We so enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the
Audax event last year that we booked accom very early in anticipation of doing
the full loop in 2016. I managed to
persuade Anita that the big 245 km loop was going to be fun and easier
than 3peaks in a less competitive format, despite the increased chance of heat
being a factor in the January time slot. Ham and Andy were keen as well,
but various injuries and ailments intervened, so in the end just Anita and I
made the trip.
With the forecast predicting a dry run but
temperatures of low-mid 30s, we had no hesitation aiming for the 4 am roll-out.
This meant a 3 am start, which sounds daunting, but was actually
remarkably easy. First off, by 6:15 pm the previous evening we were
chomping down some of the finest pizza known to man at Bastoni's in Myrtleford
(what a find!), 20 Km before getting to Bright, which was otherwise heaving
with hungry cyclists and their entourages all looking for meals. A full
belly early sets it all up. We registered, did some shopping, then headed
for digs a Bright Velo.
The hotel room was an old-school besser-brick
shoebox, like what you'd expect at Smiggin’s in the 60s (and would have made
things interesting had Ham and Andy taken the spare room), but at least the
aircon was functioning and, after prepping the bikes and ruminating over kit
the lights were off by 9 pm. Neither of us slept very well, not unusual
given the factorials that loop through ones mind the night before one of these
things. This was about our 4th crappy night in a row, given a run of
tropical stinkers in Sydney. The only other thing that made me nervous
was a saddle sore (grapes of wrath-style) I'd developed literally two days
prior. Should it deliver too much grief before topping out on Hotham we'd
have to bail.
After a light breakfast and kitting up we hit
the lights and rolled down to the start corral, joining the throng of hundreds of
sets of blinking tail lights and reflective jerseys. Gradually the line
started to move and before long we were off in an alien pace line that
stretched into the night. The long string of lights started breaking up, indicating that if we wanted to do the run up to Harrietville at a decent clip
it was time to jump ahead to some snappier pacelines. After leap frogging
a few groups we settled mid line into a gaggle that had episodes of fast
rolling, but the pair at the head of affairs steadfastly refused to roll it
over. I resigned myself to this being a
bit of a tedious plod as a cluster of lights up ahead gradually vanished
into the blackness.
With Harrietville gained it was pit-stop number
one to ditch the inevitable product of morning coffee, which is a bit more of
an effort for Anita, who had to remove mandatory reflective vest, gillet, and
jersey with bursting pockets before jumping behind a hedge to down the bib and
brace, before reassembling it all in the darkness. 5 min tops.
Hints at the magic to come became apparent as
we started the lower switchbacks of the 30 km climb to Mt Hotham. The
magnificence of a near-full moon winked at us through tree trunks as it sank towards
the hills. A flood of riders that passed us at the foot of the climb were
gradually reeled in by the pace being set by Anita, which, betrayed by her
breathing, I thought to be a little on the hot side, but she was adamant all
was OK. We got to The Meg, kissed the valley and the moon good bye, then
flipped to the Hotham side of the ridge as the sky started to lighten, with the
birds finally starting to break song as the false flat was gained.
With sunup due at 6:18 it was clear that it
would hit Hotham before we did, but the temperature was cool-mild, the air dry,
and the promise of a stunning day firming as we progressed round the giant
horseshoe that is the second half of the climb. Looking up to the left
the brightening silhouette of the ridge-line was broken at one point by what
looked like a massive cascade of cloud, spilling over a low point separating
this valley from the next. We'll have to ride through that, I thought to
myself.
To some extent the Hotham climb really starts
around 8 km from the top. This is where the
false flat runs out and the tractor is engaged for the 10% slopes which gain
the ridge-line (middle of the horseshoe), separating the valley you've climbed
out of, and whatever mysterious country lies beyond. The anguish
one normally experiences on the slopes of CRB hill was, to some extent at
least, ameliorated: firstly by the stunning views that initially open up over
ones left shoulder of the valley you've just climbed out of, with distant
ridges and velvet folds of delicate hues, and Mt Buffalo sitting grandly at the
back; and to the right a cloud-covered mystery world, like gazing upon the
surface of the ocean, all whilst the first rays of the sun peered over the
horizon. Seriously one of the best little cycling wonderments I've
experienced.
