Cycling in Sydney Australia
The Mosman Daily: Uphill no thrill for cyclists as track branded ‘waste of money’
From the Mosman Daily, 17 Dec 2009:
A NEW $300,000 cycle path linking the Spit to the city has been branded a “complete waste of money” because the gradient on Pearl Bay Ave is too steep for cyclists to tackle.
Manly-Mosman Bike User Group (ManMos BUG) president John Thixton said he attempted to ride up the Pearl Bay Ave hill but could not make it because it was too arduous.
“I had to stop and get off my bike and walk it up the hill,” he said.
“Another member said he tried it and couldn’t make it all the way to the top either.”
Mr Thixton said most cyclists took Parriwi Rd to commute to the city during peak hours because the route was less challenging - “it’s a gentle, steady climb to the top,” he said.
Comments from locals, please.
Tags: bronwyn
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Neil Alexander on -
John Thixton and his mate must be wusses. (But they are right. Parriwi makes more sense.)
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Permalink Reply by baa baa on -
Good for going North, not so good coming South.
I take the "red dots" home thru Beaty Point so this "green dot" link works for me( see encl).
Any, any route to avoid Spit and Military Roads make for safe and smogless travel.
(Yes that photo does make it look steep) - Attachments:
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BicycleRoutes.pdf, 334 KB
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Permalink Reply by Carlin on -
The dots look impressive on a map, but there is still only one ridge between Neutral Bay and the Spit, anything else is up and down and out of the way.
(That being said the red dots on the Bantry Bay side is a really nice ride - just not if you are in a hurry.)
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Permalink Reply by Owning on -
I don't think its the hill, its more to do with the fitness of the person. Hills are friends, they make you a stronger.
Reminds of the this years critical mass, the leading police were struggling to get up the TINY hills in cahill express loop.
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Permalink Reply by KimR on -
I saw this too and thought it was written with a very negative slant like "money wasted on unusable bike path". I was a bit surprised. I don't think this climb would be much harder than the one from the northern end of the Spit Bridge up to Saeforth. I checked it out on Google street view and it didn't look to bad. And as mentioned, the downhill run is great.
Maybe just a case of another News Limited rag trying to trash the efforts of governement and appeal to the lowest common driver.
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Permalink Reply by Si on
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Sorry, think what you are like, but you are wrong.
Northern Beaches and LNS cyclists have no choice but to have no fear of hills.
I ride that way everyday and thought I would, after indulging in their cakes, ride the new route. It is much steeper, for much longer and the route offers no advantages at all, especially to those heading to the city (most). Battle Blvd is ~7%. There are multiple climbs exceeding this (I would estimate based on other hills > 12%) the new route. Far too steep for newbs and only disadvantages over taking Parriwi Rd.
It is a waste of money. Nothing wrong with Spit Rd (heading south on northern side of bridge anyway), Parriwi Rd and Battle Blvd.
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Permalink Reply by baa baa on
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I do this new route but if Si says, I must be wrong in doing so.
I know the name of every pothole and crack in the road up and down Spit Road, Parrawi and Battle and welcome the new options (read Safe)
See todays Manly Daily. Much better bit on the need and the use and cost of the whole thing.
Go to pages 16-17.
http://digitaledition.manlydaily.com.au/
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Permalink Reply by KimR on
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If it is wrong to travel uphill (southwards) does that mean it is right to travel downhill? I haven't ridden this route myself, so can't say how rideable it would be. But any extra bike paths are a good thing. It would help residents of Beauty Point get better bicycle access to the Spit Bridge.
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Permalink Reply by yogi on -
lets put it this way... when you travel DOWNHILL you can easily travel as fast as the cars... when you travel uphill, it is the opposite.. you only aggravate the drivers.. so, keeping out of their way is easy with taking the first left no matter which way you go.
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"But any extra bike paths are a good thing."
Not when they are worse than being on road and you have some f-wit driver to your right or tailgating you while pointing at the path.
"It would help residents of Beauty Point get better bicycle access to the Spit Bridge."
That is reasonable I suppose.
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Permalink Reply by Bob Moore on -
Compare the two routes , Parawi Rd way or Beauty Point way on a round trip from The Spit via The Oaks in Neutral Bay. Stop for a drink.
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Bikely can give you an idea, but it is not accurate enough for a comparison.
"Stop for a drink?" I can do that waiting at the crossing at the top of Parriwi thanks. The only advantage this route has is avoiding crossing Spit/Military roads, which is completely negated if I "stop for a drink".
Heading south, if coming from the east of the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation you have to mess around going down Battle Blvd which adds ~1.5km to the journey over heading down the T3/bus lane on Spit Road. Then you have the steeper hills on Beauty Pt.
Heading north, there is the advantage of not having to cross spit road (twice), but there are a two or three very steep (definitely > the 7% of Battle Blvd) sections.
I also take issue with it being safer as the roads are smaller, wind more, slower (because they are steeper) and it is a rat run so drivers are a little but wilder.
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