“ROUND THE POUND”

SATURDAY OCTOBER 6, 2012

AUDAX CYCLING CLUB INC REGION

An cycling adventure featuring iconic South Australian scenery.

Experience the natural beauty of Wilpena Pound (pictured above from the air) and the from every angle by circumnavigating the pound.

Wilpena – Hawker – Parachilna – – Wilpena (230km)

Shorter options available.

Audax riding is generally designed to be self sufficient. You should always carry what you need and always remain cognisant of what you can, and can’t, obtain whilst on the course.

This is especially important on a ride as remote as this. The Flinders Ranges are however a very popular tourist area, and this ride will be conducted during the last weekend of the school holidays. There will be plenty of people around who I am sure will be willing to assist if the need arises.

The only services available on the ride are at Wilpena, Hawker, Parachilna and Blinman. A supported rest stop will be available at the telegraph monument between Hawker and Parachilna.

You will not be bored at any point on the ride, even the flat stretches into Parachilna. The beauty of the Flinders Ranges will always be visible.

The section between Parachilna and Blinman is unsealed. It is extremely challenging. Participants are welcome to pool car support to traverse themselves and bikes over this section. It is not envisaged that the organiser will provide car pool support (or at a minimum only for 2-3 bikes, therefore do not guarantee that you have a car pool).

The sealed roads however are excellent – smooth surfaces and generally wide shoulders.

There are cattle grids on all roads. The grids are like train crossings, except that there are about a dozen rails to cross. When crossing a grid, maintain a steady speed. Faster is better because it will feel rougher the slower you traverse. Do not change direction on a grid and always cross perpendicular to the rails. Keep your weight evenly spread across both wheels by standing to bring your weight slightly forward.

Separate notes included on the dirt section. Be prepared if you are going to attempt this.

Lighting is essential as is reflective garments. Tourists and other road users will not be expecting bikes on the main roads, although they will treat bikes well. The 200km time limits will be after sunset so dawn and dusk visibility are important.

Finally, you will encounter wildlife, especially emus and kangaroos. Kangaroos are pretty benign and most likely seen adjacent to the Wilpena Park. They will also be prevalent towards sunset. Emus however are just plain stupid. They frighten easily and think nothing of running alongside you at 30kmh+ then darting across the road without warning. I don’t think they would attack a cyclist, but the might accidentally collide with one. On my recce ride in April I counted 17 by the time I’d reached the lunch stop.

There is plenty to do in the Wilpena area. If you have never been there before, spend at least 4 days discovering the gorges, peaks and wildlife in the park.

I plan to climb St Mary’s Peak on the Sunday as a “recovery”. It is probably THE iconic activity in the Ranges, and the views are superb. The local natives request you don’t do it, but it is still available to the public and definitely worth the effort. It is a full day activity.

Round the Pound – the ride

All rides will start and finish at WILPENA Pound Resort and Campground. There are four ride options available:

 200km : Wilpena – Hawker – Parachilna - (car ferry to Blinman) – Wilpena  220km : Wilpena – Hawker – Wilpena – Blinman – Wilpena  230km : Wilpena – Hawker – Parachilna – Blinman – Wilpena  110km : Wilpena – Blinman – Wilpena

The 200+ options will all commence at 6.30am, slightly before sunrise. The 110km option will start at 10.30am and hopefully will allow the riders to meet the 200’s at or near Blinman before returning to Wilpena.

WILPENA - HAWKER

Mt Ohlssen Bagge just before sunrise. Bike parked in cattle grid.

DISTANCE 54.5km WILPENA 543m Max Altitude 570m (at 8.5km from Wilpena) HAWKER 320m

After a gentle descent out to the main road, there is a gently climb for about 5km. Then it is downhill almost all the way to Hawker. Watch out for kangaroos in the park grounds and for the first few kilometres on the main road.

As the sun rises there will be spectacular views of the southern edge of Wilpena Pound. Further in the leg you will pass Rawnsley Bluff, the southern most edge of the Pound. Beyond the pound, views of Elder Ranges, named for the founder of the Elders pastoral Group.

