Tan lines, Tanunda and the Tour Down Under - Ride Report

Road cycling & upcoming rides
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Dougie
Posts: 755
Joined: 11 Jan 2008, 16:39
Location: Dulwich Hill

Postby Dougie » 22 Jan 2012, 21:20

Tan lines, Tanunda and the Tour Down Under.

Now I have never been accused of having an enviable sense of direction. I HAVE been accused of lots of other things, of which NOTHING has ever been conclusively proven. But more on that later.

Having arrived Tuesday with bags and spawn at the hotel, the air conditioning was a welcome respite from the 39 degree Adelaide heat. As predicted it was able 10.30pm that I got to commence putting bike back together after its journey from Sydney. My next purchase will be a torque wrench as I was terrified that my week would be ruined by my other zealous tightening of carbon bits. Fortunately I managed to get the pedals on the correct side, the bars facing the right way and the seat point forward without breaking anything. A quick text to Peter T and his advance party confirmed they were up for a ride on Wednesday.

A local mate of mine rode out to Glenelg to escort us toward Glen Osmond Rd and the Bike Path to Stirling in the Adelaide Hills. Peter T, Adrian E, Geoff S and Marion set out with my mate Peter and I bound for the Hills and Stage 3. Geoff really handles his tandem like a road train and Marion as co-pilot clearly has courage of a VC winner.

We tracked up Anzac Hwy, a wide road with a marked Bike lane, followed by a right turn on to Greenhill Rd equally well marked. We farewelled Peter and made the right turn into Glen Osmond rd. Glen Osmond is a busy road however we found the drivers courteous and the road wide enough to share. The road began to rise to the base of the Hills. Whilst not a steep gradient, it is certainly enough to get the heart beating.

At the base of the well marked bike path we picked up another local guide, Richie. Richie hails from Sydney however he married into Adelaide and is a regular TDUer. We commenced our climb up to the peak at Crafers at 600m. At this point I have to point out, Adrian is a machine! He did the whole event on a single speed. This climb is 10K and averages a smidge over 4%. There are some hurty parts that hit 12% however it’s just a big grind. We gathered at Eagle on the Hill, about the halfway point. I think the bunch was pretty happy I had brought an accordion along for musical accompaniment however it was simply my laboured breathing.

We wound our way up to the highest point at Crafers. I felt confident that there must have been a bike race happening around here somewhere as the number of cyclist emerging from everywhere increased by the second. We descended toward the town of Stirling which was the finish of the day’s stage. Unlike last year there was a detour put in place that forced us to take, well, a detour. With another climb and another descent we found ourselves at the bottom of the finishing straight. Our destination for today was Hahndorf another ten kilometres away. Having recognised that wisdom is knowing when to descend and when to climb, Geoff and Marion decided to scout out a place to have lunch and watch the finish. Richie went off to find his family and we headed off to find Hahndorf.

We zipped down the hill to Aldgate and on through Bridgewater. Adrian and Peter couldn’t stop smiling. They were like kids in lolly shop. The cyclists outnumbered the cars here in veloheaven. I must say I had forgotten German Town Hill. Readers you may recall I thought I was going to have to bury a friend on it last year as what goes down, inevitably must go up. This point didn’t escape either Peter or Adrian (did I mention he was on a single). We covered the distance swiftly arriving in Hahndorf we about an hour and half to kill before the ride went through.

Peter had an excellent method of selecting a coffee shop from the wide variety available to us. “That’ll do” accompanied by a stabbing finger was all the encouragement I needed for caffeine. Can I tell you? If you didn’t have a bike and weren’t in lycra you had no business in the Adelaide Hills today. I am pretty sure I saw some people in Lycra sans bike however they are obviously pretenders and should be ignored.

