OzDirt Dr and DJ have assembled a plan to get us onto the local hills. Some rides have easy options if that's what you are after. All rides will be challenging and fun with breakfast at the end of the ride. Clear out your diary and get ready to take your training up a notch or two.
2024 / Jan 2025 Plan
Sat 21 Dec (see notes below under 2 Nov if you need further information)
Ken E'S Hill Drills
Repeats of Bobbin Head East and West with minimal recovery between climbs. 6:30am start, 3 hours of riding, then re-group at Bobbin Head (at the bottom) at 9:30am for an easy ride to the Wooden Mill Cafe.
Start / Finish: Mt Colah 6:30am
54.6 km
1,147 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3210125398622800208
Sat 28 Dec
Blue Mountains Extender
Includes the Winmalee switchbacks for extra terror in riders’ minds.
Start / Finish: Emu Plans 6:00am
132.07 km
2,098 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3130379468615952828
Sat 4 Jan 2025
Eastern Suburbs Beaches Cruiser
From the Robertson Road Gates in Centennial Park at 6:00am. Ride leader Rob has something special in store.
Sat 11 Jan 2025
North Richmond, Bowen Mtn and Ferry Rides
Traditional Bowen Mtn and river cruise, also very popular.
Start / Finish: North Richmond 6:00am
87.6 km
1,352 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3147836328315398412
Sat 18 Jan 2025
M7 Social Cruise / Local Bunch Cruise ahead of the TDU trip
20 to 27 Jan 2025
Tour Down Under
Completed rides:
Sat 7 Sep
North Richmond, Bowen Mtn and Ferry Rides
Traditional Bowen Mtn and river cruise, very popular with 615 riders. Get straight into some climbing.
Start / Finish: North Richmond 6:00am
87.6 km
1,352 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3147836328315398412
Sat 14 Sep
Camden plus Nattai
Introduced in 2023 by including the ride out to Burragorang as part of the traditional Camden loop. Long and tough ride to get the legs working.
Start / Finish: Camden softball fields 6:00am
110.65 km
1,545 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3130370374772890044
Sat 21 Sep
Blue Mtns by Back Rds to Katoomba
Traditional mountains ride, a real favourite. Lots of fun climbing with easy roll down the highway.
Start / Finish: Emu Plans 6:00am
111.93 km
2,011 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/21522950
Sat 28 Sep
Berowra to Saddles with Bonus Warm Up Climb
New ride in the north. Bit of a hike out to Berowra but good climbing and scenery. Can get a quick coffee at Saddles or try our luck at the very busy Pie In The Sky on the way back.
Start / Finish: Berowra Community Centre 6:00am depart for Berowra Creek bonus climb.
69.74 km
1,319 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3249979744631317062
Without the Berowra climb. Berowra Community Centre Depart 7:00am
50.93Km
857m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3273169572367390312
Sat 5 Oct
Camden, razorback, natai, cobbity, camden
Bob E introduced this ride in 2023, includes 2 climbs of Razorback.
Start / Finish: Camden softball fields 6:00am
103.53 km
1,535 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3166313468647763220
Sat 12 Oct
North Richmond, Bowen Mtn and Ferry Rides
Traditional Bowen Mtn and river cruise, very popular.
Start / Finish: North Richmond 6:00am
87.6 km
1,352 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3147836328315398412
Sat 19 Oct
Join the Penrith Bunch Ride, either meeting at Penrith Tennis Courts for 6:30am roll-out or Bringelly Rd/Northern Rd intersection at 7:15am.
Sat 26 Oct
Blue Mountains Extender
Includes the Winmalee switchbacks for extra terror in riders’ minds.
Start / Finish: Emu Plans 6:00am
132.07 km
2,098 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3130379468615952828
Sat 2 Nov
Ken E'S Hill Drills
New ride which was inspired by the Km King and is repeats of Bobbin Head East and West with minimal recovery between climbs. This is to simulate the riding conditions on the Bright trip.
Start / Finish: Mt Colah Railway Station (Pierre Close on Eastern side or railway line) 6:30am
54.6 km
1,147 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3210125398622800208
As this is a new ride some extra information has been included.
Parking: on Pierre Close near Mt Colah Station (Bobbin Head side of the railway line). Plenty of parking on the street and we will meet up outside Mt Colah Station for a 6:30am ride start (yes 30 minutes later to allow travel time).
