Young, Younger Youngest

The Easter weekend provided an opportunity to ride with some interstate members when I undertook three consecutive 200k rides from a base in Young on the south west slopes of NSW. This series of rides were organised by Kerri-Ann Smith and Michael Bentley of the ACT region. I had a great weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the riding and the company.

Looking fresh early on the Young 200

Kerri-Ann briefing. Some of the riders before chilly start of Younger 200



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.

I'm a tardy blogger

Apologies, I have completed a few rides since my last blog.

• A permanent - Not So Wild West 200k
• The Oppy - around 370k starting at Cobram, visiting Beechworth on the way back to Rochester
• Mal's Merrimu Meander - over the new 200k distance

As I am a bit short of word,s here are a few pictures

 

Granite Road looking towards Staugton Vale on the Not So Wild West

 

 

"Oppy on Oppys" Oppy Team @ Start (Thats me, Rodney Kruz and Russell Noble)

 

 

"Oppy on Oppys" heading towards Corowa, NSW

 

 

"Oppy on Oppys" Oppy team at the finish at Oppy's statue in Rochester

 

 

 

There off in the Merrimu Meander

 

 

I'm very happy after a good ride

 

Midweek 600 on the Great Ocean Road

The lure of the Ocean Road and a ride organised by Peter Donnan was too much for me. I just had to take time off work, an easy decision, and prepare The Oppy for the distance and night riding. The weather was ideal, unseasonly cool with no rain. The route was quite familiar, along the Ocean Road from Geelong, over a few bumps on the way to Port Campbell, Warnnambool, a mid ride loop into the hills out of Port Campbell then over the bumps again and back to Geelong. This was very similar to my first 600k ride on the 2008 Great Southern Randonnee. The good thing was this ride started at 6am rather than the more challenging 8pm.

Early 6am start

 I rode the early part of the ride in the company of a few riders but taking a nature break I was alone for a while before picking up with a few riders at various stages to Lorne and on to Apollo Bay.

Apollo Bay checkpoint under the rotunda

Leaving Apollo bay I chatted with Fraser Rowe for a while but eventually settled into my own comfortable pace matching the effort I was looking to sustain for the entire distance. Out of Port Campbell I rode with Richard Scheer for a period as we passed a DSE burn off of undergrowth adjacent to the road. Smoke filled air is not exactly ideal for the travelling cyclist. Richard eventually pulled away as I made my own pace again to the turnaround point at Warnnambool. I had become a little ill feeling and it was an effort to get the food down. On the ride back to Port Campbell I made the strategic decision to sleep at the 350k mark rather than pushing on for an extra 50 which I felt could degenerate into a real slog given my knowledge that it was quite a hilly loop and my distinct lack of zip. This turned out to be a great decision because when I left in the morning at some time after 4am I was feeling refreshed and enthused. Back again at Port Campbell for breakfast then off towards Geelong at a conservative pace to ensure the Lavers Hill and Horden Vale climbs could be negotiated in comfort. Final official stop at the Apollo Bay checkpoint then a break at Lorne for a drink and some more food then I set the radar for the finish. I pushed on strongly through Aireys Inlet, Angelsea and Torquay only pausing to ring Carol so she could come and pick me up from the Kardinia Cafe at the finish.

All in all another memorable ride made great by Peter and the enthusiastic volunteers. Thanks!

