Matt's Adventuring: Alpine Ascent Challenge

After starting the Alpine Ascent Challenge last year and only completing two of the climbs, it was time to start again and at least get one done prior to Christmas. So we, being Jase, Rob and I started with the closest climb, lake mountain. Not wanting to load the bikes in a car Jase and I decided the order of the day would be an early start, so we rolled out at 6am with 100km until we reached the top of the mountain.

It was smiles all round as we headed towards Yarra Glen

Passing a four legged Sheppard looking after his flock, he did not like the look of us!!!!

Rob was meeting us at Healsville and too our surprise passed us before we got to Yarra Glen, I guess he was keen to get off four wheels and onto two. He joined us just out of Healsville, so that would cut our ride home by 50kms.

This was the first time for all of us to ride over the black spur. There were not too many cars which was good and the scenery was as good as it gets. The road is not too steep so we tapped out a nice pace and managed to catch a couple of other early morning riders. Jase tried to convince them to do lake mountain but funnily enough they declined

The theme of the day was "we are along way from home", and yep we were. At this turnoff we were about 90 kms from Melbourne. As we hit the climb through the cutting heading into Marysville the ride got hard. This climb is 2.5kms and has an average gradient of 10%, short but tough. I misjudged how many turns and cuttings there were and blew up halfway up and limped across the top. We hit speeds of 80km coming home down this stretch of road.

As we climbed up from Marysville the fog and cloud closed in and reduced visibility. The first 4 kms out of Marysville are the steepest and proved to be, Jase rolled off into the fog and I punctured, it was a really slow leak. This was three punctures in three rides after not having one for 12 months. Jase disputed the puncture so a bet was had, the loser to wash the others bike. So after winning the unloseable bet I was feeling good knowing that the Jase would be busy later washing 2 bikes. That was until he offered me about 30 extra psi in the form of a co2 canister, in lieu of washing the bike. With still 18kms to the top and another 50 after that back to the car I gave up the free wash and took the psi. That hurt, but made the climb more bearable with a harder front tube.

After a bit fog, some sunshine for about 3 minutes a bit of the Foo Fighters we reached the summit.

It must be said that I have never drank a coffee in my life and towards the end of the climb I was contemplating starting. It appears I was still contemplating in the resort cafe, staring at Jase's coffee.

Nup just joking!!!!!!!

So we made the climb got our passports stamped, and headed back down.

It was a PB for me today clocking up 146km and 2800mts of climbing. Rob started suffering some cramps about 500mts down the mountain so he knocked down some Endura, Gels and Jase even gave him some coke. It took about 20 minutes but he came good and we managed to get up the few hills between Marysville and Healsville, and enjoyed the descent down the black spur.