaza, Rex aka Pimpernel, Gracinda aka Seniorita outside the Thai Restaurant. Tony aka Samurai napped the pic.