Hornsby Jersey St carpark 6:40am or St Ives carpark  7:10am Sunday, 1 Apr '12 to Palm Beach, catch 9am ferry to Patonga, pedal to Woy Woy, catch Iron Horse to Brooklyn and pedal back to St. Ives' -  85.9km  -  ETR Hornsby 12:10pm or ETR St Ives 12:30pm

Shorter option:  Stay on train from Woy Woy all the way back to Hornsby, reducing route by 19km
By starting at Hornsby you avoid the ride leg from Hornsby to St Ives after alighting the train at Hornsby

1st Leg:  Hornsby Jersey St carpark to St Ives carpark - 9km - 25 min

6:40am cycle the following main roads route which early on Sunday morn' has low road traffic which follows the street signs to St Ives: 

• E along Mona Vale Rd for 6.6km;

• L [opposite Forest Way - at Terrey Hills Fruit Barn] into Myoora Rd and take a 1st Sag Stop (5 min) - don't cluster at Sag Stop, rather spread thin to get well to LHS of Myoora Rd;

• Ahead along Myoora Rd for 200m, and fork right, still Myoora Rd for 2.9km

• R into Booralie Rd for 300m passing Terrey Hills shops and roundabout;

• L to McCarrs Creek Rd and descend 2.2km 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 at 7:55am 2nd Sag Stop (10 min) - Be ready to roll out promptly;

3rd Leg:  Church Point to Palm Beach via direct route up main beach road - 15km - 45 min (agg 44.4km from Hornsby)

By 8:05am cycle -

• East twds Mona Vale for 3½km - road becomes Pittwater Rd past Cabbage Tree Rd (on RHS) to Mona Rd;

• L into Mona Rd for 200m up real steep short hill to crest;

• Right for 700m;

• L into busy Barrenjoey Rd for 11km of views of the Blue Pacific past Bungan Beach thru Newport, Bilgola, Avalon, Whale Beach to arrive Palm Beach Wharf at 8:50am on the bay side arriving to purchase some grits and embark 9am Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruises ferry to Patonga Wharf for 1st Nosh Stop (30 min) on the ferry boat.

4th Leg:  Patonga to Woy Woy station - 15km (agg 59.4 km from Hornsby) - 45 min
After 30 min entering majestic/blue Brooklyn Waters from Palm Beach wharf at 9:30am cycle -

• 5.3km up Patonga Drive initially from Start 100m up from wharf at Transformer box for 2.77km ave gradient 6.77% to KOM at 4 Wheel Drive Unsealed Road on LHS Pearl Beach Drive on RHS;

• Ahead for 3.2km past the Umina Beach 180^o "U" turn (during the descent) where road changes to Mt Ettalong Rd, then thru Ettalong to SW Woy Woy;

• R into Hobart for 200m;

• L into Sydney Ave for 150m Sag Stop (5 min) outside Shell petrol station just prior to Ocean Beach Rd and GET OFF THE ROADWAY;

• Ahead crossing Ocean Beach Rd and along West St for 400m;

• L into Trafalgar Ave for 2.9km;

• R into McMasters Rd for 450m; and

• L into Blackwall Rd for 950m to Railway St (at traffic lights) to Woy Woy station and catch the hourly:

*    All-Stops train at 10:23am [$3 fare] arriving at Hawkesbury River station 14 min later at 10:37am; or

*    or Express train to Hornsby at 10:57am arriving at Hornsby station 36 mins later 

5th Leg:  Brooklyn to Pie in the Sky - 7.5km (agg 66.9 km from Hornsby) - 25 min
10:40am cycle 3.6km West along Brooklyn Rd and climb 3.9km Nth for 3^rd Nosh Stop (20 min) at Pie in the Sky from 11am.  

6th Leg:  Pie in the Sky -
*             11:20am to Hornsby - 19km (agg 85.9km) 50 mins - ETR 12:10pm; or

*             11:20am to St Ives via Bobbin Head - 31.7km (agg 85.9km) - 70 min  - ETR 12:30pm

Scribe's rap-up of the inaugural Bobbin Head Cycle Classic

Hats off to a large and capable committed band within two local Rotary Clubs ((Ku-ring-gai and Turramurra) which delivered a successful and importantly 'safe' initial Bobbin Head Cycle Classic with over 800 cyclists, albeit the majority 'tackled' the shorter 50km and 15km 'toddlers' routes.  However, the above motley quartet took on the 100km route.  It was a marvelous success, not because it contributed some thou of dollars to two worthwhile charities, but as much because a lot of 'new cyclists' achieved personal goals, with many bound to 'kick-on' to bigger 'challenges'.  Muggs will be supporting this late-March annual ride in the future.

David aka CricketTragic, Matt aka Printer, Bank Teller and Andrew aka Scallop post ride at Karuah Oval, Turra'.  Three adopted the familiar GutBuster Pose, whereas one above contended it was unnecessary

Bank Teller   25 Mar '12