2011 Alpine Delight

"The Alpine Delight is a challenging cycling event for experienced cyclists with a “delightful” route thorough the beautiful and scenic alpine region in the glory of late spring." - Audax Ride Guide

I had a quiet week leading up to the ride on Saturday. It was fortunate - there is always that niggling feeling that something may be left behind. And this ride has a list of required items:

• A rain jacket
• Arm & leg cover or thermals
• A space blanket
• At least 2 bidons;
• Tubes, pump & tyre levers;
• Pocket food
• Two front lights
• Two rear lights
• Reflective vest (which must be worn all day)

and that's over and above the normal stuff (helmet, shoes, bike!!!)

The weather forecast was poor. Bob Lim picked me up Friday lunchtime and it was raining by the time we got to Violet Town. In Bright we did a quick shop before heading to the Star Hotel for Dinner.

Early AM Saturday.I forgot my entry form!! So it was up at 5.30am for a shower and breakfast. It was still raining heavily. A short ride to the start and my feet could already feel the drips running down my socks. I completed another entry form and the Audax organisers diligently checked that I had the required gear. As I looked out into the rain, I pondered that I probably got less wet in my earlier shower!!

7:00AM Bright 0km. A brief safety message and approximately 21 (slightly insane??) cyclists were on their way. I wasn't going to stay dry for long. In fact, within 5 kms, both feet were soaked (despite having 2 sets of booties on), my knicks were slowly getting wet from above and below and I couldn't see very much at all through my sunglasses (Santa: Photochromatic glasses, please) especially when following in the pack.

The torrential rain continued until Harrietville. The road headed upwards to Mt Hotham and once in the clouds, it was mainly drizzle. The fast guys disappeared ahead. I could take my glasses off (Top speed:14km/h) and removed the sleeves from my rain jacket - it was warmer climbing. The drizzle, cloud and wind continued all the way to the top. It was 10:50am before I reached the checkpoint at Hotham Heights.

10:50AM Mount Hotham 54km. Surprise, Surprise but who was waiting for me but Bob and Graham Porteous. They were considering turning around and going home. "Not Me!!. The weather is supposed to clear and I haven't carbo loaded for 3 days to turn back now" (maybe that's why I was slow?!). After a quick discussion, we would head to Dinner Plain and then decide. Word reached us that the road was dry 20km down the hill. It didn't seem possible.

Sure enough, the clouds cleared, the magnificent alpine views appeared, and the riding was mainly downhill with a tailwind. Life is good again. Graham decided to continue on to Omeo. He mentioned something about having a pastie at the Omeo Bakery. Now I was getting hungry and it was still 35km away. Of course, just when things a looking good, Bob gets the one and only flat tyre for the day. Although a 20 minute stop in the sunshine wasn't too bad.

On our way once again, it was scenic ride through the Cowbungra valley, and down into Omeo. Dreaming of pasties. By the way, why do they put 45km/h corners at the bottom of steep hills.

1:10PM Omeo 110km.YUM YUM...a pastie with sauce and a coke. I'd need the energy to climb back out of Omeo. My legs were getting a little tired and the climb was long and steep(ish). And it was getting warm (I could have used that sunscreen I had laughed off at breakfast) and the flies were annoying (no repellent either). Bob and Graham were long gone and I had to push fairly hard into a strong headwind through the Cowbungra valley. The magpie managed to swoop me both ways - apparently Geelong supporters are not tolerated out here.

3:15PM Cowbungra Checkpoint 135km In the middle of nowhere, halfway up a hill, a tent, a boiling kettle and a happy face. Hand over my Brevet card - it's not a race - but at least I'm not last :) Cup of coffee, a banana and a friendly chat. Official cutoff time at the finish 8:20PM. No worries.

Get back on the bike. Promptly do an inverted pendulum move - end up flat on the roadway. Maybe I'm tired. Much better at second attempt. Fairly long climb out of the valley then I go through a really bad patch. Every little incline is hard work. So I get off the bike and walk for a few minutes. "You look like you're having a nice stroll" says a voice as he rolls past. "Yeah, wonderful". Back on the bike. Off again in 20 minutes. I lean the bike against a tree and go for a another walk. Wander back and look at the bike. Wonder how far I could throw it?? A couple of lollies and little water and I'm away again. The rain is back. The sky is dark. I just passed the Mt Hotham Airport but it's still 20km to Hotham Heights. It's a long slow drag uphill into worsening rain.

5:50PM Mt Hotham 165km Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. Bob and Graham are at the checkpoint. Graham is sitting shivering even though wrapped in blankets. They have both decided to get a lift down the mountain. Not me, I want to finish. Some warm custard and apple (awesome) and a coffee. Back outside. "Geez, it is cold". Just a couple of small climbs, the rest is all downhill.

Unfortunately, I overlooked a couple of key points. 1) It's Cold, 2) It's windy (gusts up to 70km/h), 3) Visibility is down to 40m!!, 4) The road is steep and wet (poor braking) and 5) There are a lot of 30km/h corners! My right hand was numb from squeezing the front brake so much. I couldn't let them go for any length of time, it felt like I was being shot from a cannon to my certain death! Very scary. The wind had a very ominous tone and pushed the bike all over the road. I was very tentative around any corner and very attentive down every straight piece of road - which way will it turn next?

After 15kms visibility improved to greater than 100m and I could relax a bit knowing where the road was going. I pushed as hard as I could into Harrietville and actually enjoyed the run into Bright. Of course the torrential rain started 5km from the finish. It was that sort of day.

8:10PM Bright 220km I knew everyone was at the Pub by now. I had completed by far the most difficult event since my Ironman in March 2000. I could not have done it without the sensational Audax support crew. They could have been home in front of a warm fire - instead - they were out in atrocious conditions looking after us. Also, huge thanks to the other MDBC members who participated, I would not have left the start without you.

Some video of rain radar and my location