Hi all - looking for rides around Sydney!

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Hi Everyone,

Wonderful site - I've spent quite some time reading here, getting easily distracted by all sorts of topics..

But the reason I post: I’m visiting Sydney (from Melbourne) next week, and I’m bringing up my hybrid for some riding. I’ll be staying in Nth Ryde.

I’ll be there for three days (weds to Fri), and am desperately looking for advice about where I might find 2-4hour trips in the area. I'd like to do one a day.

I’m willing to catch trains or buses to get where I need to go (and will entertain travelling out of the city) but I don’t want to ride on the roads if at all possible – I always prefer paths and trails. Roads bother the bejeezus out of me here, and I would enjoy myself much more if I didn’t have to ride too many of them on my visit up there.

So I’m hoping to experience some leisurely, no-stress cycling and to see some of the bays, parks, features and coastlines around your wonderful neck of the woods. Melbourne cannot compete with your scenery, and I see this trip as a rare opportunity to see some wonderful sights in another city (don’t travel too much with the bike!).

I thought I could find rides myself - I’ve looked thoroughly via google, plus forums, roads authorities, bikely etc, and have actually purchased a copy of the latest Sydways as a reference (free to a good home when I leave), but cannot seem to string together a series of trips... It doesn’t help when I don’t really know the areas (but you can get a fairly good look via Bikely if you go in real close!).

So I come here cap-in-hand for any advice you can give me.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Ta, Matt

Originally Posted by DamianM

Here is one that starts in Ryde, that is mostly off road.

Most of the riding in Sydney is on road, which won't be much fun if you don't like the roads in Melbourne. Bruce Ashley's Bike It has a lot of the lower stress routes. It's well worth a look.

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Hi Everyone,

Wonderful site - I've spent quite some time reading here, getting easily distracted by all sorts of topics..

But the reason I post: I’m visiting Sydney (from Melbourne) next week, and I’m bringing up my hybrid for some riding. I’ll be staying in Nth Ryde.

I’ll be there for three days (weds to Fri), and am desperately looking for advice about where I might find 2-4hour trips in the area. I'd like to do one a day.

I’m willing to catch trains or buses to get where I need to go (and will entertain travelling out of the city) but I don’t want to ride on the roads if at all possible – I always prefer paths and trails. Roads bother the bejeezus out of me here, and I would enjoy myself much more if I didn’t have to ride too many of them on my visit up there.

So I’m hoping to experience some leisurely, no-stress cycling and to see some of the bays, parks, features and coastlines around your wonderful neck of the woods. Melbourne cannot compete with your scenery, and I see this trip as a rare opportunity to see some wonderful sights in another city (don’t travel too much with the bike!).

I thought I could find rides myself - I’ve looked thoroughly via google, plus forums, roads authorities, bikely etc, and have actually purchased a copy of the latest Sydways as a reference (free to a good home when I leave), but cannot seem to string together a series of trips... It doesn’t help when I don’t really know the areas (but you can get a fairly good look via Bikely if you go in real close!).

So I come here cap-in-hand for any advice you can give me.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Ta, Matt

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Thanks Damian - Cooks River looks outstanding - fits the bill perfectly - one down! To actually have it starting/finishing in Ryde is brilliant, although I am willing to use public transport for the other two rides.

Thanks for the suggestion about Bruce Ashley's book - I have bookmarked in case I get up there in the future. I own similar guides for the Melbourne area, and they're extremely useful.

Originally Posted by mikeg

M7 Shared path info here http://members.optusnet.com.au/robkemp66/m7/m7.htm

also

Prospect Canal Cycleway

Orphan School Creek off road cycleway from Canleyvale to Abbotsbury

Shared Paths beside most of the Parramatta Liverpool Bus T-Way

Parramatta Liverpool Rail Trail

get a copy of the Western Sydney Cycleways map from the RTA


Have a look on bikely.com for routes in sydney

from Parramatta along Parra Liverpool Rail Trail to Guildford then shared paths
following water supply pipes to Prospect canal cycleway to Prospect Dam
then through Western Sydney Regional Park to Abbotsbury (IGA shop with refreshments) Orphan School Creek path to Canleyvale join Rail Trail back to Parramatta

Parrmatta Valley Cycleway (PVC) between Parramatta and Meadowbank.

