advise the tourists? Canberra area

[pwuff]

Me and my Bud will visit the Canberra area the 16th for 10 days. My sister lives in Yass. We bring our road bikes and want to ride 40 to 50 K rides that are lovely, low traffic, and sealed. We can drive a ways to reach a start point.

Advice from you locals will be much appreciated.

Fresh from Taiwan, the Freshettes

[secondsaway]

Im not sure we have anyone from canberra on the boards. Might have a few lurkers but im not sure.

Anyway maybe drop John May a email:

http://www.canberracyclingclub.org.au/ccc/main/main.asp

Those guys will know the good roads around canberra no doubt.

[matagi]

Try Pedal Power ACT

They have a number of organised rides and I'm sure they will be able to help you with some suitable routes if you want to do your own thing.

Also, try sending a PM to AnthonyG, he's a local and should be able to give you some suggestions.

[Rowan]

Go south to Tharwa and try the road to Fitz's Hill... you'll either want to turn back after it, or keep going. Pleasant country. If you keep going, you'll get to Namadgi National Park which also is worth exploring, but the roads start to turn to gravel.

Canberra is serviced by an extensive network of bike paths that will allow you to explore to the satellite suburbs. Plus you can ride around Lake Burley-Griffen which was pleasant when I did because the environment changes a bit from urban to forest at one end.

I'm not sure, but I think the Brindabella area to the north-east also could be interesting, although the fires several years ago may have taken away some of the scenic amenity, and I am not sure if the roads are sealed.

[AnthonyG]

Also, try sending a PM to AnthonyG, he's a local and should be able to give you some suggestions.

Yes I haven't checked in here every day.

The cyclepath around lake Burly Griffin is probably the nicest ride around and you can take the cyclepath network to lake Ginnenderra and lake Tuggeranong. Canberra has an extensive off road cyclepath network as well as extensive on road cycle lanes. compared to large cities Canberra's traffic is always low as long as you cycle outside peak commuting times.

Let me know what else you want to know.

Regards, Anthony

[garden_lark]

if you don't mind hills, hit any of the national parks. kosciuszko...

[Falchoon]

Im not sure we have anyone from canberra on the boards. Might have a few lurkers but im not sure.

I'm from Canberra but don't check this site very often, didn't actually know this part of it existed until just now!

Fitz's Hill and the Cotter/Tidbinbilla area are quite hilly and more suited to serious riders rather than recreational riders. Plenty of gentler rides Northside. Every Sunday there is a ride organised by Pedal Power (non-members welcome) that leaves from Dickson College at about 8am.

Meet in the Dickson College carpark on Phillip Avenue, Dickson for a 8:00 am sharp start.

Two options: 50 to 70 km slower ride and a 70 to 100 km faster ride. These rides are on the roads around Canberra with a café stop. Normally the route goes out on the Federal or Barton Highways, and quickly gets onto secondary roads. Routes to the south are also undertaken occasionally. The café stops used include Gundaroo, Murrumbateman, Bungendore, Queanbeyan, Tharwa, Mt. Stromlo, Gooroman Ponds, Hall and Bywong.

The last Sunday of the month will be a Southern start - meeting in the carpark opposite Tuggeranong Library.

Riders should have reasonable fitness and for the longer rides, experience of riding these distances. The pace for the slower group will average about 20-22 km/h and around 25-26 km/h for the faster group.

Normally groups comprising riders who travel at similar speeds form and there is some waiting for slower riders to catch up. The intention is to finish (back in Dickson) by lunch time.

For further information on the faster group contact: Tony McKittrick on 6251 5776 or 0418 822 309 or email mckit@tpg.com.au

For further information on the slower group contact: Norm Bowen on 0407 507 831 or email norm.bowen@abcb.gov.au

A couple of good rides starting from say Civic (City Centre) are riding up Northbourne Ave and turn up the Barton Highway and head towards Yass but just after Hall turn right onto Nanima Rd. Follow this for a while (can't remember distances, maybe 15km) and then you will come to T intersection. Go left (Murrumbateman Road I think) and follow this for about 20km and you will come to a small town called Murrumbateman. You can go back to Canberra the way you came or shorter more direct route (but more traffic) is to go back down the Barton Highway. The Highway is not that scary, it has fairly broad shoulders and most of the traffic gives you plenty of room as it goes past. Allow probably 2 hours each way.

The other ride heads out onto Nanima Rd as well but when you come to the T intersection go right and you will end up in Gunning. About the same distance and time as the other ride to Murrumbateman, maybe a bit longer.

Some more rides at PP website - http://www.pedalpower.org.au/service...ary/region.asp