The Double Brown take two.

After the wet attempt where only two tools took on the challenge, we tried again and this time we had five tools take on the challenge plus arch as well. Our previous two fronted up again plus Van velo, jardinier and la feuille. It was humid and cloudy but the rain kept off for the whole ride. All the training must be paying off as all reported easier ascents than previously with a few pb's thrown in as well. Rapide and van velo decided to play chicken with a truck going down the hill and a car up but emerged unscathed.
Once up was enough for arch as he fell foul to a sore back, but did remark that "a single climb hardly seemed like much of a ride at all!!" L'symbole went 7/8ths again on ascent number two with the remaining 4 making it to the top again in remarkably comparable times to the first ascent, making us all very pleased with ourselves.

A happy snap at Pipers lookout and a rapid descent followed before returning to Bemboka for a well earned coffee and refreshments. Talk turned to other local challenges or even a triple brown but that can wait for another day.....

Jeudi training ride

Almost a full contingent made it out this beautiful evening. For a short time all 8 tools were together and astride their bikes, but 1 had other plans and headed in the other direction on his mountain bike. The photo will go here when le symbole sends it as more photos are good.

So 7 tools plus one set off. a good pace line maintained all the way across the flat. The hill climb was followed by the testing timed climb that always manages to bring out the best in everyone. The bridge sprint had the predictable result and ended with a perfect warm down a climb of Parker st !!!! Not sure whose idea that was but its too close for me to avoid, but all good for us I'm sure.

A enjoyable ride and and excellent workout, and I'm sure that those that retired to the cafe after enjoyed that as well.

Double Brown in the rain

 

Dedication to the cause - Rapid and L' symbole braved the rain to do the "Double Brown"

Good effort guys

A longer sunday ride

This sunday saw an overcast morning greet the tools that arrived early in Bega for a longer ride. 6 Tools plus one newbie (Dave) took to the road. Missing only Rapide, racing in Canberra, and a maybe from l'symbole.
a consistent pace was maintained to Candelo, a quick search for l'symbole who was a no show and on to Merimbula. The rain thus far keeping off even though the humidity was high and clouds low. After a quick discussion about stopping (we didn't)the hill out of Merimbula was attacked and a good pace maintained all the way back to Bega, where all enjoyed the obligatory coffee with a good 85 ks odd under the belt.

Sunday Coffee Run

6 Tools arrived this fine Sunday morning for the run to Tathra and back. Missing only was l'symbole and Van velo. Also making a welcome reappearance was Arch.

the general consensus was that the pace of a sunday morning jaunt is generally on the increase. this appears in no small part to the secret training regimes of some, the consistent training regimes of others and the general keeness of all to test out their progress. So in short more ks equals more speed.

The approach to Tathra suffered a bit of a hiccup with the crash of a tree across the road, fortunately just before the enthusiastic tools arrived. We all climbed over the tree and continued on our merry way.

Heather and friend were caught just before the tree event.
All returned to Bega, though Heather got lost for a short time but arrived nevertheless much to rapides relief. Coffee was enjoyed by all to cap off a pleasant morning

The Alpine Classic 2010 - a personnal account

Two Tools took on the challenge of the Alpine Classic. The day was clear and cool to start. The promise of mid thirty daytime temperatures in the valleys and a low to mid teen start made clothing selection a bit tricky but in the end the minimalist choice was best.

About 500 hundred cyclists awaited the starters orders, with the two tools somewhat back in the group. The use of electronic transponders accurately recorded a starting time of 6:24 am. Both settled in for an easy start but picked up speed as the large group headed along the flat to the first hill. We stayed together for half the first climb but after settled for our own pace as the challenge of the day ahead tempered thoughts of a fast climb. A beautiful 7.5 k descent followed into the stunning Kiewa valley. A few ks to Mt beauty and then the next ascent awaits of 30k and about 1300 m elevation to Falls creek. While not continuous its a long way mainly uphill but I must say I enjoyed the climb and did it easier than 8 years ago. The most pleasing part was reaching Falls and it was before 9:30, so well a head of schedule. A quick hello to Rapide 3 or 4 minutes ahead as I walked in and he walked out of the feeding room. AS we were only 60 ks in this was a quick refuelling stop and the ample food provided quickly gulped down.
Back on the bike for the downhill where I was freezing for about 10 ks but quickly loosing the hard earned altitude the warm valley temperatures soon fixed up that little discomfort. After about 15 ks of continuous descending the first little uphill came as a bit of a shock and the realisation that maybe I gulped the food down a little too quickly. Fortunately this uphill was very short and more long descents helped the food find a more agreeable place.

