Caution

Training on public roads is very dangerous and you do so at your own risk. The rides listed on this website are for the experienced rider only. BiciSport takes no responsibilty for the safety of these training rides. Riders need to obey all road rules, including red traffic lights. 

BiciSport Training Ride Code of Conduct

When BiciSport team members are riding on public roads they need to develop adequate cycling skills for the safety of themselves and other road users.

Team members must abide by the road rules just as motorists do.

Importantly, cyclists must stop at red traffic lights. When the cycling bunches are larger, riders may have to separate to obey the red traffic signal, so communication between riders is very important. 

Refrain from following poor cycling conduct (especially when wearing the sponsor`s team clothing). Understand that your cycling conduct is an example to other cyclists in the training group.

Assist the training group safety by alerting following riders of dangerous potholes or debris on the road. You can alert other riders by pointing to the pothole, or simply yelling out a word of caution. 

Please note - while our team clothing is a very smart looking kit - it is not compulsory to wear BiciSport team clothing on training rides.

Training Ride Code of Conduct Tips

Some tips to save your skin when training or racing in a bunch -

*  Be Predictable - sudden changes of direction should be avoided

*  Don`t Overlap Wheels - for obvious reasons

*  Maintain a Steady Pace - constant speed reduces the chance of an accident

*  Communicate - good communication can alert other cyclists to potholes or red traffic lights

*  Audio Devices - don`t ever ride with an IPod (you can`t hear the traffic)

*  Hand Positioning - never grip the handelbars with an `open` palm - always wrap your thumb around the back of the handelbars. Open palm riding is dangerous if you hit a pothole

*  What happened ? - look where you`re going, not where you`ve been - don`t ever look behind you in a bunch 

*  Gear Changes - whenever you change gears, or search for a water bottle, NEVER look down (unless you`re very experienced you will drift off a straight line, and cause issues for those cyclists behind you)

*  A Straight Line -  always bend your elbows slightly to steer the bike with your hands/fingers. Stiff or straight elbows means your collarbone does the steering (if that`s the case, you`ll never ride a straight line in a bunch).   

Training Ride Insurance Cover

BiciSport members have insurance cover as a component of their annual membership fees. This insurance cover is specific and its scope is -

(a) whilst competing in officially sanctioned events organised by and under the control of the Insured [CA, CyclingNSW, BiciSport] including direct travel to and from sanctioned competitions, training venues and Insured persons [a BiciSport member] place of residence;

(b) whilst engaged in training activities officially sanctioned and organised by the Insured [BiciSport];

(c) cover does not extend to include training/participating in non Cycling/BMX/Mountain Bike sporting events, fun runs/rides or competitions; and

(d) whilst working on behalf of the Insured [CA, CyclingNSW, BiciSport] including direct travel to and from sanctioned events, training venues and the Insured persons [BiciSport member] place of residence.

In terms of paragraph (b) above, the following group training rides listed below are only officially sanctioned and organised by BiciSport when noted by a double asterisk [**]. If you are training as an individual, and want the benefits of the insurance cover, then it is highly recommended you maintain a formal training log approved by your coach (and always in writing [via email]).       

Northside Traffic Blackspots

The major northside traffic blackspots are highlighted on the This Week section of this website. Sydney traffic is verging on the totally insane, with January the best month (everybody has gone away on holidays), with February & March the worst (everybody is back). Midweek - Wednesday the most dangerous, Thursday & Friday afternoon peaks are the most hectic, and Saturday is the low point of the week (with traffic the most hectic)

Daylight Saving Time

The NSW State Government policy is that daylight saving time will run from the first Sunday in October until the first Sunday in April  

IF ANY OF THE DETAILS ON THE FOLLOWING TRAINING RIDES CHANGE, PLEASE EMAIL THE CHANGES TO bicisportcycling@westnet.com.au

Saturday Supreme - from Narrabeen    

Start from Supreme Cycles at Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen at 7am sharp. Go north along Pittwater Rd, through Mona Vale Shops, veer left onto McCarrs Creek Road, direction Church Point. Go along McCarrs Creek Rd direction Terrey Hills, turn right at Mona Vale Rd all the way to St Ives shops, u turn at St Ives, return along Mona Vale Rd to Terrey Hills, then left to McCarrs Creek Rd & back to Mona Vale. Training intensity = Medium. All riders welcome. [Insurance category **]   

