Bike Maintenance & Picnic
We open the BARBUG year with a Picnic to Nepean Dam.
Meet at Rest A While Reserve Bargo (near station) at 9.30am
Some traffic, quiet roads.
An easy ride out to the Nepean Dam. Here we will sizzle a sausage while Jim and Phil teach us how to:
- correctly set up your bike
- change a tyre
- clean your bike and oil the chain
When our bikes are pristine and happy, we will do a short ride to the entrance of Avon Dam before heading home.
Make sure you bring along a tyre changing kit that includes tyre-levers.
For the more experienced riders a challenging ride to the Avon Dam can also be included.
Call to confirm Sally: 46841444 or email.
Trax Adventure Trailer
An exciting new product has come on to the market for cyclists, and in particular, adventure racing enthusiasts.
It is a box trailer with a specialised top which can take up to 7 bikes, leaving the trailer free to take your camping or racing gear.
No more struggling with bikes on car roofs and gear squished in the boot.
No need to take more than one car to an event or on a camping trip.
With this trailer you can pack up the whole family’s gear, their bikes, the tent and cooking gear and have plenty of room for the kids and their friends in the car!
Trax Adventure Trailer
For more info go to www.traxgear.com.au
Highlights of Camden
Ride Leader – Phil Rylatt
38km, relaxed pace, some traffic, moderate hills, some cyclepaths, some unsealed roads.
Meet 845am at Rotary Cowpasture Reserve Carpark, Camden Valley Way, Camden (see map) for a 9.am start
A medium circuit ride with a few hills, undulating, mostly quiet country roads with great views of the district. Stop at Cobbitty for coffee and cakes. Highlight is the Brownhill Loop Road (hard packed unsealed section suitable for road bikes)
View from May Farm Rd to Mt. Hunter
Call to confirm, Phil: Ph: 8795 0546 or email
View Highlights of Camden Ride in a larger map
BARBUG Christmas Special
Ride Leader – Phil Rylatt
40km, slow pace, easy, some traffic, unsealed roads
Started 10:00am; Mavromattes Reserve ( off Riverview Rd, Nowra )
An easy flat ride at slow pace. On road ride through delightful, mostly quiet dairy country near Nowra. Some traffic, narrow roads. Roadside fruit and veggie stalls on route so bring panniers or packs if you wish to purchase fresh produce. Bring lunch or snacks to have on the island. Time will be set aside to explore Comerong Island Nature Reserve. Note that sections of road on the island are unsealed.
This turned out to be a lovely ride with many of the members of Shoalhaven BUG joining us. The ride to the ferry was flat and easy, wit interesting scenery of the local seaside dairy farms. On the ferry to Comerong Island it was surprising to see the force of the current as the tide was receding.
On the Ferry Across To Comerong Island
Those of us with mountain bikes had an easier time on the corrugated road to the picnic area and only the mountain bikers could take the track to the end of the island for a swim .
Track to Beach
Beach ,Great for Cycling
After lunch we returned via the main road, tuning off at a hamlet of Terara for a look at this lovely little riverside community. The boys found a beautiful old stone terrace which apparently was the local “joy house”. Although knocking, there appeared to be no-one home!
Phil Knocking Hopefully
Waiting
Apparently Nowra is not good for coffee on a Sunday afternoon, so we headed off to Berry for a cool drink before heading home.
It was a lovely ride and we thank Shoalhaven BUG for their friendship and hospitality. BARBUG will definitely be joining them for more rides in the future!
Ride Leader – Phil Rylatt
65km, Moderate Pace, some traffic on road (some are good quality unsealed), moderate hills
Meet 9am Bundanoon Hotel, Erith St Bundanoon
This medium ride begins with a moderate climb and a short section of rough road with a shallow causeway ( OK for road bikes ), then undulating through quiet and scenic rural roads. Stop for lunch at the Canyonleigh General Store.Return to Bundanoon via Exeter
Call to confirm – Phil: 8795 0564 or email
After 4 long years I was delighted when Phil Costa, NSW Minister for Water, announced Avon Dam has at last reopened to the public. This news is particularly good for those cyclists who love to keep strong with a good hill climb.