Happy finisher

Spa Country Flings - A Top 200

Massive rainfall and flooding across the suburbs of Melbourne started on the Friday night before this ride. The scheduled start time of 8am at the Hepburn Spa Centre on the Saturday morning had me doubting whether this ride would take place. I left home around 5:30 am so I would have plenty of time to get there. A road block for flooding on the road I was taking to get there had me heading up the Midland Highway towards Ballarat instead. A massive downpour along here had me convinced I was going to be heading back home sooner rather than later and that I was a bit soft in the head to be thinking of riding 200k. An SES report on the radio spoke about some properties in Creswick being flooded during the night. Creswick was on the ride route!
I arrived in plenty of time, I was first there. Was anyone else going come? Finally Roy Jenkins arrived, then more including Steve Xerri, Andy Moore and others from the Lancefield crowd. Ride organiser Greg Martin said however he had a large number of cancellations. This was understandable as water levels were rising all around Melbourne and its suburbs.
Although dry when we left on the ride a few K's down the road and heavy rain began.  The first 45 minutes saw pretty much continuous and at times heavy rain. Fortunately it was not cold. Once the rain had passed it would be the last rain we would see although the high humidity ensured that sense of dampness continued.  I pretty much rode with Roy most of the way to the first stop at Creswick. Greg and Peter Martin were there at the rotunda with a feast. I set off solo from the checkpoint on route back to Creswick. Lunch back at Daylesford was equally impressive. The second 100k included a stop at Kyneton then off to Tylden before heading back through Daylesford to the finish and more fantastic food. Hamburgers with salad followed by ice cream ~ brilliant. Thanks to Greg and his band. A Top 200.

At the finish

A New Year Jaunt

I needed a long ride with a relaxed effort to continue the build up of my base fitness after a few months of easy training and just a few Audax rides. So Meredith just before 6:30am was my starting location for a 200k ride through the Brisbane Ranges, the western plains of Melbourne and the Pentland Hills. It was decidely brisk so a long sleeve windbreaker kept me warm for the lumpy ride to Anakie. The Moorabool River valley, Steiglitz and the DeMotts Road climbs made sure I wasn't too cold and shortly after Anakie the air began to warm and I was able to function well with my summer top and arm warmers. I paused after the long downhill into Staughton Vale at the Anakie Gorge turn off.

at the Anakie Gorge turn off

Then onwards passing the You Yangs on the way to Werribee (72k) and a stop and a servo for some refreshment and food. Out along Tarneit Road through the endless sea of houses then through Rockbank and on past the Windmill before turning west towards Toolern Vale.

past the Windmill

There were now some good views back over the Werribee Plains, with the You Yangs in the distance,  as a good bit of elevation gain had been achieved. As I passed Lake Merrimu it was pleasing to see it holding much more water than the last time I had passed.

I passed Lake Merrimu

A rapid sweeping descent to my next stop at a servce station in Bacchus Marsh (136k) at about noon. A bite to eat, some more drink then off for the climbing into the Pentland Hills. Up to Myrniong, then Korebeit, Greendale and Ballan all with challenging grades to negotiate but all very rewarding with great views of the countryside. A fight with a stiff headwind for the last 35k to Meredith including a bone shaking ride through Morrisons and my 200 was finished. Then a quiet 30k ride home meeting up with Carol on the way to ride with.

Seat bolt blues on Bah Humbug

Bah Humbug attracted almost 20 riders on the last Saturday ride before Christmas. It wasn't hot but there was a stiff wind assisting the riders to Seymour. The normally quiet roads had more traffic than normal brought about by an accident on the Hume Freeway. Ride organiser Tim Laugher had to do a detour and only just made it to set up the Seymour checkpoint before we arrived. One rider Michelle had her seat bolt fail early in the ride and was an early DNF. Most people had not heard of this happening before.  Now contrary to the law of averages but consistant with the sentiment of Bah Humbug Ron McInnes arrived back at the finish in a ute as a 2nd DNF'er. The cause  - a broken seat bolt! 

BAH   HUMBUG!!!!

Nearly shot at Jump the Gun

Jump the Gun at Maryborough this year attracted a good number of entries for distances from 100 to 600 kilometres. The ride startred from the Maryborough Caravan Park. We had booked a cabin there and I literally just had to walk out the door, take about 5 paces and I was on the start line!

Riders assemble before the start

After my experience a fortnight ago with illness during a warm 300k I chose the conservative approach of only doing 200k in conditions that were to be humid and warm to hot.
The early weather was very pleasant being quite mild with an overcast sky. The sizable peleton held together for the 40k to the first checkpoint at Dunolly.  We seemed to cover the first 100k fairly quickly and on arriving back at Maryborough I split off from Hans and Garry with whom I had been riding to have a quick coffee with Carol at a local take away.

