Which is the sensible route to return to Adelaide Amy's ride

[amt]

I plan on doing the 65km ride which ends at the Mclaren Vale visitor centre, which is the sensible route to use on my ride back to Adelaide? I can't imagine South Road is very safe. Should I ride on Victor Harbor ride then back on South Road from there?

[Dahondude]

Ride the Veloway. Off road bike path the whole way to Flinders Medical Centre at the start/end of the Southern Expressway. The path passes through McLaren Vale so you can pick it up there. See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Southern_Veloway

Or the COast to Vines rail trail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_to_Vines_Rail_Trail

Otherwise head up through Chapel Hill, Clarendon, Belair and down into Adelaide that way.

[matth]

I'll be doing the same thing and plan on heading up the Victor Road to South Road for a short stretch then onto River Road and the Veloway from there. There are wide bike / emergency lanes for most of the way to River Road.

You can head across to Seaford Rise from McLaren Vale on the bike Path (Coast To Vines) but access to the veloway there was restricted last I saw due to the railway extension work so you will need to detour out via South Road then River Road to join the veloway.

This is the route... http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=325606

I'll be in a CVSA jersey (Cancer Voices SA) on a Silver TCR so if anyone is looking for someone to ride back with after the 65km and you spot me feel free. I'll be pulling off the Veloway at Trott Park.

[Daccordi Rider]

From McLaren Vale I was going straight to the Veloway and back home that way.

[matth]

From McLaren Vale I was going straight to the Veloway and back home that way.

Similar path to my link above ???

[Daccordi Rider]

Matth,

Not the same, I'm not very technical so can't load you a map but if you look in a street directory you will see a bike path which goes across to Seaford Rise and you just follow this all the way back. It's a pretty good path and keeps you out of traffic the whole way. It's easy to find and I am sure there will be a lot going that way.

Edit, just read your post properly about the restricted access so not sure now. Will take advice.

[matth]

It was a couple of months ago I last tried it but given the rail works are nowhere near done I doubt rebuilding the bike path is a priority

[Daccordi Rider]

There will be people there who know I'm sure. Enjoy the ride.

[MichaelB]

It was a couple of months ago I last tried it but given the rail works are nowhere near done I doubt rebuilding the bike path is a priority

Rode there a couple of weekends ago. There is a minor detour after crossing the river where it leads through some of the industrial park (with direction signs) and back onto the path without much fuss.

I think a much better option than any of the main roads.

I'm heading back via the veloway after the 100km. Will be on a Kona Honky (double disc) with Flying ball jersey and white sun sleeves.

Safe ride everyone !!

[matth]

It was a couple of months ago I last tried it but given the rail works are nowhere near done I doubt rebuilding the bike path is a priority

Rode there a couple of weekends ago. There is a minor detour after crossing the river where it leads through some of the industrial park (with direction signs) and back onto the path without much fuss.

I think a much better option than any of the main roads.

I'm heading back via the veloway after the 100km. Will be on a Kona Honky (double disc) with Flying ball jersey and white sun sleeves.

Safe ride everyone !!

Good to hear it's usable again... for those not familiar here's the route to the veloway via Seaford Rise (minus the minor detour MichaelB advised).

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=325645

[MichaelB]

Good to hear it's usable again... for those not familiar here's the route to the veloway via Seaford Rise (minus the minor detour MichaelB advised).

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=325645

The detour starts at Lynton way, ends up on Griffiths and then somehow onto Endeavour drive. (past Bunnings), a little gravel, and then you are back on the path by Barbados.

ooorooo

[optoplex]

Hi
I'm trying to get my head around the suggested route back.

From the link above i take its:
- follow Main Road- Mclaren Vale
- Cross Victor Harbour Road and enter some form of a bike track/rail?
- continue on track until it hits main south road
- cross main south road
- continue on track torwards seaford rise
- encounter the detour discussed in this thread
- back on track and continue until it hits the veloway ?

Are there enough signs along the way to get you going whats the ride like after 100Km in the saddle?

[you cannot be sirrus]

Hi
I'm trying to get my head around the suggested route back.

From the link above i take its:
- follow Main Road- Mclaren Vale
- Cross Victor Harbour Road and enter some form of a bike track/rail?
- continue on track until it hits main south road
- cross main south road
- continue on track torwards seaford rise
- encounter the detour discussed in this thread
- back on track and continue until it hits the veloway ?

Are there enough signs along the way to get you going whats the ride like after 100Km in the saddle?

There will be plenty of people to follow so you won't get lost.
The route is something like http://app.strava.com/rides/1893944 don't follow it too closely or you'll end up at my place and I've only got a six pack in the fridge which I intend to drink after the ride
That has the current detour in it.

