The Peaks Challenge Gold Coast information page

What is the Peaks Challenge Gold Coast

Peaks Challenge Gold Coast is a Gran Fondo to be held on Saturday August 8th in the spectacular Gold Coast hinterland.

I'm super excited about this as we simply don't get this caliber of event up here that often, apart from the Grafton Inverell Fondo (which is a major logistical nightmare as the finish is about 3-4 hours drive away) and Wiggle's Speed in the Tweed a few years ago.

In summary, Peaks Challenge Gold Coast is:

• 235km with 4000m + climbing,
• With a 12 hour deadline, and
• With the ride starting at Carrara Sports Stadium/Metricon Stadium at 5.45AM for briefing and roll out at 6AM.
• Number of cyclists: 2000

By comparison, Peaks Challenge Falls Creek (previously called Three Peaks) is the same distance and amount of climbing.

There's plenty of climbing. Obviously nothing like Mount Hotham or Falls Creek but the roads up here are very hilly—there is not a lot of flat road.

The main climbs are:

• Mount Tamborine (via Henri Robert Drive),
• Beechmont,
• Springbrook,
• Natural, and
• Bridge and Tomewin Mountain.

Tamborine has a brutal reputation, but at 13% for 3km, it's not utterly ridiculous.

The biggest challenge will be the final climb Tomewin.

Climb	Length	Gain	Gradient
Tamoborine	7.6km	492m	6.50%
Beechmont	7.2km	428m	5.80%
Springbrook	7.7km	381m	4.80%
Natural Bridge	5.3km	229m	4.20%
Tomewin	4.4km	366m	7.90%

 

Expect to see a lot of signs for 10%+ grades.

On any measure, this is a hard, hard event. Here's my report from the 2013 Speed in the Tweed.

There are cut offs for certain points, as shown below.

• Tamborine – 8:30am
• Mugeeraba – 1:00pm
• Numinbah Valley – 3:00pm
• Tallebudgera – 5.15pm
• Benowa – 6:30pm

​These cut-off times are departure times. You must have exited these rest stops by the times outlined above. There will be no exceptions to these. Remember, the two Lanternes Rouges are a guide only to finishing right on the 12-hour deadline – if they pass you before you reach these points, you are very likely to miss a sector cut-off time. You do not want to fall behind them.

Entry Costs

The event entry is $330 which is very expensive. (I suppose one problem in Australia is that we don't have a huge cycling culture like in Europe. This means less events. We also live in what is pretty much a nanny-state. This makes running perceived high risk events like this expensive from a compliance (Police, council etc) and insurance perspective. That's a story for another day though.)

However, if you think about it like this it's not too bad: flying to France for Etape du Tour or Marmotte will set you back about $5-10k (albeit with a French cycling holiday thrown in, and on closed roads with 10,000 cyclists) depending on how lavish your trip is. Peaks Challenge Gold Coast gives you the thrill of riding in an Etape-grade event in your own country for less money. It's also fully supported and no doubt there'll be loads of free schwag.

Here's what's included:

• Full en-route support—lead vehicle, SAG wagons, motorcycle marshals, medical and mechanical support, and traffic management.
• Timed climbs—so you can compare yourself to the pros.
• Text updates—regular messages sent to a nominated contact providing updates on your ride.
• Nutrition/food including bins en route.
• Food and clothing valet service.
• And of course, every cyclist who finishes within the 12-hour deadline receives the coveted Finishers Jersey.

So, in terms of value for money, it's not too bad. (I'd prefer the cost of the jersey was taken off the cost and the jersey a paid option as I don't need any more jerseys, especially ones without Velonomad branding!)

More info and calendar feeds (iCal, GCal) available at bikecal.net.

Where to fly into for Peaks Challenge Gold Coast

You can fly into Coolangatta (OOL), Brisbane (BNE) or Ballina (BNE, also optimistically called Byron Gateway Airport by the council).

As far as airlines go, here's who services what:

• Coolangatta: Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas (Qantas metal, no codeshared Jetstar).
• Ballina: Jetstar flies into Ballina from Sydney and Melbourne. Virgin flies into Ballina from Sydney only.
• Brisbane: all airlines fly into Brisbane.

The airports are fairly close to the start:

• Coolangatta is about 15-20 minutes from the start.
• Ballina is about 1 hour from the start.
• Brisbane airport is also about 1 hour from the event.

There are Virgin and Qantas lounges in Coolangatta for those with lounge access, but no lounge in Ballina.

Car hire is available at all airports.

Peaks Gold Coast Accommodation

There are loads of accommodation options on the Gold Coast from Surfers Paradise down to Burleigh. You could also stay in Byron Bay but to be at the start, and ready, by 5.45AM would require leaving Byron at about 4.30AM.

