avoiding Anzac Bridge

On 2006-05-02, Zebee Johnstone (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

So... someone mentioned avoiding the Anzac Bridge by going through
Glebe instead.

Who else feels jipped that Anzac bridge doesn't dispense free Anzac
biscuits?

<shuddup MBTC remotely controlled brane>

--
TimC
"It took people a long time to figure out which machine was [mooing],
and even longer to figure out how. But for some reason it didn't take
them any time at all to figure that I'd done it." -- Paul Tomblin on ASR

TimC said:

was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Who else feels jipped that Anzac bridge doesn't dispense free Anzac biscuits?

--
TimC

The Food Police have been busy. Someone dared to call them "ANZAC Cookies" in the local paper. Got a big kick in the date in letters to Ed..
ANZAC Biscuits are meant to be square and incredibly hard. Nothing like the bridge at all but good with tea.

Keep taking the pills Tim 😄

Cheers
Hugh

Zebee Johnstone said:

So... someone mentioned avoiding the Anzac Bridge by going through
Glebe instead.

I looked at Bike-It, seems you skirt through Pyrmont, then Taylor Rd,
then Sheehy, then you end up at Bicentennial park.

Except Sheehy street doens't go anywhere, dead end! Into a block of
flats from what I can see, meaning a hard bloody climb up to Glebe
Point Rd.

Can any Sydneysider tell me if there is a secret passage that I
missed? Or some way to get from Taylor St to Bicentennial Park that
doesn't involve Far Too Much granny gear?

Trust me, there *is* a public footpath through those flats at the end
of Sheehy Street. It was a condition of building the flats that a public
access to Cook Street be provided. I don't know if you'd be able
to ride the 'bent on it, though I *think* I could ride my MTB there.
Anyway, it's less than 50 metres walk to Cook Street, then downhill
to Bicentennial Park and the bike trail past the mangroves (which I
still have not had time to visit).

--
beerwolf (remove numbers from email address)

Just keep persevering zeebee. Anzac bridge isn't much of a hill and is a great shortcut.

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger 🙂

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 2 May 2006 22:36:32 +1000

beerwolf said:

Trust me, there *is* a public footpath through those flats at the end
of Sheehy Street. It was a condition of building the flats that a public
access to Cook Street be provided. I don't know if you'd be able
to ride the 'bent on it, though I *think* I could ride my MTB there.

what they call scenic eh? Meaning winding all over the place for no
reason at all? Or just a lot of steps?

Was dark - couldn't see a thing. I guess I'll have to find it in the
daytime.

Zebee

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 2 May 2006 23:11:22 +1000

geoffs said:

Just keep persevering zeebee. Anzac bridge isn't much of a hill and is a
great shortcut.

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger 🙂

It's not the bridge that worries me as much as the city end "ramp". I
can (just) cope with all those people on knobby tyred old MTBs passing
me on the bridge, having them sailing up the "ramp" while Im pushing
my bike would be heartbreaking 🙂

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle beerwolf said:

Trust me, there *is* a public footpath through those flats at the end
of Sheehy Street. It was a condition of building the flats that a public
access to Cook Street be provided. I don't know if you'd be able
to ride the 'bent on it, though I *think* I could ride my MTB there.

what they call scenic eh? Meaning winding all over the place for no
reason at all? Or just a lot of steps?

Was dark - couldn't see a thing. I guess I'll have to find it in the
daytime.

Zebee

I should not have used the word "flats". The dwellings that the
path winds between are actually *townhouses* - ie only 2 storey,
each place has a little garden and a garage, etc. There are no steps,
but the path curves around a bit. Go all the way to the end of
Sheehy Street, and the path is then on your right.

You'd find it more easily if you rode *to* work that way. Walking
up the short sharp bit of Cook Street, it is the first opening you
come to between the fences on your left. Although IMHO that
part of Cook Street is way steeper than the Anzac ramp. It
will all improve heaps when they finally complete the Glebe
foreshore path, and it will all be pretty much at the water's
edge until you get to Bridge Road.

--
beerwolf (remove numbers from email address)

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 2 May 2006 23:11:22 +1000

geoffs said:

Just keep persevering zeebee. Anzac bridge isn't much of a hill and is a
great shortcut.

