Copyright © Athletesworld, 2001. All rights reserved
Individual 1st Bike: (M) James Nicholson - 1:38:35, 1998 (F) Jody Purcell
- 1:54:36, 1998
Team entry 1st Bike: (M) David Osmond - 1:24:24, 1998 (F) Rachel Storey - 1:51:16, 1997
Grade: H-X X
Distance: 35km one way
Road Conditions: Bicycle paths and gravel tracks.
Route: Lake Ginninderra to Gossan Hill, Black Mtn, Bruce & O'Connor Ridges, Lyneham Ridge, EPIC and finishing at Antill St, Hackett
Map: Canberra Cycleways Map , route map
Starting Point:Beside Lake Ginninderra at pinic area eastern end of Diddams Close.
Description:
Lake Ginninderra to Gossan Hill
The first land course starts at the grassy bank near the barbeque area beside the car park at the eastern end of Diddams Close. Follow the cycle path north-east, almost immediately taking a left-hand fork to bring you onto the Ginninderra Dr bridge crossing the lake. Continue following the cycle path around the shoreline, past John Knight Memorial Park, then turn left off the cycle path to pass between Ginninderra College and the Skateboard Park.
Cross over Emu Bank and proceed along the footpath of Eastern Valley Way, turning left off this onto a dirt footpath through a grassed field, which leads to another footpath adjacent to College St. Cross College St at the junction with Cooinda St, and turn immediately left around a green metal gate onto a bitumen road leading uphill. Near the top of this rise, turn left off the road onto an obscure walking path leading through light scrub up onto the ridge. This brings you to a 4-wheel drive track, where you turn right. At the next 4-way intersection, turn hard right, to head along the crest of Gossan Hill, through burnt eucalypts. Veer left at the fork in this track, then left onto the bitumen road, and left again off this road onto the footpath leading towards the Belconnen Way overpass.
Across the overpass, follow the cycle path through the Aranda District Playing Fields. There is a very short dirt section, before linking up with a footpath leading under Bandjalong Cres, straight up past Aranda shops on your left and uphill. Turn onto the dirt track to the right just before crossing Walu St, then rejoin the footpath on the other side, still heading up. At the top, go through the walkers' gap in the fence, then immediately left at the "Aranda Bushland" sign. With Telstra Tower and Black Mountain looming straight ahead, the track dips. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the possible right hand turn. The track veers around to the right, down quite a long, rocky descent. Follow this track till it passes beside a large ditch on your right, then turn left through the walkers' gate underneath Caswell Dr.
You are now in Black Mountain Reserve. Take the first right hand fork in the track. There are no turns for a few kilometres as you enjoy a pleasant ride around the base of Black Mountain, through natural gum forest and open spaces. At the end of this section, just up from the dead end of Rani Rd, veer left back into the bush, heading uphill. Go right at the T-junction, down a sharp rocky slope and through a (hopefully dry) creek bed. Upon rising out of the creek bed, the track swings to the left and you are confronted with the infamous "Push-Bike Hill." ... Just before the gate at the top, take a tiny trail veering to the left, which leads out onto the road without having to climb a fence. Be alert for traffic, as you turn left (uphill), and follow the road to the summit of Black Mountain, where the road loops around before descending. There is an aid station at the top.
On the way down, turn left off the road into the picnic ground car park, then left again out of the central part of the car park onto an almost- invisible track. Take great care as this track heads downhill through the bush, becoming very steep and rocky. It passes a fenced reservoir to the left, before turning left at the T-junction (quite close to the main road), heading once more downhill. This track winds around the flank of the mountain, and after a few gradual rises and a descent comes to a gate which must be climbed. Follow this track about 30m downhill, then veer left onto a lower track, and almost immediately take a hairpin left-hand turn, heading back towards the mountain.
