The Upper Murray Challenge

The race has been run and won. I had an overall enjoyable time but the run was brutal and took me 45 mins longer than I expected it to.


Check out the results at www.uppermurraychallenge.com.au

A more detailed report is coming

Paddling The Yarra

Rob and I took the boats out on Sunday at 1.10cm, which was the biggest we have paddled. I was on the surf ski for some flowing water practice for the Upper Murray Challenge.

It was a blast, here's hoping there is some rain this week so we can get out again this weekend.

Mondays Philosophies

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has"

Mondays Philosophies

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

MTB Marathon Champs

Well its been over a month since my last post, which is a bit slack but I am now working a real job again so time has been taken up with work. But I thought it imperative to share my experience of the Avoca Marathon Champs.

As we made our way up in the family bus with Jason's camper in tow and Ash and Cam along for the pain we talked shit for 2 and a half hours. After what can only be described as a peaceful and good nights sleep, considering there was a very tall man who can be angry at times inside the camper with us.

The prep had been done the training was complete now it was time to ride. I say ride not race as I think this race was going to a race of survival. 93km and 3500 "high" meters was always going to be tough. So as we toed the line it was just tempo the start and don't blow up, so after a 5km "sprint" we hit the first climb 8km long not steep but constant. I was struggling with the dust and seemed to be having an onset of asthma which I have not had for about 10 years.

But I just kept a good tempo and towards the top of the fire road could still see Ash saw I thought that was good going. The next 30 km was just up down with some fast single track thrown in. As we popped out onto the bitumen I found myself in a bunch of 5 guys, none who wanted to drive but who all wanted to be off the front and dropping the others. So we hammered along for the 8 or so minutes it took to do this part of the course. I was feeling strong and rode along at my pace at the front for a few kilometers and found myself alone as we entered the winery. Probably should have kept that energy for the climbs that lay ahead.

There was some fast single track descents over the next 10 kilometers on a relatively flat part of the course. As we then started climbing again and again I finally arrived the next food station. There was a sign that said 38kms to go. So I figured I had come 52 and was still feeling good. It was this station I met up with Ash and Troy who seemed to have tried everything was available, I was in and out and left 30 seconds after them, on a fast descent.

The ride then started to get brutal the climbs were leg crushers and some of them calf crushers as you pushed your bike up the steep sections. I could feel that my legs were starting to get pangs of cramp no leg lockers but they were coming. Mentally the climbs were starting to wear a bit thin it was just relentless, I was riding just behind Ash when he stopped clipped out and started walking into the bush, I thought for a moment he had had enough and was walking out, but it was just a toilet stop.

As we finally hit the Endurance trail I thought we are on the home stretch, well it was the longest home stretch in the world. Steep descent was followed by impossibly steep climb and invariably a leg crunching switchback. What saved me in this section was a bit of banter, and Ash was up to the task. However he eventually started walking faster than me and pulled out of sight.

Finally we were back onto fire road and ticking off the kms when we headed back onto the endurance trail still with 22kms to go, the last 16km had taken about and hour and half how long was I going to be out here for.

I was getting a headache so I drank a quick full bottle and filled up again and took a water bottle with me to try and hydrate. As we left this transition we headed back onto the Endurance trail, and I had caught back up with Ash after his 3 course meal at the feed zone. However he was soon gone and I rode in silence with a few other guys all just willing the end to come. As I crossed a manned road the guy told me about 12 kms to go, that perched me up as I knew the last 5 were flat as we rode them the day before and there was still a massive water bar descent.

After another 20 minutes of riding I came to the last feed zone with a sign 15kms to go. I had just ridden for 20 minutes and gone backwards 3 kms, now that hurts. So I fuelled up again and went up and over the three sisters with the ugly claiming me! and then it was down and down fast.

I overtook 3 guys at the bottom of the descent and managed to keep them at bay over the final 5kms and finished in 6hrs 35 minutes.

So overall I did not crash had no mechanicals, the bike was on song, I did not lock cramp until I tried to get off the bike and Jas was still packing up when I finished, so all in all not bad.

When I think in the scheme of events I have done and how hard was this, it was hard, really hard physically but the last 30kms was mentally tough as you seemed to be making no progress at all and you were riding so slowly, well I was.

