I am tuckered-out and tired, but my trip to Canberra to tackle the 158km Fitz’s Challenge was a memorable experience which I hope to repeat several times over in ensuing October's.

We were greeted by an unseasonally cold morn' which never warmed up "much", 'twas minus 1 in the morning peaking at 21, light wind, a veritable beautiful day for a long ride. Setting off at 8am with 200 riders circa, most wearing vests or long sleeve wind jackets 'cause it was seriously chilly, I wore arm warmers all day as did many in the field and started with a vest as well.  It was easy to find a peleton to stick with for first 19km until we hit The Dreaded Fitz’s Hill.  Golly Gosh, didn't that hill split up the entire field. At +10% gradient for about 3km it’s the meanest thing I’ve ever climbed. 

Bank Teller's recommendation to pack a cassette with a 29 big cog was never regretted as I trudged up the killer precipitous.  The toughest thing about Fitz's Challenge "The Classic" is that it’s never flat. It’s always up and down, and apart from the major climbs, there are these short steep pitches that slow you up so you just can’t speed down and roll up. Always going up and down thru the gears.

Very well organised, friendly riders and locals. Getting off at each checkpoint to get your card stamped means you are forced to have a short break, which worked out well by the end.

Lawrence aka Tyro, another younger and fitter Muggs' rider, who started late, caught me at about the 70km mark, where I was fixing a rear tyre puncture on the roadside. After about 15 minutes we started together and Lawrence immediately snagged a puncture as well. So we fixed that one. By now most of the 158km riders had passed us by, so no groups to tag on to, only slower riders doing the shorter events. Lawrence left me languishing behind on the next big climb, after letting me draft him for maybe 10km. But surprise, I caught him at around 102km as he was by the roadside fixing the same puncture again!  So I joined him to help, and now after our third puncture we were really at the tail of the field.  We rode together 'till the furthest checkpoint (110km), turned around and struggled home up some obscenely steep climbs. Once again I lost him on the first big climb.

Lawrence had changed from a 21 biggest rear cog to a 26, just before this event and even he was struggling a bit I think. I honestly didn’t know whether I would make it back to the start at Tharwa as I was so tired from the constant hills, but managed to scramble home having consumed all my energy bars, carbo drinks, gels as well as fruit and muesli bars at checkpoints.

My official time was 8 hours 40 minutes. My actual time, excluding the three puncture repairs (its so hard to pump up the bloody tire when you’re totally stuffed from climbing hills) was 7 hours 52 minutes. Actual ride time (excluding the checkpoint stops, refueling and rest) was 7 hours 22 minutes. Time limit is 10 hours, so its possible to do it at a much easier pace, as long as you don’t puncture too much.

There’s an estimated 2,600m of climbing and its very tough, but countryside is beautiful with very few cars on the route. Highly recommended for those that want to challenge themselves.

Regards

Greg
29 Oct '06

A couple of pics snapped at Tour de Macarthur circa Oct 2006 - with Architect Too on the extreme RHS.

Crossing Coalcliff Bridge - Sept '07

Guy 'n ArchitectToo en board to Wagstaffe - circa Roctober '07