Weekend Retro rides_Sydney(updates)

[frailer5]

Ah, that's a sneaky back-route. I like it. Is the lane Cove Valley Walk paved/ Cyclists allowed? (shared?).
Problem is, regarding somewhere quieter, up this way at least, decent routes are at a premium. North from Hornsby is certainly less fraught than Bobbin Hd rd. Another option is.. something like this. Those from over that way could leave from Eastwood, or Epping. I could meet the pack at bottom Kissing Point Rd. (why did they name 2 such roads in Sydney?). Then back up Kissing Pt rd; I can rat-run you through the back of Warrawee tp bring us out near Hornsby. Thence to Cowan. Pie in the Sky could be a bit crowded, but eats/drinks available there. Depending on how hot/arduous, back to either Hornsby, or down through Bobbin Head (left at mt Colah), then climb out to Turramurra Stn.
At this stage I would probably be OK for 1st or 8th Nov.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Ah, that's a sneaky back-route. I like it. Is the lane Cove Valley Walk paved/ Cyclists allowed? (shared?).

Shared path. Steep going in, steep coming out.

[Hergest]

I do Bobbin Head once a month on average as part of the 3 Gorges ride, now and then with a mate but more often on my own. I ride it on saturdays or sundays depending on what i'm doing and yes, there are a lot of other riders but i reckon that's a bonus.

I usually drive up and park at the start of Bobbin Head Road by the school and do the loop but i would love to ride up from Meadowbank as from home to there and then up and down to Bobbo would make for a great ride.

[isabella24]

At this stage I would probably be OK for 1st or 8th Nov.

I'd be up for the 8th of November as I'm doing the Sydney to the Gong on the 2nd (work roped me into it).
My partner probably won't be too sympathetic if both Saturday 1st AND Sunday 2nd are taken up with rides...
So, here goes:

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24

[find_bruce]

Darn, I am doing the Highland Fling on 9 Nov so

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sun 2nd Nov Gong Ride: Isabella24, Rheicel, BFV

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24, BFV

[isabella24]

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sun 2nd Nov Gong Ride: Isabella24, Rheicel, BFV

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24, BFV

Good thinking BFV!

[Hergest]

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sun 2nd Nov Gong Ride: Isabella24, Rheicel, BFV

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24, BFV, Hergest

[recumbenteer]

Ah, that's a sneaky back-route. I like it. Is the lane Cove Valley Walk paved/ Cyclists allowed? (shared?).

Shared path. Steep going in, steep coming out.

Rotovelo??
might ride on my own

[recumbenteer]

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sun 2nd Nov Gong Ride: Isabella24, Rheicel, BFV, Green Rocket

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24, BFV

[vikramranna]

I don't think I will be joining you guys in the 8th as I am doing a ride with another group but the same route you are planning.

[rheicel]

Dang! Syd-NC 8th-9th.

[zebee]

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sun 2nd Nov Gong Ride: Isabella24, Rheicel, BFV, Green Rocket, Zebee

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24, BFV


Seeing as the Rocket is there, someone can keep me company up the hills. Which of the several routes and starts do we agree on?

[isabella24]

Just to avoid any confusion, the proposed Bobbin Head ride dates are:

Sat 1st Nov: Frailer, find_bruce

Sat 8th Nov: Frailer, Isabella24, BFV

The Sydney to the Gong ride is:

Sun 2nd Nov Gong Ride: Isabella24, Rheicel, BFV, Green Rocket, Zebee

Seeing as the Rocket is there, someone can keep me company up the hills. Which of the several routes and starts do we agree on?

The route for the Sydney to the gong ride that you put your name down for is set by the event organizers.

The bobbin head ride route, I'm leaving up to the people who know!!

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Yes, I think I confused people. Sorry. I was putting up the Gong ride info so that you can see who else is riding there and keep an eye out for them. I'm riding with Rheicel as a Mobile Support rider. We'll be slow as hell due to having to stop and fix bikes along the way. People are welcome to ride along with us, but we'll be stopping all of the time.
If anyone is riding by themselves, they may pick up a riding partner from our little cohort. Remember, assigned starting times are suggestions only. Go when you want.

[rheicel]

You can check this route fellas : http://www.strava.com/routes/1085849

It will be Meadowbank, Eastwood, Lane Cove Walk, Kissing Point, Pacific H-Way, Pie in the Sky.
Back via Bobbin Head, Lane Cove National Park, Shrimpton Creek then all the way to Meadowbank. Most of you will be able to complete a good Gran Fondo Ride.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

You can check this route fellas : http://www.strava.com/routes/1085849

It will be Meadowbank, Eastwood, Lane Cove Walk, Kissing Point, Pacific H-Way, Pie in the Sky.
Back via Bobbin Head, Lane Cove National Park, Shrimpton Creek then all the way to Meadowbank. Most of you will be able to complete a good Gran Fondo Ride.

Sounds like a good idea, but way too much Pacific Hwy (Turramurra/Wahroonga to Chatswood) for my liking. Is it quiet enough on a Saturday?

[rheicel]

You can replace the Pacific H-way with back roads but I have not tried it before.
North Bound is usually quiet Saturday morning. Beyond Hornsby, Pacific Hway is a great quiet road most of the time.
South Bound, Turra to Chatswood, hhhmmmm. Based on experience, if you are riding around midday, this stretch should not be a problem too. If you do not want this Pstretch of Pacific Hway, then you can also return via Kissing point and enjoy the long down hill. Be careful on this stretch as you can easily speed up to 60/70kph without even noticing it

[frailer5]

Completely forgot about the 'gong ride.

bfv, my take on the Pacific Hwy south of Hornsby is... no. I know guys do it, but when I'm driving on it I just shake my head and ask... why? Could be I'm too old to do S lanes with impatient drivers. Saturdays there are worse than a week day. You've got Central Coast traffic funnelling in.. a nightmare, at the risk of sounding dramatic.
North of Hornsby.. no real worries. Would think that crossing over the Pac Hwy at top of Kissing Pt Rd and rat running through Warrawee would be fine, (Eastern Rd, Bangalla, other back streets.. then Alexandra Pde to Hornsby, the latter my work commute start). Same can be done to get through to Bobbin Hd Rd., if Bobbin Head is the destination. The old Pac Hwy ride Hornsby to Cowan is pretty civilised, as an alternative to Bobbin Head.

I think rhiecel and I have a slightly different view on the Pacific on Saturday due to speed and age difference.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

I think Kissing Pt Road, rat run to Old Pac Hwy, back to Bobbo, then rat run to Kissing Pt again might be the best option. Let's put it to a vote. If you've got a route map frailer5 (Mark? Paul? I've forgotten, sorry), I'd love to see it.

[Hergest]

Definitely Kissing Point for me. The chap i ride with now and then lives in Lane Cove and if we do 3 Gorges or Akuna Bay we go back via the Pacific Highway but to be honest i dislike it a lot. Traffic is very heavy by midday on both saturday and sunday and through some of the suburbs with shops on the side of the highway where the parking lane is full you have to claim the lane and ride as quick as you can, when you've got 90 kms of climbing in your legs it is a bit painful.

Kissing Point Road is fine though and it means only a bit of Pacific Highway.

[zebee]

Yes, I think I confused people. Sorry. I was putting up the Gong ride info so that you can see who else is riding there and keep an eye out for them. I'm riding with Rheicel as a Mobile Support rider. We'll be slow as hell due to having to stop and fix bikes along the way. People are welcome to ride along with us, but we'll be stopping all of the time.
If anyone is riding by themselves, they may pick up a riding partner from our little cohort. Remember, assigned starting times are suggestions only. Go when you want.

AH, well I am not doing the Gong. I have been motorcycle marshal a few times, but not this year.

Looks like Sun 2nd has been booked for me anyway

[frailer5]

I think Kissing Pt Road, rat run to Old Pac Hwy, back to Bobbo, then rat run to Kissing Pt again might be the best option. Let's put it to a vote. If you've got a route map frailer5 (Mark? Paul? I've forgotten, sorry), I'd love to see it.

... it's Paul. No probs, I'm dodgy on names myself. (Quang would confirm, as I've asked him about peoples' names on occasion in hushed tones).
bfv, I'll work up a mapmyride tomorrow, and link.
And the other Paul's experience would ring true. I haven't tried it for some years.

[frailer5]

Here's a rough guide.

Kissing Pt Rd~Cowan_Bobbo

Please flag if it's not public view; couldn't see any settings to indicate otherwise. From top of Kissing Pt Rd I'll be rat-run guide to get us to Hornsby/Pac Hwy in reasonable quiet. I'll see how many work rides I get in up to then. I may meet you guys further down or wimp out and go from Turramurra/Pac Hwy. Plan there is to walk bikes across pedestrian crossing. Then to back of Coles>short pedestrian path to Cherry St; wind up through Warrawee. Then on to Alexandra Pde. After that it's Pac Hwy to Cowan.
Don't forget the 3D flyover option, radio button, top/right map window.

[Hergest]

I can only see that the page is yours Paul and have no options to view anything. It doesn't bother me as i'll just follow whoever knows where we're going.

Are there really 31,426,128 other Pauls who are also members on Map My Ride so you had to use that moniker? I had better not join then