Muggaccinos.com The Bullsheet Sunrise 5:41am
When approaching every off-ramp on the M2, Muggs’ cyclists pull up to a
halt on LHS of the cycle lane and wait until no vehicles are approaching from
behind, before veering right to pass the off-ramp to re-join the cycle lane.
You may wish to also pull up to a halt when approaching each on-ramp as well,
although the risk of being hit by a vehicle appears to be less when passing an
on-ramp
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Xmas Eve, Friday 24 Dec '21 - 15th Annual "Tour de Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, Yarramundi, Richmond" By 7am, ride from Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield, via M2 and Abbott Rd to Seven Hills station to catch 8:16am (or 8:32am) train arriving 8:39am (or 9:01am) at Emu Plains station. Then ride up Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, NE along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru Yarramundi to Richmond to catch train to Seven Hills and ride the below M2 alternate route back to Nth Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield - 86km - ETR 1:25pm (Avoid very steep 2.33km Old Bathurst Rd by not alighting at Emu Plains station at 8:39am, but remain on train for 3 more stops and alight at Blaxland station at 8:55am for 9km flattish ride to Springwood Nosh Stop) (Reduce route further by catching a train from Richmond to Riverstone or Schofields and cycling to Tallawong or Rouse Hill, thence catching a train and alighting at Macq Uni station, thence cycle to Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield) |
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WHO, WHEN, WHERE: Ride Organiser: Phil aka BankTeller 0434 715.861 and Eric aka PapaBear are starting at 6:55am from Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield.Bill aka Glasgow is meeting us at top of Pennant Hills Rd off-ramp around 7:10am. Princes Caroline is another likely starter.
George aka EnglishMan
and
Andrew
aka Tugboat are meeting us at Emu Plains station for
the 8:16am train to Emu Plains. APOLOGIES If you think you are >80% of joining us, obviously contingent upon a fine morn', can you e-mail Scribe, and he will add ya. |
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1st Leg: Start 7am from Nth Vimiera Rd carpark to Seven Hills station - 22km - 60 min
Nth Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:55am roll-out cycling west along M2 for 20.1km. Don veer Right onto M7, but exit left onto Abbott Rd for 1.9km to arrive Seven Hills station by 8am to catch 8:16am (or 8:46am) train to Emu Plains station arriving 8:39am (or 9:09am). Two 2nd Leg options: * Hard 2nd Leg: Emu Plains station up mega precipitous Old Bathurst Rd to Blaxland station, thence Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at The Subway - 17km - 65 min (agg 39km) Alight train at Emu Plains station at 8:39am on southern side and take path under rail line entering Old Bathurst Rd from Mackellar St for a level 2km stretch to a short but really steep KOM Climb starting 15m past traffic lights at Bus Stop sign and ending 2.05km later at Bowaga Ave for 1st Sag Stop (10 mins). Continue West to Springwood arriving 9:45am for 1st Nosh Stop [30 min]. * Or Easy 2nd Leg: Blaxland station thru Warrimoo and on to Springwood - 9km Alight train three stations later at Blaxland station at 8.16am and wait for cyclists in Wilson Way (300m after we turn Right from Old Bathurst Rd) on our route to Warrimoo and Springwood. Thence on roads which hug the Great Western H'way to Springwood arriving 9am for 1st Nosh Stop [30 min] at Subway, 127 Macquarie Rd, Springwood after 41.2km. 3rd Leg: Springwood to Richmond station to alight at either Seven Hills or Riverstone station - 26km - 70 min (agg 65km) 10:15am re-trace 250m back down Macquarie Rd;
Left following signs NE to Richmond, along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru
Yarramundi
pulling-up at Hawkesbury Heights Lookout
on RHS after about 12km for 5 min
Sag Stop whilst gawking at the awesome view. 4th Leg: Seven Hills station to Nth Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield 21km - 63 min (agg 86km) ETR 1:25pm Alight at Seven Hills station at 12:22pm - Left into Terminus Rd for 300m Left into Prospect Highway for 700m (care two lanes but no shoulder, so try and cycle with another cyclist beside you to occupy the entire lane); Right into Abbott Rd/M2 for 11km being careful as some traffic roars up Seven Hills Rd; Left off M2 at Pennant Hills Rd off-ramp; Retrace 1st Leg above along Seven Hills Rd, Barclays Rd etc to Vimiera Rd - ETR 1:25pm. |
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Risk
Warning Ø Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday Ø Expend 5 min studying your street directory for this route, if you haven't ridden it before Ø Don't ride two abreast on single lane roads with an unbroken centre line and descend corners on wet roads as though you are skating on ice Ø 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" etc Some forms of cycling are dangerous. An ave of 36 Australian cyclists have been killed annually since 2000. 95% of these fatalities occur on the road. Other cyclists in Australia break bones and incur nerve impairment from falling off their bikes in accidents.
