THE WHEEL CLASSIC IS BACK!
Location: Adelaide Region
Dates: 16 – 19 November 2023
Cost to participate: From $1,335 (incl. accommodation, all meals, professional ride leaders & pro-level support)
Fundraising Target: $2,000pp
In 2010, Ray Griffin challenged fellow Future2 trustee Peter Bobbin, to join him on a ride from Bourke to Sydney to raise funds for Future2. Peter was up for the challenge (and may have regretted it ever since!) and hence, the Wheel Classic was born.
The 1,250 km route was the same as that taken in 1955 by Ray’s late father Jack Griffin, competing in the Daily Telegraph sponsored Bourke-Sydney Cycle Tour. In those days much of the road was rough and unsealed. That first Wheel Classic in 2010 had just three cyclists: Ray, Peter and Peter’s mate Roger Simionato. They raised $70,000 after costs in 2010 and $54,000 after costs in 2011.
This year, keen cyclists are hitting the road again – this time, riding some of the most iconic (and beautiful!) routes that Adelaide has to offer.
In 2023, the Wheel Classic route may be different, but the philosophy is still the same as it was in 2010 – hop on your bike, ride with mates, enjoy the great outdoors and raise some funds to help make a difference to the lives of Australians in need.
The Wheel Classic will be held from 16-19 November 2023, ahead of the FAAA Professionals Congress. A perfect excuse to steal a few extra days away, explore Adelaide and ride for a good cause.
A MESSAGE FROM TWOWHEELTOURS
Bring on Adelaide, not in January for TDU but in November where the roads are still fantastic and waiting for you. We, twowheeltours, are looking forward to meeting you on Thursday, 16 November and doing a welcome ride to check the bikes and the legs for the upcoming days. From Friday to Sunday, we are going to be offering two loops, a long and shorter option, so that riders can have the best experience.
We want these rides to be enjoyable and not ‘race you to the finish’ style sessions. Yes, there will be chances to open your legs and lungs up but we will regroup at the top of climbs and at cafes along the way so you can get the most of out the tour.
Riders should come into the tour with some decent km’s in their legs. This is not the place to be doing your first 100km ride for the year, – please come with a decent level of fitness so that you can do back-to-back daily rides. We expect riders to be able to ride a minimum of 22kph over the day.
Both the long and short rides will have a guide and support vehicle. Also, riders will receive the GPX and Strava maps, so you preview the ride and follow each day on your Garmin or on your phone in your Quad Lock.
Riders will receive a packing list and more details including an itinerary before the tour. We are also happy to answer any questions which you may have via email: [email protected] – Cheers for now and see you in November – Will Levy
ROUTE
DAY 1 | WELCOME RIDE
KM: 53
ALT: 82
A classic Adelaide Ride – pedal down to the coast and go along Military Road. A nice flat ride to check the bikes and meet the other riders on tour.
Click here to view the Strava Route
DAY 2 |
LONG RIDE: ADELAIDE > ONE TREE > STIRLING > ADELAIDE
KM: 132
ALT: 2,265
Roll out of Adelaide and onto the River Torrens bike path towards and up Anstey Hill.
Enjoy the rollers as you head to One Tree Hill before a decent climb up to Mount Gawler Reserve.
From there we head to Kersbrook for a coffee @ ~53km before more rollers through Cudlee Creek, Lobethal, Balhannah, Hahndorf and Mylor.
Then, riders will enjoy one of Adelaide’s best roads – Aldgate Valley Road, before reaching Stirling and then heading down the Old Toll Road back to Adelaide for lunch.
Click here to view the Strava Route
SHORT(ER) RIDE: ADELAIDE > Cuddle Creek > STIRLING > ADELAIDE
KM: 92
ALT: 1,576
A very similar start to Route A. Roll out of Adelaide and onto the River Torrens bike path towards and up Anstey Hill.
From there you head to Inglewood and around to Cudlee Creek, on your way to Lobethal for a coffee @ ~49km.
Then, more rollers through Carey Gully and up to Stirling before heading down the Old Highway back to Adelaide for lunch.
Click here to view the Strava Route
DAY 3 |
LONG RIDE: ADELAIDE > CLARENDON > WILLUNGA > ADELAIDE
KM: 138
ALT: 1,926
Riding out of Adelaide you will head up the Old Toll Road and through Stirling, expect some sharp pinches on your way to Clarendon for coffee ~40km.
Continue along quintessential Adelaide Roads all the way through to McLaren Vale, then it is UP the famous Willunga Hill and along Range Road which brings you back to McLaren Vale again.
From there it is not all down hill as you still have to tackle O’Halloran Hill before riding back to Adelaide for lunch in town.
Click here to view the Strava Route
SHORT (ER) RIDE: ADELAIDE > CLARENDON > ADELAIDE
KM: 104
ALT: 1,439
Another very similar start to Route A. Riding out of Adelaide you will head up the Old Toll Road and through Stirling, expect some sharp pinches on your way to Clarendon for coffee ~40km.
Continue along quintessential Adelaide Roads all the way through to McLaren Vale.
From there it is not all down hill as you still have to tackle O’Halloran Hill before riding back to Adelaide for lunch in town.
Click here to view the Strava Route
DAY 4 |
LONG RIDE: ADELAIDE > BELAIR NATIONAL PARK > LOFTY > GORGE > CORK > NORTON > ADELAIDE
KM: 107
ALT: 2,067
The warm-up leaving Adelaide is ‘Windy Point’ and then onto Belair National Park. This is a great little section and keep an eye out for kangaroos and koalas.
From there it is up to Crafers, Uraidla, Carey Gully and Lenswood for coffee @ ~44km.
Then, continue along all the way over the ridge to the one and only Gorge Road!
Next comes the infamous Corkscrew climb and fantastic descent down Montacute Rd.
Then, one last climb up the classic Norton Summit before coming down Greenhills Road back in to town for our last lunch together in Adelaide.
Click here to view the Strava Route
SHORT (ER) RIDE: ADELAIDE > BELAIR NATIONAL PARK > LOFTY > GORGE > CORK > ADELAIDE
KM: 88
ALT: 1,543
A very similar start to Route A. The warm-up leaving Adelaide is ‘Windy Point’ and then onto Belair National Park. This is a great little section and keep an eye out for kangaroos and koalas.
From there it is up to Crafers, Uraidla, Carey Gully and Lenswood for coffee @ ~44km.
Then continue along all the way over the ridge to the one and only Gorge Road!
Next comes the infamous Corkscrew climb and fantastic descent down Montacute Rd back in to town for our last lunch together in Adelaide.
Click here to view the Strava Route
We can’t wait to see you in Adelaide!