Whilst gently supping our coffees and Raspberry Swirls, thanks Adrian (did I mention Adrian was on a single speed?) we conversed with a group from the UK out for the ride and other tourists whom didn’t have a clue what was going on. One such chap said to Peter words to the effect of “what kind of bike race is it when you can all sit down and have a coffee and cake?” as his arms may a sweeping motioning encompassing about thirty riders. Peter made remark indicating that we were the breakaway and that our lead was so great we had plenty of time. This chap looked at Peter like he had two heads. I thank at that point Peter reverted to a combination of sign language and speaking slowly to tell this chappie that a bicycle race was coming through town and he should go see it…….

We made our way to a sharp right hander and waited for the peloton to come through. I could tell the boys were getting excited Peter was hopping from foot to foot and Adrian, was on a single speed. Then it began. The motorcycle Police, the race support cars, a bloke in a white Holden Commodore that clearly had his head stuck up his bum followed by a pack of 120 speeding cyclists. What a show! Hopefully the images give you an idea of how up-close and personal it is.
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We then departed for Stirling via that blasted German town Hill. We rolled into Aldgate moments before the peloton quite literally flew through it. I have seen riders jump the gutters on roundabouts to take the most direct route from point A to point B on TV however when you eyeball it at ground level three metres away it’s another thing entirely. The bunch seemed to levitate right across it without missing a beat. I can’t fathom how they could see it let alone take any action when confronted by it. Perhaps that could see a rider bunny hop “x” metres in front of so therefore in the next pedal revolution I too will bunny hop at that point. Bloody amazing.
The spectacle had Peter grinning from ear to ear. Pete, Adrian and I managed to find one another amongst the billion other cyclists and headed up the rise toward Stirling. Upon arrival we split up and wandered off to join our various people. It was a ZOO, but in a really great, festival atmosphere kinda way. My gang were seated at the hard left hander at the exit to the town ready to be pelted with empty bottles by the peloton as I passed by. I saw Geoff and Marion enjoying the scenery and I know Pete, Adrian and Michelle were down the hill watching it all unfold. Will Clarke the young Uni SA rider looked a strong as an ox and is sure to be a star of the future. He powered through Stirling lap after lap keeping the bunch at bay. Great finish, great town and great experience for our virginal TDUers.

We agreed to ride back to Glenelg together and managed to gather just outside of Stirling. To me it looked like every team choose to ride back to the Hilton after the Ride. I was wearing AG2r La Mondial kit. I like this gear because no one can see how frightened I am. Maybe it’s my imagination but every time a team rode passed me I go I hearty greeting as though I was “one of them”. The bride somewhat uncharitably suggested that they genuinely thought I was on the team as no one would use their own money to buy a pair of brown knicks. Regardless it was very cool how they rode among us, albeit briefly as they churned up the hills out of town dropping everyone as they went by.

The descent down through the hills was glorious. Do it! We then returned to Glenelg having completed 75km for the day.

Our plan for Thursday so to head south to the KOM for the day’s stage then cut across to Aldinga Beach for lunch and then home. The TDUers had swelled now to a formidable size. The DHBC representatives now included Mark H, Michelle P, Stuart and Jo along with the five from yesterday. Mike and Fiona decided to have a town day and not join us for our journey south.

Our route was Glenelg, Diagonal Road, The Patrick Jonker Veloway and South Rd to the KOM on Sellicks Hill. A journey of about 46K each way. We set off and you make recall dear reader that I am not possessed of a good sense of direction. I entirely missed Diagonal rd. and had us heading to oblivion. After too long I called a stop checked the map, apologised, retraced our steps, apologises again, stopped at a servo to get directions, apologised some more, handed the navigation to Geoff whom go us to diagonal Rd the rode down the back in shame for a while. Everyone was very nice through gritted teeth.

We got to the Veloway and started up the climb to the top. Geoff, Pete, Marion and Stuart decided to stop to see the riders come through. Whilst it wasn’t the planned spot for viewing it was an excellent spot as it offered a hill and some shade. It was damn hot; my Garmin registered 42 degrees in the sun. The riders came through after about forty minutes. We were able to get very close as the images show, although the steep gradient isn’t evident. They were certainly working hard.