Several members of BARBUG gave it a go on Tuesday 8/12/09. It is a hard but glorious ride which plunges down to the Nepean River before climbing through beautiful rainforest up, up and up to the excellent Avon Dam picnic and viewing facilities.
The return ride amazes even more as the road seems to plunge forever downward towards the Nepean Ford. You can only think to yourself, “Did I really ride all that way up?” Then, the climb back to the entrance gates, although it is not as hard as the ride up to Avon, on tired legs, seems to never end!
For more information go to: http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/recreation/upper-nepean-dams
John, Alan, Gina and Jim on Avon Dam Wall
The Nepean Ford
How lucky we are to have these terrific riding opportunities in the Wollondilly Shire. There is something for everyone, no matter what level of fitness.
Peter Scott sent me this information
Just a quick invite to you and your cycling group to attend the 2010 Mudgee Bike Muster.
Held over the Easter weekend (April 2-5) at the Australian Rural Education Centre, Bike Muster is an excellent way to get out into the country and take in some excellent cycling in and around the picturesque NSW central ranges town of Mudgee.
Featuring rides to suit everyone (road, dirt & mountain bike) Bike Muster allows you to ride and explore at your own pace.
Apart from the great cycling there is nightly entertainment on-site, lunches at local wineries, regional produce to sample at the farmers market and a few other fun activities thrown in – it really is a weekend celebration of cycling!
Designed to be an affordable family friendly weekend away there is camping on-site with excellent facilities and even a fully catered option so all you have to do is turn up, set up camp and get out on your bike – how easy is that!
For more information including how to register, go to www.bikemuster.com.au
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to shoot us an email: info@bikemuster.com.au
We look forward to seeing you at Easter!
Cheers,
Peter Scott
Mudgee Bike Muster
www.bikemuster.com.au
Ronde de Southern Highlands
Ride Leader – Phil Rylatt
80km, fast pace, some traffic, significant hills, experienced riders
We met at 8.15 m at Burrawang Hotel for 8.30am start
Challenging circuit on some very scenic roads. Ride takes in Fitzroy Falls, Moss Vale, Glenquarry and Robertson for lunch before returning to the Burrawang Hotel.
Call to confirm Phil: 8795 0546 or email
Afterthoughts
Awesome scenery! . This beautiful ride starts from the picturesque village of Burrawang. We rode via Fitzroy Falls through beautiful lush , rural countryside to Moss Vale then on to Bowral. A quick circuit of the velodrome, before we returned via Glenquarry through forested bushland to East Kangaloon and then to Robertson for a very nice lunch at Pirouette Cafe. There were a few ups and downs, but the ride was worth every pedal stroke. A cold beer at Burrawang Pub, with views seemingly to Sydney, was a wonderful finish to a spectacular ride. This one will definitely go on the list to do again!
Phil doing a lap at the Bowral Velodrome
View from Macquarie pass near Robertson
Spinning Wheels, Broken Bones, Flying Fists – A Journey Through Time
Here is a site well worth reading. The autobiography of a racing cyclist in the 30’s and 40’s. What bought him to the sport and growing up tough!
It includes early memories of the Goulburn to Sydney Race
http://www.kokodaspirit.com/writing-history/journey-through-time-intro.htm
Recently a BARBUG member was attacked by a very determined maggie. Twice he swooped, forcefully hitting her helmet. On the third attempt he penetrated the helmet with his foot and got stuck! Poor Janette, here she was trying to stay upright on her bike with a claw scratching her scalp and a very agro magpie flapping furiously above her head! She managed to stop her bike, undo her helmet and throw it to the ground, thus dislodging the angry bird. A very frightening experience for both parties!