Baulkham Hills --> Loftus

[eon]

Planning on doing the Johny Warren Classic in a couple of weeks time.

The event starts at 7:30am from Loftus to Jamberoo which is about 100km.

However I'd like to ride to to the start point from Baulkham Hills.

Plan is to leave at 5am.

Option 1
- Go to SilverWater then follow Rockwood Rd.

Option 2
- Go to Homebush then follow Roberts Rd.

Option3
- Get to Parramatta then follow Woodville Rd.

Option4
- go via M7 then M5 but i think this will be too long to make it to loftus by 7:30am (this might be almost 100km already before even starting the event - maybe not.)

Basically I've got 2-2.5hours from 5am to get to LOFTUS from Baulkham Hills.

Any feedback on the roads to LOFTUS would be much appreciated, or other suggested paths.

Thanks !!!!

[leximack]

Probably homebush and Roberts rd as its probably the most direct but there all pretty crap. Go the shortest way as hopefully at that time of the morning traffic is light.

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[The_Eggman]

What about Homebush -> Cooks River Cycleway to Botany Bay -> Waterfall route down to Loftus?

[hannos]

If you can get yourself to Rhodes, I can get you to Loftus (relatively) safely.

http://app.strava.com/activities/38321138

Where I turn off Toronto Parade (at Waratah Street, Sutherland), you should go straight ahead, through Sutherland, along Rawson Avenue to the Princes Highway and Loftus Oval, where your ride starts.

I ride this route in peak hour and consider it the best option (for me).
Personally, I would not ride Roberts Rd / King Georges Rd at any time of the day.

[eon]

i've almost given up on this. thanks for the info guys.

If you can get yourself to Rhodes, I can get you to Loftus (relatively) safely.

http://app.strava.com/activities/38321138

Where I turn off Toronto Parade (at Waratah Street, Sutherland), you should go straight ahead, through Sutherland, along Rawson Avenue to the Princes Highway and Loftus Oval, where your ride starts.

I ride this route in peak hour and consider it the best option (for me).
Personally, I would not ride Roberts Rd / King Georges Rd at any time of the day.

I can get to homebush/rhodes with no issue.
going through google map and the options i laid out, i think i'd prefer to stay away from the main roads.

will check out your route. looks to be a good option. Anything to watch out for if i was to follow that route ?

thanks.

[hannos]

The end part of the shared path at Mason Park, near Nth Strathfield is a little bumpy with tree roots causing the surface to buckle. Easy to navigate though.

I do a dodgy from Underwood Rd across Parramatta Rd. I use the ped lights to cross and then go up whatever that little road is called.

There's some rough roads around Belmore. Also on the descent southbound on Kingsgrove Rd downhill to the M5 it's a little rough.

When you get to Hurstville, when you exit Pearl St, an alternate to Forest Rd is to go along the footpath and up King Georges Rd footpath and cross at the ped crossing to Bridge St then head to Penshurst. I usually stick on Forest Rd though as you can usually go faster than the cars during peak hour


The rest is all relatively OK.

[eon]

i think i might get lost with that rout hannos.. certainly looks a safer bet being back streets though.

heres a longer version to loftus but i'm familiar with the M7path

this will give me almost 200 by the time i get to Jamberoo... =) wohoooo.

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=B ... 1&t=m&z=12


this loops out to the M7path then M5 all the way to Fairford/Davies rd. exit..

anyone know if there is a shoulder from M7 to Fairford/Davies exit on the m5...

any comments on the following rds ?
- davies rd
- alfords point rd
- bangoor pass
- river rd

thanks

[hannos]

i think i might get lost with that rout hannos.. certainly looks a safer bet being back streets though.

heres a longer version to loftus but i'm familiar with the M7path

this will give me almost 200 by the time i get to Jamberoo... =) wohoooo.

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=B ... 1&t=m&z=12


this loops out to the M7path then M5 all the way to Fairford/Davies rd. exit..

anyone know if there is a shoulder from M7 to Fairford/Davies exit on the m5...

any comments on the following rds ?
- davies rd
- alfords point rd
- bangoor pass
- river rd

thanks

There should be a shoulder on the M5 still.

Davies Rd does not have a shoulder but it might not matter much at that time of the morning. It's 2 lanes each way though. I don't think you can (or should) cross over Henry Lawson Drive on Davies Rd / Alfords Point Rd as there's no shoulder. I *think* you might need to take the exit to Clancy St, turn right onto Henry Lawson Dr, then the on-ramp to back to Alfords Point Rd. Then you just need to get on the Shared Path that crosses the river and takes you up to Illawong but I'm not sure exactly where it starts on the Padstow end. This takes you up to Illawong. Then it might be best to take Old Illawarra Rd through Illawong / Menai until it rejoins New Illawarra Rd as there's no shoulder until there.
Then take Bangor Bypass - there's a shoulder on it. When you hit the bridge you can take the shared path that runs underneath the bridge or, depending on traffic, stay on road and cross in the lane. You should have a fair speed up by then and I doubt there'll be much traffic at that time of morning.

[hannos]

Drove part of your route today.

The Bike path that goes across Alfords Point Bridge actually starts at Clancy St. So take the exit off Davies Rd to Clancy St, cross straight over and jump on the path. That'll take you all the way to Illawong with ease.

[eon]

Drove part of your route today.

The Bike path that goes across Alfords Point Bridge actually starts at Clancy St. So take the exit off Davies Rd to Clancy St, cross straight over and jump on the path. That'll take you all the way to Illawong with ease.

thanks heaps Hannos...

Not 100% sure which path the JWC event will take but this is my rough route for this weekend
https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=R ... 1&t=m&z=10

most of the roads should be ok at that time in the morn.

thanks heaps again mate.

[Beanzy]

Just be aware that the m5 has widening works. Whilst the shoulders are still there and speed restrictions are in place, the shoulder width is much reduced

[eon]

Just be aware that the m5 has widening works. Whilst the shoulders are still there and speed restrictions are in place, the shoulder width is much reduced

thanks mate.

we're opting out with the silverwater rd option all the way. 50kms +100km should be good.
but drove silverwater all the way to bangoor bypass the other night n damn, a little too much road riding for my liking.
should be quiet at that time in the morning but not sure if its worth the risk.

loftus -> jamberoo -then back to loftus might be a better ride..

thanks again for the info guys..

[hannos]

Just be aware that the m5 has widening works. Whilst the shoulders are still there and speed restrictions are in place, the shoulder width is much reduced

thanks mate.

we're opting out with the silverwater rd option all the way. 50kms +100km should be good.

Silverwater Rd -> Rookwood Rd? I think I'd prefer the marginally narrower M5 shoulder myself...