Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Had no punctures since I swapped Continental tyres for Maxxis ReFuse.

M2 westbound cycleway closes 5 Feb for up to 2 yrs, and eastbound closes later this year.

http://www.northconnex.com.au/construction.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was planning to commute from Naremburn to Plumpton and back starting mid March. Anyone know the streets that the detour covers, from a hill and safety perspective? It'd be great if someone was willing to make them a .gpx file to make the detour navigable from a mapping computer too.

Boognoss posted this in a separate thread : http://www.hillsm2.com.au/files/NCX_bikedetour.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

some highlights/lowlights (for me) ...

North Rocks Road - is a gradual climb that goes on for 5km eastbound. it's 1 of my least favourite commuting roads because it is always busy and cars are always parked on the so-called cycling lane so you've got no choice but to go around them (mind you, uphill too). although i live just around the corner from this road, i try to avoid it as much as possible.

Haines Avenue - has a dipper & climb at the west end.

Murray Farm road - ~8% incline eastbound as you approach Pennant Hills road. again, the cycling lane is often full of cars in the morning. depending on the time you commute, there will be parents dropping their kids off to school there.

Murray Farm - Jenkins Rd intersection - a very busy roundabout. You must take the lane here. Be very careful. Some cars don't watch for bikes ..

for every ascent mentioned above, there's always the descent on the return trip ..

I live in North Rocks and use part of this detour most days to get to the M2.

Absolutely agree with caneye on all points. Lots of schools, if possible avoid riding through the area 8:20-8:40am

New North Rocks Road is moderately busy and again, the 'cycling' lane i.e. door zone lane is always full of parked cars. I wish they'd move the painted bicycles to the actual lane..

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/973126315" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a slower but quieter route. (: Cross North Rocks Road using the pedestrian lights opposite North Rocks Park.


Fastest and flattest way is straight down North Rocks Road , then left at Pennant Hills road.

This morning rode westbound on the M2 from Christie Road. I was going to go through to Abbott Road but the bike signs at the Pennant Hills exit have been covered in black plastic so I thought that meant use the detour even though its not yet Feb 5. Took the 'official' detour and had mighty tired legs by the time I reached Windsor Road. For some reason there is no M2 Detour sign at the Junction/Model Farms Road intersection. Otherwise the signage was pretty good and I didn't need a map. Eastbound on the M2 was OK except for riding into the sun in the morning. I saw a rider heading westbound between Pennant Hills and Windsor Roads so I don't know what is up with the signage. Better to be safe.

The westbound closure kicks off on Feb 5th evening. They're putting final signs etc in to place I'd say.

Tried my most obvious detour today option, going via Renow - Barclay - Murray Farm.

Seems okay time wise, but that dip in Renow is a killer, had to drop down to the 39.

Also coming back in the afternoon, with the cars speeding down and up the hill made me feel a bit exposed from behind.

webx007 wrote:Tried my most obvious detour today option, going via Renow - Barclay - Murray Farm.

Seems okay time wise, but that dip in Renow is a killer, had to drop down to the 39.

Also coming back in the afternoon, with the cars speeding down and up the hill made me feel a bit exposed from behind.

The one time I did Renown Rd dipper westbound (in 2008ish) I felt the same and had one car lock up behind me for giggles too while I was in the left lane and not obviously moving terribly fast.

Eastbound before 7am I'm hoping it will be OK for my morning commute extras to keep up the km this year. Arvo I leave the M2 at Pennant Hills Rd anyway.

Boognoss wrote: The one time I did Renown Rd dipper westbound (in 2008ish) I felt the same and had one car lock up behind me for giggles too while I was in the left lane and not obviously moving terribly fast.

Eastbound before 7am I'm hoping it will be OK for my morning commute extras to keep up the km this year. Arvo I leave the M2 at Pennant Hills Rd anyway.

I did Renown Eastbound a week or so ago. Been a while since I've been over 70kph , road surface quite good. I'm also quite concerned about how exposed you are and I thought an ok eastbound alternative would be to take the pull off after the bridge and use the footpath.

