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Ride Profiles at Last
When some of us can't ride we've got to fill Saturday mornings somehow, so am pleased to announce the long awaited ride profiles page is up.
This lists entries of a new content type (content authors should see this on the left) of 'Ride Profile/Route' which is intended to complement the existing (now renamed) 'Ride Area Review' pages. This is briefly explained at the top of the rides page.
It's basically a way to describe a specific route through one or more of our favourite riding locations. As this is all linked, each area page now lists routes in or through. This should be much more useful for ride planning and giving people a general idea of where is good for the length and type of ride they are looking for.
I've been lazy and stuck MotionBased links in many of the profiles thrown up to get us going. One could describe directions in more detail though and really go to town by embedding pictures and the like in route descriptions if they felt the need. Anyhow, hope you get the idea, comments please if it's not obvious.
Enjoy 
Big Royal National Park Loop
Large loop from Loftus Oval down to Lady Carrington Drive, up the road - maybe a little too much road for some 
- then back into the Park to finish with some nice single track and firetrail.
It used to be possible to ride along a firetrail between Waterfall and Heathcote trail stations, but no more. Note the GPS trail where I went looking for that trail and found it blocked.
At least the road section of this ride is dealt with quite quickly and then it's back into the park for some fun on the single track and firetrail sections there. Just past Heathcote station, this route enters the park again along the Bottle Forest trail:
From there it's easy to get a little lost so best to follow the GPS attached.
Red Hill Technical
Small ride through Red Hill with lots of technical distractions along the way.
Nepean + Oaks + St Helena
Up the Oaks taking in Pisgah Ridge, not quiet to the top then return via St Helenas hike-a-bike section.
Horrible hike a bike at the end, but...
Think on the attached GPS trail we were meeting guys coming from the top and turned round when we found them.
West Head: Waratah + Elvina Tracks
Two out and backs combined. Climb out of Elvina is a killer.
At the end of Waratah there's a nice rock section with view before you turn around to return.
Cascades from Wyatt Ave
Single track loop, down Heath, up Quarry, along ridge, down Cascades and return. Easy fire trail with 2 big climbs.
Oaks one way + Pisgah Rock
Standard one way route with Pisgah Rock tagged on (turn right at the gate for an out and back).
Pisgah rock makes a nice and little used add on to the usual Oaks ride. Nice view at the end...
The Oaks - One Way
Classic Oaks route from Woodford to Glenbrook station via firetrail then sniggle and technical sections at the end.
This profile is a little deceptive because after climbing out to the rangers gate I turned round and went back down and across the causeway to meet the rest of the group. If you don't do that knock probably 100m and a few Km of the stats above.
West Head: Salvation + Towlers
Road work from McCarrs Creek Rd to Salvation then Towlers tracks and return.
This is good if you really, really don't want to pay the Ku-ring-gai Park entry fee as the start is from the parking area by McCarrs Creek Road just outside the gate (corner with West Head Road).
Downside is quiet a lot of this distance is on the road, which is where to start: head up West Head road, past the National Park entrance then bear right to follow West Head road at (almost) the top of the hill.
Coba Ridge + Smugglers
Combination of Coba Point out and back plus loop-ish Smugglers Ridge and fire trail return.
Taking in a number of rather technical trails, this ride starts by heading out along Coba Point past some awesome lookouts:
At the end of Coba Point, turn round and head back to the start, but carry on and take in Smugglers Ridge, which is another a very technical track.
There's a crazy drop at the North end that for most will be hike-a-bike!
With such a steep drop, climbing back was always going to be hard. Even on the firetrail this route returns on. Be sure to save energy for the slog!