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We decided that discretion was the better part of valour and that we would ride to the end of the veloway and have some lunch at the beach in Noarlunga. The water was a beautiful Astana Blue. We pulled up outside a shop to take stock and the proprietor rushed out, we thought to move us along. But no! Take our photo with him and all of us replete in our DHBC kit for his website. It was all very Tour Down Under. He advised us to go to a nice café just down the road which we did. Nice food, nice setting, nice company.

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Our return journey followed the same path. We spread out and took our own pace. A friendly car honked us. The driver happened to be my son’s godfather, whom lives in Rockhampton. Couldn’t have planned that if I had tried. Spooky huh? By the time we got back to Glenelg it was bloody hot and we had covered 60K. Not quite the day I planned however considering the heat and the big ride for the following day I think it turned out for the best.

The team’s excitement was building and the tension was palpable. We agreed to roll out at 5am the next morning for the Norwood start and the big one.

One of the great parts of the TDU is the Tour Village in the city centre. There’s all manner of cycle centric stuff to do and see and it incorporates the bike expo. Even my kids had a great time in the Uni SA stand.

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Stage 4 Norwood to Tanunda 138K

The news of the morning was that the part of Stuart in this performance was to be played by Adrian (did I mention he was riding a single speed). Jo reported that Stuart was as sick as a dog and wouldn’t be joining us.

We rolled out at 5am and headed toward Norwood just under 16k up the road. I was flattered that I was actually asked to ease the pace as Adrian couldn’t keep up on his single speed (I think I have mentioned that, qui?). nothing quite like cracking before the start of the event so I was pretty happy to slow it down.

I managed to navigate our way to Norwood without taking one wrong turn. Having said that, there were more blinking lights than Forth Avenue in Hurlstone Park on the Christmas Eve. You’d have to be Stevie Wonder to have missed the start line. Now I‘ve only met Mike and Fiona once on the Three Gorges adventure ride so I would be forgiven for not recognising them straight away. I stood patiently at the met up point and this Lycra clad chap whom I recognised was striding purposefully toward me with a big grin on his face. He was accompanied by a young woman in shorts and a t-shirt, not quite the attire I recall Fiona wearing during the adventure ride and perhaps there had been a problem and she had come with Mike to the start to be social. I thrust out a paw in hearty greeting when I realised that the reason I recognised the chap was that “Mike” was really Tony Abbott and “Fiona” was his minder. I am such a duffer. Anyway Michelle P found them and rounded them up. Mike and Fiona had a local ring in as well named, Kate. I found Richie my local mate and Tony Abbott threatened to join us but being an apolitical group that got vetoed.

A great atmosphere was present and the whole street was buzzing. The weather was cool but not unpleasantly so and as dawn broke the tension mounted.
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The gun went off and so did the peloton. The beep of Garmins being reset was almost deafening. Unlike the Spring Cycle or even the Gongride, this event is taken very seriously. I didn’t see anyone in novelty attire nor did I see much less that the odd flat bar roadie. There were some very serious riders here. We had a timing chip for the first time which I suppose helps locate strays more than anything else. It all went like clockwork.

I planned to stop briefly at the two snack stops to fill up bottles. The first at 59K and the second at 110K. Other than that I figured I was here to ride, so just get on with it. The neutral zone was well handled by the Police. They waived us through red lights and generally the bunch was well behaved. Every kilometre or so there was a forlorn looking rider changing a flat. You could tell be the look on their faces that it was going to be a long day.

The climbing commenced almost as soon as we cleared the neutral zone. Whilst I wouldn’t suggest people were dropping like flies, you could certainly tell who had been training and who hadn’t. The climbing seemed relentless however not overly taxing. A few hurty parts just to remind you that there was still over one hundred kilometres to go.

I decided that I would take a nervous wee after the first KOM at 39k in. I have not have an enjoyable history with KOM’s in this event having had to push on the last two editions. This year, with the new red bike and a bit of training I was determined to get over them, even if I had to cheat! Well the first King of the Mountain came a went. It really was less of King and more of a minor royal in an inconsequential duchy somewhere in the antipodes. One down and one to go.

