Windsor, Richmond, Springwood, Mitchells Pass

Muggaccinos.com The Bullsheet Sunrise 6:20am
CARE: If cycling the M2, ride the below photo'd new white bicycle Safety Ramp to avoid vehicles exiting the NorthConnex tunnel

Sun, 5 Feb '23 - Tour de Windsor, Richmond, Hawkesbury Heights, Springwood, Mitchells Pass, Penrith, M2, to Vimiera Rd, Marsfield - ETR 2:20pm

Start from north end of Vimiera Rd, Marsfield carpark near M2 gate at 7.20am.
Or start from Tallawong train station at 8:35am after alighting at 8:33am by catching Metro from Chatswood at 7:57am. 1st Nosh Stop 9:30am at Macquarie Square, Windsor.

Reduce ride and ending ride at Penrith Station for train to Epping, thence cycle to Vimiera Rd, Marsfield

Ø If driving from Inner West, park at most Northerly Point in Vimiera Rd Marsfield to join ride

Ø Hardcopy these directions and expend 10 min studying the street map to familiarize with the below and bring on Sunday

It is mandatory when cycling the M2 (and M7) to bring your bicycle to a 'HALT' on the LHS of the cycle lane immediately prior to each 'off-ramp', eg Windsor Rd, so as to have unimpeded vision of when it is entirely safe to cross back onto the M2 (or M7) from the left side of the off ramp, because you could be real dead, real fast without clear vision of approaching vehicles that expect cyclists to know better. You may also want to adopt the same risk mitigant at each 'on-ramp', although motorists entering the ramp are generally travelling slower than when egressing the M2.

WHO, WHEN, WHERE:

Ø Ride Organiser: Phil Johnston aka BankTeller 0434 715.861 [1st Acceptor], Ann aka ToothFairy [3rd Acceptor], David aka OneAnIronMan and dutiful wife, Gabby [4th & 5th Acceptor) and Eric aka PapaBear [2nd Acceptor] are starting from Tallawong train station at 8:35am train. Eric and BankTeller are boarding middle carriage of train at Platform 3 at Chatswood station at 7:57am. Ann is joining us at Epping station. We alight at Tallawong station at 8:33am and cycle 17km to arrive at 1st Nosh Stop at Windsor at 9:30am.
Phil plans to end his ride at Penrith station (69km) and catch a train back to Artarmon where his Baguette Van should be parked.
Ann aka ToothFairy plans to catch train from Penrith station to Lidcombe station and ride back to Sydney Olympic Park.

.............................are starting at 7:20am from top of Vimiera Rd, Marsfield (north end) where we access the M2 Entrance Gate. See below listed route description.

APOLOGIES:

Chris aka RecalcitrantBankTeller and George aka Englishman are committed elsewhere, but hopeful of riding this same route with Muggs in four weeks on Sunday, 5th March
If you think you are >80% of joining us, please e-mail Scribe and he will add ya in the above.

Snapshot:

Start 99km anti-C/W loop route at 7:20am from top of Vimiera Rd, Marsfield), M2, M7 exiting at Quakers Hill Parkway and follow Western rail line to Windsor.
2nd Leg is via Cornwallis and Nth Richmond Lowlands (12 km) to Richmond, then 21km SW up Hawkesbury Heights to Yarramundi thence Springwood for 2nd Nosh Stop at Subway Springwood.
3rd Leg descends mountain incorporating scenic Mitchells Pass to Emu Plains station (or Penrith station) to catch train back to Blacktown station (or Seven Hills) followed by 21km cycle back to Vimiera Rd, Marsfield' station - ETR 1:50pm.
Nosh Stops:
(i)    Macquarie Square, Windsor (35 min)
(ii)     Subway Springwood (30 min)
(iii)    Train from Emu Plains to Blacktown station for 20 min (or train from Penrith station to Seven Hills station for 22min)

KOM Climbs:
Shaws Creek Bridge to veer R sign approaching Hawkesbury Heights Lookout 4.1km

30 metre elevated cycleway which passes above the westbound on-ramp that enables cyclists riding West to pass over traffic heading West exiting the new NorthConnex tunnel.

1st Leg: Vimiera Rd, Marsfield, M2, M7, Quakers Hills Pky, thence follow rail line to Windsor – 42km - 2 hrs 20 min
Rollout 7:20am from M2 Entrance Gate

NorWest on M2 for 17km. Continue ahead onto M7 for 9.7km to Quakers Hill Parkway. Left at off-ramp and turn R at lights onto Hambledon Rd. 750m later L into Bali Drive (through housing estate) R at "T" junction into Walker St and 600m L into Burdekin Rd and follow this for 600m when it becomes Railway Terrace. Follow railway line to Schofields and continue to Riverstone along Railway Tce.
Where Riverstone station level crossing is on your LHS, turn R then immediately L and follow the railway line on your LHS. Riverstone Parade take us to Vineyard Station. At Vineyard station road veers to the R. Turn L into Wallace Rd after 50m.
Follow railway line along where Wallace Rd ends at a "T" intersection. Turn L and cycle over a level railway crossing, and turn R into Railway Rd and remain on it for about 1k to Mulgrave Station where we R onto Mulgrave Rd and follow until you reach Windsor Rd. Turn L into Windsor Rd, and follow it 3km to Windsor for 1st Nosh Stop (30 min) from approx 9:40am at Macquarie Square Windsor.

