Spit Bridge - Wakehurst Parkway - Church Point
- Group:
- B1
- Distance:
- 68km
- Route Description:
- Leave Lane Cove and head towards Epping Rd via Rosenthal Ave, Birdman Ave and Longueville Rd. Turn right on to Epping Rd and then turn right on the Pacific Highway.
Follow the Pacific Hwy through Gore Hill, St Leonards and Crows Nest. Turn left on Falcon St and continue on to Military Rd, Neutral Bay. Follow Military Rd through Cremorne to Mosman.
At Mosman turn left onto Spit Rd and ride down to the Spit Bridge, cross the bridge and turn left onto Battle Bvd, right at Seaforth Crescent and right at Edgecliff Esplanade. Turn left at Panorama Parade and right at Ponsonby Parade and left onto Sydney Rd. Continue on Sydney Rd to the roundabout and turn left onto Frenchs Forest Rd and follow until reaching Clontaff St, which then turns into Wakehurst Parkway.
Ride along Wakehurst Parkway crossing over Warringah Rd, through Oxford Falls and down to Narrabeen Lakes. Turn left onto Pittwater Rd and ride through North Narrabeen, Warriewood to Mona Vale. Continue along Pittwater Rd, through Bayview to Church Point.
Follow McCarrs Creek Rd up to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase and then to the Thai Restaurant at Terrey Hills, then follow Mona Vale Rd to the Pacific Hwy. Leave the Thai Restaurant, and at the roundabout turn left and then right onto Mona Vale Rd.
Continue along Mona Vale Rd back through St Ives and at the intersection with the Pacific Highway, turn left and follow the Pacific Highway back through Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Roseville and Chatswood.
At the intersection with Epping Rd, turn right and then left onto Longueville Rd. Take the first right onto Birdwood Ave and follow this back to Burns Bay Rd, Renegade and the Cafe.
- Ride Description:
- This is one of the longer, hillier rides for C+ Group but many enjoy it as it passes across the Spit and through the several National Parks before the ascend in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park & Akuna Bay.
After leaving Renegade, the group will head south down the Pacific Highway to Crows Nest. Turning left at Falcon St and follow the road through the busy northern suburbs of Neutral Bay, Cremorne and Mosman. The group will invariably take the centre lane due to parked cars but care is required as cars continue to pass on the left if the opportunity is available.
The descent down to the Spit Bridge is uneventful but be careful on the bridge itself as it has a metal surface and can be slippery if wet. A short winding climb up several streets in Seaforth is rewarded with a glorious view of The Spit and Clontarf. This is often a good point to regroup.
Once on Wakehurst Parkway the ride passes through Manly Warringah Memorial Park before dropping down into Garigal National Park and Narrabeen Lakes.
On reaching Mona Vale, we continue along Pittwater Rd to Church Point. The road here narrows to a single lane each way and isn't in the best condition. Make sure that calls are passed through the bunch effectively to ensure that all riders can enjoy the route. Also watch out for the sometimes impatient motorists who catch up to the back of the bunch.
The group will usually stop at Church Point for snack, water or a toilet break. This is something that is organised on an ad hoc basis within the bunch beforehand. If the group does decide to stop, move to the area near the shops as safely as possible as it is on a blind corner.
On leaving Church Point, you are now on the scenic McCarrs Creek Rd. The road undulates along the water, gradually climbing through the suburb until the bush takes over and the gradient increases for a more serious climb up through Kur-ring-ai Chase National Park. Ride out at your own pace and regroup at the Thai Restaurant.
Head back to Mona Vale Rd, taking care when entering as the traffic heading west is not stopped by the lights. Turn right and head back along Mona Vale Rd. As this is slightly downhill, expect a reasonable pace, but as always in the busier areas, the group will be kept together, as always when riding along Mona Vale Rd, watch out for the short climb back up to St Ives.
After that, there is the heavier traffic to contend with through St Ives, and then the fast descent down to the Pacific Highway. At this point there is a mere 10km along the Highway before enjoying your much deserved coffee at the Cafe.