I linked up again with Garry and Hans as we left Maryborough on our second lap.

we left Maryborough on our second lap

The clouds having burned off had the temperature rising to the low 30's and the humidity was quite oppresive. The long gradual climb to the historic town of Maldon was a bit of a hot grind so we decided to stop there for a well earned cold coke. Peter Curtis had joined us on the climb and Bridgette pulled in for a break also. We watched a number of riders go past heading for the checkpoint at Newstead a further 12k or so down the road.

The long gradual climb was a bit of a hot grind

At Newstead we took another break for more refreshments before setting off on the last leg (for 200k riders) to Maryborough.  On a descent shortly after Newstead I seemed to roll away from the bunch and found myself a few hundred metres behind Bridgette and Peter and the rest of the group seemed to have fallen some distance behind. I decided to push on and caught Bridgette and Peter and chatted for a while but on reaching Campbelltown I decided to let them move on ahead. Just after Tullaroop Resevoir I caught Frank Preyer and rode with him for a bit but then I began cramping and I let him move off ahead as Maryborough approached.  

I was very  happy the ride for me finished at 200k as the conditions were certainly not to my liking and any further and I would have repeated the ride a fortnight earlier. As I sat with Carol recovering Hans and Garry rolled in only a few minutes behind.

Thanks to Gareth Evans for putting on this ever popular ride.

Cafe au Lait - Oh dear!

So I decided to do a 300k out of Wangaratta.
A loop to Yarrawonga, a loop to Beechworth and a loop to Rutherglen.
The first 200k I rode with a small group and thoroughly enjoyed the company as well as the scenery.

I rode with a small group

It was warm and I'm still not acclimatised to higher temperatures.
The last 100k, which I rode alone, progressively deteriorated into a death march for me.
I completed the ride but in a less than ideal state. I was thoroughly depleted and now 5 days later I am still feeling some after effects. Anyhow enough of these woes.
Thanks to Chris Rogers for putting on this ride which I understand attracted about 39 riders to undertake various distances up to 600k.

Pyrenees Magic was a wet one!

I left home in slight drizzle at around 6am for the 2 hour drive to Avoca for the Pyrenees Magic. There was still the occasional bit of drizzle leading up to the start of the ride at 9am so I had donned a rain top and shoe covers. About 20 minutes into the ride I was cursing the rain top as I had started to overheat. About 40 minutes into the ride I was thankful I had the wet gear on as the rain came and stayed. Not real strong but very steady and very wetting. The wind was helpful in parts but seemed to be against us for a greater percentage of the ride. A few familar faces from the Geelong, Bendigo and of course Maryborough but on the whole a lot of the 80 odd that I didn't recognize. For me, I haven't trained too hard since the big Perth adventure so I was really underdone, short of a gallop or whatever you want to call it. A half hour slower than all previous Avoca rides and not much enthusiasm to push hard but it was still fun and good to do a longer ride again.

Riders await the start

This was the first wet Pyrenees Magic in fifteen or more years.

Thanks to Andrew Thomas and his team for a great event and great rider support . They had to brave some pretty ordinary conditions in looking after the riders. Well done!

Perth Albany Perth 2010

Before the Ride

The pre ride BBQ lunch was held the day before the event on the shores of the Swan River in South Perth. It provided an opportunity to renew past acquaintances and to make new ones. Drop bags were checked in, clothing orders picked up, lighting checks made and final registration matters were attended to.

Drop bags checked in

Day 1

A cool to mild morming as Organiser Nick Dale  gave a final briefing to riders before the starters flag dropped to send us on our way at 5:05 am. The first 10k was to be neutralised to contain the riders to an orderly progression out of the city along the impressive bike path that extends tens of kilometres to the south. The pace for this first period was very brisk by my standards and I chose to settle in at about 15 or 16 from the front. The peleton formation of 2 riders wide must have been of some concern to the occasional oncoming rider as they headed toward our snaking sea of bright headlights. Concentration, courtesy and predictability were key to avoiding any mishap but unfortunately accidents do happen and Kerri-Ann Smith crashed heavily on this leg and due to injuries had to withdraw from the event. The crash broke up the peloton considerably and I took the opportunity to take a short break, eat a little and then chose to settle into my own pace until the first checkpoint, the foreshore rotunda at Mandurah (73k) was reached at 7:45am.

