Crazy - Just a little

At Lancefield the You would have to be crazy ride attracted a good number of riders for various distances from 200 to 600k. Ron McInnes was the chief organiser for this ride this year but the usual organiser Andy Moore was there to help out at the start. After being the sole finisher on the 600 last year I thought I might try to keep my current run of 200s going as I feel I am getting a little better with each ride. On leaving Lancefield I tagged on to the back of the fast bunch but after a few k I knew the wise thing was to drop off and ride at my own pace. I settled in to a good rythem and it was with about 70k done that Leigh Paterson, Pepe Ochoa and Gareth Evans caught me and we rode the next 30k into Bendigo together. Just before the stop we passed, in the opposite direction, the quickest riders who were already heading back to Lancefield. Sandwich lunch at a milk bar and I left before the others as I knew I did not have their strength in the hills. They caught up to me after the grinding hills through Metcalfe at about 160k. Leigh and Pepe riding strongly with Gareth working hard to stay on terms. I quickly decided cruise mode was my better option so that meant letting the 3 of them move off ahead. Riding through Kyneton I could see that they had paused to top up their bottles or something as I was only a short distance behind. Gareth must have been taking a slightly longer stop as I could not see him ahead. I continued riding as the finish for me was only about 30k away. I rode into Lancefield just before 2:30 pm. My riding time was 7hrs 8 mins making it one of my quicker 200k rides in a while. The 1672 metres of climbing, the gusty northerly wind and warm afternoon were all aspects that meant I was quite pleased with my effort.

Great Ocean Road 200k

Last weekend I undertook the no lights 200k option of the Great Ocean Road ride. Like last year the ride started in Anglesea. Peter asked me to lead the bunch out of town but I knew as soon as we hit the climb  I would start to go backwards raher quickly. By the time I reached the top of the climb and the Forest Rd turn off 9 or 10 riders had passed me and formed a bunch about 200 metres ahead. I sensed that they were travelling at a pace I might be able to stick with so over the next kilometre or so I made an effort to catch them. I slotted on to the back and chatted with Peter Curtis and Fraser Rowe for a while. I rode with the bunch into Moriac and along the Cape Otway road into the Deans Marsh road but then knew I would not be able to stay with them as the climb to Bambra began. I dropped off to settle into my own comfortable climbing pace through Bambra and onto Deans Marsh. As I approached the high point of the ride at Benwerrin I caught Richard Freemantle and we started the long fast descent into Lorne. A few riders who had taken a break at Deans Marsh came past me on the way down and most of the lead group were already enjoying a coffee and bun from the bakery when I arrived. The ride onto Apollo Bay was into a solid south west wind but it was good to know that it would be of benefit on the return journey to the finish. A great spread of food was available and I took advantage of some lovely hot soup. Refuelled, bottles filled and the knowledge that more than half the ride was done I set off back along the road towards Lorne and Anglesea. A stop at Lorne for a little more food and drink and I was feeling good so I was able to ride on for a strong finish. This was another quality ride staged by Peter Donnan and crew.