Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge 2011

[elantra]

I came off yesterday morning, couldn't see there was a puddle half way around a roundabout until it was too late, front wheel hit it, slipped out and down I went. Lucky the people behind me were far enough back that they could slow down and go around so I didn't take anyone else out.

Bent my rear derailleur hanger (so I couldn't get into my largest sprockets) which I had to ride with for about 25km as the mechanics weren't at the first rest stop. Somehow both brifters got twisted in but I was able to mostly straighten them, and a scrape on my right pedal.

The most annoying this about it is i've ridden that round about like 100 times and never had an issue.

Was it one of those brissie style "roundabouts" with excess vegetation in middle impeding vision ?
Or one of those "brissie roundabouts" that are considerably off-camber ?
Or both of the above.

If it makes you feel any better, i have had at least one slide-out on a brissie roundabout that i can recall, due to this nearly invisible water hazard issue.

The bent derailleur hanger can sometimes be fixed at minimal cost.
Talk to a bike mechanic or look to a technical website such as http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

[Undertow]

The bent derailleur hanger can sometimes be fixed at minimal cost.
Talk to a bike mechanic or look to a technical website such as http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Had the mechanic at the 60km rest stop look at it and he bent it back by hand, and then adjusted the limit screws and cable tension and it all seems good. It was a little slow changing down in the last 10km and the ride home but I was too buggered to look at it yesterday, but i reckon I'll just need to adjust the barrel adjuster to let some tension out, and check to make sure the derailleur is hanging straight (if not it'll be off to the LBS).

[notwal]

Here is the output from my Garmin:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/73944682

I probably wouldn't use this as a baseline for comparison. It took me a bit over 14 minutes to get to the top and the two guys I was riding with got there faster than me, even though they got off and walked for a bit. Happy to say I rode all the way to the top, but it didn't exactly happen in a hurry

Surely the Garmin doesn't pick up GPS sigs underground? Maybe it just draws a straight line between the the entry to the tunnel and the exit.

[Zynster]

Time: 06:38
Extra details about the climb I entered at the hill climbing website cycle2max. It allows you to track your best times so you have that benchmark to improve on.

If you haven't entered your times on cycle2max you should

here is mine:
http://cycle2max.com.au/ride-time.aspx?id=26427

I think that the time is made on that really big incline before you go round the corner to see the tv station on the right. You need to trust that you can recover when it flattens out again and then when u are recovered put in your final dash for the line.

Another thing I did was get my heart rate up about 10 mins before the climb. That way when you are going flat out your body won't tell you to stop as much because you already numbed those receptors.

Congratulations Correy. You've set the bar pretty high. Well done.

[marinmomma]

Here is the output from my Garmin:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/73944682

I probably wouldn't use this as a baseline for comparison. It took me a bit over 14 minutes to get to the top and the two guys I was riding with got there faster than me, even though they got off and walked for a bit. Happy to say I rode all the way to the top, but it didn't exactly happen in a hurry

Surely the Garmin doesn't pick up GPS sigs underground? Maybe it just draws a straight line between the the entry to the tunnel and the exit.

That's correct Notwal, mine just drew a straight line between the entry and exit.

[laager]

.

[dclnmurray]

Time: 06:38
Extra details about the climb I entered at the hill climbing website cycle2max. It allows you to track your best times so you have that benchmark to improve on.

If you haven't entered your times on cycle2max you should

here is mine:
http://cycle2max.com.au/ride-time.aspx?id=26427

I think that the time is made on that really big incline before you go round the corner to see the tv station on the right. You need to trust that you can recover when it flattens out again and then when u are recovered put in your final dash for the line.

Another thing I did was get my heart rate up about 10 mins before the climb. That way when you are going flat out your body won't tell you to stop as much because you already numbed those receptors.

Excellent time. I wonder how quickly the elite pro's could climb mt Coot-tha as I see you are an A grade cyclist.

cheers

Dave

[London Boy]

Sniff... missed the 10 minute club by 5 seconds!!! OUCH. Still pretty happy though for not back riding for a year!

Hah! That's nothing. I missed it by 2 minutes and 23 seconds... I got 13.22, which is what I should expect with the extra 5 kilos I'm carrying around just now.

The Ipswich Imperial is going to be a good hard ride. Have you seen the route?

[brokenbus]

I wish there was a few how far to go signs going up Coot-tha as I ended up getting off and walking for a 100m or so. I reckon i could of kept going had I known how far i had left which was approx 300m.
I learnt a few things though
1 Dont drive 7hrs to get there the day before (I was coming to visit my brother and added the ride cause I could)
2 Dont sit up to midnight drinking with brother even if it was only 4 or 5 drinks.
3 Get more than 5hrs sleep that is not interupted.
4 Try not to get a flat on the way to the ride
5 Most importantly dont listen to Comedian about how if you average 13kmh you will get in the 10min bracket as you (meaning me) are too old and fat and will be absolutey knackered after 500m and will only be able to do 5kmh at best after that.

