2019 Cloudride 1000 and Prologue 500 course

2019 MONARO CLOUDRIDE 1000

1002k 18,000Vm

8:00am Friday 19 April

2019 heralds the 6th running of the Cloudride. This year going counter clockwise with Tumut [158k] offering the first re-supply. As always there will be subtle variations to the course between towns though the ride distances will largely be unaffected.

The more difficult considerations for riders will be the late start for this year’s race. Easter is mid April. The start date is just a day later than 2015 when severe storms impacted on all riders journey. High country temperatures can plummet overnight and riders will have to be prepared for sub-zero sleep options. The other observation from the first counter clockwise Cloudride in 2017 was that riders underestimated their re-fuel needs from Nimmitabel [725k] for the final push through to the finish. Sure, Bungendore [950k] is an option but by then it’s all over …. if you’re bonking at 850k and no food left it’s a very tough ride home.

Steve Fitchett

"Just awaiting an egg and bacon roll in Bungendore. I want to savour the last of your masochistic masterpiece beautiful yet brutal. The niggles will fade but the memories of the depths that we went too are ingrained forever. Thanks Steve Watson for creating an arena that invoked a deep transcendence. He truly is the Michaelangelo of course setters."

Matt Turner 2017

Matt Turner’s 2nd place ride account from the 2017 Cloudride is a good read and account of the challenges he faced on the 2017 counter clockwise course.

Check back through the ‘Blog’ menu on the Cloudride website.

"Sitting at a café in Bungendore I felt so relieved to have made it and I knew that the hard work was done. I ordered lots of food and coffee, not that I could eat it all but it just seemed the right thing to do and I wanted to enjoy this last 40km into Canberra with a full warm belly."

Registrations $150 for the race tracking fee open 1 January 2019 . Save $50 if you do the Prologue.

SPOT Hire: $75 for the event.

Registration links and further detail on the Monaro Cloudride website.

www.cloudride1000.com

2019 CLOUDRIDE PROLOGUE

505k and 7,100Vm

START: 6:00am Saturday 9 March

It’s not a torture test it’s primary purpose is an entry level bikepacking race against the clock to test rider, bike and gear. Ride light, ride fast … eat, sleep be efficient. KISS

The 2019 Cloudride Prologue course will head south then east-north-east through the Tinderry and some of the toughest opening sections of the past Cloudride 1000 course in the Tallaganda National Park.

Tough fire trails and logging roads before descending down though to Braidwood [220k] for re-suply … a pub feed for dinner Saturday night? What was that line from The Castle…. ‘you must be dreamin’. Breakfast if you’re on two day pace, lunch if you’re not rolling as fast.

From Braidwood the roads quicken but the hills keep the pressure on maintaining speed. Charley’s Forest, Tarago, Collector some supplementary cold drinks and a pie along the way as you pick up some of the Terra Australis route on the way over to Gunning at 400k. Can you make the kitchen cut off at the Telegraph Hotel in Gunning on Sunday evening? Do you push on to the finish with a night ride into Canberra or camp and do a Monday morning roll in?

This is a challenging but fast ride, sub two days if you’re on form and have your gear dialled, sub three days if you’re on a learning curve …. no excuses for not being at work Tuesday morning!

Registrations $100 for the race tracking fee open 1 January 2019

SPOT Hire: $30 for the event.

Registration links and further detail on the Monaro Cloudride website.

www.cloudride1000.com