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Commuting tips
Hi All
Having recently started a new job the CBD I did my first commute today and thought I'd ask a few of the regulars a couple of quickies:
- what's the best way of getting from Nth Sydney onto the bridge? Is it down Walker St, left onto the Southern footpath of Pac Hwy, duck through the tunnel by the Classic Throttle Shop and around the back to the ramp onto the bridge? It's a bit messy getting on the footpath but I can't immediately think of a better way
- has anyone tried riding up the ramps onto the bridge? It looks steep but I love a challenge, just don't want to get halfway up and crash and burn
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I go down Blues Point Road and turn left into Lavender St.
Never tried riding up the ramp but have seen it done on a MTB.
And some other random tips. Stay visible with lights etc and never trust a car!
Are you coming from Northern Beaches or North Shore?
+1 to Buck's comments about having outstanding lights and not trusting cars.
I run down Bent St to the eastern (Kirribili) side of Milson's Point station and duck through the Bridge underpass to the foot of the stairs. Riding up can be done - I've seen it - but fat tyres and a high bottom bracket would be a must. Haven't ridden down yet, 5 flights of steps, skinny tyres, and people coming the other way have all combined with my inner voice to talk me out of it to date
I ride Blues point road and lavender. I used to do the route you took this morning but it just got too painful with pedestrians. That would be my tip watch out for pedestrians stepping into your path, especially with earphones in. I almost got taken out the other week by someone running out between cars.
As for riding up the ramp, just watch out for people coming the opposite way and pushing their bike, it might not leave you much room but I guess that depends what time you go through.
Most of all enjoy the ride.
I'm coming from Manly. I've been doing the Manly to Nth Sydney commute for a couple of years so it's just the CBD hop which is new to me.
Point taken on the lights, I do need to pick up a new rear light as the existing one's a bit feeble but I'm hope well before dark for a few months at least. Very conveniently won a little NightRider 1 W commuting light last week at the CCOMTB round so that saves strapping on the big-boys (for now at least)
I will try the Lavender route then, sounds like it will be a bit easier.
re the ramps, I did ride down them a few weeks ago on my roadie, slightly sketchy but not too bad. It should be a lot easier on my flat-bar where you can get the weight back further and with a bigger rear tyre. As for riding up, I might hold off for now particularly as I go through at peak hour so there would be too many witnesses to my failure
Maybe I'll have a go if I'm coming through at a different time, watch this space. To put it in context I'm crap at getting up stairs/drops etc so it's not playing to my strengths
cheers
d
As people have said, the main issue with the ramp is people coming up/down. I rode up once and down a couple of times until I saw someone going up get their bike into the path of someone coming down with that person forced onto the steps with nasty result that you can probably imagine. Since then I have tended just to walk it!
I also cannot stress lights strongly enough. One last thing, there's no point getting pissed off and abusive towards drivers, the sorts of drivers keen to get a in shouting match don't care, they're not going to change their ways based on your abuse and you just end up riding off in a red rage and they end up driving off ready to abuse the next poor cyclist that comes along.
Curious as to which way you get to Nth Sydney. If you come up Paraween after the spit you can then turn left off Spit Rd and head through the back of Mosman, Cremorne and Neutral Bay into Kirrabilli and avoid Nth Sydney altogether. Much more pleasant ride.
Rode down the ramp once on the roadie, all ok but you need the stairs to be clear.
I used to go via Spit and Military Roads, but the back routes via either Spit West heading along the designated bike route towards Cammeray and North Sydney, or Mosman East via Kirribilli as mentioned are much more enjoyable: little traffic, zero conflict, almost no red lights and a better workout. Once I'm back on the bike and have recovered some fitness, happy to show you my routes if you don't mind an early start.
Spit West has got some great nasty pinch-climbs if you like a workout
and I can get from Frenchs Forest to Milsons Point with just two traffic light intersections.
Alternatively, I can post a Garmin link once I've got one to show that doesn't show bike thieves where I live!
What time is your "early start". I leave very early and could always do with some company (once the recovery is more advanced!).
