Thursday, December 11, 2014

Brian's Annual TDU Challenge Practice ride

It's that time of year and with the TDU fast approaching Brian's annual practice ride is with us.

The TDU route for this year is more uphill than down and its journey along some high traffic corridors down south  and its termination at Mt Barker makes it a difficult to plan a reconnaissance ride.  However Brian has been poring over the maps like Napoleon about to invade Russia and has come up with a workable route.  I wont be able to make it due to family commitments but it looks like a nice day 29 degrees and light winds.
I am convinced I am the one who jinxes the weather on these rides, every time I go it buckets.

Meet in the city at 7:30 am. If you don't want to do the long ride rock up in the City and an alternate route will be decided from there.

Aldo,
I have reviewed the course for the Bupa Challenge Practice ride.

I suggest that we follow this route:

City to the Southern Bike Way 
Hindmarsh Sq - Anzac Highway - left to Brighton Rd (Bupa start)
Left to Diagonal Rd - Left to Sturt Rd - Right to Marion Rd
and then onto Bikeway on Main South Rd intersection

Bikeway to Aldinga
Exit the  Bikeway and left to River Rd - right to Patapinda Rd (Old Noarlunga) - onto Seaford Rd - left to Commercial Rd (I thought it would be better to stay off of Main South Rd as much as possible)  Onto Old Coach Rd - STOP at Aldinga Bakery

Aldinga to Meadows via Pages Flat
Right to Main South Rd - left to Pages Flat Rd - (this is where we divert from Bupa Course)
left to top of Willunga Hill (approx 77km to here) - right to Brookman Rd - right to Dashwood Gully Rd - STOP at Meadows Bakery

Meadows to Home 
Right to Battunga Rd (Meadows) - right to Meadows Rd (Echunga) - left to Strathalbyn Rd - left to Aldgate Valley Rd (Mylor) - Aldgate - Stirling - Crafers (via Pomona Rd and Old Mt Barker Rd past the monument) - Home.


Total distance is approx 135 to 140km

Brian