Adelaide’s Norton Summit of cycling has a life of its own.
It sounds mysterious but in a positive way. It is now arguably the mecca of Australia’s cycling climbs.
Norton Summit is not the highest, longest nor the toughest ride in South Australia let alone Australia. In South Australia, Willunga is tougher and a regular fixture of Tour Down Under. It is south of Adelaide, close to McLaren Vale.
Corkscrew an apt description of another climb that is within Adelaide Hills and close to Norton Summit is much worse. Till today, you can see people walking their bikes having given up.
But none in South Australia or in Australia come close to Norton Summit in stature popularity and recognition. You can see bunch rides from interstate cyclists on Norton. The colour of socks worn is a telltale sign.
Only a cyclist will understand why, and only after the cyclist makes the Norton Summit ascent. No amount of armchair cycling or reading about it will paint the picture. You have to come over and do it.
Even if you are not in cycling, you might still want to find out what’s the story here.
Tour Down Under
A lot of credit must go to Tour Down Under (TDU) for elevating Norton Summit to what it is now.
Especially when TDU became part of the annual pro race calendar and the first to be sanctioned outside of Europe by the World cycling body, UCI. This helped showcase Adelaide and Norton Summit.
Interstate and overseas visitors for the event who bring along their bikes make it to Norton Summit
Drawn by word of mouth or following other riders. Over time it became an obligatory annual ride for regular visitors that turn up in numbers to grace the Tour.
Tour Down Under began in 1999 to cover the loss of Formula 1 to Melbourne.
Over time, successive State Governments helped upgrade the event. In 2009 they help raise it to the highest possible status in the pro ranks short of the Grand Tour. The most important outside of Europe. The Grand Tour comprises Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and the ultimate Tour de France.
Tour Down Under is now the opening event of the World Tour calendar each year no different to Formula 1 Racing and Tennis.
Remember also that this is South Australia and we are big in festivals and events.
We don’t build theme parks or tourists attractions, we just organise festivals and events. And we are bloody good at it. We bring people together, that’s our thing.
What and where is Norton Summit?
Despite the name summit , it’s altitude is only 430m, so it is no mountain. It is actually the name of a small (really small) town. The actual summit is just before the town.
The CBD of Adelaide is 17 km away from the Summit. The start of the climb is only 7 km from the centre of Adelaide. Its this proximity that helps make it such a draw. Once you done the first, it is a given that you will return.
That close proximity is particularly attractive to interstate cycling tourists. I guess for a visitor, all you have do is step out of your city hotel, jump on the bike and make a straight line to the base of Norton Summit. 20 mins the max.
As you leave the city, a short ride thru some nice suburbs, pretty much on the same Magill Road. It’s a steady pace and a slow gradient rise of the road. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the base and actual start of the climb.
The second route
Now for the second reason why Adelaide’s Norton Summit is a cyclist paradise. Motorists have an alternate route to the summit. Old Norton Summit Road is the name of the alternate route.
The older route is much shorter, only 5.4 km compared to 7.1km. It is also faster taking only 6 mins compared to 20 minutes by car. The cycling route is winding and has hairpins hence the longer time to transverse for motorists.
So motorists prefer Old Norton Summit route leaving cyclists the pleasure of a nice ride, much to themselves and with pristine nature.
The only motorists that will take the cycle route are those that have homes along the route or visitors.
The Norton Summit road hugs the ridge line after the first kilometre, hence the winding nature. The ridge line also makes the ride scenic as one side has no obstruction. One can see far out to the city and things below. I am sure the scenery has helped seal the attractiveness of Norton.
Gateway to Adelaide Hills
By the way, Norton Summit is more a hamlet. There is the Scenic Hotel Pub and another called Morialta Barns nearby for drinks and bites and very much nothing else.
It however is a lovely gateway to the fruit basket of Adelaide, lots of wonderful hill sceneries plus many hill cycling routes. A third reason for cyclists heading that way.
Most do not stop but head for the longer rides into the Hills and for the lovely fresh air and a much cooler climate. Those stopping do so for a break after ascending the summit to acknowledge the feat.
The toilet facilities and the opportunity to replenish one’s water bottle make for a convenient stop. No search needed for the amenities, its right there. Plus there is also a small crowd milling around at peak times on weekends. Sort of a parade to display or check out the latest designs in lycra, shoes and bikes of course.
