This weekends bike ride would take me along the familiar roads from Kurrajong, to East Kurrajong, south along the Putty road to Wilberforce and back Via Kurmond.
Although the Hawkesbury is developing, it still has a wonderful rural feel to it, and the air was fresh and clean. The ride itself is about 60k and with a few hills thrown in is a good training ride for mountain biking.
Using the road bike has its advantages. They are faster and more responsive than a fully sprung mountain bike. The idea of the road bike is the "put steel in your legs". Thats is, develop more power so that, when you are on your Mtn Bike you can stay in higher gears. The fact is, you can get fitter on a road bike quicker.
The only problem with a road bike is that there is no opportunity to get off the road and onto the gravel.
Sadly the lack of road maintenance means much of the edges of the road have broken away. The result? The occasional brush with a car or truck. So a road bike is more fragile should you have to bail out!
Sadly the lack of road maintenance means much of the edges of the road have broken away. The result? The occasional brush with a car or truck. So a road bike is more fragile should you have to bail out!
Bird life abounds and I observed a white bellied sea eagle being mobbed by magpies. Whilst I know that this bird lives on or near the river, it is always surprising to see it. Other birds such as Lewins Honey Eater, Brush Wattlebird and Red Wattlebird, were seen in the bottle brushes that were flowering.
In some areas the sound of Bell minors and Whip birds could be heard.
After 2 and a bit hours I returned home. Its always good to get out and about!
After 2 and a bit hours I returned home. Its always good to get out and about!
Yeh, those roads look nice and flat for cycling!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember seeing Brush Wattlebird, did we miss that one?
(Written on Lorenzo's computer).
Runcible boy! this is the flatest secton! everything else has hills!
ReplyDeleteWish Lorenzo a happy birthday!
Brush wattle bird is pretty special... we did not miss it. I think it was "one of those moments" mate.
:o)
Looks and reads like a wonderful ride through the countryside! Your area really seems to be a birder's paradise, so many different ones.
ReplyDeletehi Merisi! its not too bad at all! I am struggling with my knee, but I changed my riding style to using more "spin" than power.. this takes the stress off the knees and seems to work!
ReplyDelete:o)
Using more "spin" than "power" with a road bike, did you have to bail out at any point and any gravel rashes we can look at? Hhehheee. I can imagine seeing a "Sea"eagle would be a surprise inland, but only because of its name. I have one of those to post later ;)
ReplyDeleteI did not fall of Anon! :o) I just cannot move off the raod when a truck comes past!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have got good photos of the Sea Eagle!
I used to only like mountain bikes on bush tracks and never tried road ones but never imagined it was better exercise with speed than power but it makes sense for knees. Hmmmm, I just looked and the pics are too far in the distance to be classified as 'good' which gives me plenty of time before the end of May to get better ones! That's how long my cue for posts is right now ... ;)
ReplyDeletespinning gets the heart rate up higher and reduces the pressure on the legs.
ReplyDeleteIts true that to get better at mountain biking , a road bike helps!
Your photos are GREAT!
i love bike riding. ^_^
ReplyDeleteyes its great fun!
ReplyDeleteI was tempted to publish today a picture of a bird I spotted yesterday at sunset in the Vienna Woods. Then thought better of it, and displayed the wildflowers only. The bird was only a tiny dot! :-)
ReplyDeleteI encountered two bikers on the trail, made me sort of envious. I don't know what needs to happen to get me a bike. I'd need a personal shopper to get out and just do it for me. Should you ever dare set foot on Vienna ... ;-)
well, its easy- there is only one bike brand (IMO) and thats cannondale! and they make a very wide range of womens bikes. BEautifully built.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that- the MOST important thing is getting the bike shop to fit you for it... its as important as correct shoe fit :o)
Egad, didn't realize how long it had been since visiting last - had some catching up to do here!
ReplyDeleteMust confess that looking at that bike and the roads ahead make my gimpy knee screech at the very thought!
oh I have a very bad knee too!! In fact I see a specialist soon re an oepration.. Whilst I ride its no problem- it walking that is now trouble! :o)
ReplyDeleteSimon,
ReplyDeleteYou've got a lot of great pictures at your site. I hope to visit the outback someday. Beautiful country.
Triston
thanks mate!
ReplyDeleteNever been up the Hawkesbury - but there's time yet!
ReplyDeleteI'd be fine on the flat roads, I come from a flat area with no hills, so I don't have the stamina for anything too strenuous. I'm a walker.
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to find your other blog which you have started again, but all the links keep taking me back here. I'll try again.
David! you should! its a great river.
ReplyDeleteEllee
http://simon-ordinarylife.blogspot.com