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger 🙂

It's not the bridge that worries me as much as the city end "ramp". I
can (just) cope with all those people on knobby tyred old MTBs passing
me on the bridge, having them sailing up the "ramp" while Im pushing
my bike would be heartbreaking 🙂

Zebee

There is always someone out there who is faster. I hate being overtaken and although my stoker, swears that she isn't competetive, it's amazing how the speed suddenly picks up if she thinks we are about to overtake.
We don't do hills that quickly so we are well used to cyclists going past.

Just enjoy the ride.

Cheers

Geoff

Too many whippersnappers on the Anzac Bridge, all showing off and
overtaking, so its the quiet life for me through Glebe Pt Rd, Kelly St and
Ultimo into the City- only have to contend with the odd U turning Taxi
(sorry, didnt see you) or bus driver who likes to practice her close shaving
technique - amazing how close they can go, admire their skill, and of course
one or two careless car door openers - almost guarantee it. But anyway Glebe
Pt Rd is a nice street, lots of interest, and there are diversions along
back streets (likie Sheehy St) for a bit of variety. The more cyclists using
Glebe Pt Rd the more likely the Council (City of Sydney) might make it
better for cyclists. There is an "upgrade" planned - hopefully better than
the job they have done so far on Oxford, William St and Redfern St -, where
promised cycle lanes evaporated when RTA, STA, landscape archirtects etc
all got ionvolved.

The new path currently under construction around the waterfront from Glebe
Pt to Glebe High School should be OK for a 'bent, if they get the mangrove
and beachy bits sorted out with a boardwalk or something. (amazing to see
mangroves in the Inner City!) No need to use Sheehy St or Cook St then, and
a flat run almost to Bridge Rd.

There is another shortcut too if still wanting to use Sheehy St, from
Leichhardt St to Cook St, through another block of flats. From Glebe Pt Rd
go down Leichhardt St about 200 m and turn right at the second block of
flats, onto a path tto a car park area. This comes out on Cook St opposite
the "secret" Sheehy St entrance.

fb

"beerwolf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

So... someone mentioned avoiding the Anzac Bridge by going through
Glebe instead.

I looked at Bike-It, seems you skirt through Pyrmont, then Taylor Rd,
then Sheehy, then you end up at Bicentennial park.

Except Sheehy street doens't go anywhere, dead end! Into a block of
flats from what I can see, meaning a hard bloody climb up to Glebe
Point Rd.

Can any Sydneysider tell me if there is a secret passage that I
missed? Or some way to get from Taylor St to Bicentennial Park that
doesn't involve Far Too Much granny gear?

Trust me, there *is* a public footpath through those flats at the end
of Sheehy Street. It was a condition of building the flats that a public
access to Cook Street be provided. I don't know if you'd be able
to ride the 'bent on it, though I *think* I could ride my MTB there.
Anyway, it's less than 50 metres walk to Cook Street, then downhill
to Bicentennial Park and the bike trail past the mangroves (which I
still have not had time to visit).

--
beerwolf (remove numbers from email address)

In aus.bicycle on Wed, 03 May 2006 07:07:44 GMT

Fractal said:

Too many whippersnappers on the Anzac Bridge, all showing off and
overtaking, so its the quiet life for me through Glebe Pt Rd, Kelly St and
Ultimo into the City- only have to contend with the odd U turning Taxi

Glebe Pt Rd seems to be a bit of a climb up from the park though.

Quoted message said:

The new path currently under construction around the waterfront from Glebe
Pt to Glebe High School should be OK for a 'bent, if they get the mangrove
and beachy bits sorted out with a boardwalk or something. (amazing to see
mangroves in the Inner City!) No need to use Sheehy St or Cook St then, and
a flat run almost to Bridge Rd.

Have to have a bit of a look in the daylight, not sure when I can do
that, not this weekend! The map at street-directory.com.au shows a
path finished up to about cook st.

Quoted message said:

There is another shortcut too if still wanting to use Sheehy St, from
Leichhardt St to Cook St, through another block of flats. From Glebe Pt Rd
go down Leichhardt St about 200 m and turn right at the second block of
flats, onto a path tto a car park area. This comes out on Cook St opposite
the "secret" Sheehy St entrance.

I'll give that a try. Maybe try that Friday morning,which is my next
bicycle day. But where to from there? everything looks quite steep,
I seem to recall Taylor Rd was a bit of a climb.

