hill climb

[2ndwheel]

Chailord the 37th earl of combacks

Good to see you have seen fit to grace us with Your presence, we are looking forward to seeing you produce some of your revered prowess,( Robbo may even take pity on you and lower you to "C" so we see you back on a regular basis).

[Metro Commuter]

Bring Chai Lord back to CD D grade!  Then I will have some one to talk to when we pop off the back at the first turn around.

[Metro Commuter]

do you know roughly how long it is? and is the road steady enough and wide enough to safely average 30-35k/h

GCFR1 - the surface is evenly graded, as it is a former train line.  However, it is in parts a bit narrow (especially parts south of Whitebridge).  This means that the many walkers, joggers and bike riders mean there are times when you need to slow down and "single out" if riding with other cyclists. 

There are parts of the track where 30 - 35 kph is perfectly safe if there are not too many walkers etc around, but those same parts can be dangerous when there are high numbers of walkers etc.  You need to exercise care, as many people (including some cyclists) seem to have the very Novocastrian sense of self entitlement that means they have little regard for the other people that also want to use this very good public resource.

Unless you are fit enough to ride B grade or above you might struggle to reach 30  kph on the long climb north from Redhead.

[Robbo]

2ndwheel

The Cranky Ranga is now the CD handicapper. Could be some fireworks out there if someone starts complaining. Pity I wont be there to witness it.

[TheSniper]

Due to overwhelming demand for low speeds on shared bike paths, I would stronger advise to find another place to ride at 30-35 km unless you like the idea of getting yelled at to slow down or even stopped by the locals should they decide to. If you do anyhow- you've been warned and informed. Get out there with the recommendations already made. Keep the paths free (and newspaper columns) of annoyed pedestrians.

[giantcfr1]

Thanks guys - I might preserve the fernleigh track for a quiet ride since it seems like it gets busy. In regards to the climb at Redhead, would it be similar to say the Pacific Highway section from around Lake Munmorah area till just before Swansea? I am looking for fairly gradual but long climbs where i can crank up the big chainring.

[Metro Commuter]

If the crowds on Fernleigh trouble you, the alternate or old way from Redhead to Whitebriedge was up Redhead Road (a great hill) and, if you are keen, head back down to Charlestown Toyota then back up Bullsgarden Rd.  It was a popular and relatively safe couple of climbs that we used to train on before the Whitebridge-Redhead section of the Fernleigh Track opened up.

[ChaiLord]

Well,

The comeback went better than expected. 3 out of 5 laps! The race was full of x A grade stars. Holcombe, Haddo, Dane, Mr Beattie, the Hadley boys a couple of hecklers on the back, it was like a time warp! Dean Shedden rode well for someone who has been out of racing for some time, also he looked a million bucks on his new Giant!

Great course and seemed relativley fast on a good smooth surface. Looking forward to next weeks Suzies Handicap and only a 4 lapper should see me finish unless A grade get us early?

ChaiLord

[TheSniper]

Chailord- I'm wondering how a race report have anything to do with recommending someone places to do hill training?
Bullsgarden road may be a little steep for a steady hill climb as asked for- maybe he should just do the loaf?
Brunker is good as it's fine for big chainring-do it myself when preparing for races. Pacific Highway may be a little high on raffic depending the time of day you ride there- then again Brunker maybe likewise.
Perhaps the hillls towards North Belmont along past Bennetts Green- traffic also.
I'm sure you're a big boy tho, make sure you eat your wheat bix!

[giantcfr1]

Well,

The race was full of x A grade stars. Holcombe, Haddo, Dane, Mr Beattie, the Hadley boys a couple of hecklers on the back, it was like a time warp! Dean Shedden rode well for someone who has been out of racing for some time, also he looked a million bucks on his new Giant!

hey i remember Holcombe from my racing in the juniors. Im pretty sure he was the age division below me - wasn't a bad rider - also pretty sure we called him the incredible hulk back then - (kids hey).

[Metro Commuter]

Chailord- I'm wondering how a race report have anything to do with recommending someone places to do hill training?

It was a race report from someone who has done no hills training and was spat at 60% of race distances because he was not fit enough to race on a hilly course.  Chai Lord seeks to warn others of the folly of not doing some hills training and then racing @ Blackhill, which is aboriginal for "Place of Weak legs"

[Masso]

Merto

I thougth you had now applied to have the named changed to Blackhill - "place of small geared single speed hard man"

[Haddo]

Merto

I thougth you had now applied to have the named changed to Blackhill - "place of small geared single speed hard man"

Im surprised Masso even reads a thread titled "hill climb".

[The Ferret]

Masso/Metro,

I was tearing a few legs off at the B2B last weekend. Did HD have a welcoming ceremony to the traditional owners of the land, prior to the start? I hope so, otherwise it could de-stabilise me as an indigenous Australian........

Your friend

The Ferret


PS Metro, you leave the aboriginal translations to me son. Shalom

[TheSniper]

I am delighted to support and welcome all indigenous aussies. In fact I would prefer you win more races being this was a land on which you roamed longer than us not so dard skinned folk. Careful however, my eyesight is not that great I might mistake u for a wombat if you dont get up and move too much-no matter how good telescopic sights are!