Road cycling around the Blackheath area

[thomas1987]

I'm planning to cycle down Megalong Valley from Blackheath Station. I did it once and it was spectacular. I was just wondering besides Megalong Road, are there any other places in the Blackheath area you guys can recommend cycling? I just don't want to travel 2 hours via train to Blackheath just to do Megalong Valley.

I had a look at google maps streeview and noticed some of the surrounding roads looks nice (Shipley Rd, Mt Blackheath Rd, Kanimbla Dr) but there are also gravel sections. Are they suitable for road bikes with 25mm tyres?

Finally has anyone ever rode to Mount Victoria, Lithgow or Oberon? Are the roads leading up there safe?

[Warin]

There should be a cycle track all the way from Katoomba to Mt Victoria. I have seen some of it around Medlow Bath, the dirt bits looked ok ... but I'd use something wider than 25mm! At least 30mm. The track is on the western side of the main road.

[ruscook]

Some info http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/yourcommunit ... trailgbmt/
and http://bluemountainscitytourism.com.au/ ... ng-Map.pdf

[Jawa]

Road cycling outside of the highway in the Blue Mountains is pretty rubbish from my experience. You have all these roads that splinter off the highway but most turn to dirt after only a few clicks, even Megalong Rd becomes dirt not long after you cross the weir ... shame really, would be nice to long a deep into the bush on a sealed road.

Side note if you got a car, up further at Mt Wilson is pretty nice.

[march83]

how far did you want to ride? dropping down off the western escarpment opens up a whole heap of riding.

The dirty hills of ganbenang and sodwalls via lithgow are something special: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-33.634 ... !3e0?hl=en


hassans walls via hartley vale is nice too: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-33.634 ... !3e0?hl=en

going east, the stretch between blackheath and meadlow bath is pretty rubbish on the highway, but aside from that the highway and the backroad alternatives are OK most of the way down the hill. Ride down to Glenbrook, have lunch and ride back for a 100km day.

[Jawa]

hassans walls via hartley vale is nice too

You would have to have a death wish to ride Darling Causeway .. "80km" speed limit with a pretty much zero hard shoulder and too many bind corners and crests. Plus, trucks use it to link Bells Line and GWH, recipe for disaster.

[march83]

IDK, I'm still alive to tell the tale and I have buddy who rides it almost daily. It's definitely not a perfect road for cyclists, but there are far worse and far busier roads out there.

[thomas1987]

Side note if you got a car, up further at Mt Wilson is pretty nice.

I like to try Mt Wilson one day. Are the roads leading to Mt Wilson from Blackheath train station alright for riding?

Is this a good out and back route?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Blac ... 337509!1m0

The dirty hills of ganbenang and sodwalls via lithgow are something special:
hassans walls via hartley vale is nice too:

Are these routes suitable for road bikes? Looks like some section are gravel such as hassans walls.

[march83]

A lot of it is road, a lot of hardpack gravel. There are a few particularly rough sections if you cut through the pine forests, but these can be circumnavigated via roads. I know supermen who've done it on 23s, but for us mere mortals if you're running 25s and you ride sensibly you'll be ok. I normally ride out there on 32s.

[am50em]

https://bicyclensw.org.au/great-news-fo ... MSyhZGL4TI