From Mandurah it was through residential streets and a coastal bike path for about 20k before open roadway was reached. It was along this stretch I managed to drop my chain twice and so was annoyed with having an oily right hand.There was a welcome refreshment stop at the 128k mark on the side of the Forrest Highway and at this point I decided to shed some clothing layers as the morning had started to warm a little. As time went on however a strong head wind developed and a few rain squalls hit as I made slow progress through Australind and on towards Bunbury.The Bunbury checkpoint (181k) was in a foreshore restaurant and I reached it at 12:47pm and I was still feeling good.

I was still feeling good

For most of the leg to Busselton I rode alone fighting the wind much of the time. I hooked up with some other riders for a while but the pace was a little too hot for me but I did  ride the last 5k into the Busselton checkpoint (240k) with Gary Baker from British Columbia.

At the Busselton checkpoint just past the famous jetty

The ride to Margaret River was easier as the wind started to diminish as the evening fast approached. The sun had set and it was dark by the time I made it into the town and I missed the turn towards the community centre like many others as it turned out. This checkpoint was not well marked and the lighting was poor but it was fortunate my wife was there to guide me in.  That was 297k completed and it was now 7:00pm. I fuelled up on vegemite on dry biscuits and some noodles.

...and some noodles

Some distance out of Margaret River I started to lose some of the earlier zest and at a few points stopped on the side of the road for a power nap. This was to be the start of a longer night than I expected as I began to struggle with tiredness. The Alexandra Bridge Hall (334k) was a welcome break again but with the knowledge I still had another hilly 90k to go to reach Pemberton, and I was struggling, I was thinking its going to be a long night. That is how it worked out. I rode with Hamish Moffatt and Ian George for a while but I let them go as they were too quick for me. I was in survival mode now. I stopped for more power naps, so many I can't remember. Michael Bentley rode with me for a while approaching Pemberton. Once he had moved on I stopped and rested under one of the forest giants and contemplated the situation while I tried to get a museli bar down to raise my energy level. Two more lights approached and pulled up. Mick Creati and Frank Preyer stopped briefly and on assessment decided I wasn't going to move so they moved on. I did move and soon caught them and rode the last 15k to the the checkpoint deep in the forest near Pemberton (426k). It was 3:30am and it was very cold. The Pemberton Forest Stay was a series of weatherboard dwellings that were described  by one volunteer as "rustic" . They were adequate for the purpose and I managed nearly two hours sleep before getting up and making some breakfast and preparing for the coming day.

Day 2

Readying to leave I realised there was some action down in a shelter area where egg and bacon was on offer in front of a smoky fire. I suspect it  was about 7am when I finally rolled out of the checkpoint.

Checkpoint within a Pemberton forest

As the night had been so cold I had donned plenty of gear for the first part of the day but it wasn't long before I was shedding layers. After passing through Pemberton on the way to Shannon National Park (490k) I found myself riding with Vincent Muoneke and Mark Thomas both from Seattle, Washington and fellow Victorian Rus Hamilton on undulating roads through scenic forest.

on undulating roads through scenic forest

In warm sunny conditions I arrived at the Walpole checkpoint (555k) at 1:48pm  riding comfortably and confidently and looking forward to lunch. Oh that meat pie went down well! 

 Oh that meat pie went down well!

I made Demark (621k) at 5:51pm  and thoroughly enjoyed  a real coffee on the banks of the picturesque Denmark River. Before setting off I donned warmer clothes and relective gear, checked lights and directions for the final leg of the day to Albany. I rode the last part of the leg into Albany (679k) with Gary Baker. The last few hundred metres to the checkpoint involved a punishing climb to Albany Residential College our accommodation for the night. That wasn't the end of the climbing for the day though, my room was on the third floor! As it was only about 9:30pm I was going to get a good sleep and I needed it.

