SUNDAY RIDE REPORT

It rained. A lot. You missed nothing.

-Billsy

CATFORD CYCLING CLUB HILL CLIMB

2010 Catford Hill Climb Winner (15 years old!) via BRR

As we head in to the second of our time trials, I thought finding this was timely...AW

Blurb from the Catford website....
'The oldest continuing cycle race in the world'

This prestigious event goes back to 1886 and, with the exception of the war years, has been run ever since. Traditionally on the first Sunday in October. prior to the formation of the RTTC it was considered to be the ‘Championship of All England’ and still attracts the leading 'Hill-Climb' riders from all over the country.

The challenge is Yorks Hill (click for map) a 707yd climb with an average gradient of 12.5%, with two stretches of 25%. Needing an all-out lung bursting effort. The current record of 1min 47.6 was set by Phil Mason (San Fairy Ann CC) in 1983 and despite the inducement of a special prize has not been broken in 19 years!

This is not only a sporting spectacle viewed by hundreds but is also a social occasion providing an opportunity for an annual cyclist's 'get together'.

The Brighton Mitre Hill Climbs on Saturday, together with the Catford CC Hill Climb Classic on Sunday morning and the Bec CC Hill Climb on Sunday afternoon form the ‘4 Hills Competition’ with a prize for the best overall placing in the four events. This guarantees a good weekend's racing and makes it a worthwhile trip.

BTW there is a SA version on Willunga run by Kilkenny Cycling Club. FS

STRANGE HAPPENINGS!!!

So you may have thought with the title, that I'd be referring to the bizarre fact that Adelaide won the football yesterday, nope. Strange but I'm talking stranger than that.

You may also be forgiven for thinking that perhaps Andrew is talking about the fact that he won B-Grade at golf on the weekend, also strange but that would make me a little self absorbed if I was to mention that.

No this strange thing happened on the ride yesterday, the like of which I have never seen before. After getting to Meadows without hiccup, we were all sat drinking coffees and stuffing ourselves with cake. when POP! ttssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Yep, Michaels back tyre decided to spontaneously burst and go flat by itself. Noone was anywhere near it and it was just resting up against the other bikes. However, something, somewhere decided that the three punctures he had last weekend were not enough, and decided to burst his tyre for him.

Hopefully, his luck changes soon. Well done to the 8 or so riders that came out. Back to the beaches next week. I'll try for one last legs of the week, and probably a post about the weekend's ride before I hand the steering wheel back to Frank, as he and Kate return from Europe on Friday.

-AW

SUNDAY RIDE REVIEW

Flats, Flats and more flats....

Rides after big rain always tend to have one thing in common, flat tyres! today's ride was no different, with signs ominous early when Andy T picked one up along war memorial drive. North terrace through to Port Road for the beach runs from now on lads.

Gatesy had one heading into the outer harbour sprint, leaving a very close finish between myself, sam and Hugh. if i knew the finish line I'd be happier making the call, though I'm pretty sure it was relative newcomer Hugh. I suspect he won the next two sprints from Homberg, though I wasn't close enough to see the results.

Special mention must go to Michael, with an excellent chase down of Homburg along the foreshore heading to evida.

I claim the most spectacular puncture after getting sideways on one of the roundabouts on the way to Genelg, yet holding it together long enough not to stack, which is becoming all too familiar of late. The last puncture of the day went again to andy t again, probably less than 1km from his house.

Was great to see the Macolino brothers back from O/S and was a good solid hit out for those that made it out. For those hibernating in winter, its time to get back out before you can't keep up, I'm looking at you Mr. Kuss!!

-AW

SUN RIDE REVIEW

Firstly, apologies for the lack of action shots, my lack of skill dictates that I must be stationary when taking photos.

A relatively small crew headed out yesterday, given the fantastic weather. With a loyal 6 heading up Nortons and through Basket and Forest Range. The trend set on the way home from Strathalbyn a couple of weeks ago was continued, with all the team riding together up Nortons, listening to Captain Virgo bark orders to ensure everyone could maintain the right pace.