Like all hard things you finish and you say I am never doing that again but as time passes the pain fades but the glow of achievement remains. And to be honest if you finished the race KUDOS as no matter how long it took to finish was an achievement.

So I guess if you see me next Feb or March pushing my bike up steep hills you know what I am in training for!

Hell Ride

Saturday saw Jase and I head off to meet Ash for a nice roll out along beach road with 10,000 of our fellow cyclists.

After a sleep in by my riding mate we had to smash it down to the beach to make it on time, a short cut was taken so we would not miss the bunch. So we made it and enjoyed the pace of the bunch humming along at 50kmph.

Bumped into Neil in the pack and we chatted as we slowly fell towards the tail of the bunch. It was then decided that we would head to the front so we rolled to the right and worked our way to the front of the bunch.

Now I have never rolled turns on this ride normally just struggling to keep in the bunch, so I wanted to give it a go. There were from what I could tell about 15-20 guys taking there turn on the front, this lasted about 15 minutes until we reached Frankston where no one rolled through, funny that. So as we hit the base of the climb I dropped back until someone decided they wanted my piece of road and I had to brake and came to a standstill.

As we crested the top of the climb most of the riders around me just rolled to the other side of the road to wait for the bunch on there return. I chased along with one other guy, we were only about 150 meters back which proved about 100 meters too many, as we kept them in sight but could not bridge the gap. Next time I will definitely ensure I climb that pinch faster so I don't have to chase back on.

So it was a long solo ride most of the way back to Black Rock, watching the hundreds of riders rolling out the other way.

I missed all the action of the sprint which sounded like a good thing for a change.

New Yarra Glen Loop

In the past year or so we have a "regular" Sat morning loop which takes us around Sugar Loaf Dam. It is what we call a road ride on the MTB's.

As I have plenty of spare time at the moment I headed out on Thursday to do this loop and add a few extra bits. I had done this a few weeks before and found some single track out at Yarra Glen and was now trying to loop it all together.

So it was an early start at 6am and on the Virtue I knew I was in for a nice plush ride as we normally tackle this ride on the hardtails. The first part of the ride went well with me putting a nice loop together, it was when I was "searching" for a track I used to ride when I lived in Yarra Glen that things went south, or actually west.

This track was impossible to find as the fires had been through this area, so I rode down the side of a hill where I thought the track used to go to find the track in the valley. Yep not my best idea as the re growth in the valley was alot more than on the ridges where I had been riding. So it was hike a bike for about an hour over 3 ridges before I finally got to the fire road I was after, then smashed it down the fire road to St Andrews, and linked in the Smiths Gully tracks.

Bumped into my neighbour from Yarra Glen who now lives in Smiths Gully, such a small world, considering I was riding tracks he had showed me about 6 years ago.

So after the sweet trails of Smiths Gully it is a slog back home for food. I arrived home to a bit of a worried wife who had started the search for the lost mountain biker. I guess I need a mobile phone when I ride, but that's another story.

Ride About Tour

So as I said before we came to the top of Coombs road and there were 4 girls sitting down having a snack. We asked where they were headed as they had trolleys and panniers etc.

They answered Cape York!

So a bit ataken back we aksed how many and the answer was 6 plus the baby. Yep a 7 month old baby was in tow.

So after more questioning we found out they were Kiwis, so it made a bit more sense now.

Anyway check out there tales at ride about tour for the interesting stories about there travels.

Ride About Tour

http://rideabouttour.com/

So as I said before we came to the top of Coombs road and there were 4 girls sitting down having a snack. We asked where they were headed as they had trolleys and panniers etc.

They answered Cape York!

So a bit ataken back we aksed how many and the answer was 6 plus the baby. Yep a 7 month old baby was in tow.

So after more questioning we found out they were Kiwis, so it made a bit more sense now.

Anyway check out there tales at http://rideabouttour.com/ for the interesting stories about there travels

A Wednesday Morning Ride

I had loosely arranged a ride with Steve who works 4 days a week and has Wednesdays off. The plan was meet at Kangaroo Ground at 8am and then head to Kinglake and see from there. I thought that would be turn around and roll back down, 2 hours and we would be done, so I rode out to Kangaroo Ground (about 20kms).

Well when we got to the top Steve said lets drop down into Whittelsea and do the climb Cadel Evans used to train on. Steve is reading the book, says its good, so why not.

