Akuna Bay (clockwise) via Roseville Bridge
- Group:
- B2
- Distance:
- 62km
- Route Description:
- Leave Lane Cove and head towards Epping Road, turn right, and then turn left onto the Pacific Highway. Once through Chatswood, turn right into Boundary St.
Follow Boundary St as it becomes Babbage Rd and then Warringah Rd. Cross the Roseville Bridge, and continue along Warringah Rd until it meets Forest Way at Frenchs Forest. Turn left onto Forest Way and continue on until Mona Vale Rd.
Turn right at Mona Vale Rd and ride to Terrey Hills. At Terrey Hills, turn left onto McCarrs Creek Rd. Continue on McCarrs Creek Rd down to the Akuna Bay turn off and follow Coal and Candle Drive past the Toll booth. Continue on Coal and Candle Drive, descend to Illawong Bay then along Akuna Bay. Ascend Coal and Candle Drive to the West Head turn off, then follow West Head Rd down to McCarrs Creek Rd.
Turn right at McCarrs Creek Rd and ascend back up to the Thai Restaurant at Terrey Hills. At the intersection of McCarrs Creek Rd and Mona Vale Rd, turn right and follow Mona Vale Rd back through St Ives to the intersection with the Pacific Hwy.
Turn left on the Pacific Highway, and follow it back through Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Roseville and Chatswood. At the Epping Rd intersection, turn right and then turn left onto Longueville Rd, take the first right into Birdwood Ave, and follow this back to Burns Bay Rd, Renegade and the Cafe.
- Ride Description:
- This is a good fun ride, despite the pace being high in places, it can be a good opportunity for C Group riders to push themselves with the C+ group.
The descent to Roseville Bridge is a popular one among cyclists, the road is good quality and there are no sharp corners. It is possible to reach speeds approaching 80km/hr so care is required,
After climbing out the eastern side, the group will stop briefly at Forest Fuel to regroup. Continue along Warringah Rd until Forest Way, turn left onto Forest Way. Forest Way commences with 3 lanes but this changes to 2 lanes with a narrow cycle lane, at this time of the morning it is quite easy to take a lane for safety.
At Mona Vale Rd turn right, there is a good shoulder with virtually no hills, expect a reasonable pace along here. On turning into Terry Hills, the group may stop briefly at the Thai Restaurant if it is hot to top up water bottles as this is the last tap of drinkable water, otherwise, they will keep riding along McCarrs Creek Rd. Follow McCarrs Creek Rd to where it joins Coal and Candle Drive and follow this down into the National Park, past the Toll Booth and down towards Akuna Bay. This section is quite fast but care is needed if the road is damp from dew or rain, there are also a few tight bends towards the bottom.
Coal and Candle Drive follows the bay around and is quite pleasant but that soon changes as you climb up towards West Head Rd. Turn right at West Head Rd intersection and descend down to McCarrs Creek Rd, turn right for the climb back up. Ride out at your own pace and regroup at the Thai Restaurant before heading out for the Cafe.
Head back to Mona Vale Rd, turn right and head back along Mona Vale Rd. As this is slightly downhill, expect a reasonable pace, but as always in the busier areas, the group will be kept together, as always when riding along Mona Vale Rd, watch out for the short climb back up to St Ives.
After that, there is the heavier traffic to contend with through St Ives, and then the fast descent down to the Pacific Highway. At this point there is a mere 10km along the Highway before enjoying your much deserved coffee at the Cafe.
