Bobbin Head - Berowra Waters - Galston Gorge
- Group:
- A
- Distance:
- 85km
- Route Description:
- Leave Lane Cove and head towards Epping Rd via Rosenthal Ave, Birdwood Ave and Longeuville Rd. At Epping Rd, turn right and head towards the Pacific Highway. Turn left on to the Pacific Highway.
Follow the Pacific Highway through Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon and Pymble. Turn right on to Bobbin Head Rd. Follow Bobbin Head Rd through North Turramurra and into Bobbin Head and ascend on the North side via Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Rd.
Follow Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Rd until it meets Belmont Pde, turn right and then follow it over the Railway Bridge back to the Pacific Highway.
Turn right on the Pacific Highway and follow it through Mt Colah, Mt Kuring-Gai and into Berowra. At Berowra, turn left onto Berowra Waters Rd. At the second roundabout, turn right to continue along Berowra Waters Rd, and then at the next roundabout, turn left to again continue on Berowra Waters Rd.
Follow Berowra Waters Rd to the Ferry Crossing at Berowra Waters. Wait for the Ferry and cross over to Bay Rd, and climb out of the Western side. Follow Bay Rd as it becomes Arcadia Rd. Follow Arcadia Rd as it turns to the Right at the Primary School, and then left past the Monastery. Keep on Arcadia Rd through it's twists and turns until it meets the roundabout at Galston Rd.
Turn left onto Galston Rd, and then follow Galston Rd as it turns left to the Galston Gorge Descent. Climb out of Galston Gorge, and regroup at the bus shelter. From there, continue along Galston Rd until it rejoins the Pacific Highway. Turn right, and then at Bridge Rd, turn left. Turn right where Bridge Rd meets George St (just over the railway bridge).
At the Service Station, turn left into Burdett St, proceed along here to the Roundabout and turn Right into Muriel St. Follow Murial until it meets Edgeworth David Ave at the T intersection, and turn left.
Follow Edgeworth David Ave follow it around to the right, go straight through the lights and the road becomes Myra St. Follow Myra St and at the lights turn left onto Alexandria Pde, follow this over the F3 and it becomes Millewa Ave. Watch out for the speed humps and potholes along here, and at the end turn right onto Illoura Ave. Once over the railway bridge, continue straight through the roundabout and follow Redleaf Ave back to the Pacific Highway.
Turn left onto the Pacific Hwy, and follow it back through Turrarmurra, Pymble, Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Chatswood. At Epping Rd, turn right, and then left into Longueville Rd. Take the first right into Birdwood Ave and follow this back to Renegade and the Cafe.
- Ride Description:
- This is a fairly challenging ride for the A Group. It has 3 fairly major climbs, and it covers a good amount of distance. While this looks on paper to be the reverse of the Galston, Berowra, Bobbin ride, it is the much harder way of doing it. The ride goes up the steep side of Bobbin Head, the harder side of Berowra, and the final climb out of Galston isn't a cake walk.
Leave Renegade and head North up the Pacific Highway, no surprises along the way except for the Pymble Pimple. At the top, turn to the right onto Bobbin Head Rd. Follow this to the top of Bobbin Head and the descend down.
This road has recently been resurfaced. It isn't a brilliant job, but it has filled in some of the pot holes. The group will then take off up the other side, so don't expect any respite once reaching the bottom. Despite the 3 climbs, the strong riders will start testing their legs even here, and there can sometimes be some good attacks placed. For those who are worried about making the whole distance, take it a bit easier, as the group will come back together at the top.
The regroup point is just past the Toll Booth, and depending on the time of year it could be on either side of the road. In Summer it is usually on the South in the shade, but in the cooler times, it will be on the North where there is more space.
The group will roll out as one, and rejoin the Pacific Highway and continue heading North. There are a few rolling hills along this section, but they aren't particularly steep, and the group will ensure that it stays together. It is only about 8 or 9 kilometres to Berowra, where the group will turn left towards Berowra Waters. In the warmer months, the group may stop at the Service Station to fill up with water before descending.
There is a good descent down Berowra Waters, but it can be a bit narrow in places, and there are a few tighter corners. As always, descend to your ability and make sure you finish in an upright position. The group will reform at the bottom as we need to cross on the Ferry.
The climb out of Berowra on the West is a difficult climb, it isn't unusually long, it isn't unusually steep, but it is not one that many people seem to like. Once at the top and the group has reformed, enjoy the ride through Berrilee and Arcadia, and then onto Galston. There are no traffic lights here, and most of the motorists are reasonably polite, so it is a good run.
Enjoy the descent into Galston Gorge, it is all on Hot Mix, so it is quite fast, but as always, take care on the corners. Cross the two bridges and then climb up imagining you are in the Tour as you turn through the Hair Pin Bends. This is the last major climb, so anyone who has anything left in the tank to be making use of it. It isn't uncommon to see who has been biding their time on this climb and there can be a changing of the guard.
After finishing the climb, the group will rejoin the Pacific Highway, and then take the back way through Hornsby to avoid the F3, before finally rolling back down the Highway to Lane Cove and the welcome Cafe.
