Best coffee shop
Carlee Taylor: If you’re in Brighton or Glenelg, I recommend: Pure (Jetty Road), The Watermark (opposite the giant boat known as ‘The Buffalo’) and the Mediterranean. The Brighton Copenhagen also does good coffee.
Tim Roe: The Annex in Glenelg
Tiffany Cromwell: Bar Nine in Parkside – a friend of mine runs the place, and he’s done a great job with it. There’s a lot of good ones in Adelaide, but that’s my favourite.
Rohan Dennis and Mel Hoskins: The Local Grind in Walkerville right underneath the apartments where we live
Amber Halliday: Rach Neylan got me into Red Berry Espresso (southeast inner suburbs), and that woman knows her coffee!
Nettie Edmondson: Bar Nine
Best breakfast spot
Stuart O’Grady: anywhere on King William road – close to home!
Nettie Edmondson: Bar Nine
Carlee Taylor: Nanos off Rundle Street has the best banana bread – although don’t go there on a Sunday as they are inconveniently closed. The Mediterranean and Pure also do a good brekky if you are close to the bay area (Glenelg).
Tim Roe: The Mediterranean in South Glenelg
Amber Halliday: I’m still a rower at heart so the café overlooking West Lakes (100 Military Road) is my favourite. It’s actually a great spot for cyclists doing the flat coast ride if Glenelg gets too crazy.
Tiffany Cromwell: Bar Nine (again). There are so many good ones. I also really like Exchange Specialty Coffee. Both are café and breakfast places combined into one.
Gene Bates: East Terrace Continental (ETC): pancake with bacon and maple syrup!
Rohan Dennis and Mel Hoskins: That would also be the Local Grind
Best parmy in Adelaide
Rohan Dennis and Mel Hoskins: Coopers Alehouse
Gene Bates: Austral Hotel on Rundle Street. Get an outside table, a pint and a parma, and settle in for some great people watching.
Stuart O’Grady: chicken parmy with mushroom sauce at the Stirling Hotel
Amber Halliday: I might not be too good on this one, but the ones I see eaten at Republic in Norwood look pretty good.
Nettie Edmondson: Coopers Alehouse
Tiffany Cromwell: I’m not really a parmi eater, but I hear Old Lion is really good
Carlee Taylor: I’m not really a parma type of girl but The Watermark does great pub food and has a good a la carte menu as well as bistro. It has those famous pub meals but also healthy options, which makes it a popular spot for groups
Best casual dinner spot
Nettie Edmondson: Wasai downtown or Localvoire in Stirling
Tiffany Cromwell: The Mosley in Glenelg. The executive chef happens to be my brother, and he does a great job with the place. It’s modern Australian dining downstairs with a more casual option at the bar upstairs.
Gene Bates: the Stirling Hotel
Stuart O’Grady: Melt on King William, Hyde Park
Amber Halliday: The Robin Hood Hotel in Norwood has been a favourite since my school days.
Rohan Dennis and Mel Hoskins: The Lion on Melbourne Street
Tim Roe: Sushi Train in Unley or Genki Sushi on Gouger Street
Stage of the Tour Down Under you shouldn’t miss
Tiffany Cromwell: Stirling (stage two) – it’s my local stage, and it’s a great place for viewers to catch the riders more than one time around.
Mel Hoskins: Stage three of the men’s race
Carlee Taylor: The People’s Choice Classic on Sunday night. You get to see the best men and the women compete in two separate races on the same course. Two time world champion Giorgia Bronzini is here with her Wiggle Down Under team, locals like myself and Tiffany Cromwell are racing with Roxsolt, and Orica-AIS has brought a strong squad. You’ll get to see a lot of the race, since it’s a circuit, and can enjoy the numerous restaurants and pubs along the course.
Nettie Edmondson: I like the Stirling stage (stage two) because it comes through three times. It’s got hills, but it’s not too hilly, so it can be unpredictable. Willunga Hill (stage six) is another good one. Find a spot on Willunga Hill and cheer on everyone coming past. That’s also great. It’s a lap circuit and goes past the beach, too.
Tim Roe: Normally I would say Willunga Hill for this year, I think the finish into Paracombe (stage three) will be a great one to watch
Stuart O’Grady: Unley – Stirling (stage two)
Gene Bates: stage three of the women’s race between Tanunda and Campbelltown – it’s a fantastic course, which encourages a very aggressive race
Amber Halliday: Willunga Hill, of course! I’ll be on my best behaviour with Peter Walsh and ABC this year, but it’s usually a good one to stop off at a few wineries en route
Best beach of watch the sunset
Stuart O’Grady: Henley Square at Henley beach
Gene Bates: Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot
Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins: Henley
Amber Halliday: I’m a Henley beach gal – a bit quieter than Glenelg and a very peaceful, short walk away from Henley Square’s restaurants. Sun sets over the sea in Adelaide. It’s quite magical.
Nettie Edmondson: Henley
Tim Roe: Hallet Cove
Carlee Taylor: Glenelg is a good one, but if you’re looking for something a bit more quiet but still a good vibe Henley or Brighton
Tiffany Cromwell: Henley beach
Best post-ride beer
Gene Bates: Stirling Pub sitting on the new wooden deck – it’s a great spot for a frothy one! Order anything on tap and local.
