Good roads/rides in Sydney

Welcome to the riders nightmare that is Sydney. 🙂
Unfortunately, many Sydney drivers seem to think the road only exists for them. Don't take it personally though, the same drivers hate other motorists, pedestrians, animals, traffic lights, their partners....
Anyway, from where you are you could probably cycle over to Centennial Park most mornings and join one of the groups doing laps. I've also seen another group on several occassions going out to the airport via Southern Cross Drive; again very early in the morning. Sorry I can't tell you which clubs these are but you could possibly ask one of the riders if you get a chance. Otherwise, try asking the people at Wooly Wheels on Oxford Street. They should be able to point you to some local clubs.

1id10t said:

Welcome to the riders nightmare that is Sydney. 🙂
Unfortunately, many Sydney drivers seem to think the road only exists for them. Don't take it personally though, the same drivers hate other motorists, pedestrians, animals, traffic lights, their partners....
Anyway, from where you are you could probably cycle over to Centennial Park most mornings and join one of the groups doing laps. I've also seen another group on several occassions going out to the airport via Southern Cross Drive; again very early in the morning. Sorry I can't tell you which clubs these are but you could possibly ask one of the riders if you get a chance. Otherwise, try asking the people at Wooly Wheels on Oxford Street. They should be able to point you to some local clubs.

The group on Southern Cross Drive is the Coluzzi ride; they start at the eponymous cafe in Darlinghurst at (??6 am???) and make a return trip to Sutherland or Waterfall, I'm not sure of the exact route or which days they ride.

Eastern Suburbs is a tuff place to ride. My mate lives in Marouba and find it generally hazardous and hilly. We out in the northwest have less probs. Best to check out the local bicycle user group. Just search it... i think there is a Eastern Suburbs BUG.

A good ride is down the coastline to la perouse (my french is not the best). turn around go down to the end of Foreshore drv toward the airport and back. There is plenty of room to cycle good flat fast road.

In terms of racing. Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm head to Heffron park at Maroubra for some criterium racing. They have grades A-E. Fast and fun racing. Some good prize money as well. Check out http://www.randwickbotanycc.com/

MPCRUSHER said:

A good ride is down the coastline to la perouse (my french is not the best). turn around go down to the end of Foreshore drv toward the airport and back. There is plenty of room to cycle good flat fast road.

In terms of racing. Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm head to Heffron park at Maroubra for some criterium racing. They have grades A-E. Fast and fun racing. Some good prize money as well. Check out randwickbotanycc.comrandwickbotanycc.comOpen ↗

Thanks for the info all - appreciate it. Will head down to Heffron Park this Sat.

I'm also going to have to learn the roads round here, they go in every which way except where i generally want to go....and what's up with the choice of water drainage grills on the roads up here?? Almost went A over T last night - definite health hazard:eek:

Cheers

Welcome to Sydney.

What kind of riding do you do?

If you are looking for a flater ride, you could ride to Kernell and return. There are some decisions you need to make about riding under or around the airport, depends on what type of rider you are.

Check this site out for some rides in your area.
http://www.sydneycyclingclub.org.au/regular.htm

Also Stanmore cycles do a ride on Saturday mornings where they leave Stanmore and head to South Darling park where they pick up other riders, this would include you, if you came. They then head to Southerland and return. I don't think theres a web site, you would need to ring Stanmore cycles.

mikesbytes said:

Welcome to Sydney.

What kind of riding do you do?

If you are looking for a flater ride, you could ride to Kernell and return. There are some decisions you need to make about riding under or around the airport, depends on what type of rider you are.

Check this site out for some rides in your area.
sydneycyclingclub.org.auregular.htmOpen ↗

Also Stanmore cycles do a ride on Saturday mornings where they leave Stanmore and head to South Darling park where they pick up other riders, this would include you, if you came. They then head to Southerland and return. I don't think theres a web site, you would need to ring Stanmore cycles.

Thanks Mike - very helpful

In terms of riding, i've focused on road races (stage races as well) with some crits thrown in along the way for good measure! Have been riding/racing for a while now so am pretty much ok riding anywhere. No probs with hills either - just need to work out a few different routes to cater for different ride types (don;t want to be going vertical too much on a recovery ride:eek: )

SCC looks like a pretty serious/well run outfit - will look into them. Thanks

Dini77 said:

Thanks Mike - very helpful

In terms of riding, i've focused on road races (stage races as well) with some crits thrown in along the way for good measure! Have been riding/racing for a while now so am pretty much ok riding anywhere. No probs with hills either - just need to work out a few different routes to cater for different ride types (don;t want to be going vertical too much on a recovery ride:eek: )

SCC looks like a pretty serious/well run outfit - will look into them. Thanks

Welcome to Sydney Dini.

The others have given some good advice. I ride with Stanmore when I wake up early enough and they are a friendly group. They normally run two bunches and finish at Bar Baba, Leichardt. Randwick Botany are generally OK but I personally think SCC are a pretentious bunch of ........
I have had a few run ins with them in Centenial Park.

