Greg mine were cranks of course but, xplora did not tell me, or in deed, allude to the fact he needed THAT sort of compact, and some lippy(Put in for added effect ) to get up Bowen,to each their own i supposestickgc wrote:Why would you need a compact?
I don't see how that would help go up a hill, but I suppose if looks are more important....
Bellbird Hill
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby TimW » Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:20 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby leximack » Tue Apr 30, 2013 7:55 pm
i meant "normal" guysrogan wrote:31 minutes.leximack wrote:Rough idea on times is approx 35mins from north richmond to top of bowen...
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby leximack » Tue Apr 30, 2013 7:57 pm
it definately is a steep MOFOTimW wrote:Look what i found
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Kraeg » Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:37 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby TimW » Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:45 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Kraeg » Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:11 pm
I first heard of it about 20 years ago, and drove there with some mates. We had our cars in neutral, and put tennis balls on the road... sure enough, they seemed to roll uphill. We had a spirit level which confirmed we were actually on a decline while appearing to be on an incline... I think it has something to do with the lay of the land (rather than underground magnetic anomalies).TimW wrote:Be interested to get some more info on that one. Have not heard of it. Tim
I've often cycled Grose Vale Rd/Bells Line of Road (either direction), but have diverted to Magnetic Mt a couple of times. Sure feels weird rolling uphill, and having to put effort into going downhill. It's pretty much right after the residence just after the cross roads, and goes until where the trees start on both sides of Bowen Mt Rd, right before the start of the climb.
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby rogan » Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:14 pm
The worst bit is from the "50" sign on the left to that interestingly coloured car parked on the left. That must be close to 18%, that section. I reckon ~150 metres. The 100m after that, to where the double white lines ends, is probably still 15%, but seems easier.leximack wrote: it definately is a steep MOFO
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby TimW » Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:23 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby vosadrian » Wed May 01, 2013 9:26 am
Its funny when a 5% section becomes a flat spot!!rogan wrote: Even on the steep section there are two or three flat spots. Of course, that means that the steep bits are actually steeper than the advertised gradient...
But I agree. It seemed that you would go steep for 1-2 minutes and then ease off to gather yourself and then go up again. It is helpful knowing that when trying to push yourself to keep going when the legs want to stop!!
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Xplora » Sat May 04, 2013 1:50 pm
TimW is right about that descent. A car pulled in front of me just after the pinch. I was consistently doing 50-70 the whole way. I managed to hold 40-50 on grose vale rd LOL
Give it a go, if you let yourself take breaks then it can be done, but it makes Glenhaven Road look embarrassingly easy
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Kraeg » Sun May 05, 2013 1:49 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Xplora » Sun May 05, 2013 3:14 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby vosadrian » Mon May 06, 2013 10:04 am
Well done mate!! Nice ride, and good effort to get up Bowen. I wish I had a 34/23. I was on a 39/25, and that was more than doable as Rogan has shown how to do it in style!! I will try my 39/28 next time. It is not a climb to be taken lightly, and I would not recommend it unless you have done some descent 200m climbs around Sydney first. I live in an area where I am forced to do a lot of climbing, and I have learned to like a good climb.Xplora wrote:Praise The Lord I made it! Missed the turn off grose vale lol and ended up having to stop for a few minutes just past Wattle St. New lease on life after 2 minutes to get the HR down. I am now staying off the bike completely for most of this week, I was questioning the logic and the very point of taking on the climb in the last section before Wattle. 34/23 is Not enough to take Bowen. That WIFLI stuff would be absolute magic for such an enterprise. I did feel that it would basically render the challenge irrelevant since I did great with a 23, however I am psychologically quite destroyed right now. Also wanted to report that I had 110kms on the bryton at the end of the climb.
TimW is right about that descent. A car pulled in front of me just after the pinch. I was consistently doing 50-70 the whole way. I managed to hold 40-50 on grose vale rd LOL
Give it a go, if you let yourself take breaks then it can be done, but it makes Glenhaven Road look embarrassingly easy
I took it easy on the Descent (riding alone and not knowing the road, I tried to play responsible).... I had never smelled the rubber on my brake pads burning before I did that descent... I was still doing over 40 using the brakes pretty hard... it is certainly steep.
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby michaelten » Sat May 11, 2013 2:35 pm
I did Hawkesbury Heights and Bowen Mountain on the return home. Slow average speed as the wife came along for the ride.
I got up Bowen Mountain without stopping, I took it a bit easy so I would make it up in one go.
Almost ready for the Jenolan ride?? Haha
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby TimW » Sat May 11, 2013 2:53 pm
Nice workmichaelten wrote:http://app.strava.com/activities/53527444
I did Hawkesbury Heights and Bowen Mountain on the return home. Slow average speed as the wife came along for the ride.
I got up Bowen Mountain without stopping, I took it a bit easy so I would make it up in one go.
Almost ready for the Jenolan ride?? Haha
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Xplora » Sat May 11, 2013 6:02 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby michaelten » Sat May 11, 2013 6:42 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Xplora » Sun May 12, 2013 10:10 am
I found the ride to the bottom of Bowen Mountain Road to be fairly reflective of the riding I've done in that area, a nice rolling road with pretty scenery, nothing particularly special about it (as far as a challenge goes). I was basically keeping my powder dry and my focus for the final push though, bit hard to smell the roses when you are preparing for sulphur and brimstone
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby eon » Wed May 15, 2013 2:38 pm
Another goodie is Bell Line + Warks Hill rd
http://app.strava.com/activities/24836357" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Col de Wark is 5.6km and i tell ya, it has BOWEN imbeded within it.
http://app.strava.com/activities/24836357#443310934" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Anyone planning to do an early Sunday morning to either hills, let me know. I'll come n latch on.
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Xplora » Wed May 15, 2013 4:04 pm
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby michaelten » Wed May 15, 2013 7:24 pm
How's the traffic on Bells Line on Sunday mornings up there? What time do you try and get there?eon wrote:All this talk of Bowen, i'm thinking i should visit soon. Been a while since i've been there and am sure I'll be suffering like a little b1tch..
Another goodie is Bell Line + Warks Hill rd
http://app.strava.com/activities/24836357" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Col de Wark is 5.6km and i tell ya, it has BOWEN imbeded within it.
http://app.strava.com/activities/24836357#443310934" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Anyone planning to do an early Sunday morning to either hills, let me know. I'll come n latch on.
I'm keen to give Bells Line a go, although you would power away from me in the first few metres!
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby eon » Thu May 16, 2013 9:25 am
traffic at the time i go in the morn is minimal.michaelten wrote:How's the traffic on Bells Line on Sunday mornings up there? What time do you try and get there?
mind you i head out at 5am, earlier if Greg comes.
it gets busy on the way back at about 8-9
I try to get there about 6:30am. takes about 1.5 to get there from Baulkham Hills. depending on how the leg feels, will try and do a lap or 2.
Sun i need to get back by 9 hence the early start.
lol this was a while back now.Xplora wrote:You're a bad man, Ehly
this one I did over a year ago now
http://app.strava.com/activities/7076137" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
i look back at it and think, WT-F was I on.
I doubt that, i havent been to Bowen or Kurajong or Haweksbury lookout in a while. most my riding had been on the M7 where eliz drive is the biggest climb. =Pmichaelten wrote:I'm keen to give Bells Line a go, although you would power away from me in the first few metres!
I'm keen to go to the mountains just gotta get my arse out of bed early and go.
oh and some company would be good too.
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Re: Bellbird Hill
Postby Xplora » Thu May 16, 2013 12:23 pm
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