Riding to Canberra

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:35:52 +1100
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>
> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>
> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>
> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

I do the Hume a lot on a motorcycle.

There's wide shoulders pretty well all the way, I think there's a
couple of bridges that are tricky though. I've seen bikes on the Hume
close to Canberra, but I don't think I've seen any in the hilly bits,
perhaps there's a different route they take?

You'll get a bit of a workout on the hills!


Zebee

[F Murtz[_2_]]

Geoff Lock wrote:
> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>
> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>
> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>
> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?
Take the bike on the train.

[suzyj[_25_]]

On Mar 10, 4:35*pm, Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:

> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

I did the Hume to Canberra and back as part of an Audax 600. It's
pretty quick, and the hills are relatively easy, but it's incredibly
boring. The biggest hazard is debris on the shoulder - mainly bits of
truck tyres.

Better to make your way through Mittagong, Bowral etc on the old Hume,
only popping onto the freeway when necessary.

Cheers,

Suzy

[terryc]

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:35:52 +1100
> Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>>
>> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
>> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>>
>> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
>> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
>> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>>
>> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?
>
> I do the Hume a lot on a motorcycle.
>
> There's wide shoulders pretty well all the way, I think there's a
> couple of bridges that are tricky though.

Aah, the international tourist route. See them on the hume often.
There is one bridge north of Goulburn that has no shoulder and you need
to time your crossing.double shame as it is a steep descent, narrow
bridge and a bit better climb on the other side, whilst all the time on
the right there is one of the more picturesque views.

[terryc]

Geoff Lock wrote:

> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

Thousands.
Hint, you could always catch the train part of the way;
Campbelltown/Penrith, Moss Valeor gouldburn spring to mind.
How many days did you want to spend doing it?
What weight and how are you carrying it?
Can you fix a puncture or three?
Accomodation by plastic or tent?

[terryc]

suzyj wrote:

> Better to make your way through Mittagong, Bowral etc on the old Hume,
> only popping onto the freeway when necessary.

The only place you need to do that is just north to south of Marulan.

[Rob]

On 10/03/2011 4:35 PM, Geoff Lock wrote:
> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>
> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>
> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>

There is a big difference with traffic travelling relatively slow
through Sydney and 110Km/h on the highway.

I ride along an expressway which is 80Km/h in the cycle lane, that is
full of road debris and the cars and trucks passing are scary.

In travelling down to Canberra I like the car. It's usually a pretty
boring trip.

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 10/03/2011 5:15 PM, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:35:52 +1100
> Geoff Lock<glock@home> wrote:

>> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
>> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
>> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>>
>> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?
>
> I do the Hume a lot on a motorcycle.
>
> There's wide shoulders pretty well all the way, I think there's a
> couple of bridges that are tricky though. I've seen bikes on the Hume
> close to Canberra, but I don't think I've seen any in the hilly bits,
> perhaps there's a different route they take?
>
> You'll get a bit of a workout on the hills!

Long uphill climbs?

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 10/03/2011 6:45 PM, F Murtz wrote:
> Geoff Lock wrote:
>> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

>> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

> Take the bike on the train.

That is one option.

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 10/03/2011 11:00 PM, suzyj wrote:
> On Mar 10, 4:35 pm, Geoff Lock<glock@home> wrote:
>
>> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?
>
> I did the Hume to Canberra and back as part of an Audax 600. It's
> pretty quick, and the hills are relatively easy, but it's incredibly
> boring. The biggest hazard is debris on the shoulder - mainly bits of
> truck tyres.

Audax 600? Bloody hell, I have heard of Audax 300 and I reckon they are
mad - stark raving, so that make you twice as crazy? :)

> Better to make your way through Mittagong, Bowral etc on the old Hume,
> only popping onto the freeway when necessary.

Hm, that would make it a bit further, I think? Dunno, not very familiar
with that area.

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 11/03/2011 7:43 AM, terryc wrote:
> Geoff Lock wrote:
>
>> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?
>
> Thousands.
> Hint, you could always catch the train part of the way;
> Campbelltown/Penrith, Moss Valeor gouldburn spring to mind.
> How many days did you want to spend doing it?
> What weight and how are you carrying it?
> Can you fix a puncture or three?
> Accomodation by plastic or tent?
>

Catching the train part of the way seems like a good compromise as I
intend to do it in one day.