Cheers

Geoff

geoffs said:

Welcome to Sydney Dini.

The others have given some good advice. I ride with Stanmore when I wake up early enough and they are a friendly group. They normally run two bunches and finish at Bar Baba, Leichardt. Randwick Botany are generally OK but I personally think SCC are a pretentious bunch of ........
I have had a few run ins with them in Centenial Park.

Cheers

Geoff

thanks Geoff
another dumb question....is centennial park open for riding round the clock or is it shut between certain times?

cheers

Dini77 said:

thanks Geoff
another dumb question....is centennial park open for riding round the clock or is it shut between certain times?

cheers

Use after dark is discouraged but common. I don't think that they ever shut ALL the gates, but don't quote me on that.

Dini77 said:

thanks Geoff
another dumb question....is centennial park open for riding round the clock or is it shut between certain times?

cheers

They do close all the gates after dark. You can still get your bike out but no cars.

Cheers

Geoff

Let us know about your ride and any challenges you struck. Sydney is a complex place to ride.

mikesbytes said:

Let us know about your ride and any challenges you struck. Sydney is a complex place to ride.

Headed out this morning from Rose Bay to La Perouse - went via Old Sth Head rd, Bronte Rd, then Malabar rd through Maroubra and then onto Anzac Pde. Some good little hills along the way and roads were generally ok (no stupid grills!). Was tempted to go round Macot/airport and then head sth to Cronulla, but could see myself getting lost so turned roudn and headed back up Anzac and checked out Heffron Park. Impressions of the track: very bumpy and tight - would make interesting racing especially if field is big. But liked the long finishing straight😄. Also had to dodge numerous dogs and old people zig-zagging across the track. couldn't dodge a broken VB bottle though and got myself a flat😠

Checked out Centennial park afterwards - it's ok, but i'd get very bored lapping around here.

Back to Rose Bay from there, but continued up Old Sth Head rd to Vaucluse for some nice 'leg burning' little hills (some >400W). Came home via New Sth Head rd and loved the decent down😄 . The roads are better up there as well.

Was my first longish ride since being up here so was good and very little traffice due to Easter whish is always great! Challenge is knowing what the good/bad roads are and all the little nuances that go with it - will have to tag along a group ride to learn some of the ins & outs. The biggest thing is just how undulating the terrain is (my power meter file looks like a sawtooth)...it's all good though and at least it aint 12deg and pissing down with rain :p

cheers

It was a nice day for a ride. The roads you were on do get busier.

"VB bottle" Must of known you were a Melbourne'ite. Next time it will be a NSW bottle.

The bike path route around the Airport starts at the very end (western) of Coward st. However you sound more like someone who would go thru the tunnel. Theres a good back road route that takes you though Sans Suzi its on the RTA bike maps. Don't bother with the path along the bay, it's really only suitable for rereation riding.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/bicycle/bicyclemaps/index.html

Come to Latteria / Coluzzi Cafe tomorrow morning at 6:15.
322 Victoria St Darlinghurst

blog.sme.skclanok foto.jpgOpen ↗

Two rides head south to Waterfall - 6:15 is a slightly slower group, but is smaller (10-20) and usually safer, if only 'cause it's smaller.

The 6:30 group is faster and generally huge (up to 60) and gets pretty crazy, as it trails through red lights - Sydney motorists just don't understand this and try to run you over..... But this is the most serious training ride in Sydney.

From Waterfall, there's a sprint back to Sutherland, then both groups join up and spin back to town arriving about 9.

Catch up - I'll be in Assos Swiss National strip - and I'll introduce you around.

Mark

marko22 said:

Come to Latteria / Coluzzi Cafe tomorrow morning at 6:15.
322 Victoria St Darlinghurst

blog.sme.skclanok foto.jpgOpen ↗

Two rides head south to Waterfall - 6:15 is a slightly slower group, but is smaller (10-20) and usually safer, if only 'cause it's smaller.

The 6:30 group is faster and generally huge (up to 60) and gets pretty crazy, as it trails through red lights - Sydney motorists just don't understand this and try to run you over..... But this is the most serious training ride in Sydney.

From Waterfall, there's a sprint back to Sutherland, then both groups join up and spin back to town arriving about 9.

Catch up - I'll be in Assos Swiss National strip - and I'll introduce you around.

Mark

Thanks Mark - sounds like a plan!

Assos Swiss National looks good. Where can you buy one?

http://www.roadbikereview.com/Channels/RoadBikeReview/images/products/product_335413.jpg

mikesbytes said:

Assos Swiss National looks good. Where can you buy one?

roadbikereview.comproduct 335413.jpgOpen ↗

funny you should ask, there's an Assos shop down here in Rose Bay - stocks nothing but Assos apparel. i've never seen so much assos kit in one place...downside is obviously the price.

Whats the name of the shop? Is there a link?