Comment by Gillian on October 30, 2011 at 11:15

The Wickham's descent has been hairy for a while now. They resurfaced it some time ago using the "hot undercoat & throw gravel on top" method! It has improved but there are still patches of gathered gravel on the sides and in the centre of the lane in the between car tyres zone. These patches are currently avoidable, but by the time several hundred cyclists have zoomed down at 2 - 4 abreast next Sunday there is likely to be loose gravel covering the entire road.

Hopefully most people will slow right down to check for traffic at the bottom turn onto Kangarilla/McLaren Flat Rd.

Comment by Patrick O'Kane on October 30, 2011 at 11:21

It's a weird surface for the lower 2/3rds of the hill, very rough and abrasive. I wondered how they'd applied it, now I know.

Comment by Rob (Chewbacca) on October 30, 2011 at 12:24

Two Amy rides ago....two separate accidents occurred on Wickhams requiring both cyclists to be collected by an ambulance....sounds like the same conditions with the road surface  as back then so everyone please take care on the descent.....no prizes for first anyway :)

Comment by Patrick O'Kane on October 30, 2011 at 12:40

I nearly came to grief last year  but that was largely  due to my dodgy brakes. I didn't scrub off enough speed and ended up overshooting the T intersection and riding on the gravel verge on the opposite side of the road for a while. Luckily I stayed upright and there were no cars coming.

Comment by Clive Palfrey on October 30, 2011 at 20:53

I saw one cyclist being attended to by Ambo's on this hill last Amy's. Just grazes so I'm guessing she must have managed to slow down considerably before hitting the deck, but she was shaken, she was given a lift to the refreshment stop where she got very distressed when reunited with freinds.

 

Comment by heather on October 30, 2011 at 23:18

please report to Department of Transport Energy & Infrastructure (DTEI), phone 1800 018 313 (24-hr), email dtei.enquiriesadministrator@sa.gov.au

if a local council responsibility, check the white pages.

Comment by Patrick O'Kane on October 31, 2011 at 17:51

I don't think every hazard needs reporting Heather. Some are just a fact of life and as long as we are aware that they may be there and ride (or drive) accordingly then we'll be fine. The council could sweep this section of road every day but there would still be loose stones, gravel etc. to contend with. Likewise the fallen branches and twigs that litter most hills roads. If we cry wolf at every little problem we'll end up being ignored when we really have something to complain about.

Comment by RD6 on October 31, 2011 at 18:10

Yeah that road surface has been crap for a while !

Comment by Gillian on October 31, 2011 at 18:18

Came down Wickhams slowly today and had a good look at the gravel situation. The bulk of the loose gravel is on the  left border of the road  inside the white line and extending out onto the shoulder. The rest of the road has scattered gravel with the occasional more concentrated patch.

For me the problem is that crunching noise that switches the brain into "oh sh!t" mode that leads instinctively to grabbing for the brakes and not leaning into the corner properly. That's exactly the reaction that I know will cause more problems so I shall saunter down Wickhams on Sunday. It's not like I have to gain momentum to get up a hill on the other side.

The gravel situation at the bottom should be of little concern to those coming down Wickhams on Sunday. Everyone should be slowing right down before the right turn at the T junction anyway. The road we will be entering (Kangarilla Rd)is an 80kph zone, but it certainly seems that 100kph is the norm!

Comment by RD6 on October 31, 2011 at 18:35

If my memory serves me correct or not, was there a sign posted ( just for Amy's ride )  at the top of The Range road as you enter Wickham hill road, along the lines of "steep descent ahead" or something

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