M4 viaduct cycleway from parramatta to Olympic park

Plenty of Off road routes around Olympic Park

Mike

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Thanks Damian - Cooks River looks outstanding - fits the bill perfectly - one down! To actually have it starting/finishing in Ryde is brilliant, although I am willing to use public transport for the other two rides.

Thanks for the suggestion about Bruce Ashley's book - I have bookmarked in case I get up there in the future. I own similar guides for the Melbourne area, and they're extremely useful.

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Mike - hope you know how much I appreciate these responses. Feeling better every minute about this trip. As I said above, I really tried to find these myself, but as the date loomed, I felt I'd better ask for some help - you guys have been wonderful.

I'll go through your suggestions, and get the RTA to send the cycleways map to a friend in Sydney, who can then overnight it to me. the M7 site looks great, but I'm finding it a bit hard to get more info about your suggestions right now, so I'll go away and have a real crack at exploring these rides.

Have had a quick look at the ride you described: Parramatta along Parra Liverpool Rail Trail to Guildford then shared paths following water supply pipes to Prospect canal cycleway to Prospect Dam then through Western Sydney Regional Park to Abbotsbury (IGA shop with refreshments) Orphan School Creek path to Canleyvale join Rail Trail back to Parramatta Can you tell me approx. how long this loop would be?

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

I'm interested in the Botany Bay area, but can't find a ride long enough around there - basically love "scenic" rides anywhere. Also looked at the satellite closeups around Cronulla (love beach/ocean rides!) and the road along the beach looks like it might offer something, but I'd have to dig further for the info.

In any case, hopefully this thread develops to help others looking to ride around Sydney.

Originally Posted by mikeg

between 45 to 50km



Have a look at the Bike North Site's Rides pages

select Western Wander form the RIDES drop down list
This ride starts from Meadow Bank Wharf at 70km
click on "Mud Map" for a sketch of the ride.

Botany Bay Bacon - Meadowbak Wharf to Brighton Le Sands via the cooks river cycleway

also Bays and Forshores - Meadowbank, Gladesvile, and around some of the bays of harbour foreshores back to concord.

Mike

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Thanks Mike - I am not worthy.

The Bike North site seems very useful. The rides you've highlighted look very promising. Love your work!

Gotta go and look into these resources and ideas, then hopefully come up with some maps and instructions!

Thanks again, Matt.

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Hi Everyone,

Wonderful site - I've spent quite some time reading here, getting easily distracted by all sorts of topics..

But the reason I post: I’m visiting Sydney (from Melbourne) next week, and I’m bringing up my hybrid for some riding. I’ll be staying in Nth Ryde.

I’ll be there for three days (weds to Fri), and am desperately looking for advice about where I might find 2-4hour trips in the area. I'd like to do one a day.

I’m willing to catch trains or buses to get where I need to go (and will entertain travelling out of the city) but I don’t want to ride on the roads if at all possible – I always prefer paths and trails. Roads bother the bejeezus out of me here, and I would enjoy myself much more if I didn’t have to ride too many of them on my visit up there.

So I’m hoping to experience some leisurely, no-stress cycling and to see some of the bays, parks, features and coastlines around your wonderful neck of the woods. Melbourne cannot compete with your scenery, and I see this trip as a rare opportunity to see some wonderful sights in another city (don’t travel too much with the bike!).

I thought I could find rides myself - I’ve looked thoroughly via google, plus forums, roads authorities, bikely etc, and have actually purchased a copy of the latest Sydways as a reference (free to a good home when I leave), but cannot seem to string together a series of trips... It doesn’t help when I don’t really know the areas (but you can get a fairly good look via Bikely if you go in real close!).

So I come here cap-in-hand for any advice you can give me.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Ta, Matt

Originally Posted by vazzwells

Hi Matt,

Came across this website yesteday http://www.trailflix.com.au/

Appears quite informative. I have riden a few of these trails and would be more than happy to provide you with other websites mainly bike club websites that may provide more info. Not sure if this is what your after in terms of trail riding though most would be well within the city limits and therefore you could navigate there usuing your Sydways or catch public transport.

Happy researching, Mike.

Originally Posted by ToeCutter666

Thanks Mike - I am not worthy.

The Bike North site seems very useful. The rides you've highlighted look very promising. Love your work!

Gotta go and look into these resources and ideas, then hopefully come up with some maps and instructions!

Thanks again, Matt.