Mt Gravatt Hill Climb this morning

[whichway]

Today (Sunday) there was some sort of organised ride up Mt Gravatt. Anybody know what that was?

[Abby]

I believe it was the Balmoral Junior Tour. Two-day, 3-stage race for junior riders, organised by the Balmoral Cycling Club.

Cheers,
Abby

[clydesmcdale]

First time up the Vatt this morning. Live practically at the base of it and should have been up there before now. Not too bad, about as difficult as expected. Hoping I'll get a taste for it and want to do repeats.

Not exactly built for climbing, but practice make perfect right?

[Dimma]

I try and include Mt Gravatt every ride either at the start or even better when fatigued at the end.
Personally with repeats the main challenge is not dying of boredom.

[marinmomma]

First time up the Vatt this morning. Live practically at the base of it and should have been up there before now. Not too bad, about as difficult as expected. Hoping I'll get a taste for it and want to do repeats.

Not exactly built for climbing, but practice make perfect right?

Congratulations, our group was running late due to one member getting a puncture half a k into our ride, otherwise we usually tack Mt G onto the end of our Tuesday loop....haven't done repeats there for a few weeks, must be time to work it back into my routine.
It will start getting busy there in the next couple of weeks as the Tri guys start getting back out on their bikes after their winter hibernation

[whichway]

Yes a good ride because you get to have a little rest half way up (on the flat bit)

[Dimma]

Yes a good ride because you get to have a little rest half way up (on the flat bit)

If you want to it's good to have the option, it depends what lap ur on.

[GTRmon7]

How does Mt Gravatt compare to Cootha? I've done Cootha before (slowly and painfully), would Mt Gravatt be a better or worse alternative to build climbing ability?

[Dimma]

How does Mt Gravatt compare to Cootha? I've done Cootha before (slowly and painfully), would Mt Gravatt be a better or worse alternative to build climbing ability?

Mt Gravatt is far easier than front Cootha which is far easier than back Cootha. My Mt Gravatt time is almost 3 mins quicker than Cootha back.
So in my opinion it would be a better starting point and go for as many reps as possible, which mountain is most convenient plays a big part.

[marinmomma]

How does Mt Gravatt compare to Cootha? I've done Cootha before (slowly and painfully), would Mt Gravatt be a better or worse alternative to build climbing ability?

I've found that going to Coot-Tha on a regular basis has helped my climbing and riding in general...Mt G is easier I can do 4-5 repeats there, I'm a very long way from being able to do that on Coot-Tha

[clydesmcdale]

Up Mt G this morning once again. Why is it when you’ve done it on a 12-25 then next time do it on a 12-29 you still look for a bigger cog to change to?

Been ill lately and the lungs are still recovering. Lungs felt good, legs not so much.

Went up on a whim wearing the commuting back pack and also with the carbon clinchers on. Nice morning for it and now I’m under 100kg I seem a little quicker and the climbing is improving. Not yet ready for a repeat. But hope to soon. Descent was fine on the carbons with the yellow swissstops... not too much braking which is always fun.

[Big_Red]

What was your max speed on the descent? I did it on the mtb a few weeks ago and only managed ~65kph because of cars getting in the way on the way down. The mtb has disc brakes, so the ability to stop wasn't an issue. I'm sure i could get around 75 kph if there were no cars on the descent. I'l have to try the Vatt on the road bike sometime soon... Round trip from my place, up the mountain then back home is ~35km so it's a great little ride for me and good prep for Cootha.

[briztoon]

What was Mount Gravatt like today with the wind? It was a killer coming back from Boondal over the Gateway. At one stage my speedo was showing me slowing down on the descent heading in to the wind.

[clydesmcdale]

I only hit about 65 this morning. Was just cruising down, not putting any power down the descent. Still being a bit cautious with the brakes on the carbon. Got held up approaching a car at the last turn, where you tend to get to your peak speed if just rolling.

Didn't notice any wind to speak of.

[clydesmcdale]

Another run up the Vatt this morning. Getting better at it now I think. Did a reasonably heavy effort of a River Loop on Tuesday and wasn’t till this morning the legs felt up to it. I now think I know the hill reasonably well and where the tougher spots are, which I reckon makes a big difference when apportioning my efforts.