Arrival at Albany Residential College our accommodation for the night

Day 3

I awoke at 3:15am and having organised everything before settling down for the night all I had to do was have some breakfast and set off. I left with Vincent Muoneke  and we headed off on the route to Mount Clarence, the peak that overlooks Albany. It was a solid climb to the car park and it had the blood pumping strongly through my system but the road from the car park up to the monument erected to commerate the Desert Mounted Corps that stands near the summit of Mount Clarence had my legs wanting to explode!  Navigation out through Albany was technical and involved some bike path. Eventually Vincent pulled away and  I toiled into a strengthening wind along Chester Pass Road. I found it bitterly cold as dawn approached but it wasn't too long before I was shedding gear once the sun had risen. I was thinking it could be a very long day if the wind was to continue blowing as it was.

Heading to the Stirling Ramges National Park checkpoint

  A few riders passed me before I arrived at the Stirling Ranges National Park (768k) at 9:20am. The wind was easing and the sun was warming the day up as we tucked in. The next leg entered into the wheatbelt and to the town of Gnowangerup and it was in rising heat. Road trains became more frequent but most of them gave me  a wide berth. The biggest nuisance were tiny insects that either stuck to applied sunscreen on ones body or found there way into nose, ear or mouth.

On the leg to Gnowangerup

I devoured a pie, pastie and chocolate milk at the Gnowangerup Roadhouse checkpoint (830k) and topped up my food and water supplies.  The next stint to Katanning was uneventful. I stopped briefly in the shade halfway to eat and drink properly to ensure I kept functioning well. The checkpoint at Katanning (891k) had a sizable group of riders enjoying a break when I arrived.

A sizable group of riders enjoying a break when I arrived

From Katanning I rode alone to Wagin (947k) and arrived just on dark at 6:49pm. The checkpoint was under the Giant Ram which was pretty hard to miss. The temperature dropped rapidly and I donned extra clothes a short distance down the road from the checkpoint.

The checkpoint was under the Giant Ram

A group of about of 6 of us headed towards the night stop of Williams but everyone seemed to have their own pace that they felt comfortable with and so yet again I rode most of this leg alone but did have Peter Turnbull from the UK for company for part of the leg. I was actually feeling pretty good when we pulled into the sporting clubrooms at Williams (1008k) at 10:20pm.  It was here I made the judgement that I would not try and sleep at this point. My thinking was that the next day was forecast to be on the hot side with a northerly wind so I thought I would limit my exposure to those conditions as I generally function quite poorly in them. I freshened up by showering, eating and then putting on all the clean gear I had as it was again very cold and I was warned that Hotham Valley would be colder.

Day 4

I rolled out about midnight riding slowly and cautiously just wanting to make some early progress so I wouldn't have to endure a long hot 4th day. It was around 2am when I took a power nap on the side of the road, then another around 3:30am on the Lower Hotham Valley Road and once I was back on the Pinjarra Road around 4:15am I took a longer kip under a large tree on a soft bed of leaves. By 5am I was making my way down the road and having to occasionally get right off the road as log trucks honked their approach then rumbled past at speed. They didn't seem to show the same respect as the road trains the day before. On reaching a high point on a very hilly road I phoned my wife to let her know my progress and she said she had expected that I would adopt the ride through the night strategy. 

I arrived at Pinjarra (1137k) at 8:10am  and took an extended break and left a bit after 9am. I had a few navigational issues getting back onto the freeway bike path but I eventually got back on the right track and it was then head down with the smell of the finish in my nostrils. I now had the idea that I could actually finish inside 80 hours if I could average around 24/25 kph for the last leg into a stiff head wind. I kept it up for 3+ hours, I was constantly eating and drinking, thinking I was mad to be putting in what at this stage for me was a maximal effort. As South Perth  approached my confidence grew that I was going to achieve my goal. I arrived at the finish (1220k) at 12:55pm in an elapsed time of 79 hours 50 minutes totally exhausted but absolutely elated to have finshed my first 1200k randonee.

Accepting congratulations

Thanks to Nick Dale for organising the event and all the volunteers involved with the ride and congratulations to all the participants from near and far.