Cycling (?) from Wollongong to Hornsby on Christmas eve

[bklff3]

I'm looking for advice on the best way to get from Scarborough (just north of Wollongong) to Hornsby next Monday.

Most of this is near to the railway, so I have the option to bail at msot points and catch a train if required. If any of this is particularly dodgy regarding traffic, please let me know.

I plan to start with a reverse of the Sydney-Gong ride route.
Follow Lawrence Hargrave Dr then through the Royal National Park to Waterfall.
Along the Princes Highway to Kirrawee then cut across to Taren Point Road, over Capn Cook Bridge and then follow the bay.
Left before the airport and then back onto the Princes Highway to St Peters.
Distance: ~90 km

From there I'm not sure.

I could look for a route to the Harbour Bridge?
Then either along Epping Road/M2/Pennant Hills Road; or alternately the "back way" through Willoughby, Lindfield, St Ives (e.g. Eastern Valley Way - Archibald Rd - Horace St - Killeaton St - Junction Rd).

Also interested in the best timing for this ride, whcih will likely take around 5-6 hours. For exampe, I imagine that Pennant Hills road will be slightly hilarious from 4 pm on Christmas eve?

[bklff3]

oooh I just found the Cooks River Cycleway from Brighton le Sands to Olympic Park. That looks a bit nicer than heading north from St Peters.

[Boognoss]

I should be working so a quick reply.

I've recently done this ride through SOP heading in the Hornsby direction - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/237718616" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you following a similar route from SOP and then left at Marsfield heading out towards my start point you'd almost be there.

Also here's a ride I did from home (Castle Hill) through Hornsby that was good in terms of low traffic volumes - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/60875050" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully these might help .

[MREJ]

How much do you like traffic?

Personally, I'd catch the train, but if you want to ride, a more direct and quieter option is

- Old Princes Hwy from S Tops to Waterfall
- Princes Hwy to Sutherland
- cross George's R at Como (pedestrian and cycle bridge)
- through Mortdale and Riverwood then back streets to Homebush
- cross Parramatta R at Rhodes using ped/bike crossing
- Hermitage and Ryedale Roads to Eastwood
- Vimiera Rd to Lane Cove NP
- Kissing Point Rd to Turramurra, then back roads following rail line to Hornsby

[rdp_au]

How much do you like traffic?

Personally, I'd catch the train, but if you want to ride, a more direct and quieter option is

- Old Princes Hwy from S Tops to Waterfall
- Princes Hwy to Sutherland
- cross George's R at Como (pedestrian and cycle bridge)
- through Mortdale and Riverwood then back streets to Homebush
- cross Parramatta R at Rhodes using ped/bike crossing
- Hermitage and Ryedale Roads to Eastwood
- Vimiera Rd to Lane Cove NP
- Kissing Point Rd to Turramurra, then back roads following rail line to Hornsby

The Cook's River path is a good option - pretty flat and probably fairly quiet on Christmas Eve. I commute regularly between Sydney Olympic Park and Hornsby, using basically the same route suggested by MREJ;

http://app.strava.com/activities/20000408" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a nice run on mostly back streets, although Kissing Point Rd can get a bit of traffic during the afternoon peak. There is a bit of climbing which could be tough after riding 90 km. If you're running out of steam, you can turn off Vimera Rd and head up to Epping station and catch the train:

http://app.strava.com/activities/32211505" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Enjoy the ride!

[Addictr3]

If you are doing the Reverse gong ride, you'll be around Sydney park right? from there, I would ride down to the rocks (AT) circular quay, go up over the harbour bridge and then either go via Pacific Highway or you can go via the Northern Beaches and up McCarrs creek.

Just use Google Maps and look at possible ways to get to Hornsby.

[george-bob]

This is the shortest way from the city:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sy ... ng-railway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ho ... -Cook-Pool" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or if you want to head via olympic park this route is fairly easy, mostly on quiet roads:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bu ... via-Rhodes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bklff3]

Thanks for all the input. Here's the route I'm planning to take:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/sc ... to-asquith" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There's a LOT more bike path there than I was expecting. It won't be fast, but it should be fairly pleasant.

It's likely that I'll just hop on the train at Rhodes and not do the last (uphill...) section. Forecast is for 25-35 kmh Northerlies on Monday, so 80 km might be enough...

[wombatK]

If you hadn't worked it out yet, the ridethecity website is often useful for routes in the Metro area.
It suggests a slightly shorter route http://www.ridethecity.com/sydney#2454490" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; through Mortdale, Narwee, M5, Clemton Park, Campsie then Cooks River Cycleway.

But there's lots of twists and turns, and you could easily get lost. Your proposed route through Taren Point would be a lot easier to remember and more "scenic", although The Kingsway/Taren Point Rd and Grand Parade sections could get hectic traffic-wise.

Enjoy your ride.

[bklff3]

Yeah cheers, I found a much nicer route through Kingsway/Taren point road bit.

It's an epic ride. Plenty of steep stuff at the beginning to burn the legs, and I felt safe for the whole ride. There was a hilarious northerly. Along Botany Bay the sand was getting picked up and spat into my face, and I was averaging ~16 km/h along the whole stretch. The parasailers were having a ball though!

I rode to Strathfield station, but my phone died in the last 5 km.

If anyone's interested, here's the route I took:

http://app.strava.com/activities/33735011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;