Muggaccinos.com    The Bullsheet

Xmas Eve, Wed. 24 Dec '08 - "Tour de Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, Yarramundi, Richmond"  Remain on train to Blaxland if you don't like scaling a very steep, albeit shortish, hill

(i)         Turramurra rollout 6:20am via Browns Water Hole, (or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield) for 6:35am pick-up, Epping Rd, M2 to Seven Hills station to catch 7:39am train arriving 8:11am at Emu Plains station, then ride to N/E up Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, NE  along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru Yarramundi to Richmond to catch train to Riverstone or Seven Hills and ride M2, Browns Waterhole - 93km - ETR 12:50pm

(i)(a)     Avoid very steep 2.33km Old Bathurst Rd by catching 8am train from Blacktown (don't alight at Emu Plains) for 3 more stops and alighting at Blaxland station for 9km flattish ride to Springwood Nosh Stop; or 

ii)         Dural by 6:30am via Old Northern Rd, Seven Hills Rd to meet Turra' starters at Seven Hills station for 7:39am train or Blacktown station for 7:44am train.  Eventually returning to Riverstone station to cycle via Annangrove Rd – 88km - ETR 12:30pm

Separate Turra' and Dural start routes meet at Seven Hills station for 7:39am or Blacktown station for 7:44am train on the Western Line arriving Emu Plains at 8:11am. 

If you are skipping the Old Bathurst Rd KOM Climb, catch the 8am from Blacktown station on the Blue Mountains Line and alight Blaxland at 8:33am.

If you want a longer route, ride back from Windsor for 120km route

Print explicit street directions for both start spots at URL for Distance by clicking on 92.8km or 91km

Andrew aka TugBoat, Anthony aka Froggy, Angelo aka The Fox, Eric aka PapaBear, Martin aka Architect, Peter aka Canada Bay, Jean aka ChiliDog and Scribe are definite starters if fine weather. 
Richard aka Sloth is staying on the train to Blaxland station thereby missing the Killer Old Bathurst Rd climb

Ø    Ride Organiser:  Phil Johnston  9114.6689  0412 045.224

Ø    On the return route, be careful entering Abbott Rd from 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 Monday

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:  Start 6:20am in Rohini Street carpark NE side of Turramurra station to Seven Hills station - 23km - 60 min
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 by 6:35am.  Or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:35am pick-up.
Ride West along Epping Rd for 1km to Epping street front shopping centre onto M2 for 14.4km, 1.4km along Abbott Rd passing Johnson Ave on RHS.  Continue 700m on Prospect H'way to Seven Hills station in large transport terminal on LHS arriving by 7:20am for 9 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:39am arriving Emu Plains at 8:11am.

1st leg (alternate):  Start 6:30am Porter Scenic Lookout carpark before Dural Country Club  -  60 min -  23km

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 Morris 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 7:30am for 14 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:44am.

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: Blaxland station thru Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at Aroma Cafe in Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd - 9km
Alight train three stations later at Blaxland station at 8.33am 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 arriving 9am for 1st 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 - 70 min

9:30am 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 10:31am, or 11:01am or 11:31am for 41 min trip to Seven Hills station arriving 11:12am, 11:42am or 12:13pm. 

4th Leg:  25km from Seven Hills station to Turramurra station - 70 min - ETR 12:50pm

Alight at Seven Hills at 11:42am  -

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 - ETR 12:50pm.

4th Leg (alternate):  Riverstone station to Dural - 23.7km - 65 min - ETR 12:30pm

Alight at Riverstone at 11:24am  -

Scribe's rap-up of "Hornsby, St Ives, Church Pt, Palm Beach ferry to Wagstaffe, Woy Woy, Mt White, PitS, Hornsby" -  128km - 6 cyclists

Jean aka ChiliDog was backing up from cycling 225km the day before in an Audax training ride

Grant aka BeanCounter, Bank Teller, Paul aka Pilot and Jean aka ChiliDog
Above three pics at Palm Beach General Store after 44km from Hornsby

On the ferry to Wagstaffe

Piggy out from the top shelf at Gnostic Marna Cafe, Woy Woy after 74m

Scribe   21 Dec '08