Lofty Loops 600

About to descend into Gawler

Take one Geelong Flyer 1000.

Add more elevation.

Subtract 400km.

Add fog.

We set off on an idea that Div had been apparently harbouring for some time: a ride starting effectively at the top of Adelaide's highest lump, Mt Lofty.

A basecamp had been set up at the Mt Lofty YHA, a setup with bunks, power and a kitchen. We all stayed the night before, and started rolling very early. Warren and Owen, a guest from the NT doing a casual 1000km, put the hammer down quite early - I started to follow, but faded away.

The descent down Lobethal road in the dawn is always a fun one, winding and weaving its way through an ice area, then throwing a few mild climbs at you to remind you it's a long day in the saddle.

I was surprised to see a rare emu in the wild - while roos are common, danger chickens are much less so.

Random emu

I said goodbye to the feather dinosaur leftover and pushed on, alone, towards Kersbrook, to be caught by the entire group mid climb. Elbert immediately started to complain that my knicks were indeed just a little worn and he could see far too much.

The descent into Gawler was fantastic, at least after we stopped posing for photos.

We ate, I think accidentally choosing the worst bakery in Gawler. It was a relic of the late 80s, yellowing walls and coffee that was best described as brown and warm.

I can't remember much more about heading toward Nurioopta, occasionally interjecting with a bit of snark every time James got on the front (he got us lost the last time we were in this area) - lots of are you sure? I think it's the other road, James, etc.


Eventually, we would our way towards Sedan. Now, the important thing about this is Sedan Hill, a really nice descent with a wicked cross wind. A few years ago someone had broken their leg on a ride, and it always makes things a bit nerve wracking.

About to go over the top. It's straight down and windy

I got into newer territory heading towards Swan reach, and while we tried to work efficiently with rolling turns, one rider just kept getting on the front and smashing it - and it wasn't me for once. After multiple kilometers of surging, and then having to follow myself or to move into formation and keep things together; I'd had enough. Pointing it out directly didn't put a stop to it.

We crossed the ferry, ate, and ran into Tash; doing a 300.

Tash, on the other side

 Given the surging behaviour, I'd fatigued a bit more than I wanted to so decided to just let them go.

The other side of Swan Reach is very exposed, and it was around 2-3pm by this point. Long rolling stretches of fields and straight road weren't very inspiring.

After some hours of this and having lost visual contact with the group at times, I stopped, did my night prep, and kept on rolling, only to come across everyone on the side of the road holding an impromptu rave of hi viz vests and tail lights. I waved and rolled on at my own pace; there was a pointless "breakaway" which lead to us all reaching the ferry at exactly the same time, and I managed to catch sight of Warren and Owen leaving - they'd eaten and were on their way to Murray Bridge by this point.

We set off again, but the dynamics weren't great and I was increasingly irritated. I put out suggestions from how people survived the Geelong Flyer - occasional breaks as a group, sticking together at night etc - as while I didn't have a huge amount of experience; I'd done at least two 600+ rides by this point.
I did it in a way to build consensus, not dictate, and just before Hahndorf; which is nearly always 3 degrees colder, suggested stopping for a 5 minute break; arm warmers, etc. 2/3 of the other riders nodded and said yup. Our surging friend just rode off, and then all of a sudden the other two did as well.

What.

Audax is meant to be a self sufficient sport, but this caught me off guard and after the earlier behaviour, I'd had enough. After all of that, I caught them on the descents; took a wrong turn, climbed an annoyingly hard hill and had to stop a few times under 5km from the finish; and ended up rolling in slightly after Tash finished her 300; and 5 minutes after the group at around 1am.

Day 2, I got up, I got ready, and I left by 5am.

There was a diversion down Greenhill Road due to roadworks, so I got to explore unknown territory in the pitch dark; and rolled towards Strath. I didn't know how far behind the rest were (10-20 minutes), things narrowed a bit; but I stuffed my face and left promptly; adding an extra 10 minutes.

Warren and Owen had slept in even further and must have jumped on the front, the 30 minute gap slammed shut very rapidly around Goolwa. Airport road isn't a particularly thrilling piece of asphalt, and Warren decided to drop off the pace - I think he took a phone call - as everyone else flew past at +10kmh to what I was doing.
Then they got lost by taking a wrong turn; and suddenly it was another 20 minute gap.

Owen appeared as well, and we chatted as a bunch, the Encounter cycleway directions very confusing but taking us off the roads. As a trio, we stopped and ate; wished Owen good luck as his course split and shared the mild horrors of Cape Jervois, and I set off again solo.

I looked at Mt Alma and then cast my eyes downwards, quickly moving on. It was really scenic, and I didn't have to work hard. Did lunch at Yankalilla, caught by the group there, left early again and took it really easy up Forktree Hill Road - a very unwelcome climb I knew from the legbuster.

Down Sellicks, I still hadn't seen people; and finally onto the flats we regrouped, but minus one rider.

It turns out our friend who kept surging, who didn't structure rest in, who worked against the group had developed knee issues. Audax is expressly not a race format - there's an unspoken expectation of cooperation, balanced with some selfishness.

For example, if a rider is inhibiting the group; the discussion usually goes like:
Will you be okay?
and that rider either says honestly
No, I really need help or Yes, I will see you at the next control.

It's not rude, it's direct; and most of the time, people will not just abandon you. Often, riders will expressly tell you go on, I'm going to do my own thing.

I remember going through Maslin's Beach offered a driving sample of the toothless south car bogans which was quite bad - multiple close passes when we'd had so little trouble the rest of the time.

We stopped at Christies Beach and just kind of lay on some grass, did yoga. It helped immeasurably.

At some point, sunset arrived again. This is the only photo I took, of the bruised and battered people still on the ride, near Glenelg.

I stopped for coke and marsbars, got split at some lights and really wasn't dealing with traffic well, but after smashing a huge amount of sugar; my spirits lifted.

The final climb of the 600 was 15km, 600-700m elevation climb split into two: Norton Summit, and via woods hill to lofty.
I felt really good having lowered the pace all day whenever a climb came up, so much so I turned on my music, reach the top of certain climbs; and turned back around to harrass encourage the others by yelling about the terrible music enjoyed by the young people.

This was apparently effective enough that just as my sugar levels crashed, they all found the power to smash ahead and rolled into the finish before me. DOH.

I think the worst part of the whole thing was %$#% pinch to have to overcome 300m from the finish near Cleland.

I'd paid to crash another night, so I could ride home the ~25-30km; but Div was keen to catch up to Owen, who having added many extra kms, was actually the vicinity of my house.

It was a really difficult ride with some wildly varied moments; and though I haven't done the full thing since... the 1000km version is tempting.