Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists – The Bullsheet

Sunday, 8:30am 7 October 01 - Tour de Macarthur – 105km

Early on a Sunday morn, Campbelltown is only 50min drive from Gordon via Homebush Bay Drive, Roselands, M4 and M5.  Back in ’97 Sig took us on a route around his neck of the woods.  He mapped it and captioned it Tour de Macarthur - which commences at Campbelltown and proffers a serene cycling alternative.  In an anti-clockwise loop, Tour de Macarthur passes thru Narellan, Elderslie, Camden, Cobbitty, Theresa Park, Orangeville, Oakdale, Mowbray Park, Picton, Menangle Park, before returning to Campbelltown – 105km.  Alas, only one big hill – Razorback Mountain; easier/shorter than the climb to Pie in the Sky.

We muster just outside Campbelltown Olympic Swimming Pool at 8:20am – parking in The Parkway.  [Care: You can get booked if you park in the swimming pool carpark and breach the time limits, so park on the main road.]

This ride is listed in Push On mag, so we may attract some from the west.

Directions: Homebush Bay Drive, Roselands, M4 and M5.  Exit M5 at Campbelltown Rd.  After about 2km you pass Campbelltown Showgrounds on RHS.  Cross Broughton St and remain on Campbelltown Rd after it becomes Oxley Moore St and turn L (about 1.3 km past Broughton St) at The Parkway and park approx 200m along (on the main drag, outside the Olympic Swimming Pool).

At 8:30am we commence 1st ride leg (24km) cycling NW along Narellan Rd over the rail line and over the Hume H’way, passing Uni of Western Sydney on LHS.  At 9:20am after 14.2km we cycle thru Camden and then pass Kirkham Estate Winery, then Cobbitty Winery before taking our 1st Nosh Stop at Old World Charm "Cobbitty Village Tea Rooms” from 9:50am.  Pumpkin soup has previously been popular - last time Muggs visited the joint en mass was a frost-bitten two below in mid-June ‘98.

At 10:30am we commence 2nd ride leg (43km) heading further W then SW, then SE passing thru Theresa Park, Orangeville, Oakdale and Mowbray Park, before arriving at Historic Picton at 12:15pm.  Our 2nd Nosh Stop is lunch at Stone Quarry Creek Café (183 Argyle St - 4677.2274ph) opposite the King George V Hotel which brews boutique German beers, supplying pubs in The Rocks, incl The Australian.

Shortly before 1pm we commence 3rd ride leg (26km) to Menangle Park, via Razorback Mountain where we take our 3rd Nosh Stop at “The Menangle Store” (25min).

We begin 4th ‘n final ride leg (12km) back to the Olympic Pool along Menangle Rd, arriving back at 3:05pm after 105km of delightful pedalling a loop around one of Sydney’s enchanting historic outposts.

Sunday, 8:30am 14 October - Tour de Royal National Park - 90km 
Only 45 min drive from Chatswood early Sunday morn' to carpark o'side Sutherland Leisure Centre, Waratah Park off Rawson Ave.  Nosh Stops at Bundeena Beach and Otford.  ETR 2:30pm.  This ride is listed in Push On mag, so we may attract some from the southside.

Bank Teller’s rap-up of Sunday, 30 Sept, Somersby “Bellbirds” – 125km
We didn’t hear too many Bellbirds chirping as we pedaled the ten click Roller-Coaster 3rd leg from Somersby to Peats Ridge approaching midday, but our ride did attract a field of 10, albeit Yamaha had to bail-out early after bustin' a spoke.  ‘Twas a pity, as with BigGears Temperate Tony absentia, NoPlay was the only likely candidate to challenge Whippet for the coveted Yellow Jersey.

Back to the start:  Annie Get Your Gun, ToothFairy and Claud was the first wave out at 7:50am.  Whippet, Yamaha, The Scribe, Papa Bear, Pacific Pete and Terry P. aka The SnowMan rolled out at 8:05.   Catherine, who must 've jumped a real early Iron Horse from Summer Hill, joined the convoy at Cowan.