I saw a nasty prang three k short of the first rest stop. Other than a little touch of wheels on Menglers Hill later in the ride they were all the problems I saw. At the 59k mark I saw Michelle P. I figured maybe she was on her victory lap or something. At the 110K mark I saw Mark H and Trouty and sat with them for a while on the grass eating cake and massaging aching feet. I figured they too were on their victory laps. They left for Menglers Hill about ten minutes before I too hit the road for the last KOM and the final 28K.

The climb out of the rest stop was a killer. In fact I saw more riders pushing bikes over that 300m than anywhere else. At the entrance to the KOM a marshal was offering an alternative route however I was not to be swayed. I plucked up my nerve then adjusted my knicks to mount the attack. 2.8K at 7%, no worries. In fact fan- bloody –tastic. Over the top with no issues at all. It was all downhill from there.

Peter T caught me at about five to go and we cruised across the line together. We collapsed on the oval to be greeted by the gang as they wandered by, 8,000 people and you bump into your team, weird huh.

What a great ride.

Statistics for the three days of riding

292.83K of riding
3,530M of Climbing

rhys
Posts: 540
Joined: 17 Jan 2010, 13:00

Postby rhys » 22 Jan 2012, 21:58

Nicely written Dougie, always enjoy reading your reports. Sounds like you had a blast :)

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Stuart
Posts: 2568
Joined: 11 Mar 2008, 10:43
Location: Dulwich Hill

Postby Stuart » 23 Jan 2012, 11:37

Great report as always Dougie. Nice to finally see the 'spawn' but what about a pic of 'the bride'?

yes it was a great trip, even with the recurrence of a virus that kept me out of the community ride and in the bathroom on the Friday. Don't drink the Adelaide water, that's all I can say. A big thanks to Adrian not only for buying my entry but also for the great time I recorded as a result (and on a single speed too). Very chuffed to have beaten one Mr T. Abbott by 40 mins although my next outing there may not be as fast. I'll go back, not next year, but certainly I'll go back. It's a great event. Just wish they could turn down the heat a bit.

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JoTheBuilder
Posts: 1500
Joined: 19 Feb 2011, 15:32

Postby JoTheBuilder » 23 Jan 2012, 13:23

Great ride report Dougie! I think this means I have to do it next year...

Yes, Stuart, drinking their water is like drinking soil. I hope you are feeling better.

andrewb
Posts: 202
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 19:14
Location: Croydon Park

Postby andrewb » 23 Jan 2012, 19:01

Yes, Stuart, drinking their water is like drinking soil.
That's why we natives switch to drinking Coopers quite early ...

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Trouty
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Joined: 09 May 2007, 13:23

Postby Trouty » 24 Jan 2012, 06:14

Yeah Great report Dougie, always a pleasure to read. @ Jo, absolutely recommend you go, there are so many people about riding, and you can do some serious kilometres or just do some cruisy rides here and there. Dougie's itinerary really helped take the pressure of planning the best routes out. I loved staying at the beach, but staying in the city would also be great. I think I would spend a week there next time, you lose a day or so in riding getting there and back, and you would beat the airport traffic getting there early and leaving later.

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Julio
Posts: 320
Joined: 17 Jul 2009, 10:59

Postby Julio » 24 Jan 2012, 09:38

I'm in for next year. missed the last 2 due to IMWA being on at the same time but before that I was TDU crazy. And being an ex-local I know all the back roads :)

Mike H
Posts: 3
Joined: 12 Sep 2011, 14:07

Postby Mike H » 29 Jan 2012, 17:56

Awesome ride, thanks so much Dougie for all the organizing, and a great ride report, shame Stuart was taken out by that Thai curry, and sorry we couldn't have stayed to watch the dogfight on Saturday.....still, we really enjoyed the spectacle of all the pros racing to the finishes and having never ridden the course or that distance before am pretty happy with a PB! :-) the drive back to Sydney was good to let the lactic acid settle in for at least a week, but undettered, we'll be back and see you there next year.


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