What Is Fitz's Challenge?

 

Fitz’s Challenge is Canberra's biggest and best-known long-distance one-day participation cycling event. Arguably, it offers Australia's toughest one-day cyclo-sportive challenge, with:

 

• Some of the toughest climbs in the Canberra region, offering a unique combination of terrain, distance and weather and is not for the faint-hearted

• Five ride options allowing you to select the most appropriate ride for you to test your capabilities and endurance by taking on the Brindabella Ranges.

 

CSIRO Is aiming to enter a team of 100 plus riders to assist in raising funds for Tour de Cure.  You do not need to be a CSIRO staff member to join the CSIRO team. All you need to do is select the distance your would like to ride, commit to raising a minimum $100 for Tour de Cure and pay for your entry. All of this can be done through this website!  Entries to the team are non CSIRO exclusive, so we welcome anyone and everyone who is interested in helping our cause!

 

What are the ride options?

Select one of the five different rides to suit your capabilities and desired challenge
Click on the ride name below to view the ride details – on the ride web page:

• 255 km Fitz's EXTREME – start 05:30 for 06:00 (finish within 13.5 hours)

• 205 km Fitz's EPIC – start 05:30 for 06:00 (finish within 13.5 hours)

• 165 km Fitz's CLASSIC – start 07:00 for 07:30 (finish within 11.0 hours)

• 105 km THARWA Challenge – start 08:00 for 08:30 (finish within 7.0 hours)

• 50 km TIDBINBILLA Challenge – start 08:30 for 09:00 (finish within 3.5 hours)

 

How much climbing is there?

There is lots of climbing – it is a hilly course, but generally, what goes up, must come down!
Total climb, in terms of vertical ascent (with the same total vertical decent), on each ride is:

• 255 km Fitz's EXTREME – 5,000 m of climbing

• 205 km Fitz's EPIC – 4,030 m of climbing

• 165 km Fitz's CLASSIC – 2,940 m of climbing

• 105 km THARWA Challenge – 1,660 m of climbing

• 50 km TIDBINBILLA Challenge – 880 m of climbing

 

What can I ride?

In Fitz's Challenge™, you can ride any human-powered cycle that is legally permitted on ACT roads. These include two-wheelers, recumbents, tandems, tricycles, unicycles,  kick bikes, three wheeled racing wheelchairs (for riders with disabilities), etc. You may ride electric power-assisted pedal-cycles (pedalecs) that are legally classified as pedal-cycles on ACT roads.

 

All cycles in Fitz's Challenge are to have two brakes.

You can have tri and aero bars.

Motor scooters and motor bikes are prohibited in Fitz's Challenge.

 

The full list of terms and conditions regarding Fitz's Challenge can be found here.