Sydney PdC'ers?

by Sui Juris on Aug 2, 2009 2:20 PM EDT Comment 29 comments

Hi, all. Given PdC's excellent track record in providing me with good cycling info for my travels, I thought I'd go to the well once again. Megabeth and I are going to be in and around Sydney this coming weekend, and a bit into the following week. I'm probably going to rent a bike for some MTBing in the Blue Mountains, but welcome suggestions for other interesting rides (road or MTB) in the area. Whatever we do will have to be on rentals, so any hot tips on that point would be welcome, too.

Finally, if anyone is up for a beer or three (this is Australia after all, right?), drop me an email. Aside from City2Surf on Sunday, we've no solid plans at the moment. I'm fairly certain that I've got a comfortable lead in most PdC'ers met, but hey, never a bad idea to put some time into the competition (right, AC?).

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People, check with crashdan before you agree to anything

I hear things about sofas……………

by Jens on Aug 2, 2009 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I met them both...

we had a few drinks, one thing led to another, and I woke up in an icy bath tub with only one kidney. True story… OK, that is a total lie. I still have both kidneys. While Sui can sometimes come across as a kidney thief, in real life he is a solid, upstanding citizen. Same goes for Megabeth. Also, she smells better nicer than Sui. That is not a lie.

by Jimbo... on Aug 2, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

bahahaha

you two are sooo not helping….

by rbjhan on Aug 2, 2009 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in Melbourne obvisouly.

maybe Lou? hmmm…

by rbjhan on Aug 2, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I thought about trying to find you, but then I realized I'd probably

be left waiting at the bar for you to eventually show up.

by Sui Juris on Aug 2, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and that is a bad thing how?

by rbjhan on Aug 2, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we can't all spend our

lives waiting for you to eventually show up, rbjhan. We do enough of that here on the live threads, no?

by Sui Juris on Aug 3, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

aaaaggggggghhhhhhhh

I see you still refuse to accept that fact you are not a team player!
what have I been telling you since March?!

by rbjhan on Aug 3, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just getting some details for you..

Be back shortly with some links and details.. I don’t live in sydney so have no idea, but calling on some friends who do..

"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"

Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009

by CycleGirl on Aug 2, 2009 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Many thanks

Please don’t go through any trouble, though. Just thought I’d check in and see if any bright ideas were close at hand (alas, I was immediately met with dim bulbs . . .).

by Sui Juris on Aug 2, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So me flying to Sydney to give you a trip would be to much trouble?

by Frinking on Aug 2, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's a little info from some friends..

A favourite Blue Mountains trail, Woodford to Glenbrook, is riding very nicely at the moment and suitable for most skill levels. A combination of fire trail and singletrack, it’s a nice intro to the Blue Mountains for visitors. You can catch a train from Sydney to Woodford and ride mostly downhill (~25km) back to Glenbrook, but the ride up from Glenbrook is a good workout and makes it a more worthwhile ‘day out’ . Fairly popular (especially on the weekends) so it’s not exactly a wilderness experience, ""but overseas visitors are known to have unexpectedly long ‘wilderness experiences’ in the Blue Mountains aren’t they – so maybe a few people around is a good thing!"" Had to giggle at the last line… Be careful there… But it is true…

also was advised to google – Fat Hippy’s blog site… It has info as well.

"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"

Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009

by CycleGirl on Aug 2, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gracias

Not one for the long wilderness experience, myself. “Roughing it” = staying at Sheraton.

by Sui Juris on Aug 3, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So let me get this straight...

You’re going to Sydney to do the City to Surf? It seems a long way to go for that.

I’ve only run it once. The ‘Heartbreak Hill’ up New South Head Road was a little underwhelming, in the scheme of heartbreak hills. There was a little sign up the top that said, ‘You are the top of Heartbreak Hill’. Already? I was expecting more. I was, I have to say, I little … heartbroken. From there, though, it’s quite a pleasant rolling route downhill to Bondi.

Oh, and I can’t really help on the riding thing, being not in Sydney ‘n’ all.

