TDU Challenge 2011

Looks like some early info is out about the TDU Challenge Ride for 2011...

 

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/getinvolved/mutualcommunitychalleng...

 

Short at 135 km for the long course but there is a sting in the tail...Checker Hill.  I think it is an 18% climb.  Never done it myself but have heard that is tough.

 

Looks like there are some other climbs along the way.  Finish is at Strath.

 

 

Tags: Challenge, TDU

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Permalink Reply by JDL on June 12, 2010 at 18:00
Went up it today, first time in a while.. Was a struggle, 39x25 is hard work at about 6kmh.. Still it's only short and the distance markers are there from previous TDUs so you can tell how far to the top..
Permalink Reply by Don Plush on June 12, 2010 at 18:34
I think I will head out that way on Monday. I have 39x26 so I should be able to fly up it! :)
My aim is not to have to walk!
Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on June 14, 2010 at 16:41
Corkscrew isn't really that steep, and the hard section is very short. What's tricky is the sharp bends - you need to find a line through them that keeps the gradient fairly constant. Do it regularly and you won't be scared of it.
Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on June 14, 2010 at 16:51
I remember cycling up Cork Screw many years ago with a group of predominantly over 50 leisure cyclists from Bicycle SA. One poor lady who I suspect suffered from some serious emotive problems totally lost it. It was a very hot day, it was her first serious ride and when we stopped at the store between the top and Norton Summit she had a complete emotional break down, through her bike against a wall and borrowed a phone to scream at her husband to come and get her. At the time I thought the whole episode reflected very badly on her friends that convinced her to come for the ride. And it's that kind of episode that concerns me so much when I see the hundreds of newbies that take on TDU etc in the middle of summer.
Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on June 14, 2010 at 21:29
It might be humiliating to lose emotional control and scream for a lift home, but it's better than gritting your teeth and going on until your kidneys fail! Riding in the hills on very hot days is dangerous, and people shouldn't do it unless they're familiar with how their bodies feel under stress.

And some riders just don't cope with heat well, regardless of their strength and fitness, but their pride won't let them ask riders they normally drop (like me!) to ease up.

The other useful thing is to know where the relatively cool hills rides are. Mt Lofty via Norton Summit and Woods Hill Rd, Piccadilly Valley, Gorge Rd are examples.
Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on June 14, 2010 at 21:34
This lady wasn't humiliated, more like hysterical, I'm fairly sure she was suffering from heat stroke. Fortunately the ride leader took responsibility for her welfare and asked the rest of the bunch to move on and thus avoid humiliation.
Permalink Reply by JDL on June 15, 2010 at 22:49
I actually like the location of Checker, for training on. For those of us living in the north or north-eastern suburbs it's great. I only had a short "leave pass" from the wife/kids on the weekend but was able to get there, up and back and do only around 50km.. Perfect..

Been a while since I've done Corkscrew, I don't think it's quite as steep is it? Longer though.. I always find Corkscrew really hard until I get to the first switch-back, once you're there it seems easier to me...

Lets hope we're all talking about Checker after the event for the right reasons (great climb) and not how many crashes etc...
Permalink Reply by Steve Blight on June 14, 2010 at 20:24
Group of us had a crack at Checkers Hill today. Mind you we'd done Montecute, down corkscrew and then up the Gorge on the way (mad bastards I was with!). It's hard! No question. The biggest problem I see is that people are going to tranverse the slope (S'ing up) and many, many riders are going to have to stop. If they stop, they won't ge their cleats back in and there could be carnage!
It is a great challenge worth training for and for most sensible cyclists, will be a memory of the 2011 tour.
Permalink Reply by Marc Przybylski on June 15, 2010 at 18:09
Hey Steve, no need to mention the names of your new "MAD" mates!!
Next training ride up there i suggest we tackle the gravel (bianca pave')- just in case we need to get on it in Jan??
We can send you up first to see how you go ;)
Marc
Permalink Reply by RD6 on July 9, 2010 at 9:31
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2010/01/its-not-about-the-race/#more...

check out some photos of checker hill - you get the drift!

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