Leg 5 - 40km Mountain Bike
Click on map to view full-size image - note that this overall map does not include the latest changes for the 2011 event, which are described below. Please note that sections of this course have been amended. New sections appear in bold type. The second mountain bike course starts from the grassy area adjacent to Acton Ferry Terminal, and heads west along the cycle path. Follow the "Sri Chinmoy 10 km Run" course signs, veering right at the fork to head through the tunnel under Lawson Cres, and over "Hospital Hill." Veer right again to cross over Sullivan's Creek, and proceed straight past Black Mountain Peninsula. At Acacia Inlet (after the rowing jetty), turn right onto the cycle path leading to Belconnen, across Lady Denman Dr (watch for traffic) and underneath Parkes Way and Caswell Dr.
Turn left off the cycle path onto the equestrian trail under William Hovell Dr, through the gate on the left with the sign, "Stock Grazing Within" (be sure to close this gate again!), and along the trail to the left, beside the former Cork Oak Plantation. After passing (and closing) a second "Stock Within" gate, turn immediately left, to head towards and into the new arboretum.
Turn to your left again to follow the road around the bottom of the arboretum (click map for larger image), then turn right onto the bitumem road leading up towards the summit of Dairy Farmers Hill. Follow this road all the way up and over the top of Dairy Farmers Hill. Turn left off this bitumen road onto a 4WD track heading around the flank of the hill, between areas of new forest plantings. At the next intersection, turn right (heading downhill). This track veers again to the left.
When you come to the gate, turn left (the old course used to go right here) and head up and over a few sharp hills. Conintuinung now around the western flank of the hill, look for a sharp right hand turn through a gate onto a disused and overgrown track heading downhill. Follow this to the gate at the bottome, and turn left onto the track. You have now rejoined the old course.
This track will lead you around, over a gate and down onto Pipe Flat, following this road for about 3 kms alongside Molonglo River until the next gate, bringing you to Coppins Crossing Road, where you turn left (downhill). Coppins Crossing marks the lowest altitudinal point of the entire Triple-Triathlon. Turn right immediately after the causeway, through the car park, then straight past the boulders, onto the small dirt road leading around beside the river. After a few hundred metres, look for the stile on your left over the fence. Climb over the stile and go to your right on to a main forest road, still following the direction of the river. Follow this road around, ignoring potential left hand turns. The track dips to a small causeway over a (usually dry) creek bed, then rises sharply to a T-junction. Go left here, heading uphill. Continue till you come to the 5-way intersection. Go straight ahead here, continuing up all the way.
Cross over and go right for about 50 metres, then left through the gate on the other side. After the gate turn go straight ahead, uphill. This is the "old" old course. Cross one gate and continue uphill. At the top of this track, when you come to a T junction, turn right. The track dips then rises again, bringing you to a 4-way intersection. Turn left here, then turn immediately right, onto a more obscure track. This in turn begins to ascend, then contours around the western side of Mt Stromlo. At the next fork in the track, turn left to head up a very steep climb towards the summit.
At the top of this climb, continue to your right, through the gate and onto the bitumen road. Follow the road around to your left past the observatories, looking out for a sharp hairpin turn to your left, around a metal gate and onto a fire trail, heading downwards. Follow this trail til you reach another sharp hairpin turn to your right, and continue descending. After the course dips and again rises briefly, take the second right turn, which brings you around another metal gate to the bitumen road leading down from Mt Stromlo. Take extreme care as you cross Cotter Rd, remembering that you MUST GIVE WAY TO ALL TRAFFIC. After crossing Cotter Rd, follow the dirt trail directly across the other side, which follows along to your left alongside Cotter Rd. Near the intersection with Eucumbene Dr, this track curves around to your right, following the right hand side of Eucumbene Dr.
Look for a right hand turn through the stile to join the track heading to the left up Narrabundah Hill. Take the first fork to your right, pass through or climb the gate on the way up, then take the next fork to your left, heading up. After passing the trig point on your right, continue straight down a long hill, ignoring the potential turn-off to your right, but going straight over another gate. Turn left at the bottom of this hill (the track is quite faint at the turn), coming around beside the large water storage tank, through the stile gap, and right again adjacent to Eucumbene Dr. Follow this track through the large ditch opposite the end of Hindmarsh Dr, and up the other side. This track veers to the left, and you continue following the fenceline around to your right, then beside Kathner St. At the intersection of Kathner St and Percy Cres, go straight onto and up the steep track leading to Cooleman Ridge.
Go left at the top, and proceed along Cooleman Ridge, behind Chapman. Continue all the way along Cooleman Ridge until you see a large tree at 11 o'clock, Veer left at the fork here, heading down towards the road. Go through the gate and turn right on the cycle path. Look out for the arrows to turn left off this cycle path, across the grass and over Namatjira Dr, taking extreme care of the 2-way traffic on this busy road. Follow the dirt track on the other side, veering left through the gate, then ultimately turning left at the next cycle path, following this cycle path to the changeover point beside Badimara St.