A cyclist could fall from his/her bike, inter alia,
due to -
(iii) cycling too fast on a wet downhill where the
coefficient of friction is much less, particularly at corners; or
A negligent cyclist could - (a) be litigated by a seriously injured cyclist, or 3rd party (ie. a woman pushing a pram on a footpath or a car driver) under common law where the damages could exceed $500,000; and (b) lose his/her home if he/she did not have public liability insurance which covers their negligence whilst on a push bike. A negligent cyclist who did not have personal injury insurance (ie self-employed without income protection cover) could struggle to meet regular outgo commitments.
A seriously injured cyclist could be awarded damages
which a negligent cyclist could not afford to pay if the negligent
cyclist -
Ø
Cycling
without Public Liability cover is as silly as driving without 3rd Party -
Ø Click on: Risk Management which warns of 'inter alia', the dangers of cycling on public roads with motor cars, potholes and over bridges with vertical timber planks with gaps Ø Cycling with Muggs is predicated upon notifying Bank Teller if you materially disagree with any clause(s) in Muggaccinos' "Ride Participants Liability Acknowledgment" |
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Pics from the above Annual Christmas Eve Ride from Vimiera Rd, Marsfield on 24 Dec '20 - visiting Springwood and Richmond - 75.3km - 4½ riders We cycled from Vimiera Rd, Marsfield to Seven Hills train station to catch a Choo Choo to Emu Plains station, thence scaled Old Bathurst Rd (max gradient of 15.1 degrees). Bill aka Glasgow accompanied us on the M2 leg which was beneficial for an un-smart BankTeller. Eric aka PapaBear exceeded his own expectations, for unlike BankTeller, Eric didn't walk any of that nasty climb. Thence another 13km onto Springwood for 1st Nosh Stop. Then 22km Nth to Richmond, stopping for a gawk down the mountain at Yarramundi Lookout. George aka Englishman and Eric aka PapaBear cycled to Gladys's light rail at Tallawong. Andrew aka TugBoat and BankTeller caught the train to Seven Hills and thence cycled the M2 back to the Vimiera Rd, Marsfield start point.
Who looked the healthier at the apex of the nasty, arduous Old Bathurst Rd climb? Eric turns 80 next b'day. BankTeller turns 70 next b'day if he makes it.
Relaxing at a Springwood Cafe after surviving the dreaded climb up Old Bathurst Rd
Four pics of a verdant, lush, bucolic Penrith Plains viewed from Yarramundi Lookout
PapaBear thinks the sign says 'Tallawong', But because occasionally Eric can be 'confused'. Hence, PapaBear sought confirmation from George aka Englishman "Are we there?" Hornsby to Woy Woy, via Mt White - 65km - 5 riders
Pete aka CampyAficinado is admiring some poor large fish on sale
We were joined at Fisherman's Wharf by Ann's brother who hails from The Lakes District in England |
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| Scribe 22 Dec 2019 |