Anyway I had heaps of fun despite the rain and hope to back to do it next year.

Cheers
Nicko

[Undertow]

I wish there was a few how far to go signs going up Coot-tha as I ended up getting off and walking for a 100m or so. I reckon i could of kept going had I known how far i had left which was approx 300m.

Theres actually markings on the road in yellow paint every 250m, looks like

-------
0.25

-------
0.50

etc

Though if you haven't ridden it before you could easily miss them.

[brokenbus]

Yep missed them- bugger!!

[Comedian]

I wish there was a few how far to go signs going up Coot-tha as I ended up getting off and walking for a 100m or so. I reckon i could of kept going had I known how far i had left which was approx 300m.
I learnt a few things though
1 Dont drive 7hrs to get there the day before (I was coming to visit my brother and added the ride cause I could)
2 Dont sit up to midnight drinking with brother even if it was only 4 or 5 drinks.
3 Get more than 5hrs sleep that is not interupted.
4 Try not to get a flat on the way to the ride
5 Most importantly dont listen to Comedian about how if you average 13kmh you will get in the 10min bracket as you (meaning me) are too old and fat and will be absolutey knackered after 500m and will only be able to do 5kmh at best after that.

Anyway I had heaps of fun despite the rain and hope to back to do it next year.

Cheers
Nicko

Sorry BrokenBus!

I actually reset my bike computer just before I went up the hill so I had average speed and distance there to see. Not that I'm a pro, but I think you've got to set your pace and then when you can feel the grim reaper breathing down your back just ask yourself if there is any good reason why you can't keep going.

[marinmomma]

I wish there was a few how far to go signs going up Coot-tha as I ended up getting off and walking for a 100m or so. I reckon i could of kept going had I known how far i had left which was approx 300m.
Cheers
Nicko

lol, sounds like my hubby...got a flat/blow-out 200 metres from the top of the climb, it would have been quicker for him to walk the last 200 and change the flat after the timing gate

[Comedian]

I wish there was a few how far to go signs going up Coot-tha as I ended up getting off and walking for a 100m or so. I reckon i could of kept going had I known how far i had left which was approx 300m.
Cheers
Nicko

lol, sounds like my hubby...got a flat/blow-out 200 metres from the top of the climb, it would have been quicker for him to walk the last 200 and change the flat after the timing gate

[brokenbus]

I wish there was a few how far to go signs going up Coot-tha as I ended up getting off and walking for a 100m or so. I reckon i could of kept going had I known how far i had left which was approx 300m.
I learnt a few things though
1 Dont drive 7hrs to get there the day before (I was coming to visit my brother and added the ride cause I could)
2 Dont sit up to midnight drinking with brother even if it was only 4 or 5 drinks.
3 Get more than 5hrs sleep that is not interupted.
4 Try not to get a flat on the way to the ride
5 Most importantly dont listen to Comedian about how if you average 13kmh you will get in the 10min bracket as you (meaning me) are too old and fat and will be absolutey knackered after 500m and will only be able to do 5kmh at best after that.

Anyway I had heaps of fun despite the rain and hope to back to do it next year.

Cheers
Nicko

Sorry BrokenBus!

I actually reset my bike computer just before I went up the hill so I had average speed and distance there to see. Not that I'm a pro, but I think you've got to set your pace and then when you can feel the grim reaper breathing down your back just ask yourself if there is any good reason why you can't keep going.

Hey not your fault Comedian- I should of known better but the first couple of hundred metres seemed pretty easy and it was fun overtaking people while I had the energy. Not as much fun when they overtook when I died though- I reckon I spent a good minute leaning on the bike when I stopped before I could even contemplate walking- The Grim Reaper felt a little bit closer than comfortable!

Marinmomma I can understand why your hubby fixed his tyre and rode through the gate as it would of felt much better doing so- I made my self get back on for the last bit too- Almost clip stacked in some lose gravel doing so too- now that would been embarassing!
Cheers
Nicko

[notwal]

The photo may tell some of the story

Arrrrgh. Sunglasses required. Go and stick those feet in the sun. They're so white they are overexposing the image.

Looks like a nice shiny new pair of 'go fast' feet you've had grafted on.
I guess you'd call that 'feet doping'.
Some people will stop at nothing.

[goneriding]

Sorry BrokenBus!

I actually reset my bike computer just before I went up the hill so I had average speed and distance there to see. Not that I'm a pro, but I think you've got to set your pace and then when you can feel the grim reaper breathing down your back just ask yourself if there is any good reason why you can't keep going.

