The weather forecast was a little ominous with strong westerlies forecast for Saturday with similar strength winds from the south west on the Sunday. No one relishes 280 kms of head wind but you have to take it as it comes and this was a weekend when we had to take it. My plan was to ride well within myself for the first day and see how the second would work out.
The bakery at Lorne where I normally stop was closed as I sought out something to eat so I made do with a banana from my pocket and a milk from a cafe to see me through to the first checkpoint at Apollo Bay at 111 kms.
The early part of the ride was remarkably pleasant but by the time I arrived in Apollo Bay it was turning decidedly cooler and the wind was lifting in strength. I imagine it was around 15 minutes before I left with good buddy Steve Xerri who was undertaking his first 600k ride.
Steve at Apollo Bay
Leigh Paterson with Peter Donnan
Ian George and Hamish Moffat
The Horden Vale and Lavers Hill climbs came with some rain. The road in parts was very slick and to add to that oil or diesel that was visible all the way along the road added to my concern and meant that I was gently squeezing my brakes and focussing on my line through corners more than ever before on the fast descents.
The cafe at the top of Laver's provided a welcome break before things to come. As we descended from the high point of the ride and out of the protection of the Otway National Park we were hit with gale force side winds that made riding at times near impossible. A side wind of such strength is infinitely more difficult than riding straight into it. It was quite a battle getting to Port Campbell and the 5k sign seemed like about 20k out of town.
Port Campbell was decision time for riders deciding whether they would continue through the night in the appalling conditions or pull the pin and have a good nights sleep before a ride back to Geelong the next day. There were a number of riders that understandably took the latter option.
Steve and I joined Ian George for the ride to Warrnambool. It served up more wind and rain but getting to the most westerly point on the ride was a psychological boost for me as surely the hardest work was done. Ken Morgan joined us after taking a longer break at Warnnambool. The wind pushed us along at a cracking pace for about 10 minutes or so but then a shift from WNW to SSW suddenly meant the ride back to Port Cambell was not so easy at all. The roaring wind and boiling ocean was almost deafening along with road signs and loose tin rattling madly and powerlines producing a booming howl in and around the small towns.
We had lost valuable time through out the day and night so a break of a little more than 2 hours was all we could afford for sleep. It was a 4:30 am get up to complete a ride to Timboon and back before breakfast to round out 400k.
The wind continued to be a real nuisance back along the Shipwreck Coast pushing the bike sideways but at least it was towards the edge`of the road not towards the middle like the day before. Not until we got to the more protected areas of the climb to Lavers Hill did we get real respite from the conditions. It was raining and very cold at the checkpoint so the warmth of the cafe was difficult to leave. The skies cleared by the time we got to Horden Vale so the rain coat was removed for the last time but the wind was continuing unabated.
Peter greeted`us at the checkpoint at Apollo Bay and hot soup warmed us up for the next leg to Lorne. Another break there before embarking on the final 65k to the finish. Ken was having a few issues with his bike so Steve and I stopped under lights of a Torquay servo to check things out. Ian continued on but he needed to stop for a while on the outskirts to sort out some lighting issues.
It was great to be welcomed at the finish by my wife Carol, several riders and Peter.
Most of the riders described it as the hardest Audax ride they had ever done. I totally agree.
Thanks again to Peter, Eileen and Joan for fantastic support. Thanks to Steve, Ian and Ken for their company during the ride which would have been even harder if completed alone.
Congratulations to Steve for completeing his first 600k in such difficult conditions.
The cafe at the top of Laver's provided a welcome break before things to come. As we descended from the high point of the ride and out of the protection of the Otway National Park we were hit with gale force side winds that made riding at times near impossible. A side wind of such strength is infinitely more difficult than riding straight into it. It was quite a battle getting to Port Campbell and the 5k sign seemed like about 20k out of town.
Port Campbell was decision time for riders deciding whether they would continue through the night in the appalling conditions or pull the pin and have a good nights sleep before a ride back to Geelong the next day. There were a number of riders that understandably took the latter option.
Steve and I joined Ian George for the ride to Warrnambool. It served up more wind and rain but getting to the most westerly point on the ride was a psychological boost for me as surely the hardest work was done. Ken Morgan joined us after taking a longer break at Warnnambool. The wind pushed us along at a cracking pace for about 10 minutes or so but then a shift from WNW to SSW suddenly meant the ride back to Port Cambell was not so easy at all. The roaring wind and boiling ocean was almost deafening along with road signs and loose tin rattling madly and powerlines producing a booming howl in and around the small towns.
We had lost valuable time through out the day and night so a break of a little more than 2 hours was all we could afford for sleep. It was a 4:30 am get up to complete a ride to Timboon and back before breakfast to round out 400k.
The wind continued to be a real nuisance back along the Shipwreck Coast pushing the bike sideways but at least it was towards the edge`of the road not towards the middle like the day before. Not until we got to the more protected areas of the climb to Lavers Hill did we get real respite from the conditions. It was raining and very cold at the checkpoint so the warmth of the cafe was difficult to leave. The skies cleared by the time we got to Horden Vale so the rain coat was removed for the last time but the wind was continuing unabated.
Peter greeted`us at the checkpoint at Apollo Bay and hot soup warmed us up for the next leg to Lorne. Another break there before embarking on the final 65k to the finish. Ken was having a few issues with his bike so Steve and I stopped under lights of a Torquay servo to check things out. Ian continued on but he needed to stop for a while on the outskirts to sort out some lighting issues.
It was great to be welcomed at the finish by my wife Carol, several riders and Peter.
Smiling Jim Chant at the finish
Everyone was smiling at the finish
Most of the riders described it as the hardest Audax ride they had ever done. I totally agree.
Thanks again to Peter, Eileen and Joan for fantastic support. Thanks to Steve, Ian and Ken for their company during the ride which would have been even harder if completed alone.
Congratulations to Steve for completeing his first 600k in such difficult conditions.
