Bellbird Hill

[vosadrian]

So Wark is much worse than Bowen? Steeper, Longer? All of the above?

It is hard to get accurate info on the gradient from Strava. It seems to be a very noisy parameter and jump around all over the place. That last km or so of Bowen is steep. Seems to be around 15% and go for a good half a km atleast at one point. How does Wark compare to that?

[eon]

So Wark is much worse than Bowen? Steeper, Longer? All of the above?

It is hard to get accurate info on the gradient from Strava. It seems to be a very noisy parameter and jump around all over the place. That last km or so of Bowen is steep. Seems to be around 15% and go for a good half a km atleast at one point. How does Wark compare to that?

I wouldnt say 'col de wark' is steeper, but certainly a couple of bowen like sections and definitely longer..
After climbing Bell Bird for about 4.5+km then you turn left to wark hill rd which is prob the steepest part of 'col de wark', it hurts.

last little bit @13.3% for 800 meteres
http://app.strava.com/segments/1186126

[Xplora]

SO... the whole area is a slaughterhouse for the willing...

Yep I think 34/32 might be the order of the day... Contador was on the juice and still used that for the big hill days

[vosadrian]

So Wark is much worse than Bowen? Steeper, Longer? All of the above?

It is hard to get accurate info on the gradient from Strava. It seems to be a very noisy parameter and jump around all over the place. That last km or so of Bowen is steep. Seems to be around 15% and go for a good half a km atleast at one point. How does Wark compare to that?

I wouldnt say 'col de wark' is steeper, but certainly a couple of bowen like sections and definitely longer..
After climbing Bell Bird for about 4.5+km then you turn left to wark hill rd which is prob the steepest part of 'col de wark', it hurts.

last little bit @13.3% for 800 meteres
http://app.strava.com/segments/1186126

Last 200m averages 18.5%. That is torture in my books. I recently got some light wheels and 11-28 cassette (39 front), so I'll give it a go when my knee recovers.

[eon]

So Wark is much worse than Bowen? Steeper, Longer? All of the above?

I think this sums it up Adrian

http://app.strava.com/activities/64599111
First peak is Wark, second is bowen, third is Springwood lookout.

Wark's a b1tch.

[vosadrian]

That is a great comparison to see them all at once. It really does make Bowen look quite tame in comparison.... Yikes!!

I will add that one to the list some day... might wait for my knee to recover fully first.

Awesome ride by the way. Let me know if you do it again some time. I would like to attempt to tag along.

[eon]

Awesome ride by the way. Let me know if you do it again some time. I would like to attempt to tag along.

going Bellbird+wark on sunday.
5am start from Baulko. takes about 1.5h to get to the start of the climb.
you keen ?

[rogan]

Hey Ehly, do you mind if I tag along?

[vosadrian]

I am going to try an make it. WIll confirm this evening. Have not done any real climbing in a while, so may do some walking!!

[Xplora]

It's sounding like a public invitation. Although it just started raining

[vosadrian]

You in Xplora? Would be great to meet a few people to put names to faces.

Looks like I am getting wet riding home today...

[Xplora]

If we were starting at 6am, there is no question I'm there. 5am at Norwest/Windsor, on the northern onramp corner... I'll struggle, that's a 4:30am wakeup which is getting suspiciously like an all nighter to me. I'm all for HTFULADS but my alarm is only so loud

[eon]

Hey Ehly, do you mind if I tag along?

tag along ? what you mean ? looking at some of your rides you'd be dragging me up that hill. =)
i'll try not to sleep in this time..

all welcome to join as long as your keen at stupid oclock. =) be nice to have some company.

5:10-15 meet at Norwest/Windsor... or Start of NORWESTER section . =)
I leave home at 5 but take me about 10minutes to get there..

[Xplora]

Yeah it's about 20 minutes from home for me to the start point. Fair enough to start rolling at 5:15 sharp, moving around 25kmh until Sunnyholt, and then it's on? I'm assuming we'd be doing 33-34 avg out to Richmond, if my last attempt to chase you on TNFPR indicated anything... shame I am not allowed to buy your Zipps, eon, would help me keep up a lot!

[rogan]

OK sounds good. I should be there... if I don't stay up to watch the tour... or the cricket.

Only ever done Bellbird in a downhill direction. (Glebe - Penrith - Mt Victoria - Bilpin - Richmond - Glebe - 260 km at 30 km/h solo with I'm guessing ~3000 m vertical 21 years ago when I was young and silly).

[eon]

Only ever done Bellbird in a downhill direction. (Glebe - Penrith - Mt Victoria - Bilpin - Richmond - Glebe - 260 km at 30 km/h solo with I'm guessing ~3000 m vertical 21 years ago when I was young and silly).

30 avg with 3000m climbing

I stayed up last night till the last 6-8kms.. i just remember contador attacking the downhill then they got to the foot of the climb. then fell asleep.
woke up and they showing the results
watched highlights in the morn instead... now frieken shattered at work.

I'm assuming we'd be doing 33-34 avg out to Richmond, shame I am not allowed to buy your Zipps, eon, would help me keep up a lot!

you'd be fine dude, but if you really want the 606..
more like 30-32. I don't want to be smashed before we even get to the start. but if you guys want to Smash/TT the flat, i'm happy to wheel suck

[Xplora]

Honestly, I'd rather start at 5:30 and lead the train out at 34 avg. It's pretty easy on the way out

[eon]

Honestly, I'd rather start at 5:30 and lead the train out at 38+ avg. It's very easy on the way out

alright, alright -> lets start at 5:30am
only because you said you'll lead us out at 38avg on the way there..
cool.

another mate is meeting us up at Kellyville Mcrs at 5:40ish.

[Xplora]

Hey I'm cool with punishing the late riser

Should we just start rolling along Windsor northbound in the small ring (say 25kmh) to allow people to catch up, and then once we've either got everyone, or got to Sunnyholt, we ramp it up? Gives a chance for late risers, and probably a sensible warmup routine because I'm more than happy to TT the group out to Richmond if we roll a couple short turns.

[eon]

Hey I'm cool with punishing the late riser

Should we just start rolling along Windsor northbound in the small ring (say 25kmh) to allow people to catch up, and then once we've either got everyone, or got to Sunnyholt, we ramp it up? Gives a chance for late risers, and probably a sensible warmup routine because I'm more than happy to TT the group out to Richmond if we roll a couple short turns.

Lets just start at 530. If noone there will jus roll.. TT to wark. Hurt like a bitch up, wohoooo on the way down, then TT back home:)
N be home bout 930.

[Xplora]

We'll aim for home ASAP; hopefully get a tailwind eh?

[rogan]

OK 5.30 it is, cnr of Windsor Rd and Norwest (nb NOT Old Windsor Rd).

Coming back, depending on time, I will probably turn off at Pitt Town Rd or Annangrove Rd.

Looking fwd to it!

btw my lowest is a 39x25, so my aim is to avoid the walk of shame!

[Xplora]

OK I've just checked where the start of the Norwester segment is, and I got the wrong end. I will meet you guys at the Kellyville Maccas at 5:40 as per eon's mate, that's the easiest thing for me. Will be just as fast as mucking around with Bella Vista, save a lot of time because Sunnyholt at 6am is a quick run I'm softing out on the M7 climb today though; overcooked it today and ended up on 180bpm HR.

Sorted!!!

[eon]

OK 5.30 it is, cnr of Windsor Rd and Norwest (nb NOT Old Windsor Rd).

yep =)

A or B
http://goo.gl/maps/Mhgi4

oh i'm trying out a 28, just quietly.

[TimW]