Cloudride Options 2018

Cloudride 2018 Survey

Thanks to all those who took a few minutes to respond to the Survey on the future Monaro Cloudride options. We had just under 100 responders. The principal aim of this was to see if there was wider interest from riders to participate in an alternate race format [team style] over the 1000k Cloudride course and a shorter 500k course.

Since the launch of the Monaro Cloudride in 2013 as the first annual bikepacking race in Australia it has been a slow process in moulding the course/challenge into an achievable objective for most competent riders to prepare for and complete. The completion rate this year [a little over 50%] is close to the general average in these sort of ultra distance events.

It’s difficult for most of us to set aside training time and budget for race preperation, expense of gear and garner leave time against the demands of work and family commitments. However the personal growth benefits remain a major incentive for each of us to push beyond the normal, step outside the safety zone and take on a challenge that is very difficult but so rewarding to accomplish when you can overcome the challenge.

My intent in initiating this Survey was to provide a possible option for a mountain bike adventure event at an introductory level, difficult, testing, tough that riders could do without the time commitment and expense that a solo 1000k ride requires.

The results of the Survey were very clear … and gratifying! The great majority had preference of racing solo over 1000k or 500k. The ‘team’ option was overwhelming in favour of a ‘two person’ team racing over the 1000k Cloudride course.

So, here is the plan for 2018.

500k PROLOGUE CLOUDRIDE March 9-12 2018. Start time TBA

We will run a 500k ‘prolouge’ as hard and tough as the Cloudride over the Canberra Day/Vic Labour Day holiday weekend March 9-12. Some sections of the full Cloudride course may be included in the Prologue. This is two weeks before the full Easter Cloudride start and will provide a perfect gear shake-down ride and training for those intending or hoping to do the full Cloudride at Easter. The Prologue will at the same time offer an opportunity for riders who want to sample a weekend ride before planning and committing to a full Cloudride 1000k course at some future time. The start time for the Prologue will be open to discussion but Friday 9, 8:00pm, 10:00pm or midnight are considerations for interstate riders to facilitate minimum leave time. There will be no team options for the Prologue.

1000k SOLO MONARO CLOUDRIDE 8:00am Good Friday 30 March 2018

1000k clockwise….. do it yourself, unsupported.

1000k TEAM CLOUDRIDE

1000k Anti-clockwise.

Two person, 100k [or multiples of] legs at the discretion of the team. Tag points, each 100k, are specific and not negotiable.

Vehicles with the alternate rider will NOT be permitted on the race route.

For forward planning purposes the likely Tag Points [based on the 2017 Cloudride route] are going to be at or

near;

Brindabella Rd 100k

Batlow 200k

Cabramurra 300k

Jindabyne 400k

Tubbut 500k

Bombala 600k

Nimmitabel 700k

Jerangle 800k

Hoskinstown 900k

Canberra 1000k

RACE TRACKING FEES

Details of race tracking fees will be announced shortly. As in the past, riders will be required to race with a SPOT satelite tracking device. There will be compulsory race tracking to confirm route compliance and provide emergency rescue coordination in the event of a major life threatening incident.

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