Ride: Canberra to Yass and return

RIDE DETAILS

Start time was 5:45am
Temperature: 0 degrees
Average speed: 30.5
Total Distance: 120 km
Visibility: good, little fog
Total Ascent: 964metres

CBR - YASS ride profile CBR - YASS map

The profile map only shows the ride in one direction but I think you can get the idea of what the return journey would have looked like.

The ride out to Yass was nice enough; I went out via Bedulluck Rd (the road to the Poacher’s Panty for those of you who know). It is in better condition than the Barton Highway and that includes the 3kms of dirt road due to road works. It’s also for the most part a downhill run to Yass which makes it easier. Obviously there is also less traffic going this way as well.

Coming back was a different story. I was running short of time owing to my 10am curfew so I came home directly down Barton Highway. Barton Highway is rough with a lot of lose stone on the shoulder, which is also in average condition in parts. Combine this with the uphill ride it makes it a bumpy, rough slow ride home. The only redeeming aspect of the ride home is when you come back into Canberra you hit the duel lane part of the Barton Hwy which is very smooth by comparison and suddenly you find your speed goes up by about 8kms.

As for traffic on the Barton Hwy, personally I didn’t think it was too much of an issue and certainly wasn’t what put me off the ride, there were a few trucks but they kept their distance.

And if you think I’m a nutter for riding the Barton Hwy, imagine my surprise when I saw a bunch of older riders (my guess was they were about 55+) on the road between Murrumbateman and Yass.

  
        
          

Comments

  1. Ross says:

    Another different way to get to Yass that has a lot less traffic is via Fairlight Rd (joins Uriarra Rd at the bottom of Uriarra Crossing) follow that for a few kms until you get to intersection of Mountain Creek Rd, turn right, then follow to Yass Rd (which turns into Wee Jasper Rd) and this takes you into Yass.

    There are a couple of short dirt sections, one on Fairlight Rd and one on Yass Rd but are able to be traversed on a road bike without to many dramas. There is also a nice climb on Yass Rd that goes for a couple of kms (not sure of the gradient).

    Yass is approx 25km from the Fairlight Rd/Mountain Creek Rd intersection.

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