Ride Description
A number of BT members and others have fairly regularly done this ride, it is especially appropriate for those who wish to ride such a distance in a day for the first time as it is about as flat a 200km you will find in Tasmania! There are also regular towns with cafes and shops for fuelling up.
BT havenft formally organised such a ride (perhaps we should) it just seems to happen when there is a critical mass of cyclists interested, though the last ride in February it was in the Audax calendar.
You can of course follow the highway all the way and there is a good sealed shoulder just about all the way so the traffic is not a safety concern. But it is a far nicer and cruisey ride if you avoid the highway as much as possible.
The route we usually take out of Lfton is the Westbury Road through Prospect and Prospect Vale, over the Bass Hwy then follow the old highway parallel to the current Bass Hfwy.
Turn left as the next roundabout into Pateena Road the through to Longford. From there via Cressy on the B51 and C522 through to Campbell town or direct to Ross on a short section dirt road, this has never in my experience been a problem, quite suitable for skinny tyres with a little care.
There is another option from Lfford via the C520 it is a quieter road (you may not see a car at all) leading through to Campbelltown. This is slightly shorter than via Cressy.
From Campbell town or Ross there are no other options but to follow the Hfway until you get to the Coal River Valley turnoff about 11km south of Oatlands. Continuing on the main road from there is the same distance but quicker than following the Coal River through Colebrook to Richmond (good bakery). In my opinion it is again far nicer to get off the Hfway and have a bit of peace and quiet.
The slight problem with following the Coal River Valley is actually getting into Hobart. From Richmond you can ride over Grasstree Hill, a lovely climb but perhaps not what you want having just put 180kms into your legs!
If you follow the B31 from Richmond to Cambridge and onto the Tasman Hwy you will end up on the Tasman Br. It is legal to ride over the bridge but not advisable unless the traffic is very light, and even then you must take up a whole traffic lane. The shared pedestrian/cycle pathways are either side are narrow but OK.
There are a few other options - for instance linking up with the Intercity Cycleway if you follow the Hwy into the outskirts of Hobart but a bit too complicated and avoiding the Tasman Hwy approach to the Tasman Br if you are coming into Hobart from Richmond.
 |
On patrol to find ways of making life better for ALL cyclists.
Send all general enquiries to secretary.biketas@gmail.com. This and related page(s) have been viewed Read our General Disclaimer. |