QUADS HILLA THRILLA TOUR

Group Start:  8:00 AM (suggested)

The original 1989 Highlander, a metric century of 100Km or 62 miles was renamed the Midlander when the Highlander Tour was expanded to multiple rides. Over the years this tour ride has been made longer and tougher becoming just a shorter variant of the premier tour, we have kept it as a separate tour with its own name, so the macho riders don't feel they are taking a cut-off. This year the Midlander is renamed the Quads Hilla Thrilla in keeping with the 86 mile quad-busting ride, climbing a total of 6,600 feet. Situated between the epic DB4D Double Metric Century and the easier Corkscrew Century, the QHT presents a great challenge combined with a shorter distance than the double metric century.

Road Conditions
Sliter Hill Rd was recently (beginning of August) chip sealed. While traffic has packed it down, the edges still have loose stone. Part of West Avenue has been chip sealed but is in rideable condition. Bopple Hill and Gannett Hill Rds were chip sealed September 1. The optimists on the team are waiting until Friday to decide if Bopple and Gannett are not rideable. So check at registration for changes.

Open and print the PDF route map and cue sheet to bring with you. We will have only a limited number of maps available at registration, so it is important that you bring your own copies. Becuse of changing road conditions the routes may be altered, so check the week before the event for any updates to the map.

• DB4D and QHT map
• QHT cue sheet

The map combines all three challenging Highlander Tours: The 128 and 100 mile DB4D and the 86 mile QHT. The DB4D is indicated by the solid route line, the 100 mile DB4D cut is indicated by the dotted line and the Quads Hilla Thrilla indicated by the dashed line where it deviates from the DB4D.

If you ride with a GPS unit, you can download the route to your GPS and can ride without fussing with maps or cue sheets. Go to this Bike Route Toaster site and follow the directions for downloading the gpx file. Another useful Bike Route Toaster feature is a Google Earth KML route document that you can use to do a virtual tour. The aerial view of the QHT tour below is in Google earth.

Aerial view of the QHT course. Click on the image to enlarge.

Riders struggling up Sliter Hill

QHT Tour Description

The QHT follows the first third of DB4D up to Prattsburg and then heads north to Italy Hill Turnpike, bypassing the DB4D tour of Keuka Lake. At Italy Valley Rd QHT again deviates from the DB4D, to Sliter Hill Rd to give the QHT riders some bragging rights. After Sliter the QHT heads to Middlesex and then, after a quiet restfull ride on West Ave, the route crosses from NY245 on Parish St to NY21. Here it rejoins DB4D on the last big climb up Griesa Hill Rd. The route, shown in the aerial view above, retains all the classic climbs of the original Midlander plus the climbs to Prattsburg and Slitter for your added pleasure (or pain). And as an extra bonus, sandwiched between Bopple and Gannett Hill climbs is the climb to the top of Stid Hill.

The QHT tour has six rest stops, at Bristol Harbor CC, in Gannett Park, ain Prattsburg, in Itally Valley, at the end of Shay Rd near Middlesex and the scenic view stop on Co Rd 12. They are spaced about 25 miles or less apart, well stocked with drinks and quick food. The route will be marked with yellow chevrons on the pavement and in places where the DB4D and the QHT courses separate the QHT will be marked with an "Q". The route will be patrolled by a SAG wagon to help out in case of flats, mechanical problems, etc..

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