First 500 out of the saddle for a bit of power and a quick start, second 500m is reasonably tough (for me) just spinning trying to keep the cadence up, third 500 is easy as the terrain flattens out a touch, then the final 500 is a little tougher as the fatigue starts to set in. Didn’t need as much time at the top for recovery before heading back down... may or may not have gone alot faster than before on the descent.

Didn’t have time for a repeat but reckon I’ll be doing them soon if I keep at it. Plan is to lose another 10kg, so the hills will help that.

[Crawf]

Might throw Gravatt in to my morning commute, will be a big detour but should break the monotony of the same route everyday, the 42x25 should be fun with rack & panniers.

[clydesmcdale]

Up and down Mt Gravatt this morning. Road wasn't in too bad a condition.

Just a couple of spots of loose gravel here and there. Not a problem on the way up and nothing too much to be concerned with on the way down if taking it easy. Won't be taking a full speed descent until the road is cleared of all the debris.

[Venus62]

I've done Mt Gravatt three times now; twice in a row yesterday. For someone who has always avoided hills, I was pleased to be able to make it up without stopping, but it was embarrassing how slow I was; especially compared to the others who whizzed past me! Also still gaining confidence in descending but actually got above 40kph yesterday. I know improvement will only come with practice.

[Dimma]

Nice work, just stick at it, and your times will improve.
There's no prizes for getting down in a hurry, especially when then's a lot of bike traffic, debris, gravel on the road and the gate is shut for most of the morning.
If I do push on the pedals going down it's when I have the mtn to myself.

[Venus62]

Nice work, just stick at it, and your times will improve.
There's no prizes for getting down in a hurry, especially when then's a lot of bike traffic, debris, gravel on the road and the gate is shut for most of the morning.
If I do push on the pedals going down it's when I have the mtn to myself.

Thanks Dimma. For me it's more a matter of releasing my death grip on the brakes rather than actively pedalling!

[marinmomma]

I've done Mt Gravatt three times now; twice in a row yesterday. For someone who has always avoided hills, I was pleased to be able to make it up without stopping, but it was embarrassing how slow I was; especially compared to the others who whizzed past me! Also still gaining confidence in descending but actually got above 40kph yesterday. I know improvement will only come with practice.

Keep at it and Coottha will start calling...and your speed will improve!

[Venus62]

I've done Mt Gravatt three times now; twice in a row yesterday. For someone who has always avoided hills, I was pleased to be able to make it up without stopping, but it was embarrassing how slow I was; especially compared to the others who whizzed past me! Also still gaining confidence in descending but actually got above 40kph yesterday. I know improvement will only come with practice.

Keep at it and Coottha will start calling...and your speed will improve!

If it starts calling I'll be sticking my fingers in my ears! At least for a while yet...

[clydesmcdale]

Been keen for a few repeats this week, but not keen for the decent on loose gravel and wet patches as is common accross the Mt Gravatt climb after rain. However went to pull in this morning and noticed the road is closed. Enough of an excuse not to do it for me. Not sure if closed only to cars or temporary works are occuring. Looked fine when I went up last week.

Will keep an eye out as I pass the entrance to the climb every day on my commute, for when it's open again.

[Venus62]

Been keen for a few repeats this week, but not keen for the decent on loose gravel and wet patches as is common accross the Mt Gravatt climb after rain. However went to pull in this morning and noticed the road is closed. Enough of an excuse not to do it for me. Not sure if closed only to cars or temporary works are occuring. Looked fine when I went up last week.

Will keep an eye out as I pass the entrance to the climb every day on my commute, for when it's open again.

Thanks for letting us know. I've been giving it a miss due to the weather but am keen to start again if we even see the sun again.

[marinmomma]

Been keen for a few repeats this week, but not keen for the decent on loose gravel and wet patches as is common accross the Mt Gravatt climb after rain. However went to pull in this morning and noticed the road is closed. Enough of an excuse not to do it for me. Not sure if closed only to cars or temporary works are occuring. Looked fine when I went up last week.

Will keep an eye out as I pass the entrance to the climb every day on my commute, for when it's open again.

Darn there goes my plan for the morning if it was fine...

Was it closed or was the gate still closed? If the gate is closed you can still get up as there is a opening on the right just wide enough for a bike to get through.

I wonder that if after all this rain there has been some damage to the road...there is a small section on the up-track just before the half-way mark where it looked to be some subsidence occuring in the road.