Grade: S-X
Distance: 13 km return / 30 minutes each way. Allow time for browsing around the Bicycle Museum and the Gallery.
Road Conditions: Bicycle paths, footpaths and a shared traffic zone.
Route:This is a ride which takes you from Lake Burley Griffin via the Sullivan’s Creek bike path to the Canberra Bicycle Museum and the Australian National Capital Artists Gallery in Rosevear Place, Dickson.
Map: Canberra and Queanbeyan cycling and walking map and detailed route map.
Starting Point: Mr Spokes Bike Hire, Barrine Drive, Acton.
Description:
The best time for this trip is early afternoon on a Wednesday or a Saturday, when the Bicycle Museum and the Gallery are both open. As at April 2008, the Canberra Bicycle Museum opens 10am-4pm on Wednesdays, and 11am-3pm on Saturdays, and the Australian National Capital Artists Gallery opens noon-5pm Wednesday-Sunday.
From Mr Spokes, zero your trip-meter (if you have one) and turn right onto the cycle path so that the lake is on your left. At the Acton ferry terminal (140m) turn right onto the footbridge that crosses Parkes Way. Be careful of the steep descent. Continue along the footpath past Rydge’s Lakeside Hotel. Follow the footpath as it curves round Marcus Clarke St and crosses several small streets. Turn left at the traffic lights into University Ave (1 km).
Turn right into the Childers St shared traffic zone (1.1 km). (Alternatively, you can detour through the grounds of the Australian National University, which has a network of roads just made for cycling).
Turn left onto the shared path on the left as you re-join Marcus Clarke St (1.5 km).
Cross Barry Drive at the traffic lights (1.7 km) and turn left onto the footpath beside Carry Drive, following the signs to Dickson. Take the first right turn into Watson St (1.8 km), and follow the bike path north through Turner, O'Connor and Lyneham, crossing Masson St, Condamine St, David St and Macarthur Ave. The bike path crosses Wattle St at traffic lights (4.1 km) and immediately turns left.
Cross the bridge over Sullivan’s Creek and turn right almost immediately as you reach Goodwin St. The path follows the right side of Goodwin for a few metres. It then crosses Sullivan’s Creek and immediately turns right.
Follow the path as it crosses De Burgh St, Northbourne Ave (4.8 km) and Challis St. Cross Cowper St at the traffic lights (5.6 km) and immediately turn left along the footpath.
Follow the footpath past the Dickson swimming pool to the Antill St traffic lights (5.9 km). Don’t cross Antill St, but turn right along the Antill St footpath to Rosevear Place (6.1 km).
The Australian National Capital Artists Gallery is just across the road at No. 1 Rosevear Place. The Canberra Bicycle Museum is two doors farther down at No. 3 Rosevear Place. The Bicycle Museum offers drinks and light snacks. More substantial meals are available at the nearby Dickson Tradies.
To return, retrace your route to Mr Spokes.