But it wasn't over yet. Hotham is also tough
because in order to gain the final steep kilometers, two small sharp sinuous
descents across the ridge-line are required. As we rounded the corner into
the first of these, the waterfall of cloud we'd gazed up at from a distance 20
minutes earlier now lay below us, like a huge cup of milk spilling out of a
bowl. We plunged in and visibility was immediately reduced to meters,
fogging glasses, prompting headlights to be switched back on and brakes to be applied as one tried to read the road. Two minutes later we clawed back
out of the soup onto the next ramp.
The top was finally gained with the clock at
6:50, 60 km under the belt, and a long way to go. Mt Hotham village was
gone in the blink of an eye, and so too Dinner Plain. Another 10 km down
the track we once again punched into the cloud mass we'd been riding above,
re-coating us in a fine layer of moisture. This was quite a heavy blanket
and would keep the sun at bay for some time. We got passed by a handful of
strong riders at this point, but couldn't quite stay with them, in part as
Anita was having some shifting and glasses issues, so we just kept chugging at
an even pace, finally gaining Omeo and the pit area at approx 8:35. Yummy
ice blocks, watermelon and a comfort stop.
Ten minutes later we were rolling again,
enjoying the rural atmosphere with the sun starting to shown signs of breaking
through. The drag out of Omeo, now expected, wasn't so bad this year, and
before we knew it we were across the rickety old bridge and cruising my favourite
part of the route, that sinuous 15 km into Anglers Rest. With mostly full
bottles we kept rolling, although by this stage it was becoming apparent that
Anita's gear problems weren't imaginary - sluggish shifting and limited range
along the block - the classic symptoms of the cable fraying inside the lever
head. If it snapped here she was screwed. She coaxed the chain onto
the biggest sprocket and restricted shifting to big ring or small ring, ready
for the massive climb to come, as we limped to WTF corner (approx 10:15 and 140
km completed).
By this stage, of course, the sun had dispensed
with the morning fog, and we got to do the Back Of Falls in full sun, but at
least we were on the climb nice and early. It's always a hard grind but
wasn't too bad, and with the steep section done Anita started to judiciously
make use of the rear derailleur again (with much chain coughing). WTF to
the village in 2:05.
The pit at Falls Creek is A-grade, with all
manner of food and drink on offer. We had a very enjoyable 30 min filling
up on a sandwich, watermelon and lamingtons, before cruising the 35 km descent
back to Mt Beauty, and into the heat of a hot summers day. Not far now,
we took on more water for the grind up Towonga, then hit the afterburners for
the final run back to town, and what we'd been dreaming of since Omeo, more ice
blocks! We rolled home with the clock at 3:05, just over 11 hours
since departing for the 245 km.
Sipping beer in the shade with the band playing
whilst catching up with others and listening to war stories is one of the best
parts of the experience. Caught up with Ansha and Bec, who had a grand
day out on the slopes of Buffalo, a fine effort for people very new to the
sport. We wondered where on the course those who'd ticked the 320 km
option might now be on a hot afternoon. That's the 7th time I've done the
big loop, and even though this was the easiest of those outings for me, I certainly
wasn't sitting at the end feeling gypped of another 70 km!
Which is easier, the 3peaks 235 out of Falls or
the 245 ACE out of Bright? Hard to say, as they both have pros and cons.
The 235 could almost be shortened to 200, given that few pedal strokes
are required for the first 35 km. This is true for the 245 as well, but
for the later the descent is all about recovery, and every stroke engaged
hurts. The flip side is that the two mega climbs are easier to digest in
the 245, especially the BOF, which comes much earlier in the day. Tawonga in the heat is cruel, but surely
preferable to a similarly timed BOF. The extra 10 km alone means adding
another 20 min to the later format, even though it's pan flat. My view is
that the 235 format is easier if the aim is to crack out a fast time,
especially in the context of a greater proportion of riders aiming to do just
that. Better pace lines, less monkeying about etc. But if enjoyment
is key, the 245 is better. Easier mega climbs, no stress of descending in
an armada, and better party atmosphere at the end. My 2 cents.
BTW, Bright Velo, clunky rooms aside, turned
out to be on par with Scafferi (Swedish joint in Mt Beauty), in the breakfast
department, and we didn't even have to drive to it. By the time we
crawled out of bed (terrific sleep!) we could hear the reassuring sounds of a
vibrant cafe adjacent, full of customers, and the walls, like most of those in
the rooms, adorned with all manner of cycling memorabilia (the owner, Wayne,
was a former pro). Just what the doctor ordered before the long hot drive
back to Sydney. We'll be back!
