Chiltern to Muswellbrook suggestions

[jemo27]

when I go cycling I like to follow old railway lines because i'm interested but also they generally folow easiest path.
I'm looking at cycling between Chiltern and Muswellbrook just not sure in which direction trying to be more downhill and less headwinds as possible.

I basically have 3 legs Chiltern to Harden via Corowa, Tumbarumba, Tumut & Cootamundra.
Harden to Lithgow via Cowra & Bathurst
Lithgow to Muswellbrook via Gulgong and Byalong
I'm also looking at basically going from Lithgow to Richmond down the Blue Mountains and then use the train line to get back to Lithgow stopping off a various places along the way.

apart from one trip on public transport never been to any of these areas so not really sure which direction to go. the good thing is that with train stations at each leg I can go in either direction If I want, just not sure.

anyone done any cycling in any of these areas?
thanks Joel

[Vintagetourer]

I haven't ridden in the area Joel but it sounds like an interesting route to work out.
On the winds. My guess is the prevailing winds to avoid would come from the North West and West although it is likely to vary with the seasons.
One thing I look at when planning routes is where the national parks, reserves and state forests are located and try to include them in the plan.

[WarrenH]

Unfortunately in country NSW there are no rail trails that will allow a route to be ridden that's longer than 6 kilometres, yet.

Once you take on the SW Slopes and the Central Slopes, particularly the SW Slopes, the climbs can be brutal. Between Tumbarrumba and Tumut the climbs are definitely brutal.

I cant see how going to Musselbrook can be simply done unless you stay well west of the Divide. As you are aware, you have to cross the Divide. Have you considered going due north. At Lockhart go NE to cross the river at Jerry Berry State Forest and north again around the Weddin Mountains on their western side to Grenfell then Canowindra on Canowindra Road to the Escort Way to be west of Mount Canobolis. At this stage of the tour no mountain will be an issue to you, now head east.

From Crookwell or the Black Springs route towards Bathurst, climbing out of the Valley of the Abercrombie River ... is along walk with a laden touring bike, fun. This is where sympathetic farmers stop and ask you if you want to throw your bike in the back of their Hilux or Cruiser.

Not to send you away from the BNA Forum but have you been to crazyguyonabike? If you aren't familiar with crazyguy, do a search for the individual towns that you have mentioned, and someone will have been through them with useful comments ... https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/loc ... pe=journal

If you go to the BOM site, there are wind roses, with historic wind data that can give you a broader indication of the regional wind conditions ... http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/wind/ and there is also Forecast Wind ... http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/watl/wind/index.jsp

Some good possibilities for the later stages of your route, courtesy of cycleAustralia.info

The Central Tablelands ... http://www.cycleaustralia.info/cycling/ctnsw/

Wollomi ... http://www.cycleaustralia.info/cycling/wollemi.htm

I'll be on the SW slopes tomorrow for a couple of weeks looking for ways to across the mountains, through the State Forests and National Parks, out in the Back Country. I'm expecting to walk a lot.

Good luck.

Approaching Tumut.




Warren.

[WarrenH]

Shamus Mac ... https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o= ... =2572&v=1b

A ride similar to what I was suggesting ... but unlike Shamus's route, I was trying to avoid big hills. All of Shamus's posts on crazyguy are a top read and very funny.

"... having ridden 118kms. Setting up our tents, having a shower and cooking dinner before retiring to bed, at 5pm." - Shamus Mac.

Warren.

[jemo27]

I really want to go the route I suggested because, when I tour its about the places I visit along the way rather than the end point.

I'm more interested in which direction like perhaps it will be easier to start in Muswellbrook and head towards Victoria that way.

will look at crazyguy

[find_bruce]

I really want to go the route I suggested because, when I tour its about the places I visit along the way rather than the end point.

I'm more interested in which direction like perhaps it will be easier to start in Muswellbrook and head towards Victoria that way.

will look at crazyguy

Glad to hear its about the journey. I grew up in the next town down the river from Muswellbrook, which explains why I would suggest riding Muswellbrook to Chiltern, that way you get to leave Muswellbrook & see some nice places.

Main thing I would be thinking of is the time of year you are planning to make your trip - your route is likely to have some pretty high temps in summer & bitterly cold in winter, which to me suggests aiming for Spring or Autumn.

I am more familiar with the northern end of your trip. The area is known as the western slopes & plains. The route Warren suggested involved riding on the plains, the route you want to go is the slopes part. There is some beautiful country as the road winds its way up and down through the valleys- one of my favourite trips was the back way from Singleton to Mudgee, but that was in a car or motor bike. Unfortunately it has been a few years since I have gone that way.

It really comes down to whether you are up to the challenge of riding through the rolling hills on the western edge of the divide, from what I can recall there will be very little of your trip from Muswellbrook to Lithgow that is flat. No doubt it is possible - these are not the Alps after all, but don't think it is going to be an easy trip.

If you survive that, you may be ready to take on the SW slopes, either that or you could decide to take the alternative, flatter, route further west

[jemo27]

Lithgow appears to be the high point, so perhaps the best thing I can do is take the train to Sydney. I'm in Victoria

then using the train make my way up the Blue Mountains, stopping off at places along the way.
then cycle to Muswellbrook via Lithgow, Gulgong, Bylong and Sandy Hollow
then cycle from Newcastle to Sydney along the way using trains and ferries if I need.

then make my way back up the Blue Mountains and cycle back to Chiltern.

a lot of ideas going on in my head at this time