Challenge Rides Series 2024
Kangaroo Point Cycling Club invites you to challenge yourself in 2024 with our Challenge Rides Series.
These relaxed rides are an extension to our weekly Club Sunday Ride program and will inspire you to get on the bike and try something different, all with a great group of club mates and all guaranteed to be the most memorable rides of the year.
The Challenge Rides are all-inclusive, non-drop rides so no one is ever left behind or dropped off the back. They are designed only to challenge riders - not break them. At some points on some of these rides, i.e. longer climbs or descents, the group will be allowed to break up so riders can go at their own pace but will regroup at a pre-designated point to continue on together. Numbers permitting, some Challenge Rides may also feature two or more groups - i.e. a easy paced group as well as the option to form a faster group for a harder hit out.
If you are new to the Club, please contact the Club Captain prior to attending these rides.
KPCC Challenge Rides are for club members. Membership is purchased through AusCycling (a monthly payment option is available) and a 4 week Free Trial is available. It’s important to hold membership for personal and third party liability insurance purposes before your ride.
Our rides are designed for road bikes, and the use of mountain, triathlon (tri-bars and rear disks) and fixed geared (brakeless) bikes are not permitted on our group rides, primarily for safety reasons.
Riders under the age of 16 are to be accompanied by a parent, and should contact the Club Captain beforehand to discuss suitability of the ride.
You should advise the Ride Leader of any relevant medical conditions / special requirements that you might have prior to departing.
26 January | Mt Glorious for Australia Day (or just Mt Nebo if you prefer)
Brisbane Cyclists traditionally challenge themselves with the climbs of Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious for Australia Day where Australian flags, jerseys and national pride is de-riguer. Start your #kpchallengeridesseries with this rewarding climb featuring a quick stop at the Rainforest Cafe atop Mt Glorious (or at one of the cafes in Mt Nebo Village if you decide not to go all the way) before returning for an Australia Day pavlova at My Sweetopia!
Departs: 5:30am Goodwill Bridge, South Bank side
Distance: 85.3km / +1811m (or Mt Nebo 61.4km / +1195m)
Time: 4.5 hours return (or Mt Nebo 3 hours return)
Difficulty: 4/5 (moderate ride, difficult climbs) (or Mt Nebo 3/5)
RideWithGPS route link: Mt Glorious (or Mt Nebo)
Contact the Club Captain with any questions about this ride.
07 April | Ronde van Brookfield-gem-beek-berg
The Ronde van Brookfield-gem-beek-berg is the Club's annual Spring Classic inspired by the classic races of the World Tour. If you can't make it to the cobbles of the Arenberg Forest for Paris-Roubaix, or to Koppenberg for the Tour of Flanders you should be a part of Ronde van Brookfield-gem-beek-berg!
This ride is a good bit of fun for all Club Members with a parcours that features twisty roads, gravel, 3 infamous climbs; Goud Kreckberg (Gold Creek Rd), Savengberg (Savages Rd) and Opper Brookfieldberg (Upper Brookfield Rd), creek crossings and out-and-back opportunities to have a 'hit out' for bragging rights amongst your club mates on three fingers of the Forest of Brookfield.
Departs: 6:00am Goodwill Bridge, South Bank side
Distance options:
3 fingers: 77km / +1002m (or just 1 finger: Upper Brookfield Rd - approx. 59km)
Time: up to 4 hours return
Difficulty: 3/5 (moderate ride, easy climbs)
Route link: Ronde van Brookfield-gem-beek-berg
IMPORTANT
Due to well publicised tensions with some Brookfield residents please ensure that the road rules are obeyed at all times, and behavior is considerate of residents that may still be in bed on their Sunday morning:
stay to the left hand side of the road at all times and do not cross the center line
ride no more than 2 abreast and 'single up' to allow cars to pass
refrain from making excessive noise while riding or stopped at each dead-end
RideWithGPS route link: Ronde van Brookfield-gem-beek-berg
Contact the Club Captain with any questions about this ride.
19 May | Brisbane to Gold Coast (return by train)
21 July | Peakes Crossing - Kalbar
15 Sept | Mt Crosby - Ipswich loop
7 Oct (rescheduled) | O'Reilly's from Canungra
Our Canungra - O’Reilly’s Challenge Ride is on the Brisbane Ekka People’s Day holiday, Wednesday 14 August 2024.
The O'Reilly's climb is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable climbs in South East Queensland. Ride out as a group from the township of Canungra through 10km of farmland, before you reach the first of the grid crossing indicating the start of the climb. The road narrows and winds itself up into the clouds at an average gradient of 4% with views to the Pacific Ocean and Beaudesert. Settle into a comfortable pace and spin your way up the climb before reaching Kamarun Lookout with it's panoramic views after 26km. Either turn around and roll back down the mountain, or venture onto the O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat where the road gets rough and steepens to pinches of 15%. Head back down taking your time to enjoy the decent and regather at the Outpost Café for a coffee and brunch.
Departs: 7:00am DJ Smith Park carpark, Kidston St, Canungra
Distance:
Canungra to O'Reilly's Kamarun Lookout return: 53.3km / +971
Canungra to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat return: 72.3km / +1371m
Time: 3-4 hours return
Difficulty: 3/5 (moderate ride, gentle climb with small steep pinches in rain forest section)
RideWithGPS route links: Canungra to O'Reilly's Kamarun Lookout / Canungra to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
Contact the Club Captain with any questions about this ride.
13 Oct | Brisbane to Gold Coast Cure for Cancer ride
17 Nov | Nerang to Binna Burra
Our final Challenge Ride of 2024 is from Nerang to the mountain retreat of Binna Burra in the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland.
The ride takes us from our starting point at Nerang through the settlement of Beechmont and gorgeous scenery to Binna Burra which is 800 metres above sea level. There are long sustained climbs before we reach this lovely mountain getaway where we will take a short cafe break before a magic return down the mountain to Nerang.
Date: Sunday 17 November 2024
Start: 6:30am. Hope St, Nerang (park near the Nerang Velodrome).
Route Details: Nerang to Binna Burra via Beechmont 73km +1,347m
Difficulty: Easy pace. Hilly, sustained climbs. Moderate-Hard difficulty
Time: 4-4.5 hours return
RideWithGPS route and GPX download: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13364465
This is a lovely ride with awesome scenery. While there are sustained climbs, they are generally not difficult. The first climb of 15km averages an easy 4% gradient with the hardest climb being the last 2.5km into Binna Burra at 8.3% (think Mt Coot-tha back) and then you are at the Binna Burra Teahouse!
Note, this is an easy pace ride but if the prospect of the climb is a little daunting, there is the option of a separate group starting a little earlier at 6:15am to get a headstart.
Like our other Challenge Rides, this is run as a ‘no drop’ ride but the group will break up in the last climb as everybody climbs at their own pace. On the earlier climb, we can set the overall pace to keep everybody as close together as possible. Nobody gets left behind.
We encourage members to car pool to get to/from Nerang on the day. Use TeamApp or Facebook to let others know if you have space in your car for others.