21 May 2018

Best of Canberra - Bike paths

| Gabrielle Kneipp
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This week’s callout for the best bike paths in Canberra yielded some fantastic suggestions. If you are new to Canberra, cycling or just looking for a different track, be sure to check out the comments from our readers here.

A few mentioned how bike paths are nostalgic to them, ingrained into past memories and I understand that, having similar sentiments for bike paths from where I grew up. There was also an appreciation for the history behind some tracks. With that in mind, the first path I chose was from O’Connor shops toward Dryandra Road, joining onto the back of the GIO Stadium and Australian Institute of Sport and through to Lake Ginninderra.

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It is quite an easy-going track and included what looked like diversions for mountain bike riders. It has a way of making you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere and then suddenly arriving at a main road. There are some fantastic rolling hills that are great fun to ride up and down; mountain bike riders would love it.

I’m so happy to have discovered this path. As a way of commuting, it is going to make my life so much easier and a much quicker way to get places.

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The other path I tried was more for enjoyment than a commute. On Sunday afternoon I ventured out with some friends for the Lake Burley Griffin circuit. Previously, I have ridden parts of this loop but never the whole thing at once. I loved it! If you are unfamiliar with the route you can download a map of it here.

My favourite part was the Western Loop, where everything seemed to be alive. Skirting past ANU, across Scrivener Dam where people were fishing and swimming, by the Forrest Park riding school where a lesson was underway, through the leafy Westbourne Woods and along the Royal Canberra Golf Club where many golf carts indicated their drivers were out working on the perfect swing. To the Canberra Yacht Club and catching a glimpse of windsurfers tearing into shore. It was a stunning day and wonderful seeing everyone out enjoying it.

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If you are trying it out for the first time and not quite sure where to go, never fear! It is really well signposted and gives you an idea of how far away certain landmarks are.

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The Lake Burley Griffin circuit gets the Best of Canberra tick of approval this week. It can be as long or short, easy or hard as you like. Either leisurely taking some visitors around to show Canberra off or making it a trek to improve fitness. It will definitely be a new regular ride for me.

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Ezy said :

Maya123 said :

Ezy said :

The second pic shows your bike leaning against a trail marker for the Canberra Centenary Trail – a 145km loop that takes you through the best suburban and rural settings we have to offer. It can be done in parts – I have completed the loop in a day which took about 7 hours.

I recommend giving parts of that a try next time you are feeling more adventurous… although a mountain bike is more suited here.

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/rural/canberra-centenary-trail

“Canberra Centenary Trail”
I walked some of that the other day. I nice recreational route for walkers and cyclists. I didn’t see any other walkers that day, but I passed several people on mountain bikes making good use of it.

Nice! What section did you check out?

A section in the west along the north. I have also walked some in Mulligan’s Flat.

And, I forgot to add, is that route paved all the way and suitable for a road bike? You say that there are “diversions” for MTB riders, which implies off-road as an option rather than a necessity, yet the route sounds like it might cut through Bruce Ridge which I assume does not include paved paths?

Is there a map of the first path?

Maya123 said :

Ezy said :

The second pic shows your bike leaning against a trail marker for the Canberra Centenary Trail – a 145km loop that takes you through the best suburban and rural settings we have to offer. It can be done in parts – I have completed the loop in a day which took about 7 hours.

I recommend giving parts of that a try next time you are feeling more adventurous… although a mountain bike is more suited here.

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/rural/canberra-centenary-trail

“Canberra Centenary Trail”
I walked some of that the other day. I nice recreational route for walkers and cyclists. I didn’t see any other walkers that day, but I passed several people on mountain bikes making good use of it.

Nice! What section did you check out?

Ezy said :

The second pic shows your bike leaning against a trail marker for the Canberra Centenary Trail – a 145km loop that takes you through the best suburban and rural settings we have to offer. It can be done in parts – I have completed the loop in a day which took about 7 hours.

I recommend giving parts of that a try next time you are feeling more adventurous… although a mountain bike is more suited here.

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/rural/canberra-centenary-trail

“Canberra Centenary Trail”
I walked some of that the other day. I nice recreational route for walkers and cyclists. I didn’t see any other walkers that day, but I passed several people on mountain bikes making good use of it.

Gabrielle Kneipp10:18 am 17 Feb 16

Sounds great! I’d love to tackle it one day, thanks for the heads up.

The second pic shows your bike leaning against a trail marker for the Canberra Centenary Trail – a 145km loop that takes you through the best suburban and rural settings we have to offer. It can be done in parts – I have completed the loop in a day which took about 7 hours.

I recommend giving parts of that a try next time you are feeling more adventurous… although a mountain bike is more suited here.

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/rural/canberra-centenary-trail

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