The third major climb soon followed with Tawonga gap again. 7.5k @6.1% average and by now it was getting bloody hot especially at the base of the climb. The best bit being I felt way better than 8 yrs ago. 1 k in, the tyre felt a bit spongy, must be my imagination, 100 m later there was no doubt, ah well find a tree an unplanned break and fix the tyre. A friendly bloke with a better pump than mine stopped and offered it when he saw my furious pumping with my tiny pump, so that was nice. Completed the rest of the climb still feeling pretty well, down the other side where interestingly enough during the long descent felt aches and pains in the back and shoulders. Obviously need to be doing more planks and core work.

A group led by some young guns went screaming past doing about 40 so that was a great tow for about 8 ks into Bright for the lunch break. No sign of Rapide as expected following the puncture. All that remained was the trip to Mt buffalo and return.

What can one say about the Buffalo climb other than relentless and hot. Its more of a challenge of the mind than anything else as the grade while not extreme stays so very constant and you've climbed about 2400 metres before you even start. What method you use to fight off fatigue seems to vary between us all but this is one climb where you need it. I tend to use the counting down the ks method, but for the first few kms this is very demoralising ie I've been climbing this damn hill for ages now and only gone 2 ks and I've got about 16 to go ugggh. No forget the odo for now look at the magnificent views down the valley as you get higher and higher on the solitary mountain, but even there it may not pay to see on the other side of a huge valley riders much higher than you snaking their way up the road. Stopped at the water stop with 8 ks of climbing to go for a bit of a top up where i got sprayed with water by the one of most wonderful women I have met!! That last 8 ks felt so much better with the core temperature a bit lower. Over the top but still 4 ks to the turn around spot.

A bit of downhill, but whats this you have to be kidding another 2 and a bit ks of uphill again to Dingo Dell the turnaround. Rapide went shooting past downhill with a shout of encouragement and on his way to the finish. More refreshments at Dingo dell including a very nice icy pole which was much enjoyed. The stops by now getting a bit longer. But you feel pretty good knowing that by now there is very little uphill to go, and 20 or more k's where you don't have to pedal at all.

Back to Bright and the finish, Rapide there to greet me just before 4 pm and beating the 2002 time by about 15 minutes, So 200 km, about 3700 m climbing 9 hours 29 minutes, 8 hrs 26 mins on the bike(about 30 mins less).

What else, well rapide was good company, we had a fabulous dinner at some italian place called Roi's on saturday night and enjoyed a pizza at some joint in Mt Beauty with some live music that was very pleasant for two tired cyclists. The event is brilliantly organised and supported and hassle free. All in all an enjoyable weekend and highly recommended.

Hot and Bothered

Le bandit de braun and Juste metre vos sac made the decision to go ahead with their plan to get dropped off 90kms from Albury to ride the rest of the way even though the outside temperature was 42 degrees plus and there was a blustery NW headwind.
This decision was soon to be regretted when the water bottles turned into into hot water bottles within the first 5 minutes and the wind tried its best to actually blow us off the road. It was too late now though as the car option was well on its way to Albury not to mentioned the fact that one's ego would not allow us to give up.
Once we turned off the highway we noted more challenge with the next sign declaring "Mt Greneya", it wasn't a bad climb though and at least we were protected from the wind, then it was a very nice roll down the other side. By this time we were both desperate for water (preferably cold), we rolled into what we thought was a town but we soon discovered no shops or taps to be found, we were saved by a local who kindly allowed us to fill our bottles from his water tank.
The conditions got worse before they got better and there were many times that I considered calling for the car but we eventually made it to Hume Weir 13kms out from Albury where we stopped for a much needed cold drink at the local caravan park before struggling the last 13kms into Albury.
If it wasn't for the oppressive heat and massive headwinds this would be a great ride, very scenic, not too hilly.