Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists - The Bullsheet

Sunday, 9 September, Muggs join Bike North’s “Hills and Surfside Café” ride – 85km – 8am from St Ives. 

Ride Leader:  Brian Willis  9807.6439 hm

Hardcopy these instructions and bring on Sunday 

Detailed
Park at St Ives carpark (Mona Vale Rd opposite Stanley St) by 7:50am, for 8am rollout or be at east side of Eastwood Station for 7am start, ‘cause Doug Stewart, a Bike Nth stalwart, leads a ride up Ryde Rd which passes St Ives car park around 8am.  So be ready to join the convoy at eight bells.  The route proceeds due E along Mona Vale Rd for 6.2km to the familiar Mona Vale Fruit Barn.  At around 8:20am we R into Forest Way, then 2.5km later we L into Morgan Rd, and proceed 2.2km down to The Causeway at Oxford Creek.  We then ascend 1.7km & L into Wakehurst Parkway and cycle 3.5km N with Narrabeen Lakes on RHS.  1.9km later we R into Pittwater Rd, then 200m later, after crossing the bridge, L into Waterloo St, & 50m later L into Lagoon St and cycle N.  1km later R into Malcolm St cycling due E, 50m later L into Ocean St to Surfside Café for 1^st Nosh Stop around 9:20am. 

After 20 min with the Nose Bag on, around 9:40am we re-mount and L into Walsh St and 600m later R briefly into Pittwater Rd and immediately L into Jacksons Rd for 100m and R into Boondah Rd.  700m later L into familiar Macpherson St.  

We then retrace Muggs’ Warriewood Beach return home route, via Ponderosa Pde, crossing Mona Vale Rd at roundabout into Samuel St which 800m later changes to Cabbage Tree Rd for 1.1km, L into Pittwater Rd and 800m later passing Bayview Marina on RHS.  2km later, around 10:20am, we pass Church Point on RHS.  4km later, around 10:40am we bade farewell to Doug’s contingent (which returns to Eastwood) and we R [after approx 70km] into West Head Rd and climb to the “T” junction and L to descend to Akuna Bay Café for a 2^nd Nosh Stop (30 min) after 80km at 11:30am.  At midday we cycle 2.2km to Illawong Bay, up the awkward Akuna Bay climb past Cottage Point turn-off and halt for a fleeting Sag Stop (5 min) at the "V" juncture of dual park entrances.  We then climb to Terrey Hills and return to St. Ives around 1pm – 85km for a well-earned final coffee at Paterson’s Patisserie.

Whippet’s rap-up of Sunday, 2 Sept, Brunch at Bayview Marina  - 82km, 2 Sept, Brunch at Bayview Marina  - 82km

The participating numbers in a ride only partway to West Hd, (Basin, +Ferry trip to Circular Quay) suggests this also wasn’t the preferred catalyst for enjoying ‘’Fathers’ Day.’’  We met BN (trike) members Ross, Kevin, plus girls (who were not doing things lying down) briefly at the intersection on West Hd, Rd, to Akuna Bay.  In any event, our numbers were only slightly larger.  We bid farewell for our uneventful, but thoroughly agreeable 82km, perhaps ‘twas another idealic winter’s morn’ with the weatherman predicting rain. This wasn’t to be, just a clear pollution free outing (save fathers) to the headland within the Ku-ring-gai National Park with a 270^o Panoramic view of Lion Island, Box Hd, Barrenjoey and Palm Bch, although the sea breeze was a little sharp, forcing a move inside over Brunch at the Bayview Marina.

Suicide Blonde rode in a 12h MTB endurance race the previous day and survived except for sore bum. Another Muggs rider, David H, & his team came in 21^st outright. 

An all male crew rolled out from St Ives at 8:15am, this provided the leader, with a potentially disorderly lot. The return of Tony McD, Bazza, Whippet, Alain (F1 Prost) and Eric made up the Peloton, with phlegmatic Pacific Pete joining the caravan at 6.5km, Mona Vale Fruit Barn.

The pace setters looped the roundabout soon rendered the Head Scouts re-pointed in the right direction.  Then it was a Helter Skelter dash west down Booralie Rd, the aromatic countryside smell was most prominent amongst the chooks, pigs, puppy & pony fields, it was ‘Duffy’s dung dunes & dunnies’ (not a Forest in sight, who was Duffy anyway?)

The French Connection, Alain moved from midfield to up front and raced all the way to the headland, born and raised in the Pyrannes Alps, thus Muggs are now getting French coaching tips in the land down under. 

On schedule at 10:20am [40km] the convoy slowed to a halt at our 1^st scheduled Sag Stop of West Head, where the sun was shining brightly and the blue Pacific glistening - board riders being towed along by parrasails in a stiff breeze below us on Pittwater, adjacent to Barrenjoey Light House.

Enough of the aquatic stuff, our next feed was a further 21km [61km] around 11:30am at Bayview Marina, where we bad farewell to Alain and Bazza, who headed back up McCarrs Crk Rd with the prospect of dastardly Niger Chores.

With a well rounded chat over coffee/cake, a stream(er)line Erik informed those present, he had cancelled a snow trip, preferring this Muggs’ training ride except the waitress decided he only needed half rations.  No one opted for the Akuna Bay adjunct on the return route, preferring the more direct-line back to St Ives where Whippet  registered 24.8km ave over 82km.

150km Fitz’s Challenge Canberra, Sunday, 28 Oct.  

We are preparing a team of BN, Muggs, hopes are to bring even more riders than usual.  To clarify for others who haven't yet done the ride, we start at Eucumbene Drive, Duffy, near Cotter Road.

Below is latest instalment from The Scribe who is riding most days - seems we all should start training midweek to stay competitive.

 “In the last three days I've climbed from 5,000' to -

*    8,314' to Mt Monitor,

*    8,730' to Ebbetts Pass and

*    8,580' to Carson Pass,

which collectively comprise the 129 miles annual California “Death Ride”, only it took me three days to ride 'em, and one of the girls whom my crazy American buddy Gene encouraged to join us, Tammy, rode it in 1 day last 14 July.

The scenery is absolutely spectacular.  Alas, I hate to admit that the California Death Ride is much harder than the 200km Audax Alpine Classic as it commences at 5,000' and the five climbs have steeper gradients.  Another day I cycled 59 miles to Virginia City which is straight out of the old west.  With the Pyrannes still ahead of me, hopefully I will be mega climbing fit when I return on 16 Sept, so I'll need some long hilly Muggs' rides so that I can hold that form for the 150km Fitz's Challenge on 28 Oct.

Buy for now.

Phil”

Sunday 16 Sept "Breakfast at Brooklyn on the Pier" - 85/55/25km.  8am from Turra' or 8:45am from Hornsby

The Whippet   4 Sept 2001