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The Academy of Sport
The Academy of Sport entrance doesn't cause you to cross private land, since, as I understand it, the academy of sport is on public land.
It does, however, as the 10 million signs will inform you, require you to be a criminal trespasser.Technically, a security guard could, should you fail to give him your name, detain you there.
That said, noone seems to mind.
If you are intent on being a rebellious outlaw, at least be discreet.
IE.
- park in the main carpark, not at the trail head
- drive very slowly
- give way to pedestrians
- don't play music really loud
- don't swear in front of the kids
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Are you talking about Arpit? Where is this trailhead you refer to?
What Rob is referring to, is RIDING through the sports academy. We have been stopped twice now by a 'caretaker' who has politely asked us to not ride up the access road in future, to which we politely reply 'sure no problem'. The alternative is the very steep access road behind the sports track.
I'm talking about the narrabeen academy of sport entrance via the access road.
Yes, I appreciate he wrote that in the context of riding, not driving. However, not everyone will be combining the ride with Oxford Falls.
Most people will want to park near the start of the trail.
The trailhead I refer to is at the end of the access road, at the big gate. I'm suggesting that people don't drive up the access road. That's what I was going to do today- it seemed a good idea from looking at the map.
I don't really see how it makes any difference if you are riding or driving through the area. Either way, all I'm saying is that
- technically it isn't private property, but you aren't allowed to be there
- if you do go there, be discreet.
Arpit you are obviously new to the area.
No one in their right mind would ever contemplate driving up the access road. For starters I think it's a private road to the care-takers home, which is why they don't like people riding up it ( let alone driving!), but it's also got a gate across it.
The majority of people riding Red Hill start from Red Hill too, not the sports academy. If you are only riding Red Hill and not going near the Parkway, there is absolutely no reason to go anywhere near the sports academy or deal with riding the access road.
This is the way it's been for years!!
However anyone that drives up that road and parks there, deserves to be hassled by 'security guards' if they are that stupid.
There is another access road (as I mentioned) that runs up behind the running track. You follow the road that leads to the running track and keep heading south until it turns sharply up the hill. It eventually joins the other access road near the dam.
And I'd like to see you try and drive up that one!
I've been riding Red Hill for ages. I usually use the Lady Penrhyn drive entrance. I thought I'd try something different.
Look at the map - driving to the trailhead really does look like a good idea.
That's why I posted the comment. THe audience of this site is surprisingly large. Not everyone is familiar with the area.
When you say 'noone in their right mind would consider driving up the road', I think you overestimate the respect many mountainbikers have for signage, and underestimate the desire of many mountainbikers to do shuttles.
Good point, which is why it's probably not a good idea to suggest driving up the access road.
Also, considering that "the audience of this site is surprisingly large", maybe you don't want to go and accuse mtn bikers of disrespecting signage. We're all trying to improve land access, not do our best to be shut out.
One last thing, the reason I said 'no one in their right mind would consider driving up the road' had more to do with the fact that it's obviously not a public road. Anyone can see that, signs or not, it's pretty obvious ( the locked gate is a good indicator also).
And shuttles? What are you shuttling? A sealed road down to the fitness centre?
There is a great track at the Academy of Sport that I think would be perfect for Arpit, and you get to it from the end he came in on.
It's a loop track which makes it perfect for getting back to the car. Not too long either, I think about a 1/4 mile if you stay on the inside edge.
The surface is really grippy, great for getting traction, and the best thing is its dead flat, no pesky drops or step ups to deal with.
Its a great place for a social ride, you could bring Beany, I think he would die for this one. Heck there is even enough room for 6 more of your mates to come along and you can all stay out of each others way. There's a marked lane each.
You might have to stop occasionally for the odd pedestrian traffic but that should be ok, there are stands with seats for you to have a breather.
We better keep this one under our belts though, its so perfect we don't want the secret to get out.
OK enough Friday arvo frivolity. Have a good weekend on the trails all.
Stuart
Stuart tell me more about this Academy of Sport I'm always looking ways to expand my portfolio of suitable offroad trails.
I like the idea of marked lanes, that's civilised and trail side seats for convenience. I'll mention it to my gang, but getting together 6 riders will be tough, especially because its Orchid season and all the major shows are on. I might be able to get one other rider if his mum lets him come and hopefully you will come to guide the expedition.
but I would have to lead from the back if thats OK
..and so would Jedi I would say. There's even a tuck shop that does a good latte I have heard!!
Golly, you mean to say you can do a couple of laps that aren't too hard, then sit back in your lycra, sporting cleanly shaved legs, in the grand stand sipping a skinny latte, in the sun while posing with your boutique bike. Bloody AWESOME!! oh hang on is there enough passers by for the posing to be worthwhile?
John.
far too quickly to take any real notice but hey, we'll all know how good we look and thats all that matters isn't it?
Ok, maybe I didn't express myself clearly enough. I'll make one last attempt at explanation.
- I didn't suggest driving up the access road - quite the opposite. I posted because, based on the map, and the map alone, driving up the access road and parking there looks like a great idea. That's why I was going to drive up there, till I saw the signs. Turns out, it was a bad idea.