Weight wise, I'll probably not be carrying very much - change of
clothes, something warm, water, basic tools. I'll be sleeping rough in
Canberra so no tent.

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 11/03/2011 7:55 AM, Rob wrote:
> On 10/03/2011 4:35 PM, Geoff Lock wrote:
>> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>>
>> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
>> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>>
>> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
>> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
>> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>>
>
> There is a big difference with traffic travelling relatively slow
> through Sydney and 110Km/h on the highway.

Traffic is my main concern as I have no idea of conditions on route.

When I started riding in Sydney, I had time to suss out the traffic
before venturing onto the main road with my riding style. Riding to
Canberra with zero knowledge of traffic conditions is a bit of a worry
to me :(

> I ride along an expressway which is 80Km/h in the cycle lane, that is
> full of road debris and the cars and trucks passing are scary.

Provided I do not come a cropper riding in the middle of the lane as I
normally do, I am not too worried with the speeds of other vehicles in
other lanes.

> In travelling down to Canberra I like the car. It's usually a pretty
> boring trip.

No car :)

[Patrick]

The Federal Highway is pretty much OK, lots of Canberra cyclists use it,
there would be 100 or more out there most Saturdays or Sundays. The Hume
north of Goulburn is not much fun because of the trucks. Even off the
road you get blown around and the debris in the breakdown lane is a hazard.

I'd have to say that it doesn't in general feel unsafe, just unpleasant,
so I'd look for other roads such as through
Mittagong-Bowral-Exeter-Penrose-Marulan-Brayton-Goulburn. North of
Mittagong I'll defer to local advice, south of Goulburn you'll be right
on the highway. There is only a short bit of the Hume from Goulburn to
the Federal Highway intersection where you'll have the company of all
the trucks. Just before the turnoff from the Federal Highway to Bywong
you can join the old highway which makes a pleasant change. You can stay
off the highway from there (apart from a few hundred metres at the
Sutton Road intersection) to Eaglehawk near the ACT border.

On 11/03/2011 7:55 AM, Rob wrote:
> On 10/03/2011 4:35 PM, Geoff Lock wrote:
>> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>>
>> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
>> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>>
>> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
>> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
>> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>>
>
> There is a big difference with traffic travelling relatively slow
> through Sydney and 110Km/h on the highway.
>
> I ride along an expressway which is 80Km/h in the cycle lane, that is
> full of road debris and the cars and trucks passing are scary.
>
> In travelling down to Canberra I like the car. It's usually a pretty
> boring trip.

[Patrick]

Just reread this... brain fade... you can turn off the Federal Highway
onto the old highway much earlier... as soon as you climb the escarpment
at Lake George.

On 11/03/2011 10:29 AM, Patrick wrote:
Just before the turnoff from the Federal Highway to Bywong
> you can join the old highway which makes a pleasant change. You can stay
> off the highway from there (apart from a few hundred metres at the
> Sutton Road intersection) to Eaglehawk near the ACT border.
>

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:21:55 +1100
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
> On 10/03/2011 5:15 PM, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>> close to Canberra, but I don't think I've seen any in the hilly bits,
>> perhaps there's a different route they take?
>>
>> You'll get a bit of a workout on the hills!
>
> Long uphill climbs?

Well.. rollers, just big ones! you are going over the Great Dividing
Range after all, even if it is not the Greatest part.

THere are some long mild uphills and a couple of big *******s but from
memory most of the big ups have a big down before them.

Zebee

[Patrick]

Almost all the climbing is between Campbelltown (altitude about 100m)
and Bowral (altitude about 740m), after that it is more or less level
the whole way with 50m up and down rollers. You don't cross the Great
Dividing Range till after Goulburn (it is about 755m but you'll hardly
notice it) and the altitude doesn't vary much through the southern
highlands until the final descent to Canberra at 560m.