Hawker controle will be at Hawker Motors. Store opens at 7.30am. There is a general store opposite, but not much quality food on offer. Opposite the B83 highway is a clean toilet rest stop with general tourist information and covered seating and tables. A coffee shop is opposite.

HAWKER – PARACHILNA

DISTANCE 89.6km HAWKER 320m = max altitude PARACHILNA 147m

One descent of about 100m fall in 5km to Hookina Creek Crossing at 19km from Hawker (75km total), otherwise entire leg is flat with slightly perceptible rises and falls.

The road flattens and straight for next 17km We will have a supported rest point at the Telegraph Cairn at 97k point off highway on left, 43km from Hawker.

View from Telegraph Cairn

The ride from the Telegraph stop to Parachilna is very flat with the occasional flood plain creek crossing. To your right will be Brachina Gorge (famous for fossilised creatures in rocks).

On the day I rode the course the Leigh Creek Coal train went past on my left. Too many carriages to count.

. Leigh Creek Coal Train returning to Leigh Creek for reloading PARACHILNA is little more than a rail siding, but it has the world famous Prairie Hotel. Farmers Union Iced Coffee available. It is recommended you settle in for lunch – you will not be disappointed. You can eat Kangaroo and other native creatures, or something more conventional if you are keeping your adventure for the road. Bring your insect repellent – the flies are intense, and you may not be guaranteed an indoor seat.

The stake through the kangaroo burger!

Outside the Prairie Hotel, Parachilna

PARACHILNA – BLINMAN

Distance 31.6km PARACHILNA 147m Max Altitude 650m (at 29.7km) BLINMAN 612m

This section is incredibly difficult. I have ridden this bike on the Roubaix Cobbles but two things stand out here that differentiate from that experience. The distance and the dust. The road shakes you almost as much as the cobbles, but there is no relent in the first 12 km. And the dust from passing vehicles will choke your lungs. I had to walk all climbs in the last 10km because I could not bring my heartrate when walking below maximum and could not breathe. It took over three hours to complete 32km. Maybe carrying a dust mask would help.

It is recommended all entrants organise passage by vehicle over this section. There is no time penalty, however the clock will continue to run.

If you do choose to ride this section this is what I think you need to know. Take time to enjoy the scenery and stop as often as you can.

Part 1 – 12km from Parachilna to the start of the gorge.

The run into the foothills - gravelly and unrelentingly rough

This section climbs about 100m in 10km as a long gradual imperceptible 0.5% – 1% incline.

I rode a fixed wheel bike with 28c tyres. On the flat I felt the fixie gave extra control, especially in the loose gravel, and also because the power is always being consistently driven. I had no problem with tyre width.

Heart rate extremely high due to CONCENTRATION keeping wheel in the smoothest possible line.

The road is extremely corrugated however in almost every point there is a smoother line, although often rocky. Keep switching to find the smoothest line. Don’t be afraid to stop when cars are coming as some four wheel drivers are too engrossed in their own self importance to care for a foolish cyclist on this road.

Although it doesn’t appear so, the general smoothest run will be the red sand on the extreme edge of the road, because the underlying base is not corrugated.

When you do change lines to find a smoother ride, be very direct in your movements, otherwise you risk losing control of the front wheel.

Part 2 – The Gorge

This section is about 6 km in length, with gradual climbing from 240m to about 320m. This is the scenic highlight of the run to Blinman.

There are numerous creek crossings and the road surface between each crossing is better than what you experienced in the first leg.

Parachilna Gorge creek crossing – steep entry or exit.

There was very little water when I did this. Unless the creeks are flowing, you can get through without getting wet. When we run this in October, it is more likely that there will be running water (I was there in April). The creek beds are moderate sized rounded pebbles, slightly compacted due to road usage, but still quite unstable for a bike. If you ride through water, be prepared to stop suddenly if the water deepens beyond 6 inches or so. There is also one extended stretch of 100m+ contained within a river bed. The entrances and exits from the crossings can be very steep, if only for a short distance.

Again be wary of 4WD’s. The majority think they should be starring in their own TV commercial. One idiot couldn’t wait to splash through a puddle like in the picture, regardless of me riding around it and just forced me off the road.