Rather than the usual stop near the driveway to the Lookout, Brian dragged us up to the Mt. Lofty carpark prior to the descent down the old freeway. Hopefully, the weather continues to be this good for the rest of the winter.

-AW

SUN RIDE - STRATH REVIEW

More photos @BG.flickr

Nice ride to Strath in freezing conditions, again the BG were spared from rain just some wet roads and a cool SE breeze which pushed against us on the way there and gave us a gentle push on the way home. The group was great today sticking together for all of the ride with just a couple of short regroups after climbs.

Bonus points go to Homburg chasing the group all the way to Strath after sleeping in reeling in a 10 min head start form Crafers and just catching us 50km later as we got to the cafe - respect! Great Cafe can recommend the cheese, ham & tomato toastie - gold! With the burg in the group the pace back was a little stronger but still steady and again we hung together well.

Great to see a decent gathering of riders willing to take up the challenge of a longer ride. It's an easier one next week with a beach ride, so I hope to see even more of you out there. FS

SUN RIDE IN REVIEW - P.W.L.

Good ride Sunday adn good to expose the BG to some new territory + I copped less abuse at the top of saddle hill rd then I expected in fact non at all from the group on Sunday. I think the shear beauty of the park and the brilliant ride across the bottom and top balance out the steepness of the climb. If this climb was through pastral land or suburbia, it would be sh!t. But in its setting, it’s a gem, no cars, brilliant scenery, good surface, and a hell of a climb. Turns out Beaumont road and Gum flat road are f##cking brilliant rides also! Having never ridden them in whole they add up to be a brilliant ride. Your exposed to enough of my thoughts, so I asked the boys to put some words together. FS

“I made my first appearance since (well before) Easter and was greeted with a lazy 91 kms and nearly 1500 vertical meters of climbing. It was fantastic with a couple of long climbs through Belair national park and much later into Ashton and onto Marble Hill. The weather was fantastic and the scenery was fantastic particularly just outside of Verdun. There were also quite a few short sharp climbs some of which were quite steep often around 8 or 9%. The Route is definitely one to add to the “regular” list. - Craig L


"FS's 'Mothers Day Classic' route is probably one of the best new routes that we have had over the years. It was challenging, interesting and very scenic. Although Mothers Day demands required me to take the short cut at Carey Gully back down Greenhill Road and home, the ride up to then had been excellent with some great new climbs and ridge top riding. I am sure that the balance of the full ride, including the last sprint down Montacute Road, would have left the remaining riders satisfied with their serious 90km hills hit-out. One to remember and schedule again." - Brian V


When I saw the planned ride from FS, and that people had asked for tougher routes I was concerned. FS, "should I pull out the Pinarello for this ride?" thinking of switching back to compact? "HTFU" was the customary and expected response that I received. It was then a surprise, that as we rolled off - no FS. He'd had his Dad's 60th the night before and so I figured he'd had one too many drinks. However, as we hit Pirie Street, there he was. When Brian asked to see his eyes, and two pale slits turned back, all I could think of, was the pain we were about to experience.

Only 8 lads came out, with Alf and Michael turning @ Belair due to Mother's Day. I really like climbing Belair Road, its gradient never gets too steep, but, you always have to keep working the entire way. Then Saddle Hill Road climb in Belair National Park. At this stage everything was jovial as we were reminded that Homburg had given his seal of approval for the climb and therefore it couldn't be that bad. Getting Dave's seal of approval for a climb left me fairly worried. Needless to say the fear began to set in, thoughts in my head began turning to things like the walk of shame (checker hill), and why hadn't I grabbed the compact gears.