I wouldn't recommend Renown Westbound though.

jubaeg wrote:I wouldn't recommend Renown Westbound though.

I've only ever taken Renown Road westbound twice, early on Sunday morning so traffic was scarce. I felt it was safer because of the wide right bend and cars have more time to see you.

DojoBuff wrote:I've only ever taken Renown Road westbound twice, early on Sunday morning so traffic was scarce. I felt it was safer because of the wide right bend and cars have more time to see you.

Good point, I drive fairly frequently to the Barclay rd commuter parking (I'll call these rest days from cycle commuting), and I just really worry about the uphill speed difference and the at times fairly aggro driving displayed there - particularly when there is a slow car who doesn't always pick a lane and then people fanging it to get past - so I'd hate for there to be any kind of bike/car incident.

I guess I'm harping on as I don't want anyone inexperienced to have any issues. When I rode the Eastbound I was grinding away in the lowest gear and getting a bit of lift of the handlebars each stroke.

Anyway, its a mind blowing descent either way and a good workout in the ascent.

Took the crane rd home today. That hill after the round about just before Terminus st was a killer. Especially after doing some climb to get there.
Definitely doable though and mostly safe except for the footpath on PH rd.

2Wheeler wrote:Took the crane rd home today. That hill after the round about just before Terminus st was a killer. Especially after doing some climb to get there.
Definitely doable though and mostly safe except for the footpath on PH rd.

If you want to shave off the hill top, I turn left at the roundabout onto Cecil on commute mornings and rejoin Old Northern Rd near the servo/Dan Murphys intersection.

Thanks Boognoss! I'll give that a go tomorrow. Looks like there is a foot path up to Terminus st as well.

Also, I was on the left lane leaving M2 on to PH rd. Riding up PH rd on the left lane until Aiken where I jumped on the narrow footpath. I figured this saved me some time waiting at traffic lights.

Just on taking the round about onto High st. Do you stick to the right lane or turn right from left lane? The later seems dangerous to me.

2Wheeler wrote:Thanks Boognoss! I'll give that a go tomorrow. Looks like there is a foot path up to Terminus st as well.

Also, I was on the left lane leaving M2 on to PH rd. Riding up PH rd on the left lane until Aiken where I jumped on the narrow footpath. I figured this saved me some time waiting at traffic lights.

Just on taking the round about onto High st. Do you stick to the right lane or turn right from left lane? The later seems dangerous to me.

There is footpath all along Crane Rd on both sides so if you need to jump on doing the last climb to Terminus it's an option. If I ride to those lights it's usually to turn right and I jump onto the LH footpath and use the pedestrian crossing lights to my advantage to control the traffic.

OK, exiting the M2 I use the eastern (uber-narrow) path from the M2 to Aiken (crossing Copeland on the ped crossing). The PHR option is too high stress IMO.
If I keep going up to Castle Hill Rd and left onto Coonara I'll use the western footpath from Aiken to the bus bay on Castle Hill Rd.

Aiken to the bottom and then up the pinch climb to Tailor St (I think that's it at that point and it becomes Highs Rd) I always use the lefthand lane to make the right turn. Bikes have to give way to all other vehicles when doing that, but IME other vehicles don't know that and if I look confident they wait for me. My "interpretation" of one of the more stupid road rules in NSW......

I live in WPH and use Crane Rd often. I prefer to take Crane rd all the way to Northern Rd. I don't mind the hill, but it is a tough one. I find it easier to get over to parsonage if go up to northern and turn left and then go through the mall and shoot across onto the west side path at showground and then to Dan murphies on path and right into cecil, hume, parsonage.

I used to turn left at the roundabout into cecil but it has its own set of hills that are not much better, and it can be a wait at the lights to get across. Basically any path between WPH valley and castle hill is going to involve some reasonable climbing.

will be my last m2 commute today, I am off the next 2 days

Not looking forward to either WPH, CH, KEllyville, home or going the dipper then back onto M2.........oh well

whatever you do, avoid renown road.

maybe i'm risk averse but i think renown road is simply too risky.
most cars travel at ridiculous speeds down the dipper. with a rock face on the side and concrete barrier in the middle, there's simply no margin for error on your bike, and for the driver behind you too.

you can probably take the eastbound section if (like what boognoss said) travel before 7.

westbound .. unlikely to find light traffic after 3pm. too many schools around the area and it's a popular rat run for baulkham hills and castle hills residents.