Sunday Supreme - from Narrabeen

Start from Supreme Cycles Narrabeen at 7am sharp. This ride is graded "easy" for the novice cyclist seeking a structured and comfortable entre to the sport. The ride is ideal for the female cyclist, or the novice beginner. For further details contact Stephen Brown at Supreme Cycles on 9913 1881. [Insurance category **]  

BiciSport Track Training at Tempe Velodrome

Track training sessions at the Tempe Velodrome are on Monday and Wednesday nights & Sunday mornings. As Tempe Velodrome is an `open air` venue all training sessions are subject to fine weather. Tempe Velodrome training sessions are all year round. 

Training on Monday & Wednesday nights is in conjunction with the Dulwich Hill Club starting at 6.30pm until 8.30pm. Sunday`s session is under the direction of Peter Barnard of BiciSport. Sunday sessions are only cancelled if the weather is wet, or there is some other booking at the facility. If you need assistance on Sunday morning training at Tempe please contact Peter Barnard on 0419 403 298 for further details. [Insurance category **]   

Wednesday - Dawn Patrol ("The Dawnie")

A ride originally created by the legendary Dave Humphreys (Tokyo Olympian in the Road Race) in the mid 1980`s. The military style nickname coming from the super early start required (originally in the 1980`s the Dawn Patrol commenced in Collaroy).

Depart 6:00am from the corner of Pacific Highway and Maclaurin Parade, Roseville, then north along the Pacific Highway to Hornsby, through to Mt Colah, turn right, down through Bobbin Head (caution - steep/dangerous descent), Bobbin Head Rd at East Turramurra, east along Mona Vale Road to McCarrs Creek Road, Akuna Bay, McCarrs Creek Road and along Pittwater Road to Manly. The ride is best suited to the very experienced rider. Training Intensity = Hard to Very Hard

Saturday - `KOM` Ride

Depart 6.15am from KOM Cyclery on Military Rd, Neutral Bay. Then north along Military Rd, over Spit Bridge, and north along Pittwater Rd through Dee Why, Collaroy, Mona Vale, veer left towards Church Point, then McCarrs Creek Rd to Terrey Hills. Turn right at Mona Vale Rd, then left at Forest Way, left at Warringah Rd Forestville, then direction Seaforth. Training Intensity = Medium to Hard. Contact KOM Cyclery at Neutral Bay for further details. 

Saturday - `Il Presidente` Ride

Depart at 6.10am from Pearces Corner at the corner of Pacific Highway & Pennant Hills Rd, then north through Hornsby, then into Bobbin Head (very dangerous descent), then out along Mona Vale Rd, through St Ives shops to the top of McCarrs Creek Rd - the group splits into two - with some going left towards Duffys Forest, and the rest going through Akuna Bay (very dangerous descent), before returning to Turramurra for coffee. Training Intensity = Medium. Contact is Matt Garnon on 0422 373 307

Saturday - `Renegade Bunch`

Renegade Cycles offer various training rides over 3 levels most Saturday`s - go to www.renegadecycles.com.au. The rides go to various destinations that can include Galston, Brooklyn or Homebush Bay. Distances are between 40k and 85k depending on the training level you need. Just go to the Renegade website, then `Things to do`, then `Shop rides` for the details.    

Saturday - St Ives `Coffee Ride`

Depart corner of Mona Vale Road and Stanley Streets St Ives at 8:00am. East on Mona Vale Road to Terrey Hills (8.15am), down through the steep side of Akuna Bay (caution - steep/dangerous descent at Cottage Point Inn), climb out of the shallow side of Akuna Bay to the West Head Rd intersection (at 8.45am), wait & regroup, then climb McCarrs Creek Road, regroup again at the top, then west along Booralie Road to Duffy`s Forest. U-turn at Duffy`s Forest and return to St Ives via Mona Vale Road. Please be extremely cautious descending into Akuna Bay, especially 500m before the Cottage Point turnoff - the road is straight but very bumpy and several accidents have occurred on this straight stretch of road. Training Intensity = Medium to Hard (from Duffy`s Forest back to St Ives) 

