Cycling in Sydney: Clubs, Classic Routes and the Velodrome at Sydney Olympic Park

Sydney is one of Australia's great cycling cities, with a varied landscape that takes riders from flat coastal paths along the harbour foreshore to genuine mountain climbs in the Blue Mountains foothills to the west. Whether you are into road racing, criteriums, track cycling or simply enjoy a long social ride on a Sunday morning, there is a place for you in Sydney's busy cycling community. The city's cycling clubs are among the most active in the country, and most welcome new members regardless of fitness level or experience.

Track cycling in Sydney has a world-class home at the Dunc Gray Velodrome, the indoor banked track built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics at Bass Hill in the city's south-west. Cycling NSW coordinates track programs and competitions at the velodrome, and sessions are open to novices through to elite riders. The track format is a fantastic introduction to racing for those who find the traffic of road cycling off-putting, and the club environment is exceptionally welcoming to beginners who show up willing to learn.

Road cycling clubs operate across every region of Sydney, from the Northern Beaches Cycling Club and Manly Warringah Cycling Club on the coast to clubs in Parramatta, Penrith and the outer western suburbs. Most clubs run group rides at different pace levels on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and weekly criterium racing at circuits like Heffron Park in Maroubra is a popular way to race in a safe, closed environment. Criteriums typically run from spring through to autumn, and club membership usually includes third-party insurance coverage for racing.

Some of Sydney's most loved cycling routes include the route from the CBD out to Akuna Bay on the northern shore, the climb over the Old Pacific Highway through Cowan and Berowra, and the coastal flat stretches along Centennial Park's dedicated cycling circuit, which remains a favourite for early-morning training rides. Centennial Park is also one of the few places in inner Sydney where cyclists can ride a loop without interruption from traffic, and on weekend mornings it is filled with road cyclists, mountain bikers and families on hire bikes.

Cycling NSW is the governing body for the sport in the state, and its website lists affiliated clubs, upcoming events and pathway programs for juniors and women. The organisation also runs come-and-try track days at the velodrome and oversees the junior development program, which has produced a number of Australian national representatives over the years. Whether you are clipping in for the first time or hunting for your next club to race with, Sydney's cycling community is well-organised, enthusiastic and genuinely glad to have you along.

Sources: Cycling NSW Dunc Gray Velodrome Centennial Parklands

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