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Date: 2/25/2026
Subject: Bike North Chain Reaction 25 February 2026
From: Bike North



   25 February 2026              Your Bike North NewsLETTER

Big Rides Day - Waterview cafe

The next Big Rides Day will be held on 19 April. 
Rides will conclude at the Waterview cafe in Bicentennial Park. 
Because this is an "extra" Big Rides Day for the year, we will try something a little different. 
Every rider will get a voucher from Bike North for a free coffee, tea or other,
and riders can purchase any food themselves (or bring your own).   
We will spread out on the grass beside the Waterview and chat with all our friends, new and old.  
The Big Rides Day in August will be the AGM with a full picnic lunch.   
Put 19 April in your diary and watch the Calendar to register for any of the many rides on that day.    

David Thomson

President | Bike North 

What's happening at Bike North?

The next committee meeting is Tuesday 3rd of March 2026.
Some highlights from January's Committee meeting: 
 
The Committee noted two major highlights for the month of January:
 The opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Ramp.  Well done to those who dedicated decades of effort to achieve this day.  
 
Bike North organised 62 rides during the month, this being one of our biggest totals ever. Thanks to Ride Leaders who volunteer their time to provide members with this enjoyment.
 
The next Big Rides Day will be held on Sunday 19 April 2026. Put the date in your diary now and keep an eye on the Calendar to register for a ride.
 
Trial membership will be extended from one to three months. 
Why not invite your friends or colleagues to give cycling with Bike North a try?
 
The Membership Co-ordinator will speak to new members to support them in finding rides to suit their interest and level.
 
Waitlist response times will be extended from the current 4 hours to 8 hours for a trial period.
Provide your feedback to rides@bikenorth.org.au
 
Bike North members are welcome to attend Committee meetings either in person or online. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month.

Tom Rubin

Secretary |Bike North

Getting Down and Dirty at Tour de Cowra 2026

This year, in addition to the usual sealed road routes, gravel rides have been introduced to Bike North’s Easter Tour de Cowra programme. The new gravel routes are extremely scenic and use well-maintained, unsealed roads. Some contain significant hill climbs. 
 
During the last few Tour de Cowra editions, a small but intrepid but group of long-standing Bike North members (Malcolm Wade, Roger Leigh and Chris Horsfield) designed, rode and documented some new routes on the excellent dirt roads of the Cowra district. TdC2026 now offers a gravel option each day.
 
Most bicycles - except for road bikes whose thin tyres and other design elements render them at best awkward - are suitable for these rides. Mountain, gravel and some commuter or touring bikes would be suitable. Electrically assisted bikes will be great - just make sure you begin with a full charge on the day! We recommend at least 35mm tyres, a GPS unit with maps, and some low gears, especially for the Mt Collins gravel ride. Tubeless tyres are worth considering.
 
Riders who wish to participate in TdC2026 gravel rides should have experience riding on unsealed roads before coming to Cowra. The road surfaces are good to very good, but of course they can change quickly, especially after rain. 
The TdC2026 calendar of events is now available to view on the Bike North Calendar and, for an overall summary of Tour de Cowra, please visit www.bikenorth.org.au/Tour_de_Cowra.

Keith Griffin| Life member

Big News: The "MetroWay" is officially here

(and you can ride it today!)

Hello BikeNorth members,

Exciting news dropped on the 16th of February for those of us who ride in the Inner West and Southwest!

The NSW Government has officially christened the new Sydenham to Bankstown active transport link the “MetroWay”

and has officially sent the construction contract out to tender.  This ride was long signalled, unfortunately didn't arrive for the poor locals who have struggled in packed buses for over a year.  Anyway it has and it is a very big announcement that is embelished by govt media as follows. 

 

What is the MetroWay?

The MetroWay is set to be a 13.8km “cycling spine” that will provide a seamless, high-quality connection from Bankstown all the way to the GreenWay at Dulwich Hill, continuing through to Sydenham.

The Vision:

  • Separated & Safe: Designed for all ages and riding abilities.
  • Green & Lit: The government is promising extensive tree planting for shade, integrated lighting for night riding, and clear wayfinding.
  • Highly Connected: It will link directly into the GreenWay, creating a continuous safe path from Bankstown to the Bay Run at Iron Cove.
  • Bike-Friendly Stations: The project includes over 350 new bike parking spaces and secure lockers across the southwest metro stations.

A small taste of the project is already here—the new Dulwich Hill Station Plaza just opened this week, featuring new sandstone seating and landscaping that will eventually connect directly to the MetroWay path.

The Timeline (The "Catch")

While we’ll see the new Metro trains running later this year, the full, shiny version of the MetroWay isn't slated for completion until late 2028.

Ride the "Draft" Version Today

We don't have to wait until 2028 to explore this route! While the official separated path is under construction, you can already ride the "Draft MetroWay" using a mix of local streets and existing paths that follow the rail corridor.

Since we know most BikeNorth riders prefer RideWithGPS for navigation, we’ve updated the links below so you can sync the route directly to your head unit or phone.

Get the Route & More Info:

It’s great to see this infrastructure finally getting a name and a timeline. We’ll be keep a close eye on the tender process and look forward to seeing more "spades in the ground" soon!

Puzzle:  For those who understand the area, notice how the new MetroWay route crosses the Cooks River trail and doesn't use it at all.  I am not sure how that works.  

Happy riding,

Garry from CycleSydney 
 


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