Tdu 2011 !!!!

[cuttsnake]

Thanks for the encouragement Gavin. At this stage it's looking like I'll be driving to Gumeracha (or maybe Kersbrook) to start from there. I'm just waiting for pay day before I register

[williamsf1]

Well the GF made it up checker hill today.... and bombed down the otherside (more impressive!!!)

looks like she could go ok!

Amy's ride will be a good warm up!!!

[Another newbie]

I decided last year that my Giant CRX4 wasn't up to this ride (although it made the coast to coast without issue), but a new bike is robbing me of my excuse. There seems to be some negativity around this ride, and a lot of dread around Checkers. Are these suitable excuses or should I man-up and get on with it?

[cuttsnake]

Newbie, get out and have a crack at it! Start from Gumeracha if you want to avoid Checker Hill, or park the car at Kersbrook and ride to the Gumeracha start via Checker Hill if you want to tick that box without doing the full distance.

[alex]

I decided last year that my Giant CRX4 wasn't up to this ride (although it made the coast to coast without issue), but a new bike is robbing me of my excuse. There seems to be some negativity around this ride, and a lot of dread around Checkers. Are these suitable excuses or should I man-up and get on with it?

you just need to decide if you want to pay $150 to ride with 7000 other people around you

if you think thats something you want to do, then go for it

[liamb]

I have no personal experience but the blokes I know that gave it a shot last year say they will never do it again. Too many posers and they felt they got pushed around and told where they could stick it by the officials. They all told me to have a go at Ride Like Crazy as it is more friendly and better supported (especially by the boys and girls in blue on the road). I might try the TDU next year but I am keen for RLC this year. either way you got to give it a go to know

Bill

[williamsf1]

how is everyone going with their training!!!!!

who is going to do the triple this year???? AMYS + ride like crazy + TDU

GF has been up a few times now!!!!!





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[liamb]

williamsf1
you are 1 lucky bloke. I wish my wife or past gf's had been or are as keen as your gf in doing thing you like. In all the sports I have tried or got involved in it is so hard to get the girls involved. Full credit to your lady for getting into a sport that is great fun and good for your health and the health of the planet and that you like aswell. I hope to see you guys in the Ride Like Crazy.

Bill

[williamsf1]

G'day Bill!

yeah I have created a riding monster.... she was out in the rain all day today! (putting even more km in while I can't as I'm overseas!!!)

December is going to be a big riding month I think!!!!

[you cannot be sirrus]

how is everyone going with their training!!!!!

who is going to do the triple this year???? AMYS + ride like crazy + TDU

GF has been up a few times now!!!!!

I'm doing the triple. Going to have my first crack at Checkers this morning. Somewhat intimidated by that one but the only way to get over it is to get over it, so to speak.

[you cannot be sirrus]

Did it.
Hard work and it's going to be chaos on the MCCR. hopefully everyone can stay safe on the day.

[williamsf1]

awesome....

we will be going over the top a few times in the next weeks!!!

[limetang]

Its on!... got my annual leave approved so I can take part.... my first TDU ride!

Hoping to suss Checkers in the next few weeks and get a feel for it, the ill green jersey should go well with my olive coloured bibshorts!

[The Womble]

As for Willunga Hill, how early do the folks start road decorating before the race grinds through? One, two days? Or is it done whenever? Curious

[betterthanwalking]

I am going up Checkers on Sunday with a couple of the boys. Not sure if I am looking forward to that or not??

[betterthanwalking]

Gorge Road, Check.
Checker Hill, Check.

Rode down from Flagstaff to meet the boys on North Terrace before going up Gorge Road. Stopped in Cudlee Creek to refuel. Cracked on up to the bottom of Checker Hill. Regrouped and off we went. Didn't go mad on the lead up to the steep bit. You need to hold a bit back for emergencies.

I was down to 8kmh or so, on 39-25. The front wheel was popping up a little if I didn't concentrate on my pedalling form.

One of the lads has a 28 on his bike, that would be a luxury I think. Compact would work well too I think.

There's going to carnage on there in January. I managed to ride straight up but most of others were riding back and forth, mix in a load of folk walking and ...........

Came back down to through Gumeracha and Cudlee Creek. Totalled over 100Ks.

Glad we went up today, the weather couldn't have been better. Good cloud cover.

Gavin

[you cannot be sirrus]

Well done betterthanwalking. I had to do a bit of a zig and zag last week and the guy in front had to stop (he made it eventually)right in front of me, (he called out stopping) which made the climb tricky with a group of about 12 riders. It's going to be chaos with huge numbers on the climb at the same time.

[betterthanwalking]

Thanks, I reckon getting to Checker Hill early will be a bonus on the day. The unprepared will be suffering big time.

Gavin

[eeksll]

to all of you who have do checkers hill often, do you all ride out there? or live near there? cause its one long ride there from adelaide. (and back)

I might need to get myself some gps doo-dad cause I am so going to get lost if I ride out there ...

[you cannot be sirrus]

Thanks, I reckon getting to Checker Hill early will be a bonus on the day. The unprepared will be suffering big time.

Gavin

Hopefully the unprepared all start at Gumeracha.

The Gorge rd will sort out the bunch pretty well so by the time you get to Checkers you'll be with riders of a similar level hopefully.

[you cannot be sirrus]

to all of you who have do checkers hill often, do you all ride out there? or live near there? cause its one long ride there from adelaide. (and back)

I might need to get myself some gps doo-dad cause I am so going to get lost if I ride out there ...

I drove to the city last week to meet the group and found I'd left my shoes at home I had to drive back home and eventually drove until I met up with the bunch at Houghton . This meant a detour on the return via Torrens Hill Rd while they went home via the GorgeRd, where I got lost and ended up with a 20km detour via Chain of Ponds. Then Friday I got a speeding ticket in the post for the drive to the city. This hill is going to kill me one way or the other.

If you want a similar hill near the city try Morphett Rd at Seaview Hts.

[betterthanwalking]

It's only 30ks from the start according to the route on the TDU website. You have to be able to manage that. Riding Gorge Road is no biggie, once over Checker Hill, it's practically all down hill again.

Gavin

[MichaelB]

.....If you want a similar hill near the city try Morphett Rd at Seaview Hts.

Or Kensington Rd Lookout - matches the average gradient of 14+ %

[eeksll]

.....If you want a similar hill near the city try Morphett Rd at Seaview Hts.

Or Kensington Rd Lookout - matches the average gradient of 14+ %

I have been up both, kensington seemed way steeper. Its possible that its just steeper longer. I'd say kensington is the hardest hill/steep road I have ridden up so far.

If checkers is closely comparable to kensington, I need to do some hard training ....

[MichaelB]

.....If you want a similar hill near the city try Morphett Rd at Seaview Hts.

Or Kensington Rd Lookout - matches the average gradient of 14+ %

I have been up both, kensington seemed way steeper. Its possible that its just steeper longer. I'd say kensington is the hardest hill/steep road I have ridden up so far.

If checkers is closely comparable to kensington, I need to do some hard training ....

Checkers is 600m long (AT) avg of 14.2%

Kensington Lookout (steep bit) is 910m (AT) 14% avg (first 600m is only 7% - steep bit starts after swweping RH bend with island in the middle)