A group of local mountain bike riders enjoy a Thursday ride.

These commence at 10am from the intersection of Hector McWilliam Drive and the road into the Kyla Oval Recreation Reserve. We ride to Princes Highway, cross over and travel up Old Mill Road to Italian Mine Road, along Western Boundary Road to H Ridge, descending to Triangle Road and returning via Old Mill Road.

This is a moderately strenuous ride of about 30kms suited to those who want a little more exercise in the delightful forest area behind Turlinjah. Special features are the scenery, sounds and fragrances among bird and other wildlife; enjoyed with good company.

The rides terminate about 12.30pm after working up a healthy appetite for lunch.

Interested riders are welcome to simply show up and join in, subject always to tolerable weather. Bring water and an energy snack.

These rides have now been held regularly for many months and will continue year round, much like the Friday kayaking event.

A bit of History of Cycling in the Eurobodalla:

The Bicycle Club of Corunna, and the velodrome they built near Mystery Bay around 1892.

Today I had the very good fortune to come across Graham Andrews while he was pedalling through
Bermagui. Graham had told me previously he knew the location of the velodrome, but added the
latest news; the actual circuit of the velodrome has recently been slashed.

On my way home some local folk directed me to Corunna Point and to the velodrome itself.

Slashing has removed much of the growth that would have hidden portions of the circuit, so it is now
possible to walk around the track and to see original contours and embankments that were built by
those energetic enthusiasts in the 1890’s. Some of them are probably in that photograph resurrected
from history.

Walking around the old velodrome is not quite like walking where Romans once held chariot races.
But in terms of Australia’s history it is as relevant. Wheelmen who competed on that velodrome were
probably among, or fathered our famous ANZACs.

The NPWS Management Plan for Corunna Point, prepared in July 1998, brings together more information and
photographs relating to Corunna Point.

It seems the Bicycle Club of Corunna was very active to the turn of the century. In 1899 clubs amalgamated and changed
their name to Central Tilba Cycling Club. It was proposed to join the NSW League of Wheelmen and to procure club
uniforms – this did not proceed.

School teachers, so splendidly represented in our Eurobodalla BUG, might be proud to note “One of the more notable
cycling enthusiasts was local school teacher Maude Eaton who was a very active member of the Corunna Cycling Club”.

For those willing to step back in time, to another November day; long before the first, hideous, World War; the Tilba Times, of
Wednesday 16 November 1898 records this description penned for us by a long dead correspondent:-

“On Wednesday last the much talked of sports under the auspices of the Tilba Lake Bicycle Club came off on the
Corunna Recreation ground. Beautiful weather prevailed, a moderate breeze from off the Pacific tempering the rays
of what would have otherwise been an uncomfortably warm sun. The attendance was large, the fair sex being strongly represented, and
a fair sprinkling of visitors were also in evidence. It would be a difficult task, perhaps, to find a more perfectly lovely spot for purposes
of recreation than that which has fallen into the lot of the people of this district. Situated
on a commanding eminence, with a gradual slope to the water’s edge and a splendid stretch of beach sweeping away to
the northward, it overlooks a magnificent expanse of ocean, while Montegue Island, in spite of the intervening space of
some seven miles, looks a mere stone throw away. Since the writer’s last visit to the spot, many substantial improvements
have been affected on the ground and it was abundantly evident that the trustees had not been idle. Some 10 to a dozen handsome
garden seats were dispersed at convenient intervals within the enclosure; a substantial weathershed, with a large iron tank for the
convenience of picnicing parties had been erected; a considerable amount of clearing had been affected;
and a bicycle track ............”.

Picture that! All done by community spirited volunteers without a Government handout, Public Liability Insurance contract,
an Occupational Health + Safety expert or a policy advisor. Incredible.

The velodrome is on the heritage list and background information can be found here

Don Burns