A good day for camels

My cycling goal for the current Audax season is to ride 10,000 kms in club rides and permanents. A pretty bold goal as my highest tally to date is 7650 kms in the 2008/2009 season.  My approach is to make the most of opportunities provided by good weather in the warmer months recognising there will be weekends where I wont accumulate any mileage for whatever reason. Today was a day where the 200k didn't come easy and was hard earned. The first real heat of the summer approahing the mid 30's and the clear sunny skies combined to wear me down despite my best efforts to stay hydrated. I was pretty much toasted at the end of the ride. I am sure the camels I passed earlier in my ride faired better on the day.

Back to Back 200s

Two more pemanents over the public holidays for Christmas and Boxing Day. The first day saw me riding up through Ballarat and following an anticlockwise route. The second was the energy sapping Moorabool ride crossing the steep sided Moorabool Valley multiple times. Thousands of butterflies were present on both rides

Rest break at a ford near Happy Valley on Day1

Past Stony Creek Reservoir on Day 2

Butterflies were everywhere

Eureka

Today I rode the Eureka Dales 200k permanent. An uneventful ride. It was a very warm and very humid day. Although taking on plenty of fluids and electrolytes I was suffering with a bit of cramping in my hands after the ride. The heavy mileage I have been putting in lately though is standing me in good stead, my time was quite reasonable given the effort in the conditions and once cooled off the legs feel quite good. One property I rode past today has a train set in the front yard!

Train tracks in the front garden

Eildon Endurance

On the road again Saturday for 300k from Shepparton. The ride crosses over the Strathbogies on its way to and from Eildon. On the outward leg the route passes through Merton and on the way back through Gobur. It was a humid day and we got soaked several times. At one stage wheel spin on steepest sections of the climb before Merton on the slick road gave me something to think about. For much of the day Tim Taylor who was doing the 400 version and I swapped places. I was pleased with my form and pleased that I took 5 minutes of my total time for the ride which I had previously ridden in 2009. This included sitting out a massive deluge for 10 to 15 minutes in Euroa on the way back. Arrived back in Shep for Pizza at 6:40pm. Thanks to Garry Wall for organising the ride. Thanks to wife Carol and daughter Kelly for travelling to Shep and to other rides recently with me.

A drenched Tim Taylor at Merton

Gorgeous legs

This past weekend saw the running of Jump the Gun out of Maryborough. The ride was organised by that wee scotty gentleman Ronnie McInnes and his wife Meredith. Distances from 100 to 600k were on offer. The weather forecast was for fairly mild temperatures so I took the opportunity of trying the 600. Had it been hotter I would have wimped and settled for a lesser distance. There was quite a good turnout. The first 100 loop headed off to Carisbrook then up to Dunolly before a solid into the wind leg to Avoca but it turned out to be nothing in comparison to the next day but we will get on to that later. I yo yoed for a short while with the Maryborough crowd but somehow our pace on the undulations just didn’t quite match and they eventually fell back. This first loop finished with a comfortable leg to Maryborough. On the 2nd 200 I latched on to a small group of 200k riders who were making rapid progress with a tailwind but not wanting to overcook the goose I let them gradually ease away on the way to Maldon and caught them again in at the Newstead checkpoint. It was at the Newstead General Store  a lady commented “Don’t bike riders have gorgeous legs!” or something to that effect. Adrian suggested she was referring to my legs.  I’m not sure that was the case. They’re bloody ugly!