Annie did “a Uie” at the Bikie Hangout, opting for some early season sun on Harbord Beach in the arvo.  With Yamaha already a casualty, a leaner crew of eight continued Nth twds Mooney Mooney for the anti-clockwise loop of Somersby/Peats Ridge.

Burgers were the popular choice at the outpost Somersby General Store around 11am, where Scribe announced that whilst we’d only completed half our journey, “we've done the tough stuff, ‘cause its down hill for the twenty clicks from Peats Ridge back to Mt White.”  Claud mentioned that including the extra clicks from his home to Hornsby, that if he got thru today, it would be his longest ride ever.  Scribe pondered he'd picked a warm one to set a PB.  And Catherine had singled out Muggs' toughest ride to cut her teeth.   Whippet and Pacific scouted for fresh water to no avail.  We found a water tank behind The Store with a pipe up to the gutter on the roof, whereupon we abandoned thoughts of filling up from a tap, and Catherine prudently opted to purchase a litre bottle.  Upon which the caravan continued E twds Peats Ridge.

Earlier in the day we’d passed a crew of young female cyclists, with brand spankers, bright jerseys featuring Central Coast Cycling Club “Birds on Bikes” and hadn’t thought too much of it.  But shortly into our leg to Peats Ridge, we gleaned road signs warning: "Cycle race in progress".  PJ happened upon a few spectators at Peats Ridge who informed that it was the State Championships.   And on our 20km leg to Mt White we were passed by about four waves of race cyclists.  Low 'n behold, two of ‘em were being led by young Sheilas, with guys fighting desperately to stay in touch.  Assumed must ‘ve been handicap events, where The Chicks had creamed a soft handicapper, and the lads were paying the price.  There must've been 50 cars 'n bikes parked at Calga as we passed thru.

Smack on 90km around 1:45pm, our 3rd Nosh Stop of Mt White was a welcome sight on an unseasonably warm September Grand Final Day, which wasn't getting any cooler.   With the prospect of real coffee at Pie in the Sky, we didn’t dally long, especially with ToothFairy keepen' the wagon train rollin'.  We bade farewell to Catherine who wanted a leisurely stroll down to Brooklyn to catch the train back to Summer Hill.

Approaching 2:30pm we conquered that blessed 3.9km climb to take a well-earned rest at PitS, where the afternoon breeze was welcomed.  Reputedly the Bulbous Bloke had piped Whippet for KOM to that familiar Verdant Grassy Knoll.  A rejuvenated Pacific Pete wasn’t far a field.

With Papa Bear cycling home to St Ives, a lean team returned to Hornsby from 3:25pm with Whippet stealing the Maillot Jaune in a Cake Walk, and relative newcomers, Claud and The Snowman, turning in creditable efforts.   ToothFairy and Pacific were as reliable as Big Ben.  PJ, after bludging in the Pyranees, is still a few runs short of a hard gallop.  But don't discount him turnin' the tables at Fitz's.  He's a rusty old fox whose run dead before big events previously only to fix out on some good drugs when the bigger rides come around.

Snowman Terry reckoned he was home for a PowerNap before the footy.  (Terry announced he'll be a no-show for Tour de Macarthur next Sunday, if he can juggle a few things to catch last of the cross country skiing, otherwise he’s a starter.)

With most of the crew heading to Fitz’s, our 125km Bellbirdless Somersby circuit proved a valuable lead-up.

Muggs’ annual sortie to 150km Fitz’s and 90km Tharwa Challenges – last w’end in October
Full details are available at hotlink “Annual Interstate Rides”.  If you want to attend, phone Victor Lodge and book either there or Motel Monaro next door.  Pedal Power ACT offers a discounted $13 admission on team entries.  Hence, if you want to be included in those listed at end of “Annual Interstate Rides”, let Bank Teller know.

The Scribe   2 October 01