New to the forum - advice about Sydney

[shorty]

Hi All,

I live in the UK at the moment but am hoping to be in Sydney for a year from January 2007. In trying to plan everything I am wanting to find out about cycling in sydney, bike types etc. I currently commute on a hybrid but ride a carbon road bike the rest of the time (specialised roubaix elite custom 48 cm built with shorter cranks etc as only 5'1"!) and am planning to do 2/3 100 mile cyclosportives this year plus a few 10 mile TTs. I have only been riding a year properly, but always commuted a bit.
Hoping to only take one bike away so thinking about getting a cyclocross bike as a do it all including road riding and could do with some advice about small cyclocross bikes. Also would like to know about clubs in sydney and commuting!
Fairly rambling post but hope someone out there has some advice!?

[enzed]

Hi shorty. I live lin Sydney, the northern Beaches to be exact.

Commuting cyclists are a bit of a minority on my local roads, but that hasn't stopped me from getting on my bike and being part of the traffic.

Sydney has good riding conditions - in the winter it's not that cold, and it doesn't rain very much.
But then you have to take into consideration the hills around here and the not always bike-friendly traffic. Oh well, no-one ever said life was perfect.

The idea of a cyclo-cross bike is a good idea. The condition of the roads around here aren't always that good, and there are shared pathways/ bikepaths where wider tyres might come in handy. I've been commuting on a hybrid and have considered upgrading to a touring/cyclocross bike myself.

If you're interested in riding away from traffic, we have a few national parks around here - Ku-ringai Chase & the Royal National Park. My fav national park ride is around Church Point and Akuna Bay (a good chance to pratise climbing hills)

The state Bicycle organisation is Bicycle NSW
http://www.bicyclensw.org.au/

Some local bike User Groups (BUGS) and rides, can be found here http://www.pushon.com.au/

Bikely is a good site to go to check out any possible commutes:
http://www.bikely.com/

Here's the RTA's official bikemaps
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficinf...sydne_dl2.html


A good mass group ride is the "Sydney to the Gong" ride - It's a 90Km bike ride which goes down the coast to Wollongong.
http://www.gongride.org.au/

I hope this is of any help,
Happy riding

I've put up a picture of my fav place to ride - North Head

[shorty]

Thanks enzed thats really helpful, especially all the links!
any more thoughts on what bike you are going to upgrade to?!

[midlife]

Hey enzed, did you ride with Northern Suburbs Tri Club - or did you post on their forum? Your name seems familiar? I know some of the guys there - very serious lads!!

[enzed]

[Hey enzed, did you ride with Northern Suburbs Tri Club - or did you post on their forum? Your name seems familiar? I know some of the guys there - very serious lads!!]

No!! I'm nowhere that fast. Up my way, there are some fast road cyclists. Most of the time when they pass me ( which happens fairly regularly) they are nice enough to say hello though.

My next bike upgrade (depending on my savings $$$) might be a Mongoose Randenuer touring bike.
I have had the opportunity to try a roadbike and I liked the feel of the drop bars & speed but found it to a be a bumpy ride. I like the "feel" and comfort of a hybrid, but it'll be nice to have a bit more speed. So I reckon a touring bike would suit me.

http://www.australiancyclist.com.au/..._Touring&a=433

The mongoose bike I've got my eye can be found locally & not overally expensive. And anyway, my Trek is starting to need some TLC on a regular basis & I'm considering retiring it.


Happy riding

[shorty]

So I will definately be in Sydney from january 2008 - where is a good place to consider living that is within 10-15 miles of Westmead Hospital for a cycling commute?