On 11/03/2011 1:22 PM, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:21:55 +1100
> Geoff Lock<glock@home> wrote:
>> On 10/03/2011 5:15 PM, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>>> close to Canberra, but I don't think I've seen any in the hilly bits,
>>> perhaps there's a different route they take?
>>>
>>> You'll get a bit of a workout on the hills!
>>
>> Long uphill climbs?
>
> Well.. rollers, just big ones! you are going over the Great Dividing
> Range after all, even if it is not the Greatest part.
>
> THere are some long mild uphills and a couple of big *******s but from
> memory most of the big ups have a big down before them.
>
> Zebee

[terryc]

Geoff Lock wrote:

> Catching the train part of the way seems like a good compromise as I
> intend to do it in one day.

Catch the train to Goulburn, then down through Tarago and Bungendore and
in that way.

Caveat, that was the recommended way before the four lane highway was
taken all the way to Canberra, In the old days, traffic on the Kings
highway could be bad, but usually you were riding at other times. It
would still be the scenic route.

Basic google maps is;
Highway 93kms
T, B and then back to highway 110kms
T, B and Queanbeyan(the old touring route) is 107kms.

[Patrick]

I regard the Goulburn to Tarrago section as marginal because of the
amount of heavy traffic and comparatively poor shoulders. I think
traffic for the garbage dump and wind farms has made it worse.

I'm going out through Tarrago on Sunday so I will give it another check.


On 11/03/2011 6:50 PM, terryc wrote:
> Geoff Lock wrote:
>
>> Catching the train part of the way seems like a good compromise as I
>> intend to do it in one day.
>
> Catch the train to Goulburn, then down through Tarago and Bungendore and
> in that way.
>
> Caveat, that was the recommended way before the four lane highway was
> taken all the way to Canberra, In the old days, traffic on the Kings
> highway could be bad, but usually you were riding at other times. It
> would still be the scenic route.
>
> Basic google maps is;
> Highway 93kms
> T, B and then back to highway 110kms
> T, B and Queanbeyan(the old touring route) is 107kms.

[Patrick]

If you come in via Bungendore I would seriously avoid Mac's Reef road. I
think it is entirely unsuitable for bicycles because of the high speed
traffic and zero shoulders with poor sight lines and significant
climbing. Coming the other way on it is worse though. Better to go via
Bywong or Norton Summit Road.

I must say though that the best route is the Federal Highway. It is
scenic if you are not doing 110kph. Rowe's Lagoon, Collector, Lake
George, what isn't to like about this route?

On 11/03/2011 6:50 PM, terryc wrote:
> Geoff Lock wrote:
>
>> Catching the train part of the way seems like a good compromise as I
>> intend to do it in one day.
>
> Catch the train to Goulburn, then down through Tarago and Bungendore and
> in that way.
>
> Caveat, that was the recommended way before the four lane highway was
> taken all the way to Canberra, In the old days, traffic on the Kings
> highway could be bad, but usually you were riding at other times. It
> would still be the scenic route.
>
> Basic google maps is;
> Highway 93kms
> T, B and then back to highway 110kms
> T, B and Queanbeyan(the old touring route) is 107kms.

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:18:59 +1100
Patrick > wrote:
> I must say though that the best route is the Federal Highway. It is
> scenic if you are not doing 110kph. Rowe's Lagoon, Collector, Lake
> George, what isn't to like about this route?
>

The frigging winds?

I even notice them on the motorcycle.

Zebee

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 10/03/2011 4:35 PM, Geoff Lock wrote:
> I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.
>
> Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
> push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.
>
> I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
> reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
> coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.
>
> Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

Thank you to everybody who has offered advice, insights, personal
experiences, comments, etc on how to ride to Canberra.

After reading all the posts, I have narrowed the field down to two options

1/ straight down the highway - kamikaze style!!!!! It does seem the
easiest and is something I have previously done by car, albeit 4-5 years
ago, so if nothing else, it offers some modicum of familiarity. I'll
probably stick to the road shoulder for most of the way.

I admit that some of the posts suggesting various detours for safety and
ease were confusing to me, only cos I am a city boy and all them country
names and deviations from the beaten track worry me - what if there be
dragons, huh? huh?

I could also possibly end up in WA despite my GPS and Nokia Maps - I am
pretty hopeless in some respects, you know.

2/ Catch the frigging train - $40 and 4 hrs.

Decisions, decisions :(

Again, thanks for all the suggestions, folks.

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:58:45 +1100
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>
> I admit that some of the posts suggesting various detours for safety and
> ease were confusing to me, only cos I am a city boy and all them country
> names and deviations from the beaten track worry me - what if there be
> dragons, huh? huh?