Zebee

Zebee

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

people on knobby tyred old MTBs passing
me on the bridge, having them sailing up the "ramp" while Im pushing
my bike would be heartbreaking

Maybe you should get a knobby tyred MTB that climbs better than your
bent 😉

In aus.bicycle on 3 May 2006 02:56:31 -0700

Damian said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

people on knobby tyred old MTBs passing
me on the bridge, having them sailing up the "ramp" while Im pushing
my bike would be heartbreaking

Maybe you should get a knobby tyred MTB that climbs better than your
bent 😉

What, and send it to work on its own?

Zebee

Quoted message said:

Glebe Pt Rd seems to be a bit of a climb up from the park though.

Only a short sharp one up Eglinton from the Park and then duck into
Leichhardt St. When the new path is built around the waterfront you will be
able to avoid that too.

Quoted message said:

Have to have a bit of a look in the daylight, not sure when I can do
that, not this weekend! The map at street-directory.com.au shows a
path finished up to about cook st.

Currently the waterfront path runs from end of Ferry Rd at the rowing club,
to foot of Leichhardt St, which heads up to Glebe Pt Rd via Oxley and
Stewart. The rest is fenced off for construction.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There is another shortcut too if still wanting to use Sheehy St, from
Leichhardt St to Cook St, through another block of flats. From Glebe Pt
Rd
go down Leichhardt St about 200 m and turn right at the second block of
flats, onto a path tto a car park area. This comes out on Cook St
opposite
the "secret" Sheehy St entrance.

I'll give that a try. Maybe try that Friday morning,which is my next
bicycle day. But where to from there? everything looks quite steep,
I seem to recall Taylor Rd was a bit of a climb.

Nah only a gentle one from Forsyth St to Ferry Rd. Just go down Sheehy St,
turn left at Forsyth and right onto Taylor. Keep speed up and no problems.
Dont turn right up Forsyth (or Ferry) unless you are very keen on Alpine
climbs.

Now, for my other pet project, why dont they keep the old Glebe Island
bridge shut so cyclists can use that instead of the Anzac Bridge?

Quoted message said:

Zebee

Zebee

fb

In aus.bicycle on Wed, 03 May 2006 14:33:49 GMT

Fractal said:

Only a short sharp one up Eglinton from the Park and then duck into
Leichhardt St. When the new path is built around the waterfront you will be
able to avoid that too.

Yes, I recall that now... got a nice bit of speed going down 🙂

Quoted message said:

Currently the waterfront path runs from end of Ferry Rd at the rowing club,
to foot of Leichhardt St, which heads up to Glebe Pt Rd via Oxley and
Stewart. The rest is fenced off for construction.

Does it look like it is progressing?

Quoted message said:

Nah only a gentle one from Forsyth St to Ferry Rd. Just go down Sheehy St,
turn left at Forsyth and right onto Taylor. Keep speed up and no problems.
Dont turn right up Forsyth (or Ferry) unless you are very keen on Alpine
climbs.

FOund that out! I couldn't see the path through Sheehy, so up Forsyth
it was. I got about 3/4 of the way up and conked out.

Quoted message said:

Now, for my other pet project, why dont they keep the old Glebe Island
bridge shut so cyclists can use that instead of the Anzac Bridge?

BEcause they want to pretend it's still a "working harbour" and so
would have to pay someone to stand by to open it?

Zebee

Fractal said:

Currently the waterfront path runs from end of Ferry Rd at the rowing
club, to foot of Leichhardt St, which heads up to Glebe Pt Rd via Oxley
and Stewart. The rest is fenced off for construction.

It was 6 months since I went down to the waterfront, and then the access
was blocked off between Forsyth and Cook Streets. So I went home that
way this arv; lo and behold you are right. So my advice to Zebee re the
hidden path off Sheehy St, while correct, was irrelevant. There is a nice
waterfront path all the way round from the bottom of Ferry Road. At the
point where the construction fencing blocks off the path, you have to do
a bit of walking or dirt riding until you get up to Oxley Street.

I then turned left out of Oxley into Leichhardt Street, not realising it is
a one-way street. Quiet time of late afternoon though, and no oncoming.

