CX/Strada bianca loop Hawthorndene directions
I'm looking at do a mixed road dirt road loop through Belair, Ironbank Scott Creek etc and need directions. Does anyone know if Olave Road when it turns to dirt is open all the way through to Turners Avenue? and is Suffolk Road back up to Upper Sturt Rd open?
Tags: cx., randonneuring, touring
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rob Wood on -
Olave hill road is open all the way through to Turners ave.
I dont think you can get through on suffolk road though.
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Permalink Reply by David Southern on -
Olave Hill Road is a passable fire track, but is "gated" (a chain, I think). Suffolk Road up to Footts Hill Rd (near Upper Sturt Road) is passable only for foot traffic, and is not suitable for riding. It has never been trafficable for vehicular traffic. We were only talking about these two roads on Monday night at CFS training.
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Permalink Reply by Julia on -
Hey fritty, that sounds like some sweet single track (passable only for foot traffic)should be nice on the CX if that is what you're planning!
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Permalink Reply by Dstone on -
hey potty I think you got your forums mixed up! I might still go have a look. Like Ozzy said there are paths so maybe its worth it. Looks steep and rough. good training for mt Torrens following weekend.
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Permalink Reply by Dstone on
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When you say foot traffic and not suitable for riding how do you mean? Is it mtb passable? hike a bike? Or people on bikes will be shot on sight?
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Permalink Reply by Dstone on
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Word on the street is the dirt section of suffolk behind the fence is vehicle access track so if correct technically we can ride through there. What are your thoughts?
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Permalink Reply by David Southern on
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The access track behind the gate near the functional intersection of Footts Hill Road and Upper Sturt Road is private property. The (cadastral) intersection of Suffolk Rd and Footts Hill Road is just southeast (about 50m) of the first house on the left of Footts Hill Road. Aerial photography confirms no track along Suffolk Road, even though the private access track is in places just over the fence..
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Permalink Reply by Dstone on
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Thanks David. Am getting conflicting reports from various forums but i suspect you are on the money. Going to re route Sundays ride so that we can use it as a hill climb TT cause it looks narrow, rough and steep (the way I like it). If we can get through so be it if not we got a bombing decent on the cx bikes and a nice(?) climb up Olave.
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Permalink Reply by David Southern on
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I had a look at Suffolk Rd today, from Footts Hill Rd.
The top portion is not fenced across, and has a "track" cut into the hill next to the northern fence-line. This looks as if it has not been used even as a footpath for some time. It may, however, be passable with care on a suitable bike, but it would be worth checking out by going down the whole section on foot first. (About 400m down to the bitumen at the bottom, 71m drop.)
Google street-view shows a tumble-down barbed wire fence across the bottom of the non-bitumen part.
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Permalink Reply by Dstone on
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Its rideable. One of the mtb crew went and had a look for me on a ride. there is 25% switchback climb at the bottom then straight up to Upper Sturt. Should be no prob on the cx if all stays dry. On the cards for a couple weeks time.
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Permalink Reply by David Southern on
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From Olave Hill Rd, travel East on Upper Sturt Rd, turn right onto Pole Rd (Immediately before the General Store). Bitumen, but a tough winding descent to the Sturt River (Creek?), and then a stiff climb out towards Ironbank. Turn left onto Coat Rd, (dirt) and follow that (NE direction) through to Ironbank Rd. Cross over (left-right dogleg) to Evans Drive (dirt) and head east to Scott Creek Rd, about 800m south of the Longwood Rd/Heathfield Rd intersection, Heathfield. Return towards Belair via Longwood Rd, Heather Rd and Sturt Valley Rd.
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