Riding to Canberra

I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:35:52 +1100
Geoff Lock glock@home wrote:
I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

I do the Hume a lot on a motorcycle.

There's wide shoulders pretty well all the way, I think there's a
couple of bridges that are tricky though. I've seen bikes on the Hume
close to Canberra, but I don't think I've seen any in the hilly bits,
perhaps there's a different route they take?

You'll get a bit of a workout on the hills!


Zebee

Geoff Lock wrote:
I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?
Take the bike on the train.

On Mar 10, 4:35*pm, Geoff Lock glock@home wrote:

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

I did the Hume to Canberra and back as part of an Audax 600. It's
pretty quick, and the hills are relatively easy, but it's incredibly
boring. The biggest hazard is debris on the shoulder - mainly bits of
truck tyres.

Better to make your way through Mittagong, Bowral etc on the old Hume,
only popping onto the freeway when necessary.

Cheers,

Suzy

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
In aus.bicycle on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:35:52 +1100
Geoff Lock glock@home wrote:
I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

I do the Hume a lot on a motorcycle.

There's wide shoulders pretty well all the way, I think there's a
couple of bridges that are tricky though.

Aah, the international tourist route. See them on the hume often.
There is one bridge north of Goulburn that has no shoulder and you need
to time your crossing.double shame as it is a steep descent, narrow
bridge and a bit better climb on the other side, whilst all the time on
the right there is one of the more picturesque views.

Geoff Lock wrote:

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

Thousands.
Hint, you could always catch the train part of the way;
Campbelltown/Penrith, Moss Valeor gouldburn spring to mind.
How many days did you want to spend doing it?
What weight and how are you carrying it?
Can you fix a puncture or three?
Accomodation by plastic or tent?

suzyj wrote:

Better to make your way through Mittagong, Bowral etc on the old Hume,
only popping onto the freeway when necessary.

The only place you need to do that is just north to south of Marulan.

On 10/03/2011 4:35 PM, Geoff Lock wrote:
I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Now I have previously thought of riding there just for fun but now that
push has come to shove, I am getting a bit worried.

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.


There is a big difference with traffic travelling relatively slow
through Sydney and 110Km/h on the highway.

I ride along an expressway which is 80Km/h in the cycle lane, that is
full of road debris and the cars and trucks passing are scary.

In travelling down to Canberra I like the car. It's usually a pretty
boring trip.

On 10/03/2011 5:15 PM, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
In aus.bicycle on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:35:52 +1100
Geoff Lockglock@home wrote:

I have no problems with traffic on the streets of Sydney but for some
reason, most likely becos I am a lily-liver yellow backed weak kneed
coward, I am rather hesitant when it comes to riding to Canberra.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

I do the Hume a lot on a motorcycle.

There's wide shoulders pretty well all the way, I think there's a
couple of bridges that are tricky though. I've seen bikes on the Hume
close to Canberra, but I don't think I've seen any in the hilly bits,
perhaps there's a different route they take?

You'll get a bit of a workout on the hills!

Long uphill climbs?

On 10/03/2011 6:45 PM, F Murtz wrote:
Geoff Lock wrote:
I need to get a few things done in Canberra - like real soon.

Has anybody here done the ride and wanna share your thoughts and advice?

Take the bike on the train.

That is one option.