So we headed over and down, then did a sharp left before we hit Whittlesea township and headed up Coombs road or the Humevale climb. The road was deserted and it was a steady gradient climb not unlike Chum Creek.

So after the climb we stopped at Pheasant Creek bakery, I had the BEST hot jam donut I have ever had the thing was the size of a football. It was then a furious ride back to Kangaroo Ground as Steve was running late for an appointment.

So as I rolled into my street I had clocked up 126km, not bad when I thought I was doing an 80km ride.

Now the highlight of the ride was the riders we bumped into at the top Coombs road, but more on that later.

Dinner Plain

So the road to Dinner Plain drops about 300 meters in elevation from Hotham but the road rolls up and down a bit over the 12 kms.


So my timings were starting to tighten and I realised that dropping all the way to Omeo would be a long slog and would be more like 170kms than 150 so as I flew past many of these signs





I pulled the brakes on at Cobungra, which was about 20kms down from Dinner Plain, this left me with 30kms to climb back up to Hotham and then the 30kms of downhill on the other side, and lunch. I knew I was getting tired as I was thinking about lunch alot and I could not eat another Recovery bar, normally the mint does the job but not now.

Cattle grazing at 1400 mts, reminds me of a movie I saw as a little tacker.



Almost done 12kms of work left and then some downhill to enjoy.


Looking back to Dinner Plain as I arrived back at Hotham.


The view to Mt Feathertop the highest peak in Victoria.

So now for 30kms of downhill which I knocked off in about 40mins. Saw a few riders at the base starting their day and was glad mine was over.

Got back to the car and had a lie down in the Ovens river which was cold but really refreshed me up for the drive home.

The day was 120kms with 2600mts of vertical, to make the two day total 232kms with 5300mts of vertical.

It was a fantastic experience and one that I will definitely repeat as the riding is just awesome.

Hotham

So after alot of food for dinner and a restless nights sleep it was an early start as I had a bit of riding to do. The plan was Harrietville to Omeo and back roughly about 150kms.

I took this photo on the way down as I was not sure where I was heading but this is Hotham in the distance.





It was a cool start and I was well rugged up with a merino singlet, my jersey, wind vest and a rain jacket. No rain just needed it for warmth. The ride started sharply as I had 300mts of flat then bang straight into the climb. The legs were heavy from the 2700mts of vertical the day before.

Yep the road is steep!!!!!!!!!

The climb up Hotham is steady climbing at the bottom, then you hit "the meg" and then after the meg is flattens out a bit and is a false flat for about 3 or 4 kms. It then points skywards and has a few pinches like CRB Hill which was tough.







The views from the road on the way up were awesome, and it was cool in the shade and at the top not much better in the sun as there was a breeze that was cold. It was about 8 deg at the top at 8am when I got there.

So it took 2 hours to climb up to Hotham with about 1500 mts gained. It was now the "mental side" of the ride continuing to ride to Dinner Plain and then down the mountain to Omeo all the while knowing that it was a U turn at Omeo and back up to Hotham.

Falls Creek Ride 2 Day 1

So after a quick lunch and a drive from Bright over to Mt Beauty it was time to tackle Falls Creek.

In some weird twist of coincidence the two riders I saw that had just come down Buffallo when I started going up were coming down Falls as I was going up, did not think anyone would be out doing the same 2 mountains as I was, but there you go.

Falls is an interesting climb as about 3 or 4 kms in the road flattens and its up and down, which I enjoyed at the time as the legs were heavy after Buffallo. But on the other hand I knew that I would have to work on the descent on the way home.




This creek signifies that start of the last 14kms to the summit of constant climbing. I kept waiting for the road to steepen but it never really does. I overtook one rider towards the summit when it does get a little steeper, but she was about 65 and had double front and rear panniers, that is what I call hard core.


I noticed that all the resorts had work going on as I guess there are only so many months when you can work on things before the snow comes.


There is quite alot of evidence of the fires from 2007 that went through this area and alot of the trees have just now grown back. In alot of areas there are new trees but the burnt trees have no new growth on them.


So at the end of this ride I had clocked up 112kms for the day with 2700mts of climbing. I guess I will have a big dinner and a solid nights rest before I attempt the 150kms I have planned for tomorrow.

The Trophy

Buffallo Day 1 ride 1

So as most of your slaved away at work I headed out to Bright early in the morning, left home at 6am for 2 days of riding. As it was midweek it was a solo mission as all my friends have jobs.



