CSIT RTW Bulletin #32: Jul 2004

Feature: Commuting via Single Track

My usual commute from Kaleen used to be down the Ellenborough St bikepath and then follow Sullivan's Creek. Then I got the mountain biking bug. Unless I'm in a hurry, these days most mornings I ride to work off-road. It's a much nicer way to wake up in the morning, and only takes me a few minutes longer than the on-road route.

Riding from Kaleen, this takes me on fire-trail through Kaleen grasslands (and a fun large gully with several optional jumps), across Ginninderra Drive and off-road again through Lyneham/O'Connor ridge (including some all-too-brief singletrack) to the Bruce/O'Connor ridge bikepath. If ever I was early I could cross the bikepath and continue the fire-trail trek through O'Connor ridge, across Belconnen Way and through Black Mountain reserve; but I never am, so I follow the bikepath. Down to the road, zip along Dryandra/Nicholson and I'm here.

Unfortunately, there's a gate at the Bruce/O'Connor ridge bikepath, so I have to dismount there. One day I may see if it's possible to build a jump there to get over the fence! (-:

My route follows/crosses some of the path the Gungahlin Drive Extension will take, so it will be interesting to see what happens to it. My reading of the GDE route map is that the only point of disturbance will be where I cross Ginninderra Drive.

On a related note, most Thursday lunch-times Steve Hanley, Peter Strazdins and I (and some others) do a mountain-bike ride through some trails near the ANU (usually Black Mountain or Mount Ainslie). For more details subscribe to the Bilby's MTB mailing list (or speak to one of us).

Recent Events

• Red Heart Day , Fri May 07
  2 csitRTW'ers set out in red on yet another fine May's Day for an enjoyable ride and an interesting chat with the Heart Foundation and fellow cyclists at Deakin shops.

Upcoming Events

• DCS enters a second team in the Mont 24hr Race
  This time, the team of 6 (3 in DCS, 3 with a former DCS connection) will be calling themselves the HashBangs. Clearly, they have no more sense than they did last year. And on this subject, there is a rumour that another member of DCS will try it solo this year...