For road routes, I know people like to go down to/past Waterfall (in the Royal National Park south of Sydney: lots of different routes here) or to the ‘four gorges’ to the north. (The gorges are Bobbin Head, Berowra Waters, Galston Gorge and something else I can’t think of. A quick search for a route map finds links here and here, but I thought it also took up some of the places further east near Pittwater. Someone else might help correct me.) A bit of climbing on some of those routes, I reckon.

Good luck, anyway.

by Drongo on Aug 2, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

City2Surf was just

an unexpected add-on. Had already planned the trip, and found out about the run. Figured it’s as good a way as any to check out the place.

by Sui Juris on Aug 3, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I come from Sydney

although I no longer live there. If you’re looking for beauty, I suggest Northern Beaches, especially up around Pittwater and out to Palm Beach. Maybe come down Mona Vale Road and turn north.
Blue Mountains in August is pretty vile weatherwise, although I’m a sook in the cold. Lots of fog and around 10 degrees C.

by Seahorse on Aug 2, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sigh

I suppose I’ll pack a sweater . . .

(thanks)

by Sui Juris on Aug 3, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey!

I live in Sydney, my wife and I are running the CIty to Surf this weekend, and I love to mountain bike (but have been running more of late).

Running wise, check out for a great forum and discussion on running in Australia and Sydney.

Mountain-bike wise, probably two of the best are Manly Dam , and the Oaks Fire Trail , which is an easy 80 min train ride out of Sydney. Mountain bike rental is difficult in Sydney. I rang a few shops around Manly to find out about bike hire – Manly cycles rents Mongoose hardtails for $75/day.

I couldn’t find any shops that rent bikes in the Blue Mountains that would be convenient for you. You’re very welcome to borrow my bikes ( I have a hardtail and a FS bike), but they’re probably going to be too small for you (unless you’re 5’6" or less).

What’s your itinerary like? Where are you staying? We have a pretty packed weekend, but would be nice to meet up, or to at least point you in the right direction of nice places to eat/drink/see.

by slowK on Aug 2, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oops

links didn’t work.

Here are some addresses to check out:

www.coolrunning.com.au for running info

www.manlycycles.com.au for the bike hire

http://nobmob.com/rides/theoaks for info on the Oaks Fire Trail
http://nobmob.com/rides/manlydam for info on Manly Dam

by slowK on Aug 2, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manly is also Northern Beaches

so it all sort of fits.

by Seahorse on Aug 3, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All quite useful

Putting a schedule together today – will be in touch.

by Sui Juris on Aug 3, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I'm in Sydney but

I haven’t ridden a bike in many, many years – so I can’t give you any personal recommendations about bike hire or routes. However, you may find UI here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/bicycle/bicyclemaps/index.html . Oh, and here’s the weather (pretty decent for winter, at the moment).

(and of course the most important thing to bear in mind that that you will need to ride on the LEFT side of the road ;-) …)

No idea yet whether my weekend will have a window for a beverage or several (that will depend largely on whether/when I’m allocated overtime) … but what general area of Sydney will you be based in?

by Lou... on Aug 3, 2009 4:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A few years ago I biked in England for the first time in my life

Surprising how quickly I adapted to riding on the left! Before, as a pedestrian in London, it took me way longer to get used to looking in the right direction for traffic before crossing.

by tedvdw on Aug 3, 2009 5:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we're starting out in

Darling Harbour. The weather does look decent. It’ll be 33 here, tomorrow . . .

by Sui Juris on Aug 3, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no Sydney info but...

a trip to Australia? I am jealous. Hope you have lots of fun.

____________

"Reality has a well-known Contador bias." -Sui Juris, PdC Editor

by ZoeRochelle on Aug 3, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in Sydney!

I’ll drop you a line.

Can’t give you any advice on good cycling, I only ride up to the local shops and back, with occasional forages further afield. On a heavy, POS bike is a bugger on the hills. I’m hoping to get an electric bike attachment thingy at some point.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Aug 3, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think when Sui gets back he needs to detail out all of those he's met here.

He keeps taking pics of these gatherings yet no one ever sees them. I’m thinking he’s created a room with dart boards or blacklisting walls. Hmmmm….. (LOL!)

I love C, not because he rocks as a cyclist, but because deep down he's a band geek! LOL!

by nikki on Aug 4, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs