Cycling in Sydney Australia

The best climber I have ever seen or just mad?

I am commuting less and less at the moment due to work commitments and the need for a car to see clients etc however always envious when I sit in the traffic and see cyclist go past me . Traffic between Castle hill and Rosville is particulalarly heavy regardless of which route you go and I know I can do it in one hour on my bike but alas it takes me 1hr .20 min by car

This morning sitting in traffic to go down Barclay Road - possibly one of the hardest ,steepest and busiest climbs in the Hills District, most cyclist avoid it but M2 closure for bikes has meant more people must use it . I noticed the flashing light of a bike commuter slowly cresting the top of the hill on the Baulkham Hills side .

As he got closer I realised the guy was riding a single speed cruiser !!!!! -- How he manages to climb either side of the hill which some cars struggle up i will not know .

I dip my helmet to such a display --

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Permalink Reply by Paul on May 18, 2012 at 2:25pm

A slight variation on that second option: when you get Aiken Rd at PHR, cross directly over into Copeland Rd and up to Beecroft Rd. At Beecroft Rd you have two choices - turn right and take Beecroft Rd all the way to the Epping Railway underpass (I can maintain 40km/h+ from Beecroft to that turnoff). The second option is to cross Beecroft Rd, turn right over the rail bridge, then turn right into Sutherland Rd and take the Rollercoaster Ride to the M2 Underpass at Epping. Sutherland Rd is very quiet as it is a no through road, but it is hilly. Heading into Mac Park is fun because there is only one hill you won't quite have enough speed to crest without pedalling a little bit. Coming home is another story!

I ride from Dural via Cherrybrook & WPH. I used to come down Highs Rd to the M2 detour. Gave up on that after a week because it was crazy to climb up to Castle Hill Rd, then go down into the WPH Valley, then climb all the way back up to PHR again!

When I removed this crazy tour de hills, it lopped about 5km off the commute. I used to ride a similar route along Castle Hill Rd (from Coonara Ave/Edward Bennett Dr), through the tunnel at Thompsons Cnr and down to the M2 detour. I then got sick of the M2 detour and started doing Copeland Rd/Beecroft Rd. Then I found I could even cut that bit out, and my final route is now New Line Rd -> Victoria Rd -> Cardinal Ave (Cross PHR) -> Cardinal Ave -> Hannah St -> Cross Beecroft Rd -> Wongala Crs -> Sutherland Rd -> M2 Underpass then up through Epping to rejoin the M2 detour.

In heavy wet weather I go down Beecroft Rd in the morning, and coming home I go via the M2 detour to PHR then cycle up the East Shared Path to the M2, then the West Footpath to Castle Hill Rd (due to flooding in the M2 underpass on Sutherland Rd)

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Permalink Reply by mikesbytes on May 17, 2012 at 10:40pm

Here's my commutes for today, on my fixie

AM: To work

PM: To home

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Permalink Reply by Cate on May 18, 2012 at 1:01am

Similar. Was driving next to a cyclist riding up the northern side of Arden St Coogee yesterday. Barely room for him with the traffic. Insane effort.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Moore on May 18, 2012 at 10:07am

I can think of easier ways out of Coogee! Usually go round through the park on the headland and up to Moore St, which sticks in my mind for some reason.

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Permalink Reply by sit ubu sit on May 18, 2012 at 3:07pm

He he, reminds me of a guy I went to uni with called Graeme Rhodes, who lived in... Grahams Rd. His greatest fear was being pulled over by the cops and asked "Okay son, what's your name and address?" and then not being able to convince them he was stone cold sober whatever he blew.