- While I'd like to think that all mountainbikers are kind, socially aware, politically active do-gooders, that simply isn't the case.
I've seen mountainbikers set fire to vegetation to clear a passage to the illegally built dirt jumps they've built, which had been blocked off by the council.
I've seen mountainbikers build dirt jumps in conservation areas, then remove the signs which designate the areas for conservation.
I've seen mountainbikers cut down numerous trees to make tracks.
I've seen the effects of mountainbikers spray paint arrows onto rocks right next to aboriginal carvings.
I've seen mountainbikers ride all over aboriginal carvings
I've seen mountainbikers let off fireworks on trails.
"I've seen mountainbikers drive down peoples driveways, to get marginally closer to a trail exit which they were shuttling.
I've seen mountainbikers play obnoxiously loud music when shuttling
I've seen mountainbikers do burnouts when shuttling.
I've heard of mountainbikers taking down bunting from closed legal trails so they could ride.
From a legal thread on Farkin -
I could go on.
They aren't really bad people. They just lack a bit of common sense. I have no doubt that these people are in the minority. However, they can be a very loud minority. Online at almost midnight now, there are 9 guests viewing the site, and only one user logged in. Many mountainbikers read this site, and its unrealistic to expect that they will all behave properly. Mountainbiking tends to attract the rebellious type. Look at the very popular New World Disorder Videos. They are mostly themed around ignoring signage, running from the law, going where you aren't supposed to, etc.
That's why I posted. As I mentioned, the end of the access road looks appealing as a parking spot from an examination of the map. My comment was to warn people that they shouldn't be using that entrance at all. I also recognised that some people would ignore this, and so suggested discretion should they ignore my advice, and the signage.
"And shuttles? What are you shuttling? A sealed road down to the fitness centre?"
Or shuttling between Penrhyn drive and the fitness centre. There's a significant elevation difference.
I don't know why my comment attracted so much scrutiny. Telling people that they shouldn't be there, but if they do go there, to be discreet surely can't be too controversial ...
Did you think I was replying to Rob and implying he was a rebellious outlaw? That's not what I was doing - I was just making an addition to the writeup so that people who read the writeup would see my warning.
Stuart, I don't know what to say to you dude.
A loop track? That would require cornering, right? And cornering requires leaning. I think you are expecting a little much for beginners like me. Tell you what, how about we campaign for it to be made into an out and back? That way I can ride it, without any of that pesky leaning, and then get off, turn my bike around, and ride back to my car.
This sounds very rad, but maybe two laps is a bit excessive, we don't want to bonk and have to limp home.
If you guys recommend it I'll try shaving but last time I attempted it my electric razor nearly overheated. I have a lyrca rash vest so I can wear that with polyester shorts. Checks are in this year.
Just pick a date and order me a weak skinny decaf latte with extra milk and a bran muffin.
* "I've seen mountainbikers play obnoxiously loud music when shuttling"
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Come on Arpit, I think you are going a bit overboard here. Sadly, human nature being what it is, there's always going to be a 'rebel' element who think that rules don't apply to them.
Although it may go on, personally I've seen nothing that bad happening while out riding. Dunno where you're hanging out though, and at what times (hooligans probably aren't even out of bed when most of us ride!).
Of course, if anyone sees this sort of behaviour going on they should probably politely remind that destructive, illegal, or anti-social behaviour is not in the interest of the sport. "No one cares", "It's just me - how can I be hurting things?", "I won't get caught", "Chill out" and various other replies will probably fly back.
All you can do is try and educate people... remind them to think through their actions... think what will happen if everyone acted like this (eg. you find someone ripping up a bush or cutting down a tree, point out that if every rider did this the trails would soon be a sorry mess), etc, etc.
I've seen mountain bikers with tiny brains highlight the fact that this forum is viewed by a very large audience and then go on to point out every bad thing they have ever seen done by other mountain bikers (also with tiny brains) .
Hey Arpit why don't you send your list of all these things you've seen done to one of the contacts on the trail access threads? ( just in case you don't get it, I'm being sarcastic - don't do that, go do some trail maintenance
instead).
This thread is farkin hilarious.
Arpit, what you are saying is spot on.
To the people attacking Arpit's posts, try putting your seat down a bit as it's obviously causing you distress.
I've been riding here, from that entrance, since '92 and apart from when I was a little cross country racer, everytime I ride up that road I think how nice it'd be to drive up it. Now, I am old and wise enough to know that this is not a good idea, but many might not, especially those who have grown up on the 'freeride' thing and /or those newer to the sport.
When I started riding I probably did a good handful of the things on that list, why? because I was young and didn't know any better. It's good to point these things out - including driving right up the road - because more often than not newer and/or younger riders aren't intentionally causing havoc, they just haven't been educated about it and informed/reminded of the bigger picture at play and implications of otherwise fun behaviour (like burn outs).
Also, we used to be such a small community that we were largely unnoticed and got away with things that we couldn't today. The last 10 years has seen a huge increase in recreational, weekend mtber's esp, and many people using that track, and MUCH more attention being drawn to mtbing in general. Being discreet is needed now more than ever for these reasons and was a good point to have made.
Cheers,
Dave