2nd Leg: Windsor to Richmond, Yarramundi, Springwood - 31km - 105 min (agg. 73km)

10:10am:

R	Windsor	5.0	~	NWW	Richmond
R	Market St	0.1	~	NWW	March St
L	March St	0.6	~	SSW	Bosworth St
R	Bosworth St	0.3	~	SWW	Castlereagh Rd
R	Castlereagh Rd	4.0	~	SWW	Springwood Rd
L	Springwood Rd	11.4	/	SWW	*Yarramundi - Hawkesbury Heights Lookout (10 min Sag Stop)*
R	Hawkesbury Rd	9.1	~	SWW	Macquarie Rd
R	Macquarie Rd	0.2	~	W	Raymond Rd
L	Raymond Rd	0.1	~	S	Subway Springwood

Arrive at Springwood at 11:55am for 2nd Nosh Stop (35 min) at Subway Springwood.

3rd Leg: Springwood, Mitchell Pass, Emu Plains station - 16.2km - 45 min (agg. 89km) or Penrith station - 18km (50 min) (agg. 91km)

Remount 12:30pm and descend the mountain avoiding Great Western H'way except for 800m section when we cross it, including a beaut one-way descent of Mitchells Pass to -
* Emu Plains station for half hourly train at 0 min and 30 min past hour - arriving Blacktown station 14 min; or
* Penrith station for regular trains to Seven Hills station:

L	Raymond Rd	0.1	~	N	Macquarie Rd
R	Macquarie Rd	0.2	~	SEE	Hawkesbury Road
R	Green Pde/Macq. Rd	4.0	~	SEE	Green Pde/Macquarie Rd
R	Great Western Highway	0.8	~	SEE	Great Western Highway
L	Wilson/Railway Pde	4.4	~	SEE	Wilson/Railway Pde
L	Mitchells Pass	4.3	\	E	Great Western Highway
L	Great Western Highway	2.3	~	NE	Station St
A	Station St	0.1	~	N	Emu Plains station at 1:05pm or Penrith station 1:10pm

4th Leg: Alight train at Blacktown station around 1:20pm or Seven Hills 1:25pm and cycle to Vimiera Rd, Marsfield carpark - 17km - 55 min (agg. 108km) - ETR 2:20pm

Ahead into Boys Ave 200m,
R into Second Ave for 400m,
L into Sunnyholt Rd for 800m,
R into Sackville Rd for 1.2km
Ahead in Lucas Rd for 1.4km
L into Prospect H'way for 400m
Ahead at Johnson Ave traffic lights into Abbott Rd/M2 (take extreme car as lots of traffic proceed leftish along the Prospect H'way, and one of those Red Necks could wallop ya!) for 15.6km,
L at Optus Tower at crest (1.6km after passing thru 400m tunnel) to Vimiera Rd, Marsfield carpark

ETR Vimiera Rd, Marsfield 2:20pm.

Risk Warning
It is mandatory when cycling the M2 (and M7) to bring your bicycle to a 'HALT' on the LHS of the cycle lane immediately prior to each 'off-ramp', eg Windsor Rd, so as to have unimpeded vision of when it is entirely safe to cross back onto the M2 (or M7) from the left side of the off ramp, because you could be real dead, real fast without clear vision of approaching vehicles that expect cyclists to know better. You may also want to adopt the same risk mitigant at each 'on-ramp', although motorists entering the on-ramp are generally travelling slower than when egressing the M2 and should be mindful that the approaching cyclist/s on their RHS has rights to the lane.

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 -
(i) being hit by a car or another cyclist; or
(ii) encountering a pothole;

(iii) cycling too fast on a wet downhill where the coefficient of friction is much less, particularly at corners; or
(iv) getting their bicycle wheel caught in a gap in a timber bridge.

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 -
(I) did not have public liability insurance cover; and/or
(II) did not possess valuable assets.

Ø Cycling without Public Liability cover is as silly as driving without 3rd Party -
join Bicycle NSW for PL insurance, so that all Muggs are better protected

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"

Last Sunday, Nth St Ives to West Head Lookout 'n back - 53km - 4 riders

T'was a hot, muggy morn'. But ToothFairy didn't hold back - determined to drive some Old Folk into the ground.

