I chose the 400k option for Mallee Routes at Hopetoun this year. My history in this ride has been mixed. In 2008 a 35 degree scorcher with a vicious northerly headwind had me abandoning a 600k attempt just after Sea Lake with only 200k done. Last year 2009 I had a succesful 200k ride in gale force winds with a hail dump thrown in. This year the law of averages delivered a low wind day. The large group of riders set off from the bush retreat at 6am and everyone soon quickly settled in to groups matching individual efforts and aspirations. I settled into a group of about 7 riders as we made our way to the first checkpoint at Warracknabeal. Riding in the group gave me a chance to chat and it was good to catch up with John Hagan again on his carbon fibre recumbant. After a salad sandwich and a coffee supplied by ride organser Peter Annear about 5 riders grouped together on our ride across to the second checkpoint at Birchip. I set off alone on the leg to Sea Lake but again the group of 5 came together as we pushed into a light but nagging headwind. The stop at Sea Lake was welcome after a punishing pace for the last 100k but my energy levels were waning and my stomach was rebelling on the leg through Speed to Patchewollock. I was battling to keep pace with Stephen Rowlands who was having a strong ride, Steve Xerri slowed to ride with me and we pulled into Patchewollock where Gordon had plenty of goodies to revtalise us.
Bowl of soup for Steve
Jam sandwich for yours truely
Ted and Bruno at Patchewollock
Nice haircut - guess who?
This gave me a boost and I held on with the group for about 20ks but with my inability to eat enough and I was flagging again and once more Steve Xerri slowed to ride with me. Thanks Steve. I took an extended stop at Hopetoun with 300k completed. I headed westwards into darkness and alone along the road to Wyperfeld National Park. On the long 30k straight road in the distance probably 10 minutes ahead I could see an occasional tailight flash and about 5 minutes behind the glow of a set of strong LED headlights. Just before entering the park Simon Maddison passed in the opposite direction and when I arrived at Wonga Hut Les Solly had a great fire going and was chatting with Simon Watt who was having a very fast ride on his recumbant and Stephen Rowlands. Ted rolled up about 5 minutes later. Pumpkin soup and a hot coffee and a couple of biscuits and a good chat before we we set off back towards Hopetoun. A stream of riders passed heading towards the hut from about 5 to 20 kilometres out of the park. Stephen moved away and Ted hung back a bit all the way back. I began to fatigue again with about 20k to go but kept nibbling lollies to keep up some energy. I was very tired when I arrived back at the Bush Retreat at about 12:05am with 410k completed. I simply had not eaten enough during the day with my dodgy stomach and it had taken its toll on me. I was glad that I didn't have to face up to another 200k like many of the other riders the next day. Thanks to Peter Annear for again staging this unique event in the flatlands of the Mallee.
