Tracks suitable for cycling can sometimes be found in unexpected places. There are many enjoyable rides to be had, some of them suitable for road bikes and some only accessible by MTB. (I include my BMX bike in these off-road categories, as it goes pretty well anywhere!) I'm listing rides in the Sydney area on this page since that's where I've done most of my exploration by bicycle to date.
These are just a few of the many rides to be found. Bike rides in the Gold Coast area will appear in this section in due course!
#1 AREA or ROUTE: Bush trails at Lucas Heights.
ACCESS: Directly opposite intersection of Rutherford Street and New Illawarra Road (entrance to ANSTO).
SURFACE: Rocky and sandy trails. Some steep sections.
DESCRIPTION: All bushland area, creeks and several different trails to explore.
VERDICT: Good for a short ride, great scenery and bushland.
#2 AREA or ROUTE: Strathfield to Botany cycleway.
ACCESS: Anywhere along the track, clearly signposted and shown on most maps.
SURFACE: Paved. Mainly dedicated cycle paths with a few road crossings.
DESCRIPTION: Follows the Cooks River most of the way. You can continue to the airport at Mascot quite easily. A popular track for both pedestrians and cyclists. Effectively a much shorter distance by bike than by car.
VERDICT: A study in urban landscapes. Takes less time than distance suggests.
#3 AREA or ROUTE: Castlereagh State Forest.
ACCESS: Enter from one of several gates bordering the forest.
SURFACE: Mostly flat and hard-packed dirt roads.
DESCRIPTION: A network of intersecting trails winding through a forest area.
VERDICT: An easy ride. Pleasant bushland and forest surroundings.
#4 AREA or ROUTE: Homebush to Parramatta cycleway.
ACCESS: Anywhere along the track, clearly signposted and shown on most maps.
SURFACE: Paved. Some dedicated cycle paths and some shared road sections.
DESCRIPTION: Passes through a lot of industrial areas. Bikes have to be carried to cross a steep bridge at one point over Parramatta River.
VERDICT: Utilitarian but quite effective. Avoids a lot of traffic.
#5 AREA or ROUTE: Olympics site, Homebush Bay.
ACCESS: Any of several roads around the site e.g. Parramatta Road.
SURFACE: Large paved areas, roads and cycleways. Mostly flat terrain.
DESCRIPTION: A bike is the best way to explore this site. There are parks and wetlands to the immediate north-west of the Olympics area as well.
VERDICT: Bike-friendly and lots to see. Good for sightseeing, training, recreation, whatever.
#6 AREA or ROUTE: Lane Cove River and National Park.
ACCESS: Off Lane Cove Road at the top end; off Delhi Road at the bottom end.
SURFACE: Southern side of the river is a paved road (Riverside Drive) with moderate gradients. Northern side is basically a walking track only.
DESCRIPTION: Very scenic and there is plenty of national park to enjoy as well as picnic facilities and so forth. The track on the northern side of the river is quite narrow and arduous - not really meant as a bike track so you will be carrying your bike in some sections.
VERDICT: Varied terrain so choose your route carefully. Nice section of national park in a generally urban area.
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