There are number of wonderful routes from hereon and you will be spoilt for choice.
People of the Hills are happy to share their little slice of heaven. Never had a bad experience in the hills except for a deranged hornet. Magpies haven’t worked out getting around the helmet so we are all still safe.
Norton Summit in cycling terms
Now for the cyclists that are not familiar with Adelaide’s Norton Summit, here are some cycle related information. I will start with a snapshot of the Strava segment below.
Note the number of attempts and the number of people attempting it in Strava.. Numbers don’t lie seems appropriate here.
448,000 attempts by 21, 000 cyclists! An icon would also be an appropriate descriptive. It however does not show those who attempted it without their Strava on.
5.48km is short of the total distance of 7.33km for the road which gets you into the town. Records however are based on the 5.48km stretch which averages 5.3˚ in gradient.
The steepest part is shortly after the start of the climb, averaging 7˚to 8˚for about 2km and the road tends to be bit rough here. For the non-cyclist, a 5˚gradient is quite close to pulling a tyre tied to your back as you walk slowly.
Despite the switchbacks and hairpins its biggest appeal and attraction is the climb experience. It is gradual, gets easier as you progress to the top, more scenic and cooler. A reward.
The King and Queen of the Mountain (KOM/QOM)
Belgian Thomas De Gendt (KOM) riding in the colours of Pro team Lotto-Soudal set the record of 11.06 mins in 2016 during that season’s Tour Down Under. He is also a 8 year veteran of Tour de France. That same year he won stage 12 of Tour de France.
20 year old Australian Sarah Gigante (QOM) of Melbourne set the women’s record of 13.38mins in 2021 on 14th February on a solo run. And not part of the competition that she came for.
Apparently she heard about the Summit, rocked up for a causal ride and went full gas with no pacing. She is a rising star and a natural climber. She came, she saw and she conquered on her first attempt Adelaide’s Norton Summit. What a lass?
By the way, the climb is classified as Category 3 under UCI competition rules.
I have made 11 attempts and everyone was a joy and a personal achievement. Bonus is when you see a kangaroo crossing the road or a Koala on a treetop when you look down the ridge as you cycle by.
Prior to my first attempt, I had a number of courage building rides to the base, watched people go by and wondered if I could do it. I did worry about the gradient in some places.
What I see when I head to Adelaide’s Norton Summit on weekends
On weekends I would leave my house on my bike at 5.30am, just before dawn and head towards the base of Norton Summit Road. It takes about 20 minutes. It is still dark, my front lights are on and blinking.
I would see maybe one or two cyclists ahead of me after the first turn. More after every turn. By the time I reach the Tower Hotel junction, I would see cyclists streaming from South, East and West. It is a sight to behold.
Many would stop and wait near Tower Hotel for their friends to join. And this spectacle continues until 9am on weekends.
If I flew a drone at above Tower Hotel junction, I would see hundreds of cyclist converging from 3 directions like an unbroken ant trail, heading to the base.
It’s a sight to behold on weekend mornings. By the way, Tower Hotel you will know why it is called that when you see it!. The base of the climb is about 400 metres from the Tower Hotel junction.
Change in demographics and the way home
Over the years, I see women closing the gap in numbers, more expensive bikes and riding gears. The age spectrum has also increased, more young as well as older cyclists are picking up on the popularity of road cycling.
If I do not go further up the Hills after ascending the summit I would turnaround and make my way down. A small prayer about my brakes working and off I go at speed.
On the other side of the road I would see the numbers increasing and the first signs of peloton like teams making their way up. They are usually dressed in the same gear and push themselves hard.
After leaving the climb and heading into the city, I still see cyclists continuing to make their way up.
I now on my way to the centre of the city and to Hungry Jacks. The one facing the east end of Rundle Mall to have my coffee and a read of the papers.
It is convenient as most coffee bars are yet to open. It’s now coming close to 7. 30am and I make my way home. I see riders still heading to the Norton Summit from the city.
Many also use the city as the meeting point before heading North in a group. As more coffee bars and cafes start to open I see bikes parked outside as its owners partake in good coffee before heading up.
As I reach home, I tell myself how lucky I am to be in Adelaide and close to Norton Summit.
I have seen Adelaide’s Norton Summit grow in popularity in the last 15 years and blessed that I am witness to it and part of it.