HELLS 500

@hells500

It all started with a bunch of guys who liked riding in the hills. Too much. We liked the fact that as hill riders we were on the fringe, so rather than race - we would set ourselves goals that no one else was doing. The pre-requisite for any challenge that we set was that it had to be tough. To qualify, it needed to be too difficult to just go out and ride it. We would spend months training up for each new epic - usually timed with the onset of spring. This meant that the crux of our training every year was undertaken in the cold, dark, and wet winters when everyone else would stay under the doona. It was this approach that would eventually lead to the mark of the cloud emblazoned on every Hells 500 riders arm. It is a symbol that reminds others that while they are taking it easy over winter, that's when we ride the most. Each challenge completed lead to another more difficult, as these things tend to do. Soon we were clipping in on a hellish 2-day 500km epic through the High Country, including 10,000m of climbing. It was all kinds of tough, and word traveled. We started to get introduced as "those Hells 500 guys". It stuck. Hells 500 are not afraid of the odd epic. In fact, the more odd, the greater the appeal.

1,678 posts

We're about to bring the #hurtical at our next free Domestique #7peaksride. On February 13 @theclimbingcyclist and @hells500 will be guiding you up the steep slopes of @mtbawbaw. It's a challenging and rewarding climb made all the better by extending your ride from Icy Creek, or Noojee. Head to tinyurl.com/feb13baw for all the deets. #insearchofup #outsideisfree #roadslikethese (at Mt Baw Baw, Victoria)

#7peaksride #roadslikethese #hurtical #outsideisfree #insearchofup

Let's face it, @everesting is hard enough without: 1) It being @mtbawbaw 2) It being your second #everesting in a fortnight 3) Smashing it out in just over 9 hours. That's how @tobiaslestrell rolls.. and it's just training. #insearchofup #hells500 #cyclinglife

#insearchofup #everesting #cyclinglife #hells500

#RFWYA Tuesdays: Tea Break Is Over edition. 5:30am Bean on Dean (Brissie) 6:00am RBE on L'Estrange (Radelaide) 6:30am Rapture Cafe FTG (Melbs) 7:00am Kickstart Dixon (Canberra) 7:30am Three Bags Full (Melbs) #hells500

#rfwya #hells500

Show of hands if you have ventured past 'The Dell' before.. 📸 @melbacycle #dirtvert #summerofgravel #insearchofup (at The Horn - Summit Of Mt Buffalo)

#insearchofup #dirtvert #summerofgravel

Bridie looking bang on track as she chases down the hour record. Solid crowd at the Super-Drome, and for those playing at home you can watch the live stream via @ellacyclingtips Pic: @pb_brown #bridieshour #tracklyfe #uci (at Adelaide Super-Drome)

#uci #bridieshour #tracklyfe

Dear Adelaide, after the stunning @cyclingtips ride to Stirling, we've decided we'd like to arrange a trade. We'll swap you Lofty and Greenhill for Ricketts and Oliver's. We'll even throw in that road along the beach. Love, Melbourne. xoxoxo #midseasontrade #wymtm #tdu

#wymtm #tdu #midseasontrade

Over yonder. Pic: @ridegradient #yonderas #lightbro #intothelight

#yonderas #intothelight #lightbro

Proper buckled. Pic: @jonny_reece | @cyclingtips Stirling ride #buckled #wymtm #tdu (at Mylor, South Australia)

#wymtm #tdu #buckled

Good to see some quality @fondocycling representation in both the @cyclingtips Stirling roll out, and in the @holdenaustralia teamcar graphics! #wymtm #fondobutts #tdu (at Red Berry Espresso Coffee Roastery)

#fondobutts #wymtm #tdu

Exploring new roads and visiting old favourites in #Radelaide with the @cyclingtips crew. Tomorrow's ride will be 👌 #lightbro #wymtm #tdu (at Mt Lofty Summit)

#radelaide #wymtm #tdu #lightbro

#RFWYA Tuesdays: In Or Out edition (note detail changes in Radelaide and Canberra tomorrow). 5:30am Bean on Dean (Brissie) 8:00am Red Berry Espresso (Radelaide) 6:30am Rapture Cafe FTG (Melbs) 7:00am Kickstart Dixon (Canberra) 7:30am Three Bags Full (Melbs) #hells500 #insearchofup #commuteordie

#rfwya #hells500 #commuteordie #insearchofup

Big country. Pic: @melbacycle #hells500 #roadslikethese #sundaze

#hells500 #sundaze #roadslikethese

Flash burn. #gravelgrinder #summerofgravel #yarratrails (at Yarra Trails)

#gravelgrinder #summerofgravel #yarratrails

Blood | Sweat | Tears Brazilian edition. Pic: @fredcostapinto #everesting #hells500 #insearchofup (at Pedra do Baú)

#hells500 #everesting #insearchofup

Camo. #gravelgrinder #insearchofup #dirtsville

#gravelgrinder #dirtsville #insearchofup

The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. -Carl Sandburg- Pic: @ridegradient #gravelgrinder #roadslikethese #fromwhereiride

#gravelgrinder #fromwhereiride #roadslikethese

We've said it before, but @fox_photo knows how to #RFWYA Such a tasty shot @natalierstarr 👌 #roadslikethese #foreverup #mateslyf (at Mount Wilson Summit)

#rfwya #foreverup #mateslyf #roadslikethese

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