M7 Cycleway to Sydney International Regatta Centre - 87Km Round Trip

I'm always looking for new ride opportunities and sometimes, they come around when you least expect it.


New ride option, so excited!

I had a leisurely ride around the Sydney International Regatta centre with my family and on the way home, just for the thrill of it; I put on the GPS to get us home. As luck would have it, the GPS took the most direct route home which happened to be through some lovely scenic country roads. As I'm driving, I'm thinking something along these lines

“This is a great road for cycling; I would love to ride here. I wonder where we join the main road again" and so on and so forth.



My question was soon answered as I saw a familiar sign, the Castlereagh Nature Reserve. You can read about that adventure and watch the video here. MTB through Castlereagh Nature Reserve
All that stood in my way and a great bike ride was the road works happening on Richmond Rd.

So after a little miscommunication and literally a 5 minute, quick get out of bed, jump in the shower, grab a coffee and toast, brush my teeth, and I'm on the bike we were off.  :-)

Our trip started on the very familiar M7 cycleway, we headed due west until the Richmond Rd exit. There has been some very extensive road works along Richmond Rd so we thought we would see how far we got until roadwork prohibited us from going safely further. It looks like the construction company actually got this right. A shared pedestrian/cycleway runs along the length of the roadwork, making for a safe trip out. Once you run out of cycleway, you a have a nice decent sized shoulder all the way to our next turnoff.

Speaking of turnoffs, you have a choice. If you are on a decent sized wheel and tyre combo, you can take Llandilo exit and ride for approx. 2.5 Km until you see the Castlereigh Nature reserve sign or the alternative is to ride up to the next major intersection at "The Northern Road" and omit the nature reserve altogether.


Right tyres means fun detours

Patrich rides Conti TourRIDE 42mm on his Bad Boy and I ride Schwalbe Marathon Plus 45mm. Both did and excellent job with the quicksand.

If you take the Castlereagh Park option i.e. Llandilo Rd, keep  your eyes out for the Nature Reserve sign as you can easily miss it.



Easily missed Llandilo Rd Entry to Castlereagh

Head due west on the firetrail and this will take you to the Northern Road entry.




Castlereagh Nature Reserve

 

A note on the Castlereagh Nature Reserve.
The firetrail that runs through the park gets really boggy and wet after heavy rains. The trail can still be wet and feel like quicksand even after several days of good weather. So be warned and prepared.

Once out of the nature reserve, cross Northern Road and continue through to Whitegates Rd. Quiet roads, respectful drivers (at least on our outing) and wildlife for the next dozen or so kilometres make you feel like you are miles away from Sydney.



Northern Rd Entry to Castlereagh Nature Reserve

At the end of Whitegates Rd, hang a left onto Londonderry Rd, and then take the next right onto Boscobel Rd. Another lovely peaceful few kilometres ensue.

So nice being on the road

When you get to the Nutt Rd Intersection, another cross-country option awaits you. A firetrail runs through the bushland that will take you out to Firetrail Rd.



Nice rock bed for the MTB

This firetrail is comprised of different dirt to what you find in Castlereagh. It is very sandy and although not wet like quicksand, you do find your back wheel sliding out on the sand making for a very exciting little trip. Also, be aware that pretty much all Australian bush roads have their share of snakes and this firetrail is no exception as Patrich nearly ran over a little brown snake.

"What's that SNNNNNNAAAAAAAKKKKEEEE!"

Nice Road

At the end of the firetrail, you exit on to Firetrail Rd. From here you can turn left or right to join Hinxman or Devlin Rd respectfully. If you take Devlin Rd, you have a nice little ride on Post Office Road. Postoffice Road joins Castlereagh Rd for the last stretch.

Thing A and Thing B

Castlereagh road has a nice smooth shoulder for most of the way until our turn off on Old Castlereagh Rd. There is a short section, approx. 200m where the shoulder is quite narrow so have your lights ready and wear nice fluoro colours.

Old Castlereagh Rd sees limited traffic so it's a nice little run to the Regatta centre. At the Regatta centre, take a nice leisurely lap around the lake, stop for a picnic lunch or snack at one of the covered shelters and get ready for the ride home.


The Sydney International Regatta Centre



See you next time

The ride itself is as flat as a tack as you can see from the ride elevation chart. However, all that flat terrain does come at a price as you are literally always turning the pedals.



Flat as a tack





Nice little adventure

 

 

 


Come rain or shine, hell or high water.

Sometimes you need to treat your cycling like a good relationship. That is, do something out of the ordinary in order to motivate you, excite you and keep things fun and interesting.

I woke up this morning after having heard heavy rain falling all night prepared to have a cosy day with a cup of coffee and a good book.

However, somewhere in the middle of my shower, I started thinking it would be nice to go out for a bike ride. I got dried up, and took a quick look at the weather forecast for the next 7 days. Not good, rain, rain and more rain.

Forecast not looking great

 

"Well, that does it, I've got no choice darling wife, I am going out for a bike ride."

"You're crazy, it's pouring out there."

"So it is, so it is.

Nice and wet

And with that, I pumped up the tires, put on my trusty aldi rain cheater thingamabob and headed out to do a quick 30km on the trusty steed.

Check out that roman nose

 

I must say, there is something to be said about riding in adverse conditions, for some reason, the harder the riding conditions, the bigger the smile gets on my face.



Not rose-tinted glasses, these are the rain-tinted variety

It was fun seeing the world through rain tinted glasses and the frogs along the M7 cycle way were in a great singing voice.


To top it all off, I only saw two other cyclist for the whole duration so I had the M7 cycleway virtually to myself.

Mine, all mine!

 What a great day to be alive.



That's a lot of water!

Here's a good new year resolution, come hell or high water, rain or shine, take that bike out and enjoy it no matter what the weather throws at you this year.

Lovely day to be alive