Pass through the walkers' entrance beside the gate at the "Black Mountain Reserve" sign, and proceed uphill (passing the walking track heading up the mountain on the left. Take the next right hand turn at a T junction, away from the main mountain. At the next fork, veer right (uphill), leading to a favourite section of the course - a scenic, fast loop around the northern spur. Beware of one very sharp left hand switchback! Ignore the first main track to the right, proceed up a few short steep rises, before taking the next main track to the right. This heads down, before flattening out in open bushland. Turn right at the T-junction underneath the big power lines, then over the gate leading towards Belconnen Way.
Cross both carriageways of Belconnen Way, and over the gate on the other side. Soon after this gate, turn left up a steep hill, then left at the T-junction and right about 20m further on at a concrete structure, heading uphill to the summit. At the summit, turn left in front of the brick building next to the reservoir, following the track around to the right. After about 100 metres, before this track forks, veer right onto a smaller path which is marker "Multiple Use Track." Follow this path for its entire distance, following the marker signs, ignoring all intersections and side trails. Remain alert for and give way to any pedestrians. At the end of this track, after a short rise, turn left at the T-junction in front of the second reservoir. Ignore the first track which takes a sharp left downhill, and look out for the next singles track heading down to your left. Follow this singles track over ‘Gareth's Bumps’, continuing straight ahead over one small track, turning right at the next main track following the power lines. Follow this track till it bends to the right under the intersection of two sets of power lines. Turn left here, through the wooden gap in the fence, cross over the cycle path, over another fence, then follow the track that veers up to the right.
At the top of the rise, swing to the left along O'Connor Ridge. Look for a track on your right marked "Multple Use Track." Follow this track all the way around the ridge summit (ignoring all signs pointing downhill) until it rejoins the larger dirt track, which will lead you to a gate. Climb the gate, and head left onto Dryandra St, which then turns right and becomes Archibald St. The next few hundred metres offers ample opportunity for spiritual renewal, as you pass in quick succession on your left the Ukranian Catholic Centre, Ursula College Lyneham Centre, St Joseph's House of Studies, and the Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre. Turn left onto the footpath leading alongside the Buddhist Centre, which overpasses Ginninderra Dr and brings you into North Lyneham.
After the overpass, turn immediately left into Cossington Smith Cres, then left again into Fred Williams Cres, left into Duterrau Cres, and left into Lewers Close. Continue straight onto the track at the end of Lewers Close, which climbs and then flattens out. Look for a small gap in the fence on your right. Go through here, then turn left onto a main dirt track. This track first heads down, then veers twice to the right while climbing to the summit ridge (ignore the track to the left immediately past the second right turn), then once to the left before starting to descend. Turn left at the next T-junction, then right again after 20 metres. This track comes to a gate at another T-junction. Turn left before the gate and follow the fence for about 100m. At a convenient point climb the fence, about 30m from Ellenborough St. This brings you out onto the Kaleen cycle path, which you follow to the right.
After a few hundred metres, just past the Mouat St intersection, turn sharp left off this cycle path, down onto a new cycle path heading in the reverse direction.
This leads you across Ellenborough St, and brings you to the Barton Highway at Gungahlin Drive. Cross the highway at the lights, and follow the cycle path alongside Gungahlin Dr. Turn right off the cycle path, over the grass to head through an opening in the fence and onto Bellenden St. Pass the cemetery and crematorium on your left. At the bottom of the hill, turn right onto a gravel road leading to a City Parks Depot. Before you reach the gate, turn left onto a dirt road, alongside a stand of gum trees. This section is notoriously muddy after rain. Take the next right turn (though the equestrian trail continues straight), through an empty and sometimes boggy paddock, turning left onto Randwick Rd at the Give Way sign.
Cross over Flemington Rd, then follow the cycle path to the right, past EPIC on your left. Cross over the Federal Hwy at the lights. Go straight ahead for 20m on the other side of the highway, then turn left onto the narrow dirt track beside the line of trees. This veers to the right as you approach Stirling Ave. Cross over Knox St at the junction of Stirling Ave, straight through the gap next to the gate, then veer immediately right onto the trail leading through the trees towards the finish at the bus stop on Antill St.