Part 3 – the killer. Angorichina to Blinman

If you have made it this far, prepare for the worst!

There are about 300m climbing over 11km, but coupled with the descents, leaves an average grade of about 6 %. The road is not as rough as the plains, but by now the dust takes its effect. The climbs are long and arduous and the surface is loose enough in places to make it difficult to ride. At this point the advantage of riding a fixie on the flat was completely lost. I doubt any bike would have been easy, although a MTB would have been preferred. Wide tyres definitely recommended.

You will pass Angorichina Village shortly after leaving the base of the gorge. Recommend you stop and have a break before the climbing begins.

While I was walking up the hills, several drivers were kind enough to stop and enquire if I was ok.

There are spectacular Flinders views. Most of them will be behind you so don’t forget to stop and look behind from time to time.

Blinman is South Australia’s highest town. It is a former mining town and tours of the mines are conducted. There is a hotel And General store.

BLINMAN – WILPENA

Distance 55km BLINMAN 612m WILPENA 543m

Back on a good quality road, this should be easy but watch out for the cattle grids.

In the first third of the ride you will see the Great Wall of China, not THE great wall but a natural formation along the ridge line that looks like a long wall.

Overall not much fall, but the road is undulating. About 15km out from Wilpena is a spectacular lookout, after which is quite a long descent punctuated by several cattle grids. Take care especially if it is getting late in the day as there will be kangaroos around and they will bound across the road in your lights.

Catering & Support

Food & Water will be available from stores/hotels at Hawker, Parachilna and Blinman at all times during the ride.

There may be a supported rest break at Hawker, and there will be one at mid point between Hawker and Parachilna. Most likely this will be bananas, buns, sandwiches and water.

As there is no Telstra mobile coverage outside the three controle points, the Support Vehicle will remain behind the last rider once they have left Parachilna, and will remain as near as possible to the last riders before Parachilna, bearing in mind the logistics of providing the supported rest stop to all riders.

If you require the use of the support vehicle for carrying gear, rescue or ferrying, there will be a $20 charge. It is preferred riders organise their own ferry, as the support vehicle responsibility is to riders first, not to the ferrying of passengers and return to course to locate other rides (i.e. the ferry will be the last rider into Blinman).

I will be staying at a powered site at the Wilpena Resort Campground. Plan to have our camper trailer there from 4th to 7th October.

Accommodation

While camping is permitted at many locations throughout the National Park, none of these are particularly convenient with respect to doing this ride.

It is recommended that all riders arrange accommodation at the Wilpena Pound Resort Campground (08 8648 0048). When I enquired about accommodation at Wilpena Resort in April during our reconnaissance, we were advised already that there was no resort accommodation available for the required dates in October.

I have already booked a powered camp site. On booking I was advised that campground bookings need to be made ASAP as we are at Wilpena on the last weekend of the school holidays.

There is a small but expensive store at Wilpena, and meals are available at the resort – basic pub food. There are some BBQ facilities but generally best to bring your own equipment. Campfires are usually permitted in the places provided but you will need to buy or bring own firewood as it is not permitted to collect firewood within the National Park.

Accommodation may be available at Rawnsley Park Station 25km south of Wilpena (08 8648 0030) or try the Hawker Caravan Park 60k south (08 8648 4006).

Climate

The springtime is the most popular time of the year to visit the Flinders Ranges as wildflowers blossom after winter and spring rains.

The maximum temperature is likely to be around 25 degrees, and the overnight minimum is 10 degrees; however on clear nights it can very easily approach freezing.

If you choose to ride the dirt section Parachilna to Blinman, keep on eye on the rainfall during the weeks leading up, as this will determine whether it is practical to attempt the many creek crossings.

What else to do

 Take a flight and view it all from the air  Bushwalking, especially St Marys Peak  MTB on the  Drive through the Gorges  Look for fossils in Brachina Gorge  Mining history at Blinman  Pichi Richi Railway at Quorn  Relax, listen to kookaburras

How to get there

By road is really the only way. It is about 450k from , via highway 1 to Port Augusta, or via the Clare Valley.

For further information, contact Richard Scheer at [email protected]