[you cannot be sirrus]

I'll be in a CVSA jersey (Cancer Voices SA) on a Silver TCR so if anyone is looking for someone to ride back with after the 65km and you spot me feel free. I'll be pulling off the Veloway at Trott Park.

Hey Matt I'll be in a CVSA jersey too and live in Sheidow Park, small world eh?

I'm not riding back, I left my car there this morning and rode back, will pick up the car tomorrow.

[Daccordi Rider]

Hope everyone had a great ride and found their way home.

Highlights
Did the 100km in just on 3 hrs (why do I let everything degenerate into a race)
Watching 3 people clipstack at the finish.
Seeing a bamboo bike, heard of them but never seen one.

A well organised event with good coffee at the end and the beef rolls were nice as well. The ride home was pretty painful!

[MichaelB]

Hope everyone had a great ride and found their way home.

Highlights
Did the 100km in just on 3 hrs (why do I let everything degenerate into a race)
Watching 3 people clipstack at the finish.
Seeing a bamboo bike, heard of them but never seen one.

A well organised event with good coffee at the end and the beef rolls were nice as well. The ride home was pretty painful!

Yep, certainly did.

Did the 100km in 3:29 (avg 28.3 vs 27.8 from last year), and didn't get passed going up Willunga Hill and did it in 13:05 (mega quick for me)
Saw no stacks, but plenty of punctures), kudos to the FG guy on the orange bike - no water bottles .....
Nice lunch afterwards, painful massage (but worth it)
Wussed out and got a lift home

Ready for the RLC and AR 2012

[feeltherush]

Hi All,

Had a great day out doing 100km in 3hrs 36mins and went up Willunga Hill (from the big Gumtree at the bottom) in 12:06 which was a minute faster than last week when we were down that way so was very happy with that.

Best thing about the day apart from the buzz of the expressway was how quiet all the roads were, hardly seen any cars for 90% of the ride.

One thing that was extremely poor (and luckily I avoided it) was the ripper pot hole going down into Old Noarlunga that caused at least a dozen punctures as I went past (would hate to hit it with a carbon rim), hopefully no one came off, pretty dangerous little situation that could easily have been avoided and on the whole Bike SA do a fantastic job but that would have left a bad taste in a lot of peoples mouth's.

The other great thing is the number of riders on these rides (Amy's, Coast to Coast etc.) is much more enjoyable than the Tour ride which gets chaotic.

[Daccordi Rider]

I forgot to time myself up Willunga Hill, too busy concentrating on dropping all the bigger dudes I had sheltered behind on the flats.

[boyracer]

That was you was it?
Due to kid wrangling at home, I started late, caught the SW at top of 1st climb !
I flogged down the coast in misting rain and every time i looked back there was a train of dudes about 20 long. I felt like Jens! Especially the part where i hit the wall ( metaphorically) about 10 K's from the end.

[Daccordi Rider]

Could have been. I started at the head of the pack at official start and ended up in a group of 20-30. Did do some turns on the front but there were plenty of eager ones there. I was surprised how many stopped or dropped off at Wilunga Hill though. Went up the climb with about 3 others from our group and then they all stopped at the top.

[you cannot be sirrus]

I did the ride 3 31 39 which was a tad annoying as I was hoping for 3 30. I started to feel sick on the last 10 kms, probably after having a gel that disagreed with me.
The bamboo bike passed me on Willunga Hill, the rider Harley (aka Durian Rider) made it look very easy. I also saw the orange fixie coming in at the finish, that is one sexy bike. Overall a great day, I saw lots of punctures but only one fall, a young lad riding in to the start at Flinders Uni, he got up and was OK/

[Enricopalazzo]

http://app.strava.com/rides/2229922

And that pot hole was nasty, caught out my mate who now has a broken front campagnolo bora wheel, poor bloke.

[amt]

thanks guys, belated I know but thanks again.

[feeltherush]

<a class="vglnk" title="Link added by VigLink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://app.strava.com/rides/2229922">http://app.strava.com/rides/2229922</a>

And that pot hole was nasty, caught out my mate who now has a broken front campagnolo bora wheel, poor bloke.

Poor bloke is an understatement, I would imagine that his wheel is unrepairable and unless he's got some decent insurance in place will be out of pocket for at least $1500 which makes it a very expensive day out and easily avoidable in my opinion.

I sent an email to Bike SA yesterday and am still waiting for a response.

[MichaelB]

http://app.strava.com/rides/2229922

And that pot hole was nasty, caught out my mate who now has a broken front campagnolo bora wheel, poor bloke.

Mentioned the pot hole issue in the BikeSA survey. Mate lost a water bottle at that pot hole. Could have been worse