Correction. When you feel the Grim Reaper breathing down your neck ask yourself "What would Jens do?". If you ask yourself if there are any good reasons as to why you can't keep going, you'll find the list is endless.

The best thing that happened to me was when some guy passed me and said to keep it up as we were nearly there. For some reason that gave me the pip and a bit of an extra kick to push over the top.

[correy]

Time: 06:38

Excellent time. I wonder how quickly the elite pro's could climb mt Coot-tha as I see you are an A grade cyclist.

cheers

Dave

Hi Dave,
According to cycle2max that time is equivalent to 7w/kg over 6:38mins the very best in the world can put out 7.6w/kg over 5 mins. I think they could prob do 6:20mins or a bit less.

Cycle2max allows you to compare watts/kg ( rough estimates ) so you can see how you compare. Here is a good comparison chart for you:
http://www.flammerouge.je/content/3_fac ... obench.htm

To get accurate you really do need a power meter which I don't have yet ): and to me the 20 min interval is the most important indicator of how good you really are. As there is no use having a world class sprint eg 24.04w/kg if you can never get to the end of the race to use it.

[notwal]

I've have to say I find that time stunning correy.
I wish I had been standing about at the top to see you hurtle over the line.
Are there any photos of the finish of the climb?

[licensed]

Hello Guys,

I tried mt cootha for the first time today on my road bike and made it up to the top in around 15 minutes or so.. but i couldn't seem to work out where the start and end gates of the time trial section are located (as used in the cootha challenge event). Can someone please let me know where abouts they are so that i can more accurately find out my times for the climb?

Is there some road markings or anything like that that i missed? Any help on this would be appreciated. I was also unsure where the top of the mountain was really.

(I went up anti-clockwise).

[Comedian]

Hello Guys,

I tried mt cootha for the first time today on my road bike and made it up to the top in around 15 minutes or so.. but i couldn't seem to work out where the start and end gates of the time trial section are located (as used in the cootha challenge event). Can someone please let me know where abouts they are so that i can more accurately find out my times for the climb?

Is there some road markings or anything like that that i missed? Any help on this would be appreciated. I was also unsure where the top of the mountain was really.

(I went up anti-clockwise).

The start point is the white (actually yellow) line on the road you can see here just next to the sign.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mount+cootha&aq=&sll=-27.401854,153.011598&sspn=0.021108,0.021329&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Mt+Coot-Tha+Queensland&ll=-27.465713,152.965109&spn=0.005274,0.005332&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=-27.465627,152.965414&panoid=P5Lj1ZYt2R8qBCDNHMoMig&cbp=13,234.66,,1,13.88

You go past channel 10 on the right and another station on the left (I'm always too busy to look) and just on the crest there is another mark. You can see it here although it is now yellow and not quite as clear.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mount+cootha&aq=&sll=-27.401854,153.011598&sspn=0.021108,0.021329&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Mt+Coot-Tha+Queensland&t=h&layer=c&cbll=-27.463473,152.946609&panoid=Awy4oVdcjnSPfxubs__aqA&cbp=13,233.78,,0,18.84&ll=-27.463473,152.946609&spn=0.000662,0.000667&z=21

[licensed]

Thanks Comedian, i really appreciate it

Now i've just gotta find some daylight time to get out there and time myself!!

[Comedian]

Thanks Comedian, i really appreciate it

Now i've just gotta find some daylight time to get out there and time myself!!

Who needs daylight??? I'll be there at 5:30 tomorrow morning!

I better go to bed

[elantra]

Thanks Comedian, i really appreciate it

Now i've just gotta find some daylight time to get out there and time myself!!

Who needs daylight??? I'll be there at 5:30 tomorrow morning!

I better go to bed

How was Coottha this morning ?

I don't like it much on winter mornings caus the cold air hurts on the descent and my eyes water

[Comedian]

Thanks Comedian, i really appreciate it

Now i've just gotta find some daylight time to get out there and time myself!!

Who needs daylight??? I'll be there at 5:30 tomorrow morning!

I better go to bed

How was Coottha this morning ?

I don't like it much on winter mornings caus the cold air hurts on the descent and my eyes water

Well I did my first lap and it was still dark... got there about 5:40. Second lap was in the daylight (just) and it was good too. I've got some warm gear and it wasn't too bad to be honest. Unzip the vest on the way up and when you get to the top do it up. It was a little cold on the down hills but I wasn't uncomfortable. Yes, my eyes did water at speed but I find if I close them that problem goes away.

There were lots of people there and I noticed that they were all pretty fast. Normally I overtake lots of people. Not this morning though. I had a bit of a sore leg so I was sparing it a bit... but none the less the conclusion is that the serious people get out there early and often and as a result they are fast!

The only downside to the morning was that we did a riverloop afterwards and there were cars everywhere. I've never seen so much traffic. In the calm cold conditions there were lots of fumes which wasn't the best.