We left Newstead pretty much together but I soon let the group move off. The leg through Campbelltown and on towards Majorca and Maryborough which in the past has been a tough one in heat and headwind was tamer this year and I finished it off comfortably. Loop 3 headed up the road to Dunolly at the same time the Great Victorian Bike Ride had riders coming down the road for their overnight stop in Maryborough.  These guys were the stragglers and it looked like many of them were struggling. Anyhow my loop wound its way around through Newbridge where I stopped to get my card signed and downed a couple of cokes at the pub. Back down through Dunolly and back to base once more against a nagging headwind. Fatigue levels were increasing and I was now undecided whether I would try 450k before grabbing some sleep or 350k after the late evening 50 to Avoca and back. Some nausea at Avoca determined that I would sleep at 350k. It was a bit after 11pm when I had the 350k completed and I resolved to get up at 2 am. I was off at 2:30 down through Talbot to Clunes but the advantage of losing elevation was cancelled by the wind that remained quite cool and strong. Just after Clunes where I ate a little I became very tired so I dismounted and lied in some long grass along a paddock fence line for a powernap. On to Campbelltown and the same again, this time I napped in a ditch on the edge of the road. A third and last time at Sandon only a few more K’s down the road and I was napping under a large gum tree. This time however it was getting light and I think my body clock clicked into day mode and I rode on turning near Newstead and heading back through Carisbrook to Maryborough. This time riders in Great Victorian Bike Ride were streaming out of Maryborough on their final leg to Castlemaine. I had about 150k still to go. Arriving back I learned that of the 4 600k starters two had withdrawn at 300 and 350 leaving 2 of us still riding on the Sunday. The next loop was to Avoca and on to Moonambel and back through Natte Yallock. The last 150 even with all the sleep had been tough as I had trouble eating and so the energy and pace had declined. Fortunately I held a bit down at Maryborough and ate more at Avoca and Moonambel. This gave me strength for one of the tougher legs I have done in Audax. The wind now was an absolutely howler of a headwind stripping leaves off trees and blowing tumble weed along the road. My progress was slow but sustained and it was around 2 when I was back at base and contemplating the final push to Dunolly and back. The ride to Dunolly was rapid and required little effort but, on turning, the ride to Timor was unsheltered and the wind was still a real menace. It was a relief to be closing in on Maryborough to begin the gentle climbing through more forested area that provided some protection and to finally finish, sit down on a comfortable chair and enjoy a drink with Ronnie. The only rider still on the road was Andy and he still had 90k to go and a bit over 5 hours to complete it. It was going to be tough ask and I later learned that the clock had won which was really unfortunate.

Spikes on the Road

Another 100k permanent in the form of Mini Moorabool Mayhem today. Yesterday we recorded over 80mm of rain in the gauge and my cycling was confined to the trainer. Today started cool and overcast and finished with occasional sunshine and peaked in the low twenties. My legs were a bit heavy from about 2000k's in total over the past 4 weeks.  My annual leave has now come to an end. Back to work tomorrow.  Ughhh!  Anyhow on the ride today it was good to see the Moorabool River running strongly and it was unusual to see spikes on the road!

Moorabool River running strongly

Spikes on the road!

Hard Laver

Hard Laver is a new 200k Audax permanent that I am offering to members. I rode it on the 21st November and had a great day. I think it is a particularly good route with some magnificent scenery and it also has some solid, about 2800m, but not horrendous climbing.

The ride starts from the rear of the memorial gardens in the centre of Colac where there is plenty of parking available. You head south out of town on C155 and go over the first bump on the way to Kawarren and then Gellibrand at 25k. Then its a climb up to Ferguson at 42k where you turn south westerly and go through Weeaproinah, the wettest location in Victoria,  before your first checkpoint at Lavers Hill at 56k.

Weeaproinah - Wettest spot in Victoria

From Lavers Hill you have a nice 14k descent to Glenaire where you get you first close up view of the ocean and a great view up along  the Aire Valley.

Coast at Glenaire

Aire Valley

After a ride across the valley you come to Horden Vale a nice 8k climb through the Great Otway National Park then 13k downhill into Apollo Bay but not before passing some fantastic scenery.

Beautiful scenery

Approaching Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is right on half way at 103k and has plenty of options for lunch. After Apollo Bay you climb up along Skenes Creek Road for about 15k before you begin a gradual descent down towards the next checkpoint at Forrest at 141k and pass by the West Barwon Reservoir.

Up along Skenes Creek Road looking back to Apollo Bay

Past the West Barwon Reservoir

After Barwon Downs you have left the forested areas behind and the country opens up into lush rolling farmland as you pass through Murroon and Pennyroyal and on to the final checkpoint at Deans Marsh General Store at 167k. The last leg is through open rolling farmland before you reach the end of your ride back in Colac. This is a really great ride and I recommend you try it some time.

A Midweek 100

After the weekend's 600 I thought it would be good to do a midweek 100k permanent and bring up the first 1000 audax kilometres fot the club year. Wednesday 16th was forecast to be a nice day with light winds. The course was again my "Inch to Winch" permanent. Only about 450m of climbing suited as I need to recover from some solid riding in this past fortnight. I chose to start early and got away by 7:10am and managed to make it around by 10:52. A bonus not to be off all day riding and  it gave the opportinity to do more work around home which can get neglected with a lot of riding.

Wurdiboluc Reservoir - 50k

Looking south from Atkins Road towards the Otways

So 16 days in  and 1000 audax k's is a good start to the 10,000k in a season quest. Mind you it is not a rate of progress that I can sustain and I need to be conscious to recover adequately between big rides. If I'm around 2000 by the New Year that will be fine. 