View or above ride route from Nth St.Ives to West Head Lookout in Google Earth:
Click on the 'Relive' image above. Then click on the 'Right Arrow' therein.
Then click on: View interactive route >

Trois Montagnes from Nth Turra' to Brooklyn 'n back (15th Jan '23) - 74km - 9 riders

Click on the 'Relive' image above to view last Sunday's Trois Montagnes route using Google Earth.
Then click on the 'Right Arrow' therein. Then click on: View interactive route >

Annual Sutherland to Nth Wollongong Lighthouse - 58km - 9 riders

Wake up, Australia

Eight smiling faces. Alas, Terry aka Navigator, who started with us at Sutherland, missed this pic at our customary Nosh Stop at Ruby's Cafe on Bulli Beach

Click on below 'Relive' image to view last Sunday's New Year's day 'Sutherland to Nth Wollongong' - 58km in Google Earth.

Then click on the 'Right Arrow' therein. Then click on: View interactive route > and drag the route with your mouse to evidence a further application of Google Earth
As Gomer Pyle would say, Garsh, Sha-zam, Gall-lee!!!

Annual Boxing Day 2022 'catch-up' ride for Recalcitrant, Erstwhile Muggs at Water Vista Cafe, Berowra Waters - the new Manager is Paris

Eric, Brigetta and Pete aka BeanCounter at the Hornsby start on a warmish morn'

Maureen, Pete Eric, Martin, Rick, Arno and Terry

Re-grouping after the climb from Berowra Waters that is now longer 'n steeper due to 'climate change'

All 8 attendees were cheerful, so Santa must've visited 'em.

Annual Boxing Day 2021 'catch-up' ride for Recalcitrant, Erstwhile Muggs at Coffee Kiosk at The Estuary Waterfront Seafood Restaurant - Kangaroo Point - 9 Muggs plus a few stragglers

Eric aka PapaBear recommended The Coffee Kiosk at The Estuary, after our regular haunts were not opening on Boxing Day. Bereft of motor bikes and juxtaposed against the Hawkesbury River, it is a venue that Muggs will visit often.

Evidence Google Earth 'at play'.

Left mouse click on this Google Earth image. Then left mouse click in the Right arrow therein, to view our out 'n back 47km route.

Then click on: View interactive route to evidence a further application of Google Earth.

As Gomer Pyle would say, Goooolly !!!

Brief report on 2022 New Year's Day annual ride from Sutherland to Nth Wollongong, thence train home
Lois aka LoisLane, Phil aka BankTeller, Eric aka PapaBear and David aka Once an IronMan experienced a coolish morn to safely cycle to Nth Wollongong. Eric opted to cycle back to Sutherland from our Nosh Stop at Ruby's Cafe Bulli. Ann aka ToothFairy squibbed it preferring to hike in Tasmania.

Pics from Hornsby to Mt White, return by Berowra Waters - 88km - 6 riders

Three pics at a verdant Mt White Road Warriors Cafe on a day when too many motor bikes passed us too close and too fast, too often.

Syd aka MotorMechanic is now the 5th Mugg rider to purchase the same flight ticket to Milan, Italy for Tour Italia this August which includes 30kgs luggage

MotorMechanic has booked a two person bungalow at same camp ground in Colfosco. Tour Italia informs that Bank Teller has sourced a second apartment in Bormio for 500 Euro for our 7 days in Bormio which can accommodate up to 4 adults. Scott aka Patternmaker will concur that it won't be available for long as it took a LOT of searching to find our first apartment 'cause we are there in peak Summer season. So if you would like to share these two apartments, thereby securing a cheap deal, and climb for up to 18 climb days with Muggs 'burgeoning contingent', contact Syd or Bank Teller pronto.

Bank Teller's pics of Hornsby for Tour de Wisemans Ferry, return via Cliftonville, Stone House Café Maroota, Halcrows Rd, Cattai Ridge Rd, Galston Gorge - 118km - 12 riders

Above pics at Wisemans Ferry after 49.7km from Hornsby

Above five pics at Maroota Stone House cafe after 71km where we got white table cloth treatment.
Bank Teller rec'd an email on Wed 5 Feb from Amy G_ymer, Tenant/Cafe Mgr, informing that she was closing her occupancy this Saturday, because the Owner/Landlord refused to expend monies to achieve Compliance determined by Local Council. This is a real shame because Amy was an exceedingly zealous/fervent Tenant/Cafe Mgr.

Bank Teller's pics of Hornsby, Mt White, Peats Ridge, Yarramalong - "Iron Horse” home from Wyong train station - 94km - 6 riders

We came across a Red Chook at Mt. White that wasn't afraid of "any dumb human"

Scribe 15 Aug '15