This is the tale of Red’s big day out, the maiden voyage following its re-imagining as a neo build for everyday use. Red is the Rossin Petermann special of late 80’s vintage with the frame imported from the UK and subsequently built with a Potenza gruppo, Campagnolo wheels, Cinelli cockpit and the Selle SMP lounge chair. You can read more about Red here.
On this particular day Tim and I set out from Ma Ma Creek up the great Dividing Range and on to Clifton and return, about 110km and exactly what you should do to shake down a new build. One of the delights of this ride is barely any traffic at all which means you have the road to yourself for the descents and pretty much the whole ride. Its a gentle climb for about 30km, a sharp climb for about 3km, and then a fast ride across the top of the range and a descent to the highway and on to Clifton. Averaging more than 45 for several km, speeds well over 50 km/h for more than a km and descents around 80km/h in places. It passes through the famous Heifer Creek cutting a significant civil engineering accomplishment back in the day.
The return was hot and into the wind to Hirstglen which marks the beginning of the descent to Ma Ma Creek and a fast technical descent for over 10km with more than 30km of descending in total which makes for a quick return leg. There’s nothing of consequence at Clifton but there is no water on the route either so a visit to Clifton is required to refuel and replenish water.
The map shown gives an idea of the elevation although we started at Ma Ma Creek rather than Gatton at about the 25/125km mark. Its a fine day out and turns out Red still has what it takes to carve up hills and handle fast riding. Epic.
The route starts at the 25km mark at Ma Ma Creek. It climbs for about 40km, gently at first but then sharply as it ascends the range. It then traverses the top of the range and then drops back down to the highway. The ride back is fantastic with about 10km of fast technical descending followed by another 20km or so of downhill riding.
The starting point, the church at Ma Ma Creek. This would have been and likely still is the centre of the local farming community. The war memorial is also here, commemorating those who went to the great war and never returned.
View over the Ma Ma Creek settlement opposite the church.
On the road to Hirstglen.
The famous Heifer Creek cutting.
The road ahead. Nothing and no one and a wide road with a good surface. We will fly through here on the way back.
Still on the road to Hirstglen. This is a proper false flat. It looks like its pointing down when its actually going up.
Hirstglen marks the top of the climb and the highest point on the range. From here its all downhill no matter which way you go.
Darling Downs vista. The rolling flats on top of the range are prime broadacre farming. Grain and cattle are the major activities here.
Rural view. Gate at the top of the hill leads who knows where.
Stepping back in time for a refreshment stop at Clifton. The shop interior was - authentic, the service leisurely, the food sensational.
Clifton. Detail outside the shop.
On the other side now heading back from Clifton. A long slog to the top of the range and then its party time.
Top of the range pausing ahead of a long fast descent and the ride back to the car.