Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Where are the good spots to ride on the Gold Coast. I will up there for a week over Christmas.

I would head out to Tamborine and perhaps beyond.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/777022

Wow. I'll have to remember that route if I ever feel like murdering myself

It does look like an amazing ride though

I hurt just looking at that.

Well you dont have to do the whole thing.
You could just do an out and back.
Group from Uni club did it the other week with one member riding there and back from Brisbane.

Massive day.

Maybe this?

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/407566

I really need to start doing more hill work, I'm kind of a wimp and stick to fairly flatpaths with only a few hills.

sumgy wrote:I would head out to Tamborine and perhaps beyond.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/777022

I think that might be the ride that Robbie McEwen cut his teeth on before he won a few stages in the Tour de France.
I have only ever done part of it (from Murwillumbah to Currumbin, probably the easiest part !)

I also suggest you check out some weekday or weekend shop rides on the Gold Coast.
Labrador to Runaway bay is relatively flat and you should be able to find a quiet and pleasant route.
If you like hills Nerang to Beechmont +/- Binna Burra is nice.

After you turnOFF the Numinbah Gap road, the gradual climb to Beechmont is relatively pleasant (by Coast standards)
But at all times be wary of the traffic and the humidity, these are big problem on the Gold Coast, especially in tourist period
And remember that you can use the train service between Varsity Lakes and Helensvale (or all the way to Brisbane perhaps)

sumgy wrote:I would head out to Tamborine and perhaps beyond.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/777022

Tamborine is good. Find your way to Henri Robert Drive - ride via Clagiraba up onto the hill and return via Eagle Heights.

You will probably need your granny gear. The ride back down is a blast, mind...

sumgy wrote:I would head out to Tamborine and perhaps beyond.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/777022

Nice one. Not much time to warm up though with only12km before it kicks in...

Depends on which end you mean.
The ride up Currumbin Valley and over Tomewin to Murwillumbah is memorable. Return the same way, or back to the coast, either over Bilambil or the coast route.
The cycle path around Kirra to Snapper Rocks is very pretty, and fun on a cruiser. At low tide, yoncan ride along many beaches on an MTB or a cruiser.
Slightly further south, the Border Ranges and Burringbah are also memorable. It has little traffic during the week, as does Tomewin. The Tweed Coast road is also very nice. A good loop is over Burringbah to Moobal, and back along the coast road. You can jump onto the Expressway at various spots to get home, and it is very cycle friendly, with a wide break-down lane nearly all the way to Byron.
Lots of hills on all these routes, but very pretty, and you will have bragging rights. Lots of coffee stops too.

Anyone recommend any other routes closer to Surfers for around 50 to 100km ?

A decent ride close to Surfers might be:
Ashmore / Benowa > Clear Island Waters > Robina > Mudgee > Worongary > Highland Park > Mt Nathan turn off > back through Highland Park to Carrara / Ashmore then home.
Mudgee / Worongary / Highland Park have some nice hills if you go the right way. The back of Highland park towards the outlook will give your legs a go - Up and down Explorers Way & Alexander Drive etc.

My next ride is:
Highland park > Carrara > Ashmore > Clear Island > Merrimac > Worongary > home. Nothing major I just got back in the saddle!

There are 1m wide bike lanes on pretty much every road through these areas.

gossy wrote:Anyone recommend any other routes closer to Surfers for around 50 to 100km ?

http://app.strava.com/rides/2731143

You ride over the road works at tweed? you are braver than I

Yeah they have ruined several of my routes lately. Gooding is out - road works. Hinkler is narrow - road works. So I have to head north out of Worongary and then west. But its not so bad. Does anyone take the back roads behind Nerang, Gilston up through Maudsland through to Pac Pines etc? I am unsure if the roads are good enough of have lanes etc?

Yesterday I headed up to Yatla and back on the V1, was a good ride, not overly hilly, but i'm not a big one for hills.