Coffee and Milk Please

The weekend of 12 and 13th of November saw the seventh running of Cafe au Lait S'il Vous Plait by Chris Rogers out of the North Eastern Victorian town of Wangaratta. Around 20 riders assembled for the 6am start with various distances from 125k to 600k nominated. It was good to catch up with a few riders that I hadn't crossed paths with for a while including Adrian Whear and the trim Tim Taylor. This well conceived ride consists of a series of loops based  from Wangaratta. After a short delay in finalising everyone's entry riders got away at 6:10 am. This is how I saw the ride.

Around 20 riders assembled

Loop 1 ~ Wangaratta - Yarrawonga - Wangaratta (125k)

Perfect conditions started the day off nicely. When Chris said go Tim Taylor leaned on his pedals and was soon dissappearing into the distance. I settled down into a small group that incuded Adrian, Igor, Rodney and Garry Wall. For the first 10 or so k's we chatted a little but soon Garry and I were happy to let the others move away up the road and out of sight. The two of us stayed in single file and swapped turns along the Yarrawonga -Wangaratta Road and were soon arriving at the first checkpoint at the bakery in Yarrawonga. The rest of the riders soon rolled in as well. Garry and I rode together back to Wangaratta where Garry headed on home to Milawa to pick up his reflective vest. I bought a sandwich and drink at a local cafe.

 First checkpoint at the bakery in Yarrawonga

Loop 2 ~ Wangaratta - Beechworth - Wangaratta (81k)

I headed off solo on this leg towards Milawa, across to Everton then up along the bicycle trail to Beechworth. It was great to see a large group of 20 or so very young riders coming down the trail on their bicycles with their parents. As seems to be the case every time I have ridden this trail it has been fairly warm on the climb through the cuttings but fortunately in most places there is plenty of shade. Beechworth Bakery was relatively quiet and made a suitable checkpoint. I was back on the bike and heading down the road to Wangaratta within 20 minutes. I had to search a while to find an open cafe when I got back to Wang and while I was enjoying a coke and ice cream Garry cruised in and decided the coke and ice cream looked so good he bought some too.

Garry with a coke

Loop 3 ~Wangaratta - Rutherglen - Wangaratta (95k)

We left together on the road to Rutherglen. Although I felt in better shape than I did at the same point last year when I road the 300k version in very warm conditions I was not feeling terrific and by the time we got to Rutherglen I was flagging. Garry suggested we share some salty chips at the local fish and chip shop but food for me was now going to be a challenge. I opted for some dim sims and Garry went for potato cakes. I marvel at what can fuel one on long rides like this. The leg back to Wang and I was slowing significantly but Garry was happy to ride with me. As I was not in great form I decided to head to the motel have a shower eat a little and put on some fresh gear.

Loop 4 ~ Wangaratta - Boorhaman - Wangaratta (54k)

I have alwys felt it essential on a 600 to get through at least 350k on the first day with 400k preferable. The 50k loop would bring up 350k and I thought then after a sleep I would feel stronger to finish the ride off. The loop was uneventful except for a brief stop where I managed to get some gel food on my hands, handle bars and waterbottles. I hate sticky! I was soon back at Wang and put the head down for 90 minutes. This was the point where I abandoned the 30 hr target I had set myself and decided riding through without any sleep was not advisable.

Loop 5 ~ Wangaratta - Myrtleford - Wangaratta (96k)

Potentially this is often the hardest part of this sort of ride. The early hours of the morning. I made slow but steady progress on the gradual climb to Gapsted. Garry had earlier warned me to watch out for wallabies. I was surprised at one point by a kangaroo lying in the middle of the road. Probably hit by a vehicle some time just before. He looked up at me as I shone my helmet light at him but he made no other movement so I continued on past. As I descended down into Myrtleford a headlight a reflective vest was coming towards me and it turned out to be Tim Taylor. We greeted each other as we passed. I made a brief stop in Myrtleford where I found vending machine where I could get a coke. The climb back up to the turn off towards Milawa seemed rather difficult and as I turned the corner I realised I had flatted the rear tyre. Under the light from my helmet mounted ayups I tried pumping up the tire but it wouldn't hold any air. I inspected the tyre which was brand new for the ride but not apparant cuts, glass or thorns. I thought the tube must be the culprit and a post ride inspection proved this to be the case. the valve and tube were seperating. I was on my way in 20 minutes as the new day was dawning. Back again in Wang, this time for breakfast at the motel but still not firing on all cylinders

