Fitz's Classic

[nickj_d]

Good stuff, all I have to do is get myself able to ride all the gorges in one day and I'll be set. That is start at Gosford, ride to Berowra, then to Bobbin Head, turn around and head back up and then to Hornsby, down Galston Gorge, and around to Berowra Waters and the ferry, up to Berowra and back home to Gosford. Simple

When you're a lightweight like me, the hills are your friend - a chance to catch up with those bigger machines who over 165km would otherwise leave me for dead on the big gears.

Oh, and by the way, my comment about those hills being good training - applies to the 165km Classic only. If you're thinking the 207km Epic have you checked out it's profile? good luck I don't know any hills in the area that can prepare you for that!

[fatherofmany]

Good stuff, all I have to do is get myself able to ride all the gorges in one day and I'll be set. That is start at Gosford, ride to Berowra, then to Bobbin Head, turn around and head back up and then to Hornsby, down Galston Gorge, and around to Berowra Waters and the ferry, up to Berowra and back home to Gosford. Simple

When you're a lightweight like me, the hills are your friend - a chance to catch up with those bigger machines who over 165km would otherwise leave me for dead on the big gears.

Oh, and by the way, my comment about those hills being good training - applies to the 165km Classic only. If you're thinking the 207km Epic have you checked out it's profile? good luck I don't know any hills in the area that can prepare you for that!

I'm no lightweight, around 84kg so I'm one of those guys you race past on the up hills, only for gravity to help me on the dowhill. Haven't checked the 207 yet but I guess I'd just better ride up & down the Mt White climb a few times in a row then.

[seddo]

My wife has talked me into the 50km ride, have not done alot of preparation so I will be taking it easy (very easy) so if you see a fat dude on a grey and black Apollo - it will be me

[scotto]

You whinging light weights make me laugh, usually while waiting at the top of the hills for you to catch up!

[nickj_d]

You whinging light weights make me laugh, usually while waiting at the top of the hills for you to catch up!

That's it Scott. You've just laid down a KOTM challenge for Fitz's. Points for every climb till the end (not just the first 50kms till you've burnt yourself out!)

[scotto]

You whinging light weights make me laugh, usually while waiting at the top of the hills for you to catch up!

That's it Scott. You've just laid down a KOTM challenge for Fitz's. Points for every climb till the end (not just the first 50kms till you've burnt yourself out!)

i'll give you my polka dot jersey then.
on a darker note today, one of my shifters died, so i think its a new groupset in the next few days
might have to go back to compact gearing though with the new bits, as i dont think my near new crankset ( 9speed) will work with a 10speed chain.. we'll see.
Now if i can keep up with you with the man sized gearset, hopefully using a similar girly (compact)setup things should be at least smilar. Oh, do you want black or white coffee, i'll order it while waiting for you the reach the top

[number21]

Finally worked out my accomodation. Going solo camping. Just a question for the Canberrians out there, whats the traffic like to Sydney on Monday mornings? Is it safe to assume I'll get back to Sydney by 8-830 if I leave at 5ish?

Thanks.

[psike]

Finally worked out my accomodation. Going solo camping. Just a question for the Canberrians out there, whats the traffic like to Sydney on Monday mornings? Is it safe to assume I'll get back to Sydney by 8-830 if I leave at 5ish?

Thanks.

Yeah it's generally a 3 hr drive but you'll hit traffic t Campbeltown at that hour, so depends where you need to get to, you'll hit peak hour on sth sydney.

Russ.

[Robdog]

Where in Sydney?

[number21]

Where in Sydney?

Sutherland shire, Sans Souci to be exact. I was thinking Campbelltown could be an issue at that time, maybe getting on the Illawara Hwy and hitting the coast earlier would be a better option.

[rockviewau]

san souci isnt the shire... its st george!! dont claim shire status unless ur on the right side of the bridge hehehe

at that time of morning it all stuffed no matter which way u go but going thru campbelltown is a joke.
cutting across picton road may be an option

[vinvin]

So, um, how good do you have to be for Fitz 50? I'm trying to figure out how long I'd take so I can warn the family. I normally only commute a bit. According to Cyclemeter, my Adelaide Ave average speed is about 30-35km/hour, my max is about 40km/hr and my average for the whole 14km trip is 20-25 km/hr (includes traffic lights and hills and magpie attacks etc).

Also, how good/fast is the "novice" "apprendiz" category of the Stromlo crit races? I'm ever so slightly interested...

PS - female.

[stated]

Hi,
How does the 105km compare to the gong ride? hillier/flatter?, also 23c or 25c for the back tyre?

[stevecassidy]

So, um, how good do you have to be for Fitz 50? I'm trying to figure out how long I'd take so I can warn the family. I normally only commute a bit. According to Cyclemeter, my Adelaide Ave average speed is about 30-35km/hour, my max is about 40km/hr and my average for the whole 14km trip is 20-25 km/hr (includes traffic lights and hills and magpie attacks etc).

