Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Anybody else signed up for this year's kinglake ride?

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It's at the end of November this year. It'll be my first crack at it.

Which one are you doing?

I did the 70km ride in 2009 and again in 2010.

You'll want to do some training on the stretch between St. Andrews and Kinglake.

I did the longer ride last year. Enjoyable despite the shocking weather, which should be helped by the change in scheduling.

Yeah the weather last year was atrocious. I did the 115km and the last 40km of that was in cold wind and rain.

I'm doing the 115km one, I mainly cycle in the Dandenongs so I don't expect the hills in Kinglake will be any worse than that (I hope)!

djw47 wrote:I'm doing the 115km one, I mainly cycle in the Dandenongs so I don't expect the hills in Kinglake will be any worse than that (I hope)!

Well if you can go up the 1in20 (basin to sassafras) at a reasonable pace a couple of times you will be fine.

Kinglake's similar in niceness to the 1 in 20, for sure, with one nastier rise/corner a little after St Andrews.

If it's no tougher than the 1 in 20 then it will be fine. I usually do the 1 in 20 at least once a week as part of a longer ride that includes at least one other climb (usually the wall).

Well, I think the Wall's harder.

I think this weekend is the Whittlesea Challenge.

If they come up from Humevale Rd, that's the prettiest way.

Kinglake is a little longer and a little steeper than 1 in 20, but there's not much in it. You should be fine.
The kinglake climb is relatively early in the ride and you'll be fresh.

I've done the ride a few times, the first time when i was just starting into cycling and quite unfit.
I made it up kinglake OK, but really struggled on the later climb back into Kinglake West. On paper an easier climb, but you're doing it after riding 90-100km.

clackers wrote:Well, I think the Wall's harder.

I think this weekend is the Whittlesea Challenge.

If they come up from Humevale Rd, that's the prettiest way.

I just finished it, started in putrid weather and then after about 3 hours the sun decides to come out. I think this area is cursed for bike rides. Out towards Strath Creek was a nice area to ride, just couldn't have a crack at the climb because everytime I got out of the saddle the back wheel just spun.

Sorry to hear that. Hope you dropped into the Flowerdale pub to have a beer with the Comancheros.

clackers wrote:Sorry to hear that. Hope you dropped into the Flowerdale pub to have a beer with the Comancheros.

it was the Immortals last time i rode out that way. i had to dismount and take cover on the soft shoulder - they weren't very friendly to me. i didn't say anything though..

I wasn't impressed with the food, either, but I wasn't going to say it with all the bikies around.

I've seen 'Stone'.

I'm up for this ride also. 115km most likely but with only commuting in my legs in the last few months ill need to squeeze in some climbs if I can.

I did it last year and apart from the weather the route was good, I havent been back up Kinglake since and was keen to see If I've got any better but I'm just baulking at the $150 entry. I signed up for The Slog earlier in the week for $45, you don't get a jersey but I can buy one of theirs for $35 If I badly wanted one.

danny the boy wrote:I havent been back up Kinglake since and was keen to see If I've got any better but I'm just baulking at the $150 entry.

i do a kinglake loop every now and then. i don't get the point of paying $150 to do what is otherwise for free.