I've waited a little while to write this blog - partly because time got away from me last week and partly because I wanted a chance to look back on the event and remember the highlights of the day - rather than give a km by km account :-)
Here goes!
My friend Pete flew down from Sydney with his bike to ride with me. It was the first time he had to pull his bike apart to fit it in the bike case - and subsequently put it back together! It took about 1.5 hours, a few text messages and some Googling to get the bike back together - we were quietly confident we got it right, but we weren't 100% sure :-)
The night before the event, the bureau of meteorology issued a severe weather warning for much of Victoria, forecasting damaging winds and rain. As I am not one to always trust the 'weatherman', and being committed to my challenge, we made the decision to go regardless, and would only choose to cancel if the event was called off.
We packed the car and had an early night in anticipation for our 5:00am start. Luckily for me I woke up at 3:00am and couldn't get back to sleep! Not a fantastic start - but hey - at least I didn't sleep through the alarm. We set of at 5:30am - in the dark - it didn't get light until we were well past Wangaratta - there's something just not right about being up that early on a Sunday morning!
We arrived at Euroa about 45 mins before the starting time for our ride. I tried to catch a ten minute 'power nap' (without much success) and had something to eat before we set off. As it got closer to the starting time the number of lycra-clad-gel-sucking-clicky-clacky-shoe-wearers steadily grew. I still haven't quite got my head around the cycling scene and was slightly self conscious about not having all the right 'gear' and instead having sneakers and mountain bike helmet. I haven't been brave enough to wear my clip in shoes on a ride yet and have only used them on the wind trainer - I'm not yet ready to fall off my bike in order to learn :-)
The group completing the 130km set off in a wave of quiet chatter and clicking as they all clipped their shoes in set off out of Euroa. Our group then got ready. Pete and I slipped right down the back not being in any rush, and I felt reassured once I saw there was a real mix of people and 'gear' in our group. There were more than a few pairs of sneakers, MTB helmets, hybrids, MTB's and 29ers - I felt much more comfortable and was ready to ride.
We set off out of town - it was great to experience riding in a big group, taking up a full lane. It didn't take long for the group to spread out but it was great to be able to take up a full lane of the road and feel safe, knowing that there were riders behind and ahead of you and that drivers were well aware we were on the road and gave us a wide berth. Very few drivers slowed down, but respecting that we had right to a full lane, rather than feeling like we needed to be riding on the left hand shoulder was great.
It was 40km to the first rest stop at Violet Town. The first 20km went fairly quickly, but the next 20km was a bit of a struggle, mainly as the ride was incredibly flat. I always thought I hated hills, but I have decided that a long flat ride is worse - and a little boring after a while. There were a few rolling hills about 10km out of Violet Town that provided welcome relief to the seemingly never ending 'flat' - I even peddled downhill !!
We stopped at Violet Town for a stretch, a bite to eat and to top up our water bottles. At this stage I had ridden almost as far as my longest ride to date and I wasn't sure my body would want me to get back on the bike. We set off again just as it started to drizzle, but luckily it didn't last long and my body didn't complain nearly as much as I thought it might. Heading out of Violet town was slightly uphill. We crossed the Hume Freeway and gradually commenced the climb through the Strathbogie Ranges.
I haven't ridden up many hills before and certainly nothing remotely comparable to the Strathbogie ranges, so I was a little concerned I wouldn't be fit or strong enough to make it, and would need to resort to pushing my bike at least part of the way. I told Pete that he didn't need to stay with me and could ride ahead at any stage so that I didn't slow him down or make the ride any harder than it needed to be.
The next 30km or so got gradually steeper and steeper, and I got slower and slower, but I surprised myself and managed really well - by my standards :-) I didn't need to get off and push, I didn't use all of my gears and I managed stand up and ride easily and even got into a really good rhythm a few times (amazing what a difference a good bike set up makes!). It was surprisingly enjoyable. The sun had come out and it was gorgeous day - the scenery was really pretty - it was a really quiet road and most of the cars gave us plenty of room - and when some of the sections leveled out or were downhill I was able to increase my speed and/or recover. As we neared the top of the ranges I was pleased to see that I wasn't the only rider wishing that the 'up' would end! Quite a few riders that I caught up with, or who caught up with me, were well and truly ready for the 'up' to be over and the 'down' to begin!
At the second 'aid' station we stopped for a short break, more food and a chat with a few other riders. The riders at the stop were all up for a bit of a chat, it was nice to feel included. All of the riders were looking forward to the descent back into Euroa and glad there was no more 'up'. I in the other hand was far more nervous about the descent and was dreading it. Pete and I set off, glad the end was in sight and looking forward to a coffee!! We peddled on for a few km before the real descent started. I told Pete to meet me at the bottom and that I might be a while. A few km into the descent I started to get quite anxious and pulled over for a break. I hadn't been there long when three riders stopped to check if I was ok. I had chatted to them all a couple of times during the ride and I really appreciated them stopping. The lady that stopped, Sue, offered to ride with me down the remainder of the hill, and for that I am very very grateful - my cycling friends I am sure think it's quite funny - but I really appreciated having company riding at a speed I was comfortable with down the rest of the hill!
Sue and I rode the rest of the way back into town, enjoyed the scenery and tried to keep out of the way of cars and traffic - it was the longest 6km of the ride I might add!!! Pete met us with about 1km to go having already been to the finish to have a couple of sausage sandwiches and a drink before returning to see where I had got to. It didn't take much longer to arrive at the finish - I didn't quite collapse in a heap but it was great to be off the bike, have a good stretch and to get some food!
All in it was a great day - confidence building - fantastic weather - great company - and I can't wait to do it again!