Tuesday & Thursday - `Dad`s Army` 

This ride is designed for Masters cyclists only, and is the same route as the Saturday Coffee Ride (above). Depart corner of Mona Vale Road and Stanley Streets St Ives at 8:00am. East on Mona Vale Road to Terrey Hills (8.15am), down through the steep side of Akuna Bay (caution - steep/dangerous descent at Cottage Point Inn), climb out of the shallow side of Akuna Bay to the West Head Rd intersection (at 8.45am), wait & regroup, then climb McCarrs Creek Road, regroup again at the top, then west along Booralie Road to Duffy`s Forest. U-turn at Duffy`s Forest and return to St Ives via Mona Vale Road. Please be extremely cautious descending into Akuna Bay, especially 500m before the Cottage Point turnoff - the road is straight but very bumpy and several accidents have occurred on this straight stretch of road. Training Intensity = Easy to Hard (from Duffy`s Forest back to St Ives) 

`City Express` Ride - Narrabeen to City (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday only) 

A safer way to get to the city - try the City Express. This is obviously not a race - its strictly a commute, a safe way to commute to the city, and all road rules are strictly observed. This ride to work is a "non-Military Rd" option to getting into the city from the northern beaches on a Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday morning only. Details - start Supreme Cycles Narrabeen at 6.20am, Warringah Rd & Pittwater Rd (Dee Why) at 6.35am, Oliver Rd & Pittwater Rd (Harbord) at 6.44am, bottom Parriwi Rd (near Spit Bridge) at 6.55am, and Harbour Bridge Cycle Path at 7.20am. For further details contact Steve Brown at Supreme Cycles on 9913 1881. [Insurance category **]

Brooklyn Dash - Tuesday Twilight (Daylight Saving Time only) 

This ride only occurs during Daylight Saving months (not in winter). Depart Hornsby Cycles (old Pacific Highway, 250m from Hornsby Railway Station) at 6pm. Go north along the old Pacific Highway through Mt Ku Ring gai, Berowra, Cowan village, descend down the Hawkesbury Climb, turn right at the bottom of the descent, then to the Brooklyn shops, over the short Brooklyn headland climb, then back to Hornsby at approximately 7.45pm. The ride starts off easy/medium in difficulty, then gets hard on the return to Hornsby. Ride contact is Hornsby Cycles. Training intensity = Medium to Hard

Freshwater Gruppetto - Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri Mornings

This mid week ride departs the corner of Oliver Street and Pittwater Rd, Freshwater (Manly Vale) at 5,.25am sharp.

The route is north along Pittwater Rd, past Warringah Mall, through Dee Why shops, Collaroy, Narrabeen, then veer right towards Mona Vale shops. Left at McCarrs Creek Rd direction Church Point. There is usually a short sprint approaching the Church Point u turn.

Return route is via Mona Vale shops, go south along Pittwater Rd, left past Mona Vale Hospital, Narrabeen Lagoon, then along the Narrabeen beachfront, thriough Dee Why shops, along Dee Why Beach, Curl Curl Beach, Freshwater Beach & back to Manly Beach.

PLEASE NOTE - Tuesday and Thursday are for the very experienced cyclist only, as the riding is extremely hard from Dee Why shops going north to Church Point. If you`ve never ridden in a quick paceline, have never raced and are not fully experienced, this ride is not for you - simply don`t do it. Wednesday & Friday rides are more sedate.

Centennial Park Training Bunches

Centennial Park is a popular training venue in the centre of Sydney. Most popular days are Tuesday & Thursday all year round, with training bunches circulating the lower 4k circuit from 5.45am until 7.15am/7.30am (when most bunches close off). Bunch sizes are restricted to 16 riders per bunch, and this pack limit is rigidly enforced by CP Park Rangers.  

M7 Motorway Cycle Path - Bella Vista to Bringelly & return 

The M7 cycle path offers some of the best car free cycling in Sydney. The cycle path is 40k in length (each way), so from Bella Vista it is an 80k round trip. 

Getting there - take the M2 Motorway going west, turn left at the Abbots Rd off ramp, then turn right onto Old Windsor Rd, after two kilometres veer left (at the Resmed Building), then turn left at the next set of lights - park your car in the suburb of Glenwood (best street to park your car is in Fairmount Street, opposite the park). Pedal the 300 metres from Fairmount Street to the M7 cycleway. There are no cafes on the M7 cyclepath, so take all drink supplies.