Someone draw it up in bikely and hand him a gps file and a list of
waypoints...

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Campbelltown-to-Bowral
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Campbelltown-to-Bowral-67k

You can find your way to Campbelltown Geoff? Find the M5 and just
keep cycling...

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bowral-to-Canberra176422
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bowral-to-canberra

Both of those go through Bungendore, I do Goulburn to Bungendore a
lot on the motorcycle, the bit from Tarago to Bungendore I wouldn't
want to do on a pushie. Hilly and narrow and while I'm usually the
fastest the cars aren't slow. Reckon you'd be best to take the
highway from Goulburn to Canberra.


hit the cue sheet option and print it out. full directions.


Zebee

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 12/03/2011 4:10 PM, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:58:45 +1100
> Geoff Lock<glock@home> wrote:
>>
>> I admit that some of the posts suggesting various detours for safety and
>> ease were confusing to me, only cos I am a city boy and all them country
>> names and deviations from the beaten track worry me - what if there be
>> dragons, huh? huh?
>
> Someone draw it up in bikely and hand him a gps file and a list of
> waypoints...

Pls, pls I do not wish to take up too much time from others for
something which I should be doing myself. Thank you very much for the
time you have already put in to this point :) I mean it.

>
> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Campbelltown-to-Bowral
> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Campbelltown-to-Bowral-67k
>
> You can find your way to Campbelltown Geoff? Find the M5 and just
> keep cycling...

Getting to the M5 is not hard for me and I know enough that if I follow
it far enough I'll hit Campbelltown and if I keep going and miss the
Yass turnoff to Canberra, .... well, I hope Melbourne is nice this time
of the year.

>
> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bowral-to-Canberra176422
> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bowral-to-canberra
>
> Both of those go through Bungendore, I do Goulburn to Bungendore a
> lot on the motorcycle, the bit from Tarago to Bungendore I wouldn't
> want to do on a pushie. Hilly and narrow and while I'm usually the
> fastest the cars aren't slow. Reckon you'd be best to take the
> highway from Goulburn to Canberra.

Thanks for the bikely links cos I'll look at them after I come back from
dinner.

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:05:52 +1100
Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>
> Getting to the M5 is not hard for me and I know enough that if I follow
> it far enough I'll hit Campbelltown and if I keep going and miss the
> Yass turnoff to Canberra, .... well, I hope Melbourne is nice this time
> of the year.

I reckon it's a long way for a day's riding.

You might want to take the train to Bowral and ride from there, or to
Goulburn and ride from there. Enough riding to make you feel you've
done it and a bike for transport at the end.

You will need to confirm there's space for the bike on the train.

Zebee

[beerwolf[_3_]]

Here is a youtube clip made by somebody who rode from Campbelltown to
Canberra in a day (on a MTB). Worth a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_kX1vqjCzQ

He made it, but it doesn't sound like much fun towards the end of the day.

HTH

[suzyj[_25_]]

On Mar 11, 9:25*am, Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:

> Audax 600? Bloody hell, I have heard of Audax 300 and I reckon they are
> mad - stark raving, so that make you twice as crazy? :)

Yup. Did it with a basket on the handlebars and all.

Cheers,

Suzy

[John[_24_]]

On 2011-03-12, suzyj > wrote:
> On Mar 11, 9:25Â*am, Geoff Lock <glock@home> wrote:
>
>> Audax 600? Bloody hell, I have heard of Audax 300 and I reckon they are
>> mad - stark raving, so that make you twice as crazy? :)
>
> Yup. Did it with a basket on the handlebars and all.
>
If you're going to do it, you may as well do it in style.

--
John
Is that the truth, or is your News Limited?

[Geoff Lock[_2_]]

On 13/03/2011 7:59 AM, suzyj wrote:
> On Mar 11, 9:25 am, Geoff Lock<glock@home> wrote:
>
>> Audax 600? Bloody hell, I have heard of Audax 300 and I reckon they are
>> mad - stark raving, so that make you twice as crazy? :)
>
> Yup. Did it with a basket on the handlebars and all.

Just had to show-off, didntcha? :)

[mischastar]

;2176352']I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

You will be absolutely fine as long as you respect the local way of doing things