PS - the 2hr drive home was rather tedious and I slept like a baby that night!!
Here goes!
My friend Pete flew down from Sydney with his bike to ride with me. It was the first time he had to pull his bike apart to fit it in the bike case - and subsequently put it back together! It took about 1.5 hours, a few text messages and some Googling to get the bike back together - we were quietly confident we got it right, but we weren't 100% sure :-)
The night before the event, the bureau of meteorology issued a severe weather warning for much of Victoria, forecasting damaging winds and rain. As I am not one to always trust the 'weatherman', and being committed to my challenge, we made the decision to go regardless, and would only choose to cancel if the event was called off.
We packed the car and had an early night in anticipation for our 5:00am start. Luckily for me I woke up at 3:00am and couldn't get back to sleep! Not a fantastic start - but hey - at least I didn't sleep through the alarm. We set of at 5:30am - in the dark - it didn't get light until we were well past Wangaratta - there's something just not right about being up that early on a Sunday morning!
We arrived at Euroa about 45 mins before the starting time for our ride. I tried to catch a ten minute 'power nap' (without much success) and had something to eat before we set off. As it got closer to the starting time the number of lycra-clad-gel-sucking-clicky-clacky-shoe-wearers steadily grew. I still haven't quite got my head around the cycling scene and was slightly self conscious about not having all the right 'gear' and instead having sneakers and mountain bike helmet. I haven't been brave enough to wear my clip in shoes on a ride yet and have only used them on the wind trainer - I'm not yet ready to fall off my bike in order to learn :-)
The group completing the 130km set off in a wave of quiet chatter and clicking as they all clipped their shoes in set off out of Euroa. Our group then got ready. Pete and I slipped right down the back not being in any rush, and I felt reassured once I saw there was a real mix of people and 'gear' in our group. There were more than a few pairs of sneakers, MTB helmets, hybrids, MTB's and 29ers - I felt much more comfortable and was ready to ride.
We set off out of town - it was great to experience riding in a big group, taking up a full lane. It didn't take long for the group to spread out but it was great to be able to take up a full lane of the road and feel safe, knowing that there were riders behind and ahead of you and that drivers were well aware we were on the road and gave us a wide berth. Very few drivers slowed down, but respecting that we had right to a full lane, rather than feeling like we needed to be riding on the left hand shoulder was great.
It was 40km to the first rest stop at Violet Town. The first 20km went fairly quickly, but the next 20km was a bit of a struggle, mainly as the ride was incredibly flat. I always thought I hated hills, but I have decided that a long flat ride is worse - and a little boring after a while. There were a few rolling hills about 10km out of Violet Town that provided welcome relief to the seemingly never ending 'flat' - I even peddled downhill !!
We stopped at Violet Town for a stretch, a bite to eat and to top up our water bottles. At this stage I had ridden almost as far as my longest ride to date and I wasn't sure my body would want me to get back on the bike. We set off again just as it started to drizzle, but luckily it didn't last long and my body didn't complain nearly as much as I thought it might. Heading out of Violet town was slightly uphill. We crossed the Hume Freeway and gradually commenced the climb through the Strathbogie Ranges.
I haven't ridden up many hills before and certainly nothing remotely comparable to the Strathbogie ranges, so I was a little concerned I wouldn't be fit or strong enough to make it, and would need to resort to pushing my bike at least part of the way. I told Pete that he didn't need to stay with me and could ride ahead at any stage so that I didn't slow him down or make the ride any harder than it needed to be.
The next 30km or so got gradually steeper and steeper, and I got slower and slower, but I surprised myself and managed really well - by my standards :-) I didn't need to get off and push, I didn't use all of my gears and I managed stand up and ride easily and even got into a really good rhythm a few times (amazing what a difference a good bike set up makes!). It was surprisingly enjoyable. The sun had come out and it was gorgeous day - the scenery was really pretty - it was a really quiet road and most of the cars gave us plenty of room - and when some of the sections leveled out or were downhill I was able to increase my speed and/or recover. As we neared the top of the ranges I was pleased to see that I wasn't the only rider wishing that the 'up' would end! Quite a few riders that I caught up with, or who caught up with me, were well and truly ready for the 'up' to be over and the 'down' to begin!
At the second 'aid' station we stopped for a short break, more food and a chat with a few other riders. The riders at the stop were all up for a bit of a chat, it was nice to feel included. All of the riders were looking forward to the descent back into Euroa and glad there was no more 'up'. I in the other hand was far more nervous about the descent and was dreading it. Pete and I set off, glad the end was in sight and looking forward to a coffee!! We peddled on for a few km before the real descent started. I told Pete to meet me at the bottom and that I might be a while. A few km into the descent I started to get quite anxious and pulled over for a break. I hadn't been there long when three riders stopped to check if I was ok. I had chatted to them all a couple of times during the ride and I really appreciated them stopping. The lady that stopped, Sue, offered to ride with me down the remainder of the hill, and for that I am very very grateful - my cycling friends I am sure think it's quite funny - but I really appreciated having company riding at a speed I was comfortable with down the rest of the hill!
Sue and I rode the rest of the way back into town, enjoyed the scenery and tried to keep out of the way of cars and traffic - it was the longest 6km of the ride I might add!!! Pete met us with about 1km to go having already been to the finish to have a couple of sausage sandwiches and a drink before returning to see where I had got to. It didn't take much longer to arrive at the finish - I didn't quite collapse in a heap but it was great to be off the bike, have a good stretch and to get some food!
All in it was a great day - confidence building - fantastic weather - great company - and I can't wait to do it again!
PS - the 2hr drive home was rather tedious and I slept like a baby that night!!