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

 

 

 


Tour of the Western Sydney Parklands Track - 50Km Loop

I recently took my touring bike for a ride along the Western Sydney Parklands track. If you're coming from the Windsor road entry to the M7, you'll find the entrance on your left, just after Quakers Hill and C-Hill segment (strava). The track is well marked so finding your way around should be straight forward.

Entrance to the Western Sydney Parklands Track

Well marked track

For those who ride the M7 cycleway often, the parklands track is a peaceful diversion, and really nice and quiet. Furthermore, if you come early and try to make minimal noise, you may just site the deer that live nearby and come for a drink in the creek. I have been lucky to see them on several occasions.

The parklands track



Nice and flat and peaceful

Riding through the peaceful parklands track you feel like you're miles away from civilisation. The peacefulness does come to a sudden end as we approach one of the major road crossings along the way. Pedestrian crossings and traffic lights make for a safe crossing. 

Crossing Richmond Road

 Soon after the crossing, we are back to serenity and peaceful surroundings.

What's the go with the platform to nowhere?

Crossing Eastern Creek

After crossing Power St, a short gravel section proceeds. It's approximately 800 metres or so, but do take care if you're on narrow tires. The Schwalbe Marathon Plus 35mm tires are so versatile, I love them in these conditions.

Short gravel section

 The Parklands track winds its way through Nurragingy Reserve. Please take note that the park gates are closed when the park is closed. A sign inside the park shows the seasonal opening hours for the park. I have ridden through here and found the gate closed even though the sign suggested it should have been opened. You can get your bike around this entrance of the park, but you may not be so lucky on the other side.

Gates open today

Nurragingy Park is a great picnic spot for family outings. Next time I ride through here, I'll pack a picnic lunch and take the whole family along for the ride.

Nurragingy Reserve

Picnic Spots Galore

Just after you make your way out of the Nurragingy Reserve, follow the parklands signs down Eastern Road. Take care across the bridge and I recommend you do as the sign suggests and dismount across the narrow bridge.

Narrow Bridge on Eastern Road

Cross Eastern Rd at the Blacktown International Sports Park to continue your Tour of the Parklands Track.

So nice, so quiet.

Until you get to the Great Western Highway that is

Just after crossing the Great Western Highway, you are back on the familiar M7 Shared Cycleway. Continue for a few kilometres until you get to the Horseley Drive Overpass.

Familiar Territory

The Horseley Drive Intersection

Follow the signs and go up the hill to the Horseley Drive. Please note:- this section of the track is poorly maintained. The council responsible for this section of road should really hang there heads in shame. Take extreme care as some of the manholes on the road are cracked and you could do some major damage to you and your bike if your wheel was to hit one of them. Be warned! Fortunately, it's not a long segment of road and the rewards of climbing that hill and entering the parkland is extremely rewarding.

Careful along Horseley Drive, path is poorly maintained, shame on you council.

Once you're back in the parkland, it's just divine, peaceful, serene, clean and did I say peaceful? Stop and smell the wild flowers along the way and soak it all in.

Inside the Western Sydney Parklands

The track takes you down past Calmsley Hill City Farm, another great family day out for those with young children can be had here. By the way, Calmsley Hill is aptly named, there are some nice hills to get you to this destination.

Calmsley Hill City Farm

Once inside the park, be sure to take some side trips, they are all scenically wonderful and offer some rewarding challenges such as Moonrise Lookout.

I believe that to be Calmsley Hill

The road to Moonrise Lookout



Rewarding View from the top

I've ridden past this sign before and I was intrigued as to what a memorial to Ginger Meggs in the middle of nowhere was all about. A nice little detour takes you to the memorial, and what I believe to be the burial ground of this awesome dog.

Ginger Meggs Memorial

Memorial Track - Short and sweet

 Ginger Meggs seems to have been a pretty cool dog.

Ginger Meggs Memorial

After the history lesson and few side trips, you're back on the M7 and ready for the trip home.

