Crosslands Reserve - Bobbin Head
- Group:
- B2
- Distance:
- 68km
- Route Description:
- On leaving Lane Cove, turn left onto Burns Bay Road, follow the road and turn left onto Longueville Rd. Turn right onto Epping Road at the lights, and take the exit ramp to the Pacific Highway and turn left.
Follow the Pacific Highway through Chatswood, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turrarmurra and Wahroonga. At Pearce's Corner (cnr Pennent Hills Rd) turn right and continue along the Pacific Highway. At the intersection of College Crescent, again turn right to continue along the Pacific Highway.
In Hornsby, follow the road to the left to cross over the railway bridge, and then follow the road to the right. At Galston Rd turn left and follow until reaching Sommerville Rd, turn right and follow until reaching the turn-around. Enter the National Park and follow the road down to Crosslands Reserve. Climb back out and retrace Sommerville Rd and Galston Road back towards Hornsby.
Where Galston Rd rejoins the Pacific Highway. Turn left and follow it into Asquith. At Belmont Pde, turn right over the railway bridge and then turn right again to continue along Belmont Pde. At Ku Ring Gai Chase Rd, turn left and follow this over the F3 and into Bobbin Head.
After climbing out of Bobbin Head until reaching Bannockburn Rd (just after the intersection with Burns Rd), turn left and then right into Bannockburn Rd. Follow Bannockburn Rd until it reaches the Pacific Hwy.
Turn left onto the Pacific Hwy, and follow it back through 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 tough ride as it contains a serious climb. The first climb is an in and out, so it is possible to wait at the top if you are unsure about your ability to tackle it.
The first climb (Sommerville Road) is the harder of the two climbs, so if you beat that one, the second (Bobbin Head) is easier.
Apart from the traffic when heading up the highway there is nothing of much note until reaching Pymble, where you will have to contend with the infamous Pymble Hill, after muscling your way up this, expect a fairly sedate ride to Hornsby and onto Galston Rd. Sommerville Rd follows the ridge until the suburb stops and the road enters the Hational Park. The descent for the first 0.5klm is sedate but it quickly steepens up so be sure that your brakes are in good order.
Pause at the bottom to take in the enormity of the pending climb and take on a gel or a banana before climbing back out. Regroup at the top before riding Sommerville Rd and galston Rd back towards Hornsby.
At the Pacific Hwy, turn towards Asquith and cross over the railway line and enter the National Park. Take care on the descent as the road surface is pretty poor and there may be water across the road on some of the corners towards the bottom.
After the Bobbin Head descent and climb out the south side, you are unfortunately faced with reality again and you will have to put up with the traffic on Bobbin Head Rd. After the intersection with Burns Rd, the group will veer onto Bannockburn Rd for a more back street return to the Pacific Highway. Shortly after the intersection with Pentecost Ave, watch out for the right and left turn required to continue along Bannockburn Ave.
After rejoining the Pacific Hwy, there is the short descent of Pymble Hill, before the usual jostling for road space back down the Pacific Hwy.
Once back into Lane Cove, enjoy your Coffee at the Cafe after a good solid ride.
