Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists  The Bullsheet

Sunday, 15 Sept, 8am from St Ives “Whale Beach Restaurant for Brunch” 81km ETR 1pm

• Ride Leader  Phil Johnston - 9498.3684 hm

• Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

• Cycle two abreast at own risk.  Keep well to LHS

• Get off the road at Sag Stops

• Maintain your membership of Bicycle NSW for Public Liability cover in case another Mugg sues your arse for riding negligence

• When passing a fellow Mugg, always provide a metre clearance.  If you can't, or are passing on the inside, you MUST call out loudly eg. "passing inside tight" etc

• Bring small notes or gold coins for Nosh Stops

• Don't ride with Muggs if your tyres are crap or your gears don't work, 'cause the Peloton is gettin' pulled up unnecessarily

• Ride along Myoora Rd rather than Mona Vale Rd

1st Leg:  St Ives to Whale Beach - 34.5km
By 8am cycle -

• E along Mona Vale Rd for 6.2km;

• L [opposite Forest Way - at Mona Vale Fruit Barn] into Myoora Rd and take a 1^st Sag Stop (3 min);

• Ahead along Myoora Rd for 3.2km;

• R into Booralie Rd for 20m;

• L into Dandenong Rd for 70m;

• R into Beltana Ave for 150m;

• L to McCarrs Creek Rd and descend 2km into the park - to the V (dual entrances to the park);

• R fork and pedal 2.8km descending McCarrs Creek Rd to McCarrs Creek bridge;

• Ahead 5.5km along McCarrs Creek Rd to Church Point [20km] at 8:45am 2^nd Sag Stop (3 min);

• East twds Mona Vale for 3½km - road becomes Pittwater Rd past Cabbage Tree Rd (on RHS) to Darley St - 500m short of Mona Vale shops;

• L into Darley St and pull-up 40m along 3^rd Sag Stop (3 min) - Darley St is 700m;

• L into busy Barrenjoey Rd for 6.5km of glorious views of the Blue Pacific past Bungan Beach thru Newport, Bilgola, Avalon to Whale Beach Rd - 150m past North Avalon Rd [9:30am];

• R into Whale Beach Rd and ascend/descend for 2km to The Strand for Brekkie 1^st Nosh Stop (40 min) at 9:40am [35km] at Whale Beach Restaurant 9974.4009 ph on the water’s edge [nee de Beers].

2nd Leg  Whale Beach to Akuna Bay Café - 26km

Around 10:20am we retrace our path -

• Sth along Whale Beach Rd for 2km;

• L onto Barrenjoey Rd for 1.6km as we pass Avalon Golf Course on our RHS;

• L into The Serpentine for 3km adjunct into/out of Bilgola Beach which avoids a tight section of Barrenjoey Rd and provides a stunning view south from Bilgola Beach lookout 4^thSag Stop (10 min) at 10:40am;

• Ahead along The Serpentine down to/up from Bilgola Beach;

• L back onto Barrenjoey Rd for 4km climbing a short humdinger in Newport hill, and passing Bungan Beach on LHS, as we approach Mona Vale;

• R back into Darley St for 700m;

• R into Pittwater Rd for 8.5km to Church Point to McCarrs Creek bridge [55.5km];

• R into West Head Rd for 1.5km to "T" intersection;

• L into Liberator General San Martin Drive for 3½km to Akuna Bay for 2nd Nosh Stop (30 min) from 11:50pm [61km].

3rd Leg:  Akuna Bay  to St Ives - 20km

At 12:30am commence final leg -

• West for 8km along Liberator General San Martin Drive passing Illawong Bay, Cottage Point Rd, park entrance toll-both to "V" juncture at McCarrs Creek Rd, 

• Ahead for 1.5km to the apex of McCarrs Creek Rd;

• R into Booralie Rd for 200m;

• L into Myoora Rd for 3.3km;

• R into Mona Vale Rd for 6.2km to St. Ives car-park – ETR 1:40pm – 81km.

NOTE:  After climbing to the apex of McCarrs Creek Rd, retrace along Myoor Rd to Mona Vale Fruit Barn as it can be dangerous crossing to L lane on Mona Vale Rd, even with green traffic lights, as some motorists coming from the coast can be doing 80+ clicks and aren't affected by the traffic lights granting us access to Mona Vale Rd.

Scribe's rap-up of Sunday, 8 Sept, Hornsby to Somersby "Bellbirds" - 127km 

What a way to start a Sunday morn' with Teller receiving a 'phone call from Muggs'  Bundaburg/Brisbane quartet, specifically Annie Oakley, informing that Publican, was about to take a 6 mins start over 36km to stave-off some "gun" cyclist a good deal younger.  It seemed, that Publican, full of Dutch Courage the night before, had taken a dare from the younger dude to kick his arse. 

Turns out from a subsequent call whilst we were soakin' up the sun at Mt White that Navigator and Tornado had stayed with the young Speed Machine over the 36km time trial, but Publican had got 'spat-out' at 28km, but they all had fun.  [The inflated ave ride speeds the gang had been quoting back to Scribe all week, during regular 'phone link-ups, suggested there must 've been a strong Northerly blowin'.

Back to last Sunday in Syd:  Ten crew commenced from Hornsby on a gem of an early Spring morn'.  We picked-up Greg Cunningham, aka Fitz's Hill, at Mt. Ku'ring'gai and arrived at Mt White [35km] on schedule at 9:20am.  At the round table chit chat, Rocket, Widget and Wank Teller proffered feeble excuses about having to head back, from having to do Squaw Chores to "not feeling myself today".  Whereupon, after remaining on board for the 6.3km stint to Calga, the three pikers pulled-out, leaving a leaner contingent of 7 to fly the flag on the 43km loop thru Somersby/Peats Ridge.

Yamaha, Malvern Star, Pacific Pete, Rocket, Whippet, Daddy Bear, Sputnik, Teller, LabRat, Widget 'n Fitz's Hill.

A couple of happy campers after 61km at Somersby General Store.  LHS - Greg had ridden a 200km Audax the day before, but you wouldn't 've known it.  RHS - Ian, aka Daddy Bear, was tuning-up for his Thunderbolt's Way humongous climbfest in 2 weeks.

A few of the crew doing it tough at Peats Ridge after 72km.

Post ride, Teller learnt that Yamaha and Malvern Star kept the pace up all day, Fitz's Hill stayed in cruise mode seemingly doing it easy, with Whippet hittin' the wall around Mt White on the return leg.  And Daddy Bear glad for the hit-out.

Update of Ian Houghton, aka Daddy Bear, Thunderbolts Way ride weekend, Sat/Sun, 21/22 Sept

Ian has sent out an 'all points bulletin' that if you are intending to participate in his Thunderbolts Way ride in less than two weeks to definitely book digs with the motel's proprietor, Lyn, (02) 6777.0952 at the Nowendoc Country Motel this week or forget the ride.  Thus far only 7 (incl Teller) have booked these digs for Sat night, yet 5 more have expressed >50% interest in the pending w'end.  So if you ain't yet booked, but are keen, 'phone Lyn now.

Further details are available from Ian at 944.00467.

The Scribe     11 September 2002