Loop 6 ~ Wangaratta - Benella - Wangaratta (102k)

So with 450 k completed the end was in sight but there was still some work to do. I laboured on the ride to Benella stopped on a few occasions to have a short rest. Clearly my calorific intake had been insufficent and I forced down museli bars and lollies. There was a local handicap cycling race on as a number of small bunches of riders raced passed in the opposite direction heading up the hill along Kilfeera Road towards Greta South. I enjoyed a steak and onion pie and strawberry milk at the bakery at Benalla. The leg back from here was tough. The temperature was quite warm and there was a head wind. I resolved to ride steadily and stopped off at Glenrowan for a drink. The Kelly Country Classic was being held and there were a number of riders in town. I took my time before heading on to complete this lap. My wife Carol and daughter Kelly greeted me in Wangaratta where I had another flavoured milk before beginning the final loop.

Loop 7 ~ Wangaratta - Eldorado - Wangarattta (53k)

With the 600k almost in the bag I was confident I would complete the ride but I did curse the headwind on the way to Eldorado. I suppose I should be thankful for the cool change that swept in as I turned back towards Wangaratta after the penultimate checkpoint stop at Eldorado but it meant a headwind for the final 30 odd k as well! I was pleased to eventually  pull up at the King George Gardens for the final time.

Sunburnt but only 30k's to go

Thanks for developing and organising a great ride Chris.

Inch to Winch

Back from South Australia and I need to keep the kilometres ticking over if I am going to go close to achieving 10,000 Audax k's in the next 12 months. The  permanent in SA was a good start but time waits for no man so after a week totalling around 400k all in the hills I thought I best get some more credit and do another Audax permanent. A flattish 100k from Teesdale to beyond Winchelsea and return was in order on a humid Tuesday afternoon. This ride, Inch to Winch, is one of my new permanents now available. Two intermediate controls for refreshment were essential as was the conservative pace in fairly trying conditions. The legs appreciated the flat course and the cruisey approach to the ride that took a little over 4 hours to complete. That's 300 of the 10,000 out of the way and the next ride is the 600k, Cafe au Lait S'il vous Plait,  out of Wangaratta this weekend.

First stop Winchelsea Milk Bar

Victor Harbor Weekend

Following 5 days at Mount Barker we headed down for a weekend in a self contained unit at Victor Harbor. It was a chance to catch up with my Vet cousin and her Vet husband who live just out of town on a ridge above the Inman Valley and of course get in two more hilly training rides through rolling farmland before heading back home.

Above the Inman Valley

Through rolling farmland

Adelaide Hills & A Day Trip to Victor

Riding your bike in countryside that you don't often frequent can be really very satisfying and relaxing. Four weeks annual leave and so we set of to Adelaide for some R & R for the first week. The schedule included catching up with some relatives, doing some family research and of course some bike riding. A cabin base at the Mount Barker Caravan Park for the first 5 days facilitated some great training in an area that provided plenty of hill work on every ride. The hills were lush and green and the roads not to busy if you timed your rides to avoid the commuters.

The hills were lush and green

A mid week 200k permanent was part of my plan and I was fortunate enough to have Graham Stucley the South Australia Region President accompany me on "A Day Trip to Victor". The forecast was for fine weather as we set off from Glenelg at 7am. We also had one of Graham's ridy buddies Bronte with us for the first part of the ride. The first serious climb came quite early in the ride in the form of Cement Hill and it had us working very solidly. We then passed by Christies Beach on the way to the first control at Port Noarlunga South.  Following this came a long climb of several kilometres up Sellick's Hill to Myponga for the second control at the General Store. The next leg was through some very scenic coutryside as Graham and I predominately descended to the seaside resort town of Victor Harbor. A lunch in the sun before continuing along through the coastal towns of Port Elliot and Middleton then turning back inland where from Currency Creek you constantly climb towards the third significant "peak" at Meadows and a control at the bakery. Following further food and drink we rode down to Clarendon before ascending this time to Chandlers Hill then again descending towards  Coromandel Valley and a final major climb to Belair and a control at the BP servo. From Belair it was downhill all the way into Adelaide for a control at the Alfresco Cafe in Rundle St. Then came an "excitng" 10k through the peak hour traffic on the way to the finish at Glenelg. Thanks to Graham for leading the way and his company on the ride and thanks to Richard Scheer for suggesting the ride and for suggesting that Graham might be interested in riding with me.

Graham and I at the finish

I thoroughly enjoyed what is a reasonably challenging ride through the lovely hills of Adelaide.