Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists - The Bullsheet

Sunday, 11 Nov, Brunch at Bayview Marina – 50km to 93km

Ride contacts:
*     Phil Johnston    9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk.
*     Brian Willis       9807.6439 hm  

Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

Detailed ride spec:
After cycling E along Mona Vale Rd, at 6.2km we L [opposite Forest Way - at Mona Vale Fruit Barn] into Myoora Rd and take a fleeting 1^st Sag Stop (3 min).  We then cycle 3km along Myoor Larool Rd.  About 70m before Booralie Rd L into Tepko Rd (75m short of Booralie Rd) and 400m later a L into Booralie Rd, then pedal like "shit out of Shanghai" 6.7km flat/fast stretch past Terrey Hills Golf Course and rifle range to Duffys Forest (amidst real pigs, goats, horses 'n cows).  "U"- turn at the dead-end of Cow Corner – if you are dragging the chain, cut the corner - and return via same route and pull up 30m short of Terrey Hills neighbourhood shopping centre for a 2^nd Sag Stop [3 min].  Thence, around 8:15am we enter Ku’ring’gai Chase National Park via Dandenong Rd and Beltana Ave to McCarrs Creek Rd.  At the V (dual entrances to the park) take anti-clock [R fork] and descend turning L at McCarrs Creek bridge.  After cycling 2km uphill pause approx. 8:32am for a 3^rd Sag Stop (3 min) at T juncture (Akuna Bay Marina is 4km downhill on LHS).  Following a quick re-group, we commence 45min 12km pedal along West Hd Rd to The Headland.  Pack nibbles, ‘cause we take our 1st Nosh Stop (15 min) from 9:06am [41km] for a snack and a gawk at the majestic, shimmering peninsula - Pittwater/Lion Island.

Approx. 9:20am we retrace to McCarrs Creek bridge and hook a L at 9:54am [54.5km] into McCarrs Creek Rd continuing on past Church Point [60km] at 10:10am, thence to Bayview Marina 2^nd Nosh Stop [62km] at 10:19am (for 35min) returning from 10:54am.

Over brunch we will ascertain -

• who is cycling straight up McCarrs Creek Rd to St Ives [84km] - ETR 12:05pm; and 

• who will R around 11:17am [68.6km] to take the scenic route via Akuna Bay for 3^rd Nosh Stop at 11:40am [82.4km], returning to St Ives [93.2km] - ETR 1:21pm for more grub 'n drugs at Pattisons' Patisserie.

Scribe’s rap-up of Quatre Montagnes Plus – 82km

Notwithstanding it being Gong Ride Day, 7 cyclists gathered at GreenShades Nursery Galston after 44km that included an additional 8km out/back along Somerville Rd [prior to the descent] and a further 6km out/back along rural Crosslands Rd. after ascending The Gorge.  Those who mustered for an unusually long 1^st Nosh Stop under new café mgt at the nursery: Blonde Bombshell, Welsh Widget, Pacific Pete, Graham E. aka BlueBeard, Whippet, ToothFairy and Bank Teller.

Alas, Luighi and Maria ain’t no more, and after eventually obtaining a bill to pay, we rolled on twds the punt.  The additional four clicks out twds Glenorie/Wylds Rd was jettisoned, ‘cause Whippet reckoned the weather looked threatening.  Truth was that on a windy, pollen-clogged day, a few of the crew were suffering especially Bank Teller, and no one, with the exception of Graham E, was displaying any cycle form.  Even Whippet seemed subdued.

Don’t know why, however, there was a veritable traffic jam at Berowra Waters with heaps of stationary cars, than you’d see on a month of Sundays, in gridlock/logjam waiting for the punt.

Shortly after 11 o’clock we re-grouped at the familiar disused Health Food Store at the apex of the Berowra Waters climb, where the Turra’ contingent opted for the short-cut back to Turra’ along the east side of the Pacific H’way.

Won’t go down in the annals of Muggs’ rides as a classic - far from it, with a listless Bank Teller whinging about pollen counts, holding up the Peloton.  On bright spot was the saddle speed displayed by Widget, who whilst still not having totally shaken some chest complaint which has limited her recent Sunday appearances, showed surprising alacrity on the bike.

Annie Oakley’s rap-up of her maiden Gong Ride

Papa Bear's Beiersdorf “Elastoplasts Cycling Team”, resplendent in their bright red pedal pushen' outfits, literally flew to The Gong, including a sub-3 hour time.  And “to boot”, out of a field of several thousand, The Elastoplasts were awarded The Gong's "Best Dressed Team" prize.  Compared with the previous Sunday on a 90km loop out-in-the-boondocks of Cotter to Tharwa, I wasn’t complaining at the dearth of hills, headwind, or cobras.

I bumped into The Publican.  No that isn’t right.  I came across The Publican at morning tea and we rode along together most of the way.  We even had a stop-off at the pub near the end, at Clifton ‘something”.  After headwinds the previous Sunday, the tailwind was a welcomed relief, but it only seemed to assist over the latter section, when we hit the coast.

All in all an exhilarating Gong experience.

Correction in last week's rap-up of Fitz's Challenge

One of the hotlinks "Press Clippings" contains an article which appeared in Australian Cyclists magazine in may 2000 which, inter alia, commented that The Scribe doesn't allow the facts to stand in the way of a good story in The Bullsheet.  Well in my exuberance to promote Pedal power' ACT's marvelously presented 2001 Fitz's Challenge, it seems that I might have exaggerated the actual ride numbers in each ride.  Below is an e-mail from Ride Director, Greg Cunningham:

"Hi Phil

Thanks for a very enjoyable write-up, even if I miss some of the subtleties as don't know some of the players yet (hope to improve that on one of the Muggs' rides).

We thought the numbers were good at 316 in total (a record) but I like yours better, which go close to 400. Actually, our count from the start sheets during Sunday showed 144 Fitz's & 172 Tharwa.  Maybe next year we'll start to approach 400. Seems to be increasing by 30-35 each year.

We appreciate very much the great support of the Muggaccinos in bringing lots of riders down to our event each year, and the efforts you make in spreading the word about it up your way."

Following Sunday, 7:15am 18 Nov, Lunch at Yarramalong Manor, with Wyong "Iron Horse" home - 93km

With no track work on the Wyong line, park at Hornsby station car-park [80 metres north of Railway Hotel in Jersey St - N/W side of Hornsby train station] by 7:05am to rollout by 7:15am (or 63km from Cowan at 7:50am) to cycle a delightful, fun-filled 93km, with only 1 hill, and Nosh Stops at Mt White, Peats Ridge and Yarramalong Manor, to catch an all-stops train home from Wyong (RTA fare is $7) at 12:55pm or an hour later (express 1:37pm) which returns to Hornsby at 2:06pm or  2:06pm (express 2:36pm).  We pedal due north up Old Pacific H’way, so if you're slow, start by 7:05am.

Following Sunday, 25 Nov, Mt White, Peats Ridge Somersby "Bellbirds"

The Scribe 'n The Whippet   6 Nov '01