Mt Cootha first time for beginner

[RonK]

Haven't lived in brissy for a long while now but isn't mt cootha the one with the tv stations?

If it is then I think you guys are talking it up a bit. I would hardly call my self a climbing cyclist and had no issues riding there. I had no idea about different cassettes then and ran a 11-23 cassette on standards. Originally set bike up for triathlons.

My worst climb (and run) was enoggera hill. A bit hard for those not in the army to go up tho.

Enoggera hill (AKA Mt Enoggera) is Cat 3 Strava segment, 1.8 km, average grade= 9.8%. i presume that it is a 4WD track. I have never been up it.
Not easy to get permission for that sort of thing these days.

You are right, Coottha is not that hard a climb, back in the 80's many would be doing it with 42x21 gear ratio.

Occasionally these days you do see someone doing it on a modern single speed.
A few yrs ago someone told me his dad did it on a singlespeed postie's bike back in the 1950's.

I saw somebody doing it on a Citycycle.

[Lukeyboy]

I still think one day we should all meet up at cootha rocking full team kit on citycycles TTT it back down

[Lukeyboy]

Luke, not a stab at anyone in particular. I know several people who've suggested not braking at all until the 11th hour on Coot-tha front side are under 80kg. Just a reminder that handling and speed is different for heavier riders. I've seen two experienced 80+kg guys come within a bee's penls of killing themselves trying to stay with lighter guys when descending windy roads. Sub80kg guys who think I'm hysterical should don a 20kg backpack and tell us how it didn't make a diff!

Re motobikes, what's the weight of the heaviest guy that competes in MotoGP!!!

70kg or something.

I've done the backside of glorious with 5 full water bottles, 4 snickers bars in the jersey, spares bag and I had no issues. It became a pain mid corner but that's expected with the weight over the rear . I only smashed that time when I did it on the propel in solo long distance config

[singlespeedscott]

There's a guy I follow on Strava who's done a sub 9min up the back riding a fixed gear running a 49x16 ratio

[cancan64]

There's a guy I follow on Strava who's done a sub 9min up the back riding a fixed gear running a 49x16 ratio

Is there no law against this kind of time

[The 2nd Womble]

Sitting here on the sofa it's hard to know what to think. I haven't got back into cycling proper yet but I see Mt Coot-tha as a bit of a bump -2.4km/250m climb elevation - more than a major Col. I'm sure that my first attempt will ensure I remember this post and cringe.
As for a decent climb, Paluma Range -18km/850m climb elevation - or Mt Stuart - 8km/630m climbbelevation with the last 300m at 26%(!) - were what I cut my teeth on and both Cat1 climbs. At 85kg I just always ground it out and challenged the pain to give it it's best shot. Coming down? Nope, the midgets always had me in the corners if hard braking was required. Straight sections meant they didn't stand a chance.
I do advise that when descending always hold back the first few times. !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! it up and you're in rehab or worse. Stopping through lack of ability going up? Learning experience. Stopping from lack of ability coming back down? Let's not go there.

[winstonw]

There's a guy I follow on Strava who's done a sub 9min up the back riding a fixed gear running a 49x16 ratio

Some years ago, pre Strava, I rode socially with a 40 something who was doing low 7s on the backside. He made me feel like a total gumby.
It was only after I realized he blitzed his age group and had success in some large road races that I understood what a freak he is.

Lukey, last time I went down the back of Glorious, I got down into the steep windy section, and not any further.....broken spoke. hitched home. I was very careful with the brakes too. did not brake suddenly and hard was easing the bike down very steadily, as I was using a set of SS's wheels and didn't know them well.

Five full water bottles? try 28.

[Lukeyboy]

I've only got about 10 water bottles all up. I need a team car to chuck a few in the back of the jersey

I do advise that when descending always hold back the first few times. courier it up and you're in rehab or worse.

+1000. We might joke around at our braking points but we know how well our brakes perform. We know the layout of the road. We know what to expect. We can push the boundaries that little bit more. All because we have done it many times before.

[jasonc]

can we merge this thread with the coot-tha training thread?

[Mulger bill]

can we merge this thread with the coot-tha training thread?

What do you say good members?
Could somebody link to the thread in question?

Shaun

[jasonc]

can we merge this thread with the coot-tha training thread?

What do you say good members?
Could somebody link to the thread in question?

Shaun

http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... &start=575" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[m@]

Just bear in mind that the posts will be merged in the order they were posted - can be a bit messy and make following the 'threads' difficult if there's a lot of overlap.

[jasonc]

I don't have a problem with it

[Lukeyboy]

We're big boys and girls.

[jasonc]

We're big boys and girls.

except for luke, we're still waiting for him to mature, or is that me?

[The 2nd Womble]

I do not want these threads merged. I don't have a reason.

[spirro]

My intention of starting this thread was I wanted a beginners guide on how to complete Mt Cootha. I felt the existing Mt Cootha thread was too advanced for a beginner who hasn't ridden it before.

[GeoffInBrisbane]

Fair enough. Coot tha isn't particularly huge or scary, just make sure to leave something in reserve while doing the lower part of the back for the first time. The lowest bit is the flattest, while the steepest bit is between the 1.25km marker and the 1.75km marker. These were recently resprayed in fluro yellow, so you can't miss them... It steepens again at Ch.10 but as you can see the crest it's easier to push on at that point.

Other than that there isn't much to say about the climb. Go do it and have fun. If descending the back, go easy (some of the bends are decreasing radius). The front descent, as already noted, is fine as long as you don't drag the brakes all the way down. Personally having the dual disadvantages of low weight and an extremely unaerodynamic position on the bike (bad back), I have to pedal like buggery to keep up with most others rolling down there though, so others may have a different experience.

[jasonc]

Personally having the dual disadvantages of low weight and an extremely unaerodynamic position on the bike (bad back), I have to pedal like buggery to keep up with most others rolling down there though, so others may have a different experience.

that's the only way I'd beat you

[Lukeyboy]

We're big boys and girls.

except for luke, we're still waiting for him to mature, or is that me?

Why does everyone keep saying that

[GeoffInBrisbane]

Never mind maturity, just make sure you've stopped growing ya lanky bugger...

[jasonc]

Never mind maturity, just make sure you've stopped growing ya lanky bugger...

yeah - your 56 frame size is perfect luke. don't grow any more

[Dragster1]

My intention of starting this thread was I wanted a beginners guide on how to complete Mt Cootha. I felt the existing Mt Cootha thread was too advanced for a beginner who hasn't ridden it before.

Give it a go and then let us know what you think, I have ridden it many times even as a kid on bmx and I still managed to pass people with granny gears on road bikes. You just have to pace yourself and do it solo first time Good luck

[Mulger bill]

My intention of starting this thread was I wanted a beginners guide on how to complete Mt Cootha. I felt the existing Mt Cootha thread was too advanced for a beginner who hasn't ridden it before.

Well Spirro, as the you're the op I'd like your opinion on whether you think it's worth staying as a stand alone guide to climbing Coot-Tha for beginners.

I can see merit in either course but if pushed for an opinion I feel that beginners (perhaps to forums as well )would be more likely to look for a Coot-Tha thread in QLD than the specialised training room. ~2c

Shaun

[spirro]

I don't see the harm in keeping this thread here. It is meant for beginners and Cootha is in QLD so makes sense it stays here. That's just my opinion.


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