Fitz's Challenge 2013 registration now open‏

[skull]

Yeah I looked at his plan for the day and was blown away. Fitz's is hard enough by itself without climbing hills beforehand at 3 in the morning.

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[mrgolf]

I considered just riding out beforehand, but had offered to give a mate a lift, so couldnt. Cant say I am upset considering how cold it is. You guys are both a little silly.

[Ross]

I considered just riding out beforehand, but had offered to give a mate a lift, so couldnt. Cant say I am upset considering how cold it is. You guys are both a little silly.

Pfft soft! You should hand your 3Fidi jersey back right now!
I think a little silly is being a bit kind to us too...

[robbo]

Hi Guys,

This was my first year. I attempted the 205 but skipped corin and honeysuckle. I was completely unprepared for the road from Fitzs to rendezvous creek and would have chucked it in there except for the embarrassment.

I can't believe nobody's mentioned the "she devil".

I don't know whether I was delirious or not but I think she was wearing less clothes when I saw her on the return trip.

Does anyone know why she was there?

Rob

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[rogan]

She was on the road last year too - although I think she was at the hill after Pierce's Creek heading out - maybe she is there every year?

Fitz's to Rendezvous and back is the toughest part of the course, and knocks everyone around badly. Good idea to skip Honeysuckle if you were really struggling, although Corin only to Woods Reserve was OK this year (the full climb to Corin Forest they have done other years is a pig of a climb).

Finished it in just over 8 hours. But in the middle, from Apollo Rd to Tharwa, one of the worst flat spots I have ever felt. I will do a ride report, probably tonight... maybe on the NSW thread.

[mrgolf]

The devil thing is a gimmick supplied by the photographer. I'm probably the wrong person to ask, but I think it is completely unnecessary and possibly unwelcome. Yes, the devil on big climbs is part of cycling culture, but this version harks back a bit too much to our not so distant sexist past. Its like grid girls and podium girls - only a slight separation from page 3 girls in the tele. Apart from that, the model is young enough to be the daughter or grand-daughter of most entrants. Photos without the she-devil would be preferable to me. Not her fault - she is getting paid. The photogs need to get with the 21st century. (just my opinion)

Yeah, Fitz to Rendezvous is ridiculously hard. Apollo is the hardest, though. You dont realise how steep it is until you descend. Its a different perspective. Distance in the legs make Corin Dam return ridiculously painful, though.

[Cossie Phil]

@Robbo,

It is definately a shell shock the first time you encounter climbs like the Fitz's dishes out!! I did the 205 last year and pulled out at the base of the 3 sisters...had been kicking myself since so this year took on the 253 which was by far the hardest ride I have done. A year more training and climbing experience changes the place those hills take you too, next year you will beat it.

Cheers,

Phil.

[robbo]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the kind words, well done on the 255, I had a number of you guys pass me on the way home. For many of you I wanted to grab a tow but just didn't have the energy to latch on.

Let's see what next year brings

Rob

[grantw]

As a first timer (205) I agree that the climbs really knock you around. I studied the profile pretty closely, but really didn't appreciate how much steeper the climbs are and how you just had to keep wrestling with them all the way to the top.

[joomz]

It's a pretty amazing ride in that respect. Seemed rare for the garmin to indicate a gradient lower than 10% when climbing. I did it with 53/39+11/28 last year, this year I ran 50/34+11/28. A lot more comfortable! Did get a few digs for running a compact from some of the racing boys though

[skull]

I wish I had a compact on Sunday. Last year I ran a 53/39 + 11/25, this year I changed to a 12/28. The extra gears helped but still wasn't enough.

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[anttismo]

I agree with yous about some of the gradients. There was a little bit out near rendevous creek that must have been 20%, and apparently honeysuckle briefly hits 20% as well. I run the compacts and 11/28, but still it's out of the seat grinding at those places. Agree about how tough it is out the back of fitz's - really suprised me. I reckon honeysuckle creek is the hardest bit, but I guess that's 150kms in already. I had a very welcome tailwind when I hit the 3 sisters and just felt awesome from the top of them to stromlo. That final 10 odd kms were pure joy and with a grin from ear to ear. I've done a 24hr ride before (a flat one!), but I reckon this was the most satisfying ride I'd done

Not sure about the warm up on canberra hills pre-ride - how much insanity does one need?

[robbo]

Well 34/50 and 32-11 attracted some attention on the climbs. Heh heh....

I put a brand new sram cluster on the back on Friday. It was shiny and stuck out like dogs whatsernames.

There was a mixture of jealously and ribbing depending on who was commenting.

I make no bones about it thats right soft guilty as charged

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[biker jk]

Well 34/50 and 32-11 attracted some attention on the climbs. Heh heh....

I put a brand new sram cluster on the back on Friday. It was shiny and stuck out like dogs whatsernames.

There was a mixture of jealously and ribbing depending on who was commenting.

I make no bones about it thats right soft guilty as charged

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I passed a guy on Fitz's Hill and suggested he was smart to have a large cog and spin up the climbs. I said, "you've got a 32 tooth cog" and he said "yes, but I wish I had a 34"!. We agreed that you can be under geared but never over geared on such a hilly route.

[singlespeedscott]

I ran a 39x30 low and got by. I wish Campagnolo would make a 32t rear sprocket.

[anttismo]

I saw a guy with a triple chain ring set-up. Sweet