Cycling in Sydney Australia
Went for a ride on Sunday- nothing to complain about
Waterfall to the Gong- what a great ride! From Waterfall its a fast downhill along McKell Av, then a cruise up Lady Wakefield, smelling the rainforest, and a good climb out of the park to emerge at the escarpment overlooking the Illawarra coast. Have a coffee at the Pie Shop at Otford- great outdoor seating. Often some vintage cars parked there or a few paragliders zooming overhead. Time before last, a bloke was flying a remote controlled plane, doing loop the loops.
Continue on past the crowds watching the hang gliders at Lawrence Hargrave Park and turn sharp left down the steep hill to Stanwell Park. Had a tyre blow out on this hill some years ago, but luckily managed to come to an orderly stop. No dramas this time, max speed about 62 km/h. The coast road gets a little narrow along here and sometimes motorists get impatient, but today- no one behaved badly. The Seacliff Bridge road surface is beautifully smooth and the shoulder is reasonably wide. Cyclists have been banned from the bridge footpath but I figure that if you can get that far on the road, why bother about the footpath. At the southern end of the bridge there is a steep hill and it really gets the heart rate up. Pity the old Coalcliff pub at the top is all boarded up. The Scarborough is open a bit further along.
After Coalcliff the road undulates, with some good downhills and one or two steep pinches, and progress is rapid. Austinmer beach always looks inviting and we sometime stop for a swim there. Just before Thirroul you can take the turn off to the beach and join the coastal cycleway. Bulli Beach is a picture and the Cafe on the point has good food. Almost decided to quit here and take it easy on the beach, but pressed on to Wollongong.
The path past the swimming pool and fishing harbour is narrow and often congested so we hit the roads to get into the City via Bourke and Kiera Sts. Grab a drink or snack and race to the station (best approach is along Crown St). Even the train was good- a nice new inter-urban train, with plenty of vestibule space for bikes.
No punctures, no yobbbos yelling out their car windows, even the motorbikers gave us a good passing distance, the weather was mild, everyone helped to keep the group together, train was on time- what more could you ask? A good 60km workout, plus a few more k's riding to and from Central.. Some of the group had even ridden from Tempe to the start so had done over 100 km.
Continue on past the crowds watching the hang gliders at Lawrence Hargrave Park and turn sharp left down the steep hill to Stanwell Park. Had a tyre blow out on this hill some years ago, but luckily managed to come to an orderly stop. No dramas this time, max speed about 62 km/h. The coast road gets a little narrow along here and sometimes motorists get impatient, but today- no one behaved badly. The Seacliff Bridge road surface is beautifully smooth and the shoulder is reasonably wide. Cyclists have been banned from the bridge footpath but I figure that if you can get that far on the road, why bother about the footpath. At the southern end of the bridge there is a steep hill and it really gets the heart rate up. Pity the old Coalcliff pub at the top is all boarded up. The Scarborough is open a bit further along.
After Coalcliff the road undulates, with some good downhills and one or two steep pinches, and progress is rapid. Austinmer beach always looks inviting and we sometime stop for a swim there. Just before Thirroul you can take the turn off to the beach and join the coastal cycleway. Bulli Beach is a picture and the Cafe on the point has good food. Almost decided to quit here and take it easy on the beach, but pressed on to Wollongong.
The path past the swimming pool and fishing harbour is narrow and often congested so we hit the roads to get into the City via Bourke and Kiera Sts. Grab a drink or snack and race to the station (best approach is along Crown St). Even the train was good- a nice new inter-urban train, with plenty of vestibule space for bikes.
No punctures, no yobbbos yelling out their car windows, even the motorbikers gave us a good passing distance, the weather was mild, everyone helped to keep the group together, train was on time- what more could you ask? A good 60km workout, plus a few more k's riding to and from Central.. Some of the group had even ridden from Tempe to the start so had done over 100 km.
-
Comment by DamianM on February 22, 2009 at 10:20pm -
Awesome Bob
I also had a good ride with nothing to complain about, other than being absolutely whipped up the hills!
Went out with two friends for some of the hills in the Eastern suburbs. From Centennial to Bronte, Tamarama, Bondi, Watsons Bay, Rose Bay, Bellvue Hill, Bondi Junction. Then down to La Perouse and back to Enmore for brekky with assorted wives and kids.
Like you, no hassles from anyone. A good day on the bike.
-
Comment by Bob Moore on February 23, 2009 at 9:01pm -
I did take this pic just for a laugh, at Thirroul.
Out to Watsons Bay is a great ride. Bellevue Hill is a killer. I chicken out and catch the ferry back sometimes.
-
Comment by naomi on February 24, 2009 at 1:18pm -
umm.. what is that sign supposed to be saying?
Looks like a bad game of pictionary!
Did Sydney to Wollongong for the first time a couple of weekends ago on my road bike, having done Waterfall to Kiama before on my hybrid - it was really fun but I hated getting to Waterfall, very deceptive flat! Saw a cyclist getting carted off in an ambulance who had been heading back to Waterfall in the National Park - hope they are OK. No cars seemed to be involved.
The space age toilet just after the new coalcliff bridge is a crack up though - it talks!
-
Comment by naomi on February 24, 2009 at 2:45pm
-
Except when its roadkill your smelling;)
Comment
© 2013 Created by DamianM.
You need to be a member of Sydney Cyclist to add comments!
Join Sydney Cyclist