--
beerwolf (remove numbers from email address)

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 4 May 2006 18:10:23 +1000

beerwolf said:

way this arv; lo and behold you are right. So my advice to Zebee re the
hidden path off Sheehy St, while correct, was irrelevant. There is a nice
waterfront path all the way round from the bottom of Ferry Road. At the
point where the construction fencing blocks off the path, you have to do
a bit of walking or dirt riding until you get up to Oxley Street.

Ferry road as in the ferry road that crosses taylor? So when heading
out of the city, you go down taylor, turn right on ferry so you skirt
the school, then go round the waterfront till damn near oxley?

Woo!

I'll have a go the other way tomorrow morning. When it's light 🙂

Zebee

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 4 May 2006 18:10:23 +1000

beerwolf said:

was blocked off between Forsyth and Cook Streets. So I went home that
way this arv; lo and behold you are right. So my advice to Zebee re the
hidden path off Sheehy St, while correct, was irrelevant. There is a nice
waterfront path all the way round from the bottom of Ferry Road. At the
point where the construction fencing blocks off the path, you have to do
a bit of walking or dirt riding until you get up to Oxley Street.

Went that way this morning, taking the steepish hike up Federal, then
down Leichhardt and to Oxley. (allthese explorer names felt quite
apt!) A bit of dirt and one spot where I thought down would go Zebee
'bent and all for a short swim due to the "damn, wrong angle to
approach that on!" turning circle problem, and along the path to Ferry
Rd.

It's a nice ride on the bit of the path that's built, right by the
water and only the odd unleashed dog to worry about. (not that any of
them misbehaved, they were more interested in each other than me.)
The bit up Taylor rd isn't as bad as I thought it would be either. IN
fact I think I am getting a bit better on the hills, finding it a tad
easier to push back against the seat and blast hard. Until my legs
give up that is!

So my next milestone is to be able to ride up the ramp to Oservatory
Hill, rather than wimp out and push the bike up it. It was easier to
ride up the hill from the end of the Pyrmont Bridge bike path, and
easier to ride up Kent St, either I'm getting better or the Anzac
Bridge ride takes a lot out of me. But that short sharp ramp is still
a bit much for me.... So is Walker St in North Sydney, still only
manage to get half way up the hill to Berry St.

But hey I'm getting there. And I still love my bike 🙂 I never felt
"yes, I am going to enjoy riding to work" when I have commuted
previously. So dresscode or no, and damn the beard, I'm never going
back to uprights 🙂

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

It's a nice ride on the bit of the path that's built, right by the
water and only the odd unleashed dog to worry about. (not that any of
them misbehaved, they were more interested in each other than me.)
The bit up Taylor rd isn't as bad as I thought it would be either. IN
fact I think I am getting a bit better on the hills, finding it a tad
easier to push back against the seat and blast hard. Until my legs
give up that is!

So my next milestone is to be able to ride up the ramp to Oservatory
Hill, rather than wimp out and push the bike up it. It was easier to
ride up the hill from the end of the Pyrmont Bridge bike path, and
easier to ride up Kent St, either I'm getting better or the Anzac
Bridge ride takes a lot out of me. But that short sharp ramp is still
a bit much for me.... So is Walker St in North Sydney, still only
manage to get half way up the hill to Berry St.

But hey I'm getting there. And I still love my bike 🙂 I never felt
"yes, I am going to enjoy riding to work" when I have commuted
previously. So dresscode or no, and damn the beard, I'm never going
back to uprights 🙂

Glad you got there. BTW, I have only just realised by recumbents are
harder to ride uphill. You can't stand on the pedals when it gets tough.
D'oh!!

Are you going to ride the recumbent *down* the ramp at Milsons Point?

--
beerwolf (remove numbers from email address)

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 5 May 2006 14:33:52 +1000

beerwolf said:

Glad you got there. BTW, I have only just realised by recumbents are
harder to ride uphill. You can't stand on the pedals when it gets tough.
D'oh!!

No, instead you just push back hard against the seat. Means you need
killer quads to exert a bodyweight's worth of push. Hence spin is the
name of the game on a bent!

I push as hard as I can while trying to keep the revs at about 80 on a
hill, dropping gears as I go, and generally raising revs a bit as I
do. I stop when I can't turn the pedals no more...

Quoted message said:

Are you going to ride the recumbent *down* the ramp at Milsons Point?

ahh... no. It's not the ramp as such, it's the angle it makes with
the ground at the bottom 🙂

Saw someone ride up it today, impressive.

Zebee