Amber Halliday: Since racing in Belgium one year, I’ve been quite partial to their style of hot chips and mayonnaise after a hard ride. In Adelaide you can find them, along with a good beer, at the Belgium Beer Café off Rundle Street
Stuart O’Grady: Coopers Ale
Tiffany Cromwell: I don’t really drink beer but I send people to the Belgian Beer Café
Best bike shop
Tiffany Cromwell: It’s a toss-up between Corsa Cycle Center in the city or Track Cycles in Norwood
Amber Halliday: My beautiful partner Mello Bouwmeester and great friend Steve Marsh work at Whippet’s Workshop, which is a cool little story in Stepney. Needless to say, that’s my favourite!
Tim Roe: Bike Station (Brighton Road, Brighton). The owner, Noel, is a great guy who loves to help out
Nettie Edmondson: Bicycle Express – they’re always so welcoming and they’ve got everything. It’s like Aladdin’s cave.
Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins: Corsa Cycles
Carlee Taylor: Giant Adelaide is awesome, friendly and always quick. They have a good range of socks and Rapha clothing, too. If you’re closer to Brighton or Glenelg, then I would would recommend the Bike Station.
Gene Bates: Bicycle Express, Halifax Street
Stuart O’Grady: International Cycles – my brother works there!
Best riding loop
Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins: Basket Ranges in the hills
Tim Roe: Starting at Hallett Cove, south along the coast to Moana then across to McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat, Kangarilla, Clarendon, Black Road and then back to Hallet Cove
Amber Halliday: It’s the commute to work for me these days! But I always loved the short, scenic, hilly loop through the Piccadilly Valley – up the freeway, veer left at Crafers, through the vally, left on Greenhill for the descent into town.
Stuart O’Grady: up Mt. Lofty bike path, continue up Blackburn Drive, Shurdington Road turn right down onto main road, Left on the 51 to the Lookout, check out the great views over Adelaide, across the top of Mount Lofty Road to Greenhill Road. Turn right. Ashton Right on 53 through Basket Range to Lobethal. Take the 58 to Cuddle Creek down Gorge Road, up the Corkscrew, left at top across to Norton Summit on the 51. Stay on the 53 down North Summit and roll into the city. Short but sweet and very cool ride
Tiffany Cromwell: City centre up the old freeway (eagle on the hill) through to Stirling, Aldgate Valley road down to Mylor, across river road through to Hahndorf, left across to Balhannah through the vineyards, up towards Carey Gulley, right on Swamp road across to Lenswood, left to Fox Creek and down to Cudlee Creek, through gorger, left up Corkscrew Rd, continue up Montecute rd through to Ashton, Summertown, right on Greenhill Rd, left over Mt Lofty and then down onto the old freeway and into the city.
Gene Bates: Any ride that goes through the central Adelaide Hills. And Aldgate Valley Road. It’s beautiful terrain with vineyards and great little climbs.
Carlee Taylor: Up Norton summit, Forest Range, Lobethal and across to Gumeracha and down the Gorge. Gourmet cycling at it’s best. If you want to add more, instead of turning left at Lobethal to Gumeracha, you can go to Mt Torrens then Birdwood and down the Gorge.
Nettie Edmondson: the ole coffee shop loop – meet someone in the city, head down to Glenelg, along to Henley beach and back to the city
We’ve mapped out daily ride suggestions for during the Tour Down Under. These routes are our suggested guides as to where to head to catch the best action and still get in a great ride.
Best climb
Tiffany Cromwell: Greenhill road up to Mount Lofty summit
Nettie Edmondson: Norton Summit
Stuart O’Grady: I prefer to go downhill!! Through Basket Range is the best.
Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins: Greenhill repeats
Amber Halliday: Climb would be to Montacute Road. It starts gently and then whacks you with some gradient! My favourite decent would have to be Greenhill Road – but make sure you do it quick enough to outrun the cars!
Tim Roe: Norton Summit
Any other Adelaide tips, secrets or things that can’t be missed
Nettie Edmondson: Don’t miss Cleland Wildlife Park if you haven’t had one-on-one experiences with Australia’s wildlife
Gene Bates: Get along to any of the Adelaide Hills wineries. They are hidden gems, and you don’t have to go all the way to Barossa to enjoy them!
Stuart O’Grady: Do yourself a favour and go have a beer at the Victory Hotel and watch the sunset. Check out Adelaide’s new bars and restos including the brand new 2KW where I launched my new business Stuart O’Grady Cycling on Saturday
Tiffany Cromwell: There’s a lot of cool shopping down in the East End. There are also some great markets for shopping where upcoming artists show their stuff. Gilles Street Market is one I would recommend. It’s Adelaide’s version of the Bondi market in Sydney and open the first and third Sunday every month. Head up to Mount Lofty around dusk if you want to see kangaroos in the wild.
Spend a day in Stirling or Hahndorf. Head to Victor Harbor to surf. If you have a whole day to kill hit up a Barossa Valley win tour. Kangaroos Island is great for a weekend getaway.
Tim Roe: Copenhagen in Brighton is a great coffee stop. While you’re in Brighton, make sure you also try Godzilla Pizzeria. Don’t miss the Cherry Darlings Bakery in Forestville or the ride to Victor Harbor and back via the reservoir near Myponga.