Cloudride countdown....
- Steve Watson
- Mar 6, 2018
- 2 min read
2018 Cloudriders are now into their final month of training/prep for this years fifth running of the Monaro Cloudride.
A few route changes down in the southern section of the course will keep everyone on their navigation toes….. past Cloudriders in particular will need to pay attention and not rely on memory.
The sweet rolling southern Monaro grazing country has a strong Montana Tour Divide feel for those contemplating heading over to the US one day for a crack at the Tour Divide.
On the way over to Delegate. A bit of grunt for the climb up to the Merriangaah Range ... mostly on the bike but for a few water bars where gravity wins the day.
Up on the top end of the course ... Batlow/Tumut area blackberries continue as an occupational hazard in the forest areas along Foreshore Rd and Hume & Hovel Walking Track … make sure you set your tyres up tubeless! Pete Makin rode the Cabramurra - Batlow leg recently and reports logging activity on the roads after crossing Elliott Way….. a lot of dust at the moment, could be mud by April!
CLOUDRIDE PROLOGUE 500
Still taking late entries for this weekend's Prologue. A shakedown/training ride for those planning to attempt the real deal in three weeks or maybe next year. A three day weekend for most of us and what looks to be a beautiful weather window. Cool sunny day temps, light winds, mild starlit nights should make for perfect high country riding conditions. A dozen riders on the roster at the moment ranging from the super experienced to virgin first time bikepackers … everyone can find their level and company to keep along the ride. A few late scratchings but a couple of recent entries with local riders Seb Dunne and Michael Culhane signing on this week.
MONARO CLOUDRIDE PROLOGUE 500 - Starts March 10 Tanya Bosch 62, Bondi NSW Scotty Preston 48, Hoskinstown NSW - Scratched Phil Matthewson 68, Northbridge NSW Michael Moore 49, Garran ACT Pete Culhane 46, Launceston Tas Steve Watson 71, Braddon ACT Steve Knope 41, ACT - Scratched Trevor Fairhurst 48, Ainslie ACT Noel Holt 53, Tarragindi Qld - Scratched Peter Bailey 50, Blacktown NSW Ty Domin 38, O'Connor ACT Bryce England 39, Jerrabomberra NSW Kumar Jadav 39 Aranda ACT Michael Culhane 52 Campbell ACT
Seb Dunne 32 Duffy ACT
RACE TRACKER
Follow the action here… starts Saturday morning 6:00am
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