Boognoss wrote:

Aiken to the bottom and then up the pinch climb to Tailor St (I think that's it at that point and it becomes Highs Rd) I always use the lefthand lane to make the right turn. Bikes have to give way to all other vehicles when doing that, but IME other vehicles don't know that and if I look confident they wait for me. My "interpretation" of one of the more stupid road rules in NSW......

So. The cars you might have to give way to are the ones heading south on Taylor St and either going straight or right onto Merelynne, or indeed doing the quite common u-turn to head north on Taylor at that location. The cars travelling west but turning right with you going on a two lane roundabout, must be on the inside lane anyway and you ARE giving way to them, by using the outside lane, and those going left or straight at the top if Aiken can stay behind you IMO. In other words, don't sweat the give way thing provided you DO give way to anyone that came from Taylor originally. I'm sure that's as clear as mud.

rogan wrote:

Boognoss wrote:

Aiken to the bottom and then up the pinch climb to Tailor St (I think that's it at that point and it becomes Highs Rd) I always use the lefthand lane to make the right turn. Bikes have to give way to all other vehicles when doing that, but IME other vehicles don't know that and if I look confident they wait for me. My "interpretation" of one of the more stupid road rules in NSW......

So. The cars you might have to give way to are the ones heading south on Taylor St and either going straight or right onto Merelynne, or indeed doing the quite common u-turn to head north on Taylor at that location. The cars travelling west but turning right with you going on a two lane roundabout, must be on the inside lane anyway and you ARE giving way to them, by using the outside lane, and those going left or straight at the top if Aiken can stay behind you IMO. In other words, don't sweat the give way thing provided you DO give way to anyone that came from Taylor originally. I'm sure that's as clear as mud.

Yep that!

Tried it again yesterday. Not comfortable taking that roundabout from the left hand lane when cars on the right lane are going straight at some speeds. I took it on the right lane and merged to left once I exited the roundabout. This seemed safer to me.

I've done that roundabout many times and never seen anyone go straight from right lane. Is that something you have seen regularly or just a potential issue?

Typically I find that drivers back off and let me go through the roundabout and then overtake me after the roundabout. This means I can merge to right lane in the roundabout anyway.

Just thought I'd mention that I had a close call this morning (all my fault) going Eastbound from Highs to the roundabout Highs/Taylor/Coonara. I was in the left hand lane doing about 35ks and couldn't see any traffic so was starting to put the power down and then saw a car join from Highs on the right hand side turning right - so they have right of way. Full anchors and locked up then had a near highside and then took Coonara on the left.

Lesson I learned from this is to only take a roundabout or any intersection at a speed that you know you can stop at, as I didn't have enough brakes to actually stop.

Stay safe out there.

vosadrian wrote:I've done that roundabout many times and never seen anyone go straight from right lane. Is that something you have seen regularly or just a potential issue?

Typically I find that drivers back off and let me go through the roundabout and then overtake me after the roundabout. This means I can merge to right lane in the roundabout anyway.

I've had a handful of impatient drivers go straight from the RH lane there - less than ten in hundreds of rides though. Still they're in the wrong going against the right-hand turn only arrow.

jubaeg wrote:Just thought I'd mention that I had a close call this morning (all my fault) going Eastbound from Highs to the roundabout Highs/Taylor/Coonara. I was in the left hand lane doing about 35ks and couldn't see any traffic so was starting to put the power down and then saw a car join from Highs on the right hand side turning right - so they have right of way. Full anchors and locked up then had a near highside and then took Coonara on the left.

Lesson I learned from this is to only take a roundabout or any intersection at a speed that you know you can stop at, as I didn't have enough brakes to actually stop.

Stay safe out there.

Good reminder because it's always tempting to punch through that roundabout to get as much momentum as you can for the pinch climbs coming up further along Taylor....