Ride report for the event last Saturday. Short summary :
- 92 odd kms
- 3,300 odd meters of climbing
- 14 hills, lots of pills and no spills.
Saw this event posted on the wall at the Red Berry coffee shop a few months back and penciled it into the calendar. As with all “epic” rides it starts as..”this looks like fun”. Then as you get closer to the date some thinking creeps in. Most of these climbs have a gradient in the teens and the last one I know touches 20 degrees near the top.
I’ve climbed Pico Veleta (3,400 mtrs) which is the highest climb in Europe, but the altitude gain is “only” 2,650 over 40 kms with an average of 6.5%. If you exclude the downhill sections, the flat transitional sections across Montacute, this ride climbs higher and over a “shorter” period. Alternatively the well famed Three Peaks is 4,400 meters of climbing – but over 245 kms. Whichever way you looked at the Dirty Dozen – it is a fair challenge.
72 riders gathered at The Tower Hotel, Magill at 7am. This was a much bigger group than expected. In “my” sub group we had Tanya, Tim, Bill and myself. My prediction at the start would be that only 50% would finish the ride. My concern is which half I would be in.
As with all these rides, the plan was to start riding at a conservative pace and leave as much in the tank as possible for later. And as always the group is full of “Bon Amie” early and goes faster than the plan allows.
The first climb is pretty much in my backyard, a leg warmer up New Norton Summit then a sharp right up Teringie Drive – just shy of a kilometer long and an average of 11.5%. Being the first, there was no doubt most would conquer this challenge. As far as I know all did by some unfortunate guy that was riding his brand new Botacelli bike just in front on me. He rode over a very small twig of gum leaves which managed to get caught in his drivetrain. The rear deraiiler promptly snapped off, and his day was done. I heard later that he also cracked his frame. Maybe his pain was still less than what lay ahead.
The descent was well paced. I chatted to a truck driver that was just recovering from a broken collarbone (bike related) – one of those old tough guys you see out riding in the worst weather. The next “climb” should not have really been included. It took us a bit out of our way and Horsnell Gully Rd a 3 km hike at a mere 6% average.
Turning off the Old Norton Summit Rd after the descent, the next climb had a sting before it even started with a tough little pinch before turning left into Coach Rd. The bitumen in this road ends after 2.4 kms but rises at an average of close enough to 10%. If you kept going on the dirt, you almost end up in our back paddock. A grippy little climb towards the top, and my first chance to “post a few letters” across the road on the way up. I heard a sound from behind that would become more familiar as the day went on – a groan of despair and a click out of cleats as the white flag of surrender was waved. My group of 4 all travelling well though.
We descended only half way down the hill this time and took a sharp left onto Knox Rd – 1.4 kms at 9.4%. For some reason this climb felt pretty good and the group at the top was nearly full strength. The descent down past Penfolds was quick – hit 80+ kmph without trying.
No rest and short 500 mtr transition to the base of Kensington Rd – climb to the lookout 1.3kms at 11.5%. One of those climbs that gets steeper towards the top. More letters got posted on the way up.
By this stage the legs were well and truly warmed up – maybe even cooked. I suggested a quick refuel stop for our gang of four, so we descended early from the regroup and hit the Kensi Bakery. Fantastic fruit slice that added much needed fuel to the tank.
We picked up the tail end of the group at the base of climb # 6 – Ridgeland Drive (again off New Norton Summit rd). Short at only 700 mtrs in length but the sharpest average of the day – 12.5%. Can’t I remember much about this one – done and ticked off the list.
We rolled as a group (maybe down to 60 odd by now) into Norton Summit and through to Woods Hill Rd. 800 meters at 8.1% but really only a transition climb – no fears for us here. Climb #7 done. The problem was that the climbs were getting ticked off, but we were less than half way into the ride and well less than at half way point of climbing meters. IN racing parlance this was the softening up period.
Little Italy next on the menu and a good recovery roll down Pound Rd (soon to be climbed back the other way as #9). First though it was up Burdetts Rd 1.7% at 7% with a few short sharp pinches. The day and the scenery was so fantastic though that this was an “enjoyable” climb. Temperature was now in the very high teens and no wind.
Perfect.
Quick swing down past Camelot Castle, along the valley back into Little Italy and Pound Rd starts – 2.7kms at 8%. The group now numbering approx. 55 and the chat levels were drop inversely to gasping levels in the pack. Gaps opening everywhere and real pain starting to show for some. Our group still compacto. Tanya always leading our charge, Tim chasing, me cruising and Bill battling admirably.
A nice transition ride along the ridge followed as we headed for the dreaded depths of Cherryville. Another dead-end and not known by many riders from Adelaide Swampland, the descent needed a good two fists of brakes to keep your steed upright. Real fear in some eyes now at the regroup. The climb up was 2.1kms at 10.8% but with no relenting – it’s a climb “that keeps giving”. Photos reveal as many walkers up the steep bits as riders by now. Many riders posting letters and refusing to look more than 3 feet in front for fear of seeing what’s ahead. Our group all made it, but Bill had hired a key to his own hurt locker and suggested his day was down. After a brief negotiation we worked out a Plan B for him and we rolled on towards climb #11 the dreaded Corkscrew Rd with 2.5 kms at 8.9%. This climb is notourious in SA and will feature in the TDU 2013. Feared and avoided by many
our legs were in tune with Pink Floyd though – comfortably numb.
Finished, just two to go.
The penultimate climb was completely unknown to me. Running off the entry to Morialta Falls, Tay Rd goes 1.2kms at 8%. Regroup at the top showed the rider numbers now in the thirty’s. Lucky last to come.
The transition to the last climb took a different descent was the ascent, so Tim & I had to take a small deviation to collect Bill from the bottom – he was up for the last climb, although he had never ridden it.
Last climb is Coach-House Drive. A beast at 2.7kms and 10.1% average. The average does not do this climb justice as a few ramps in between sections that hit 20% near the top give not enough relief. I was in a mixed mood – relief that it looked like I would complete the challenge, and frustration that the road was so busy I couldn’t post any letters on the way up. I passed so many cyclists slumped over bars or trying vainly to click in and roll on, when gravity was working against a standing start. More morale to keep rolling on.
At the top an elite group of approx. 25 or so had done the job. Vertical meters on Tim’s garmin was frustratingly just shy of 3,000 meters though. Stupidly I suggested to our group that we do just one more climb to ensure the 3,000 metre mark was hit. We thanked Adam as tour organiser and went further up the hill to do Colonial Drive as a bonus climb. With just the four of us left, the pace was very subdued. No signs of cramp yet (gels had done their job) but legs were now like lead.
My Strava showed more meters climbed than Tim’s Garmin, but I’ll take mine as accurate.
I had put this ride up there as matching anything else I had achieved on the bike. Did it deliver? I’m not sure how much more I could have delivered, but I had a bit left. How did it rate against 3 Peaks and Pico Veleta? I couldn’t say it was easier, but I couldn’t say it was harder either. Thos other rides are long epic climbs where it’s you versus “a” mountain (or three) whereas this ride was short sharp efforts of smashing yourself in the head with a baseball bat but with regrouping times and descents to aid recovery. In summary – not easier or harder, just different.
To see the face of pain though – have a look at fellow rider Tim’s picture here:
Salutes to Tanya – now a true legend. Finished the whole ride in very tidy style, and showed most blokes (including me) up. Tim also looked comfortable at the end, but the most courageous award to Bill who did all but two climbs and I gather has not trained much lately and weighs at a guess 40 kgs more than Tanya!
Cheers
N BB