Training

So you’ve got your new Knicks, Jersey, Helmet and Killer Sunnies and you’ve taken out a second mortgage on your new bike (you know you deserve it !) and now you find out that you still have to pedal it ! Unfortunately unless you are going to be a Downhiller then you are going to have work on improving your skills and fitness!

Some important Notes

You must be a member of the ACF / MTBA for insurance coverage when riding (See the membership page for more details)
Carry at least one spare tube and a pump and enough money to get home by Taxi if necessary
Obey Road Rules at all Times (especially at Traffic Lights) or Bush Rules if on the MTB
if your training aims are different to those of the bunch then find a different bunch !

Here are some Dates and times for social and training rides for ‘Roadies’ and MTB.

Cafe Ride
Saturday - Each Week throughout the year - Departs Sutherland Postoffice at 6.30am, Waterfall, Helensberg then depending on the time available either straight back to Sutherland for Coffee or optional Stanwell tops, up Waterfall or Garie to return to Sutherland @ 8.30R for Coffee (at FIX)
Distance 40k to 60km
Difficulty Low to High (depending on what you want to do)
Steady training ride with stops for punctures or mechanicals

Club Ride
Sunday - Each Week throughout the year - but especially the 1st Sunday of each month.
Departs at 07:00 Caringbah Inn , via Captain Cook Drive, Grand Parade, Foreshore Drive, Double Bay (Hills Optional), Bondi Junction, Coffee stop at Centennial Park (arrive 09:00 depart 09:30 ) return to Caringbah around 10:45.
Distance 70-80Km
Difficulty Low to Medium
This is aimed at being social ride suitable for all abilities and not a full on training ride although racing up the hills (as long as you regroup at the top) is acceptable. The bunch will normally stop for punctures or mechanical problems, short cuts to avoid the hills are available for the gravity challenged
Note: The first Sunday of each month is when all riders should attend this ride so we can catch up with each other, make it your easy recovery week ! The last Sunday of the month is your hard ride (See ‘Gong ride)

Park Ride
Sunday - Each Week throughout the year - Except Last Sunday of each month see ‘Gong ride
Departs at 06:30 Sutherland Postoffice, Heathcote, Waterfall, Royal National Park back to Service Station at Sutherland. Depart 08:10 for Centennial Park via Boulevard, Paraweena, Grand Parade, General Holmes, Gardeners Rd (arrive 09:00 depart 09:30) return as above.
Distance 110km
Difficulty Medium to High
The Hills through the RNP early on the ride plus the chaingang into the city make this a formidable ride. The bunch does not normally stop towards the end of Session.

Tri Ride
Tuesday and Thursday - Each week of the Year - (1st Group) Departs Caringbah Shops 05:00 sharp (2nd Group 05:02) Sydney Airport, Botany, Grand Parade return to Caringbah around 06:20
Distance 38km (or 70km if Kurnell is added return Caringbah 07:10 am)
Difficulty 1st Group Medium to Hard, 2nd Group Low to Medium
Note: This training ride is in held in conjunction with the Cronulla Triathlon Club club

‘Gong Ride
Wednesdays - Each Week throughout the year - Plus last Sunday of Each month departs at 06.30 though
Departs @ 07:00 Sutherland Postoffice, Heathcote, Waterfall, Old Princes Highway to Garrawarra, Helensberg, (because the coast road is closed straight on to) Darkes Forest, Bulli Tops, down Bulli Pass (take care at the right turn at the bottom for turning vehicles) over the hump and take a left onto Point St to take you to the seafront and use the bike path to cruise to the ‘gong to get your Coffee and supplies. Return either the same way, Yes that means going up Bulli Pass or via the Princes Highway to Mount Kiera Rd, climb to the top (@30min climb), turn right onto Clive Bissel Drive and then turn left onto Mount Ousley Rd (Caution this is a main road and has HGV’s on it which like to use the hard shoulder) and did I mention the 3 sisters ? Take the turn off at Bulli Tops for the Old Princes Highway and return to Sutherland @ 11.300) return as above.
Distance 110km
Difficulty Medium to High depending on how well you are going
Note: Expect a southerly breeze on the Old Princes Highway combined with the undulating road can make this a tough trip down. Stock up in Wollongong as once your up the climbs the next available water is at Helensburgh Garage. Expect a tailwind on the way home and an increase in pace as the horses hit the final furlongs.

Park Ride
Wednesdays - Each Week throughout the year
Departs @ 16.30 SSCC Clubhouse - Waratah Park, Heathcote, Waterfall, Stanwell Tops and return
Distance 60km
Difficulty Medium - A hilly ride but the bunch regroups

Beaches Ride
Tuesday and Thursday - Each week of the Year - Depart from the Shell Service Station (Cnr Paraweena Rd) at Taren Point about 5.05am either just in front or with the tri bunch but unless they are cooking, we're off. Same as Tri Ride (See above) to Botany then Wentworth Ave, Mascot across Marourbra Rd. to Arden St. through Coogee, Clovelly, Bronte, Tamarama, Bondi beach. From here, Cashy has devised a new route up Curlewis St. Bondi to Birriga Rd Climbing through Bellvue Hill and back down onto New South Hd. Rd. and back into the cross via the old route just in time to do a turn at the front of the Calutzi bunch departing the cross at 6.20. Returns to Caringbah at 7.15.
This is a high quality ride (fast and hilly) and is not suitable if you are just starting out ! Tuesday is a hard pace with Thurs. backed off a notch.

Waratah Park
The #2 track at Waratah Park is reserved for SSCC use between 6-8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and is ideal for safe ‘off’ road training on the floodlit # 2 circuit, however the tracks are open to the public so please take care.

Billie’s Bushies Ride
Departing Sutherland pool at 07:00 in summer the ride is through the Royal National Park and so is a hilly ride and in Winter to Sydney and back. All levels of riders catered for.

Track Training
Hurstville Oval (run by St George CC at Dora Street opposite Pearl Street, Hurstville)
Monday 4.30pm – 6.00pm – Junior Track Training with Jim Beer
Tuesday 7.30pm – 100 lap training ride l
Wednesday 7.30pm – Senior Track Team & Skills Training with Brett Dutton
Thursday 7.30pm – 100 lap training ride

Dunc Gray Velodrome
Mondays 6pm - 7:15pm Junior Riders with coaching from the Bankstown CC
7:15pm - 9:00pm Senior Rides with coaching and running from Kevin Young

MTB
The Metro section of the club cater for beginners and the more social side of MTB riding.

If you would like additional rides listed here please let me know !