THE #SOUPKPW BOOTLEG CLASSICS
Every autumn we bring a little piece of the classics season to our neighbourhood through our weekly ride the #soupKPW. Here's the quick guide.
The #soupKPW departs from the Union Hotel, Ascot Vale each Wednesday morning at 6.30am. An hour later we share coffee at No.19 just a few doors down from the hotel.
All are welcome.
For those who may not know, the #soupKPW (formerly #ACCSBCKPW) is our weekly ride through the inner north-western suburbs of Melbourne. The KP in KPW stands for Knifepoint, which is what the locals call their beloved Highpoint Shopping Centre – a place in which we circle, zig-zag and tunnel under every W – Wednesday.
The #soupKPW started as a way for a few of us to meet up each week and go for a ride that was close to either home or work, feeling frozen out of group rides starting a little too early and a bit too far east of the CBD to fit into our daily schedules.
That was five years ago, and the original route has largely stayed the same but for a few minor adjustments over the years. It’s when autumn rolls around that the rule book gets thrown out the window as we pay our respects to the classics of pro cycling in the week following their official running. The ride still stays within the same handful of suburbs, but the Parcours changes completely as cobblestones, gravel and extra twists and turns are added to the mix.
I: WHITE ROADS OF AVANDALIGHTS
Date: 10th March 2021
Distance: 24.00km / Elevation Gain: +261m
Key Features: White roads in the form of gravel trails
Bootleg Classics Season kicks off with a homage to Strade Bianche as we take a trip along the best white roads our neighbourhood has to offer. Things will kick off with more historical segments through golf courses and parkland, while there are some new inclusions as we run a lap of Avondale Heights (local dialect: Avandalights), Nonni cheering us along from their balconies. The loop finishes with a climb up the not-Via Santa Caterina into Moonee Ponds before coffee at our regular.
II: THE RACE TO SAN REMO DRIVE
Date: 24th March 2021
Distance: 24.10km / Elevation Gain: +219m
Key Features: Longer, flatter and coastal
The second classic is the longest, and least challenging in terms of climbing, generally matching the Parcours of its inspiration: the Milan-San Remo. Things start and remain pretty flat, with the inclusion of some of our regular climbs being the exception. At the half-way mark, we turn onto what is considered our "B Line" – the Riviera Loop, taking us to our destination: San Remo Drive, where we can bask in classic Mediterranean architecture miles from its traditional home, and take in one of the best views of Melbourne before heading back to Ascot Vale for coffee.
III: HELL OF THE NORTH WEST
Date: 14th April 2021
Distance: 18.10km / Elevation Gain: +196m
Key Features: Cobblestone Alleyways
It has long been our most popular Bootleg Classic, and after a 2020 hiatus, it's back with a bang. Paying utmost respect to Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, the Cobbled Classic is shorter than a typical #soupKPW but is stacked with local cobblestone alleyways as we wind a circle around our start/finish line. For a truly authentic experience, we have introduced a whole new portfolio of cobbled alleyways, with equal measures of uphill and flat sectors to mimic the route of Flanders and Roubaix.
IV: XXXX GOLD FAKE ARDENNES
Date: 21st April 2021
Distance: 16.42km / Elevation Gain: +255m
Key Features: Parcours built like a rollercoaster
The XXXX Gold Fake Ardennes Classic is our take on the Amstel Gold Race. To provide the most realistic portrayal of the race, the route doesn't venture all that far from the start/finish line, having us spend the best part of an hour doing nothing but twisting and turning, and going up – or downhill. Considering it is paying homage to a bicycle race sponsored by a beer company, it is only fair that we giveaway a fresh bottle to the first rider that reaches the top of the final climb – the Fauxberg.
Join us on these select, very special weekly bunch rides. If super inclement weather should be about, you can catch any cancellations on Tuesday evenings over on our Instagram. Lastly, give yourself the best chance of victory and fun by reconning the routes via our Strava Club.
See you out there!