Back on the M7

 I hope this encourages you to take a little venture into Western Sydney Parklands.


Route

Elevation

 

Mountain Biking through Castlereagh Nature Reserve

Last weekend I took "Pinky", my mountain bike, for it's maiden voyage through Castlereagh Nature Reserve.

Pinkie

The park was established in 1995 and covers an area of 490 hectares. There's a nice flat loop around the park (approx. 5km) with plenty of side shoots to explore. 

Castlereagh Nature Reserve



It's been years since I last visited the nature reserve and I recall seeing plenty of wildlife there such as wallabies, lizards and a smorgasbord of birds. It seems that bird watching is still pretty popular in the park as I spotted two people with binoculars admiring the wildlife.

I stumbled across this huge goanna, it was well over 1 meter.

That's not a lizard, this is a lizard.

The park is flat and well suited for people who are new to mountain biking or finding their MTB legs after spending years on a road bike or touring bike (as I have).

Nice and flat, most of the park is this way.

Side trips can be rewarding

Basking in the Spring Sun

Cycle NSW Spring Cycle + Aqueduct Trip on Touring Bike

Spring Cycle+ On Touring Bike

Last Sunday I took part in Cycle NSW's Spring Cycle. The registration fee includes transport on all Sydney trains which is a great way to get to the start of the ride.

The riders start heading off between 6:30am and 7:00am so it makes for a very early start to the day.

Now that's early!

After shaking out the cobwebs and getting a quick breakfast, I rode down to the train station ready for a trip into North Sydney. This year I decided to ride my touring bike and have some fun.

At the Station

Sydney Trains

At the start line, bike mechanics, sponsors and coffee vendors made it an easy wait for other friends to show up.

Coffee!

I got talking to Mark, from http://rvvelonaut.blogspot.com.au/ His adequately named Green Jelly Bean Rotovelo has recently seen him cross Australia from Perth to Sydney. Mark seemed likely a genuinely nice bloke who was more than happy to share his experiences and talk about his epic ride for Legacy. 

Marks Green Jelly Bean

Nice to talk to fellow cyclists

One of the things I enjoy about the Spring Cycle is that there really does seem to be a Spring festival atmosphere to the race. All sorts of bikes come for the ride. 

All types of bikes at the Spring Cycle

Keeping with the fun theme, Patrich decided to ride his restored steel framed, 8 speed internally geared hub bike. 

At the start

Taking it easy at several stops along the way. 

Relaxing!

Quick, take the pic, I can't hold my gut in for much longer

Suck that gut in Patrich

Free Banana stand, who can resist?

B1 and B2

Another car show, they seem to follow me lately.

Looks like the MG club's in town

At the finish line, we relaxed under a tree and watched out for our other friends to finish. Unfortunately one of them crashed out which had us waiting for a while. At least he was not badly injured, just a bit bruised and sore.

At the finish line



Olympic Park

 

 

Patrich did a great job capturing the Spring Cyle action from his Fly6 Camera.

 

 

 

Well, the official ride was over, and an enjoyable one at that, but we had other plans. We decided to ride back home via the old aqueduct making it a 100Km day. 

This is an extract from http://www.canalreserve.org which gives some interesting history on the old aqueduct. 

"The Lower Prospect Canal Reserve is a unique parcel of bushland that snakes through a densely populated area of Western Sydney. The corridor stretches for approximately 7.7 kilometres from Prospect Reservoir to Sydney Water Pipehead at Albert Street, Guildford (see map) and varies in width from 40 metres to 100 metres covering an area of approximately 54.6 hectares."

There a sections along the cycle path where you can still see the remnants of the old aqueduct, really enjoyable ride actually. 

The old aqueduct

Under the bridge down town

Nearly home

I bid Patrich farewell towards the end of the aqueduct cycleway and made my way over to the M7 cycleway to see me back home.

All in all, the Spring Cycle+ was a great days riding on the touring bike.

103Km, looks good on the map.