I turn right at the top of Parawi then duck down the back of 7-11 and follow the bike route to Nth Sydney, aside from the long wait at the pedestrian crossing on Spit Rd it's fine (that has it's upside as well if you've hit the hill too hard). I used to take Miltary road but it was only 1-2 mins quicker and a lot riskier.
Coming from the way you go you can either:
1. Bent St is a good one. All DH nice and fast. Scoot over the roundabout. There's a footpath that joins up with Ennis St, Kirribilli and then under the bridge for the ramp.
2. Blues Pt/Lavendar St
3. Side of the Freeway - entrance is off Ernest St alongside the Golf Course and then join up with the roundabout above
4. Going through Mosman - Kurraba, Clark Rd and Broughton up to Kirribilli - then under the bridge and up the ramp
Yes you can ride up the ramp. I've seen Hamo do it on his road bike a few times. I've tried only once, I came off and broke my foot landing on the stairs. Have never tried since.
Once on my full sus Yeti after I rode that to work after a morning lap of the Dam. I wouldnt want to do it on a road bike though.
I like that Bent St option, fun as well as quick. I'll give that one a crack tomorrow
Broken foot heh? Maybe I'll hold off on attempting the ramp
Looking to leave between 6:30 and 6:45. Could do earlier if you want, but that would mean getting myself organised
Do you mean via Beauty Point? Yeah that's a killer route, lot's of awesome pinch climbs, one for the mountain goats that is. When I was working in Crow's Nest there was a route I'd take from Manly Vale that only had 2 sets of lights and nearly 3000m climbing for the week.
@PB, yep, that's the one. Don't see too many folks on that route, and they're on mountain bikes of some description, never road bikes.
The pinch climb up Glen St I was struggling up even in second-lowest gear on a hot morning last year, and a woman walking her dog looked at me and said "You're NUTS
".
"
"No argument from me
Reverse direction is interesting too, not as bad but the climb up to the top of Seaforth makes up for it. The ride past the marina is pleasant. Just gotta look out for the occasional iPlod pedestrian.
Being an old fart, I don't attempt this one every day - my recovery ability ain't what it used to be
You'll often see George Gregan with his kids for after-school sports on the field opposite the marina too.
all this talk of how to ride across some awesome piece of engineering as you cross the most gorgeous harbour in the world-oh' well will just look at the coal loaders & think of how good my day of being a courier up at the Hunter Valley vineyards will be on my my ride to work.
ssshhh... don't give away the secret "best and safest ride" to north Sydney, next all the punters that battle with the cars on military road will spoil my lonesome commute
This is the way I get to North Syd. Pretty hilly but no traffic.
I dont get why anyone rides military road
Too much risk too little gain
Gotta watch the mosman mums in the roundabouts tho
Kids screaming, mobile on ear, cant see over the dash......very apologetic though
I stick to the East / south side of military Rd all the way through. There are a couple of ‘classic’ spots where I regularly find myself taking evasive action – but typically you can see that coming.
As for the bridge – I have seen a roadie ride up. My excuse is that the ramp is too busy in the AM (and I am sticking to it). But I always look to ride down if it is clear; but beware there are a couple of roadies who carry their bikes down (off to the side of the ramp) who take exception. They decided to mutter a comment and swing their bikes out at me – avoided one, hit by the other but rode through ok.
I've ridden up the ramps on my MTB but not my Roadie as it's geared for going down not up. Managed to get from Chatswood to the City without touching the ground a few times (track standing at all the lights). Aahhh the things one does to make a commute more challenging.
I've commuted everyday from Chatswood to the City for over 4 years, over this time I've tried various paths from Pacific Highway to the bridge. The quickest by far is down past the throttle shop but it requires going on the footpath and if you miss the lights it's a pain. Fine at 6am but a few pedestrians might be upset.
I now prefer turing right at Miller St, then Left on to Lavender road and right at the roundabout at Milsons Pt. This has the fewest cars and the best light sequences. It's slightly longer but if you pump it a little you can beat the other commuters who are slowed by the footpath bit going the alternate way.