Strava Segment 1: "Bobbin Head Climb (E)"
The segment starts just after the toilet block and finishes (as per 2nd picture) well before the ranger booth which can be used as a turning point.
615 Leaderboard
Rider Time Date
1 Dave J 09:19 Dec 5, 2020
2 Chris 09:36 Dec 17, 2022
3 Dave P 09:51 Dec 2, 2018
4 Eddie 10:18 Dec 5, 2020
5 Colin 10:21 Mar 26, 2017
6 Tom 10:30 Dec 5, 2020
7 Rob S 10:34 Dec 5, 2020
8 Jason 10:48 Dec 17, 2022
9 Harry 11:01 Dec 14, 2013
10 Ian 11:14 Mar 23, 2014
Strava Segment 2: "Bobbin Head West)"
The segment starts opposite the cafe and finishes (as per 2nd picture) well before the Kalkari Discovery Centre car park which can be used as a turning point.
615 Leaderboard
Rider Time Date
1 Jeff 09:06 Oct 24, 2021
2 Chris 09:10 Oct 24, 2021
3 Dave J 09:13 Oct 24, 2021
4 Rob S 09:18 Oct 24, 2021
5 Harry 09:53 Jan 17, 2016
6 Tom 09:56 Feb 3, 2019
7 Eddie 10:01 Oct 24, 2021
8 Jason 10:04 Oct 24, 2021
9 Dave P 10:08 Oct 24, 2021
10 Ian 10:37 Oct 24, 2021
Ride Plan, Refreshments and Breaks
The plan is to ride a minimum of 6 climbs (3 East and 3 West) for 54.6 km of total distance and 1,147 m of elevation. This should only take about 2 to 2.5 hours of riding time. Riders could then keep riding or take a break at either the Bobbin Head Picnic Ground which is located at the bottom of the dip near the toilet block or even go back to their cars for extra water / food, before doing some more riding.
We will obtain breakfast and coffee or milk based beverages at Wooden Mill Cafe, 537 Pacific Highway, Mt Colah (corner Yirra Road) at 10:30 am. We will meet at the entrance to the Bobbin Head Picnic Ground at 10:00am and ride up to the cafe. It is a short and flat ride back to the cars after breakfast.
Sat 9 Nov
M7 Social Cruise / Local Bunch Cruise ahead of the Bright trip
13 to 17 Nov 2024
Bright Trip
Sat 23 Nov
6 Gorges Traffic Dodger
Traditionally later in the program due to massive total elevation. Combined with a KOM styled exercise.
Strava Segments in order:
Galston West - 3.05Km 5.9% 180m elevation, 615 KOM DJ 8:54
Berowra Waters East - 3.78Km 5.4% 204m elevation, 615 KOM DJ 10:20
Berowra Waters West - 3.37Km 5.8% 197m elevation, 615 KOM JC / DJ 10:59
Galston Gorge (East Side) - 3.03Km 5.2% 158m elevation, 615 KOM DJ 8:13
Bobbin Head Climb (E) - 3.73Km 4.6% 158m elevation, 615 KOM DJ 9:19
Bobbin Head West - 2.92Km 6% 176m elevation, 615 KOM JC 9:06
Total climbing distance = 16.83Km
Total elevation = 1,073m
Approximately the same as Mt Buffalo (18Km and 1,018m), with plenty of rest in-between.
Start / Finish: Hornsby (Glaston and Carrington Rds) (see map in route link below) 6:00am
87.25 km
2,126 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3130784293920191706
Sat 30 Nov
Blue Mtns by Back Rds to Katoomba
Traditional mountains ride, a real favourite.
Start / Finish: Emu Plans 6:00am
111.93 km
2,011 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/21522950
Sat 7 Dec
Camden plus Nattai
Introduced in 2023 by including the ride out to Burragorang as part of the traditional Camden loop.
Start / Finish: Camden Valley Inn, 290 Remembrance Driveway Cawdor 6:00am
110.65 km
1,545 m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3130370374772890044
Sat 14 Dec
Bowral (Classic) Cruiser
Frank, Ed, Rob S and Oz Dirt Dr just loved the trip down to Bowral to do the ‘Bowral Classic’ loop in early 2024. It’s a beautiful place to ride with less traffic than Sydney. But requires a slightly later start and finish.
Start / Finish: Near Bowral Primary School, Banyette St near corner with Bendooley St 7:00am
124 Km
1,793m
https://www.strava.com/routes/3301366726050170136
https://www.strava.com/activities/10737508851