Can't really comment on this as I've not ridden Fitz's yet, but I'd imagine that you'd be able to average 15-20km/h relatively easily so finishing in 3hrs should be a conservative estimate, averaging 25km/h on hills would be harder work but you might manage 2hrs if pushed it hard.

Also, how good/fast is the "novice" "apprendiz" category of the Stromlo crit races? I'm ever so slightly interested...
PS - female.

Again, can't speak for these races but having started racing this year I can only recommend it, great fun and really good for pushing your abilities. I managed to stay in touch in my first race in D grade, I've been dropped a few times but recently won my first race after around 15 attempts, learned a lot and had a ball every week.

Steve

[Bantam Roosta]

So, um, how good do you have to be for Fitz 50? I'm trying to figure out how long I'd take so I can warn the family. I normally only commute a bit. According to Cyclemeter, my Adelaide Ave average speed is about 30-35km/hour, my max is about 40km/hr and my average for the whole 14km trip is 20-25 km/hr (includes traffic lights and hills and magpie attacks etc).

Also, how good/fast is the "novice" "apprendiz" category of the Stromlo crit races? I'm ever so slightly interested...

PS - female.

You shouldn't have a problem with Fitz's 50. Anyone of average fitness could knock it off in less than 3 hours.

With regard to novice women, they are still working out where they best fit, either in the Women's B or the 'Apprendiz' group (currently racing in the Apprendiz). Apprendiz put out 39km/hr average for the race last week, which was pretty crazy. It's hard for novice women, because there isn't enough of them to have a race of their own. Regardless, jump in, have a race and see how you go. Use the other women in the race as your gauge, not the main pack. I may have scared you off, but don't worry. There are other women in the same position as you are.

Come down for a look and see for yourself. Apprendiz races this week 27 Oct 6:50pm, 03 Nov 7:13pm, 10 Nov 5:15pm.

[mrgolf]

39kmh over how long? That seems quick. No hills, though. And what do the A and B grade men do by way of comparison?

Has anyone checked out tonights long term weather forecast? Showers next Sat and Sunday. Not too sure if I want to do 5.5-6 hours in the rain or periodically soaking...

[twizzle]

39kmh over how long? That seems quick. No hills, though. And what do the A and B grade men do by way of comparison?

Has anyone checked out tonights long term weather forecast? Showers next Sat and Sunday. Not too sure if I want to do 5.5-6 hours in the rain or periodically soaking...

14 minutes, according to the results. I'm guessing eight laps. Any you climb and descend about six metres per lap.

[mrgolf]

Any you climb and descend about six metres per lap.

Not enough for me then.

So how long is a lap? I thought crits were ride for set amount of time, then sprint after set time for set number of laps? I might have to check out this new-fangled shenanigans...

God, I hope it stays dry for Fitz! Pls, pls, pls....

[vinvin]

I think the CCC website said the novice race was 20 minutes. It seems so short! And yet, imagine sprinting for that long...

Thanks for the info, I might go along this Wednesday and check it out.

[Bantam Roosta]

39kmh over how long? That seems quick. No hills, though. And what do the A and B grade men do by way of comparison?

It's ridiculously quick, especially for E grade. I don't know the other grades. I only know E because that's what I race. It is a pretty much flat circuit. Stop for a few laps next time you ride past stromlo, next Sunday even.

They had to shorten the races due to fast approaching night-time, so it was 12min plus 2 laps. The races slowly get longer as the days get longer, Apprendiz ranging between 14min +2 laps and 20 +2. A grade peak at 37 +2. It's tough work, but it goes quick.

[mrgolf]

Good that I am not the only one thinking thats quick. I have ridden that track a few times, and I could imagine those short rises could be quite taxing at full sprint after more than 10 minutes. Sounds like fun.

[twizzle]

The circuit is 1.2km.

I rode a 39.4km/h average last week, and of the 25:44 race time I was only drafting for about four minutes - they were the slow laps. Last year, I could solo lap consistently at 1:51 - 1:52, at the moment I'm lapping 1:46 - 1:47.

[stevecassidy]

Has anyone checked out tonights long term weather forecast? Showers next Sat and Sunday. Not too sure if I want to do 5.5-6 hours in the rain or periodically soaking...

Must be optimistic, showers won't be so bad, keep us cool and all, as long as it's not too wet on the downhills.

My preparation was interrupted by the rain here in Sydney on Sunday, didn't get a big ride in as I'd hoped. One more trip to Bobbin Head on Wednesday morning hopefully to give the legs a stretch.

Steve

[nickj_d]

Too far out to be worried about weather reports at the moment. Just looking forward to it (especially now that I know I can make the distance).

got my riders pack in the mail on friday, and can't wait till sunday.

[HAKS]

Cbr weather is typically 12hours behind the forecast. I wouldn't read into anything until at least Fri evening