We rolled through most of the park, before a quick right turn over a bridge highlighted a taste of what was to come. It's hard to describe the climb it was relentless, not as steep as checkers, it kept going, the end felt like it was never going to come, my heart rate hit the 170 mark, and yet I enjoyed every single bit of it. It was a bloody hard slog, made harder by the fact I was still in 2nd gear till 3/4's of the way up when I reached out to the shifter in sheer hope. Oh, and then we still had to climb the top end of Sheoak.

I think the fact that Sam's wheel slipped in the wet twice early on the last steep section of the climb, tells everything about the climb up Sheoak. Yep, even more grinding, side to side, in the saddle, out the saddle, nothing but hard work, stupidly done with a silly grin on my face. I'm beginning to think I may have an illness. Sadly, Mothers Day cut my ride short here, and I descended down the old freeway leaving the others to take on another of FS’s climbs, Beaumont Road \ Gum flat. - Andrew W

RIDE REVIEW

Image via rbuijsman

SCUZZI TUE NIGHT RIDE

Great flats ride with good numbers and a hard and fast pace as covered in WANNA RIDE. There is also three pace groups earlier groups - are a bit more civil. Great lights aren't compulsory on this one as street light most of the way but bring em if you got em. The ride goes from Scuzzi Cafe in nth adel, down Grange Rd - Military Rd - Semaphore - Outer Harbour Rnd about SPRINT 1, regather - Victoria Rd - Port Rd - SPRINT 2 over bridge on Robe Tce - back to Scuzzi.

See GARMIN DATA for direction - and fast group pace (note: no wind, sprinted 1-2 respective).

Three groups ride:

30km/h @ 6.15pm

35km/h @ 6.20pm

>40km/h @ 6.30pm

Meal, coffee, wine, beer go down after, great group of cyclist who were real friendly and enjoy a good hit out.

RIDE REVIEW..

ASHTON - POUND RD LOOP

This is a cracker if you’re looking to add a few kms to a lazy Norton’s ride and crank it up a couple of notches! This loop combines some short climbs and one of my favourite descents, finishing on pond road / knots hill climb.

MAP MY RIDE ROUTE

The loop will add 12km to a Norton’s Ashton run – taking me 1.40min from the Parade up Norton’s - the loop and back the same way (Norton’s time was an 18 - held that pace). I haven't mapped Norton’s into the route as you all understand what Norton’s is and what it is about.

The loop starts with a power climb up into Ashton followed by a glorious decent in to my favourite never ending hairpin - love it! From here it’s a good little climb into Basket Range which again is a good little climb which can be attacked with pace.

From here drop down another cracking little decent - still on Lobethal Rd and hang a left on to Hunters Road. You’ll keep some pace all the way till the bottom of the climb and hang a left over the bridge onto Knotts Hill Rd.

Straight away you'll fell the pinch of this climb, and it makes a man whish he'd put his climbing SL wheels on and a lower range cassette!! It real 1st grinding stuff and doesn't give up for the first 800m. Similar to Fox’s, but steeper and twice the length. Once over this initial grade you think you’re reaching a top of some thing but after a false flat allowing you to regain some cadence she kicks again all the way to the top.

Pound Rd Climb
Climb Distance: 2.5km
Average Gradient : 8%
Elevation Gain: 195m
Difficulty: 9/10 (Foxes - 7/10)

LINK TO MAP MY RIDE - Pound Rd Climb

LINK TO CYCLE 2 MAX - Knotts Pound Road Climb

From here its on to marble hill road and a nice decent on to Lobethal Rd. If you really want to make it interesting try Pound Roads little brother, while you’re in the area - The less well known Burdetts Road which stems off the bottom of Knots Hill at the base of the climb and spits you out at the Basket Range hall. Also a very steep tuff climb - half as long, but you then get to have fun climbing into Ashton as well!

All round a great loop and could be run in reverse but you'll end up with less good descending - but with the Burdetts climb thrown in will mix it up bit. Highly recommend giving it a crack and takes you thru some of the best terrain in the hills and has a real alpine fell - you'll forget your 30min ride from the city! - FS

RIDE RATING: 9/10 has it all!