So today was going to be warm about 32 desgress but cool at the top of the mountain about 10-12 degrees, which meant I headed off like a pack horse with all the gear I would need as it got colder.





THe day was clear and the views stunning, being my first time up Buffallo I had no idea where I was going but figured the high rocky thing on my right would be it. The Buffallo climb is a gentle gradient and it never really gets steep just consistent. There are some large areas of huge rocks and rocky escarpments, including the summit.


My buddy was just as happy as I was to make it too the top.


I think that is Hotham on the right, the high point, that is 25 miles as the crow flies and that would be tommorrows target but there was work to be done before then



Just enjoying the top and the abseilers in the background having there fun.

I gave this climb an 8/10 the weather did make it enjoyable, the descent was a bit sketchy as they had re done the road and the top 8 or 9 kms had lost of small loose stones over it which you don't need at 50kmh heading into a bend. I will definetley do Buffallo again.

From 120 PSI to Zero

This happened a few weeks ago Jason and I headed out on the Monday prior to Austrlia day to do a loop Healsville Chum Creek Kinglake and home through Kangaroo Ground.


At the 85km mark coming down Kinglake I hit a corner a bit fast ( I think we were chasing a car down) Ran it a bit wide and tried avoiding this




but didn't! and let me tell you it sounded like a gun went off. Luckily there was no rim damage, so I was yelling to Jase to stop as I had no phone but he was gone.

Luckily a car came past 10 minutes later aand gave me a lift all the way to Warrandyte, and saved Jase having to climb all the way up to find out what had happened to me.

I have just completed my own 4 peaks challenge in the Vic High Country so check back later in the week for a wrap of my rides.

Dirt Fest Daylesford 2010

It was about 4 or 5 months ago that I decided that the 50km race at Daylesford would be the race I would train for.

So my training was focused towards this race. On the start line at 7.30am on Sat morning I was ready to go and confident in the fact that I had done everything that I could do to be ready for the race.

I had ridden a practice lap on Friday night and I knew that the race would be fast. So the gun went off and we were off. From the start I was second wheel behind Lachlan Stewart. The race would be 5 laps of a 10km loop. As we headed out on lap 1, the first part of the course contained alot of the climbing on the course, as we got to the top of the climbing at the 4km mark and the start of the descent I took the lead and let the Virtue do its thing down the descent. I could feel on a couple of occasions a gap open up as we wound our way back down and around to the end of the first lap, as we rounded the turn around flag it was neck and neck.

The start of lap 2 on the first climb about 500 meters into the lap Lachlan put in a move and i feel back 5 meters, which I then pulled back. As we hit the next climb he pulled away and I could not stay with him and the gap was 10 meters at the top after some flowing track another climb saw the gap open more, and then he was gone. The next time I saw him was at the turnaround point and I was 350 meters behind.

Lap 3 saw me give it everything I had, I figured that I had to pull the gap back to at least let him know I was coming, so I concentrated on climbing fast as I knew that I would be descending faster. At the end of the lap I was only 150 meters back.

Lap 4 saw me pull it back to about 30 or 40 meters after about 4 kms of the lap, at the 3km to go mark it was 10 meters with 2 kms to go I was on his wheel and ready to go past, as we dropped down and did a dry creek crossing my chain dropped off and came outside the front derailleur. I quickly went about getting it back on but it took at least 20 seconds. So with angry legs I set off after him again and pulled back the 20 seconds in the next 2kms and went around the turn around point about 10 meters behind.


Turning after 4 laps just in second spot

As we hit the first climb of the last lap I attacked and went with everything, I felt a gap open but did not know how far it was, as we got about 3 kms into the last lap and at the top of a climb I had a look and the gap was only about 10 seconds. So I kept the pressure on and really hammered it up the next 1km which was the last of the sustained climbing.

With 3 kms to go I checked on a long straight section and I was alone and knew all I had to do was keep it upright and I was home.

So I smashed it down the fast flowing descents of the last 2 kms and crossed the line for the win in a time of just a minute over 2 hours. I ended up winning by about 4 or 5 minutes as I think Lachlan had spent his tickets on lap 4 trying to stay out in front.

I was wrapped with my ride and to average nearly 25kms per hour with 1050mts of climbing over the 50km was a great result for me.

The victory smile