There is a discount of 15% at the The Mercure Gold Coast Resort for entrants, with discount code Peaks Challenge. The Mercure is about 5 minutes from the start.

If you stay in Broadbeach, Surfers or nearby, you can ride to the start easily—it's only 9km from Broadbeach to Carrara. The road out to Carrara is pan flat, well sealed and well marked.

Your best bet here is booking.com, using these links:

• Gold Coast Accommodation
• Byron Bay hinterland, Byron Bay
• Gold Coast hinterland

Where to Eat

There are loads of places to eat in the Gold Coast.

Two recommendations: our friends Nerissa and Mitch own two places you must eat at.

• For breakfast and lunch, Commune Espresso at Burleigh: which does simply the best cafe food ever and has a great vivbe and importantly, incredibly good coffee (review here).
• For dinner, Japanese restuarant Etsu at Mermaid Beach. This restuarant is becoming highly renowned.

What to do after Peaks Challenge Gold Coast

Head down to Byron Bay. Check out my Byron Bay Cycling Guide.

Winter is Byron is stupendous: the water is warm for surfing (no need for a wetsuit unless the wind is cold), the days can be warm (often in the mid 20s) and the riding is sensational.

Alternatively, hang around the Gold Coast and do some more riding, or head up to Noosa (where the riding is awesome).

If you'd like to be shown around the Byron area on bike, contact me.

Accommodation for Byron can be found here.

Insurance

Read more about making sure you have adequate insurance here: complete insurance guide, which includes links to relevant insurance providers.

Bringing Your Bike

As far as bike hire goes, there are some decent local bike shops. However, the availability of quality bikes for an event like this is questionable so I would be inclined to bring my own bike.

If you do, and are flying, you will need a decent bike bag. Check the Velonomad bike bag reviews here. I use and recommend the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA.

And make sure you have proper bike insurance including for events like this. Velosure offers insurance for events like this. Here is some more reading: complete insurance guide.

Important: if you bring your bike, it must be checked for safety at the Event Village in RACV Royal Pines Resort the day prior to the ride (Friday 7 August, 2015).  You will not be able to collect your rider ID from registration or start your ride without having your bike checked.

What to pack

In my 4 years of living up this way, August has always been dry and warm (I find that June/July are the coldest, apart from some spring mornings in September).

And statistically, August is the driest month on the Gold Coast by number of days of rain (average 4.4 days of rain a month). In fact, it's quite normal for there to be almost zero meaningful rain from August through to November (really).

If you're coming from Melbourne or Sydney or Perth, prepare for the possibility of warmth. The mean maximum temperate is almost 22 degrees. Delightful! The mean 9AM temperate is around 18 degrees (it's actually a lot higher in recent years, perhaps due to some change in the climate). Once the sun comes up, it'll be very pleasant.

Although statistically August is just about the driest month in terms of humidity, relative to the cold southern winters, it can feel humid and warm, so be prepared for that.

Here's what I'd pack:

• Standard summer cycling kit
• Sunscreen (believe it)
• Arm warmers, leg warmers, gloves for cold, wind breaker
• Undervest (I use and recommend craft)
• Rain jacket and booties (just in case)
• Everything else for a long ride

Of course, we will have a reasonable idea of what the weather will be a few days out, so if you're flying in just a day or few beforehand, there should be certainty about the weather, so pack/leave out the rain gear and cold weather gear as appropriate.

If you're flying in a week or several days beforehand, be aware the weather forecast more than 4 days out can vary quite a bit up north, though it's pretty reliable in winter.

There are a number of items deemed compulsory by Bicycle Network. (I am doubtful that some of these can be considered compulsory items you must carry, rather, consider them recommended).

• Helmet (ok this is compulsory AND FOR GOOD REASON FOR THE ANTI HELMET CROWD)
• White front bike light: I'd honestly only bring a small flashing light as it gets very light up north in winter: first light is 5.59AM and sunrise is at 6.23AM, with the light increasing very quickly. The roads around Carrara are well lit and on Saturday morning at 5.30AM should be quiet.
• Red rear bike light: probably needed for riding to the start.
• Nutritional supplies for Rider Valet Service.
• 2 x water bidons.
• Puncture repair kit.
• Tubes.
• Rain/wind jacket.
• Rider ID (Event wristband and bike tag, provided at registration).

“Do I need to train?”

Absolutely. But, unless you're already fit, you'll need at least 4 weeks training for this event, 8 if you want to do well.

You can check out a Velonomad training plan tailored for events like this. Check them out here. If you want to try them out, you can get a week free here. Alternatively, try turning up and doing the event with no training. Good luck with that (unless you're super fit).

More questions?

Head over to the Peaks Gold Coast FAQ page.

Lastly, I will be at this event, so if you'd like to drag me along, hit me up via the contact page or Twitter beforehand.