We stood on the starting grid for long enough, it was 15 minutes before we rolled out. My decision not to wear arm warmers, gloves or any other warm wear was a good one. I was sweating before the bottom of the mountain was reached and that was without pedaling. At the pre-ride briefing, the only useful piece of information provided in ½ an hour of chat was that 2013 would be the hottest 3 Peaks ride on record. They were right about that.
The traffic down the mountain was pretty thick. People seemed to hang around the centre line of the road and not pass. The road was closed so, I used the RHS even though we had been told that was a nono.
Overall, I found that the Threadbo Training Camp had taught me a number of skills I would use on the ride. Descending was one of them. The Falls descent was sedate compared to Dead Horse. This allowed me to watch traffic instead of being too preoccupied with my actions. The descent from Falls is a good, long, fun run.
We strolled out to the Tawonga Gap turn and started the climb. My strategy here was to take it easy on this little hill. In training, I had decided to climb at about 750m/hr using the Garmin. So I did that and chatted to a few folk along the way. No one said much in return – just blew back at me. I figured they were trying too hard on the first hill and kept my thoughts to myself. I met Dopey and we chatted for a bit. Easy Riders do like to talk.
Arrived at the top of Tawonga not feeling any the worse for wear and filled both bidons as recommended. This would be the last refill before the top of Buffalo. The view was huge.
The descent of Tawonga was good and fast with far less traffic than on Falls. I think I did my highest speeds here. A very unfortunate discovery was a pair of legs poking out of a ditch on the left with assorted bike bits down the road thereafter. Police already in attendance.
As the grade became more gentle it became necessary to peddle once again. I heard the distinctive click of a wheel sucker changing gears and just ignored them for a while. After a few minutes they came past and said “We need to make a Train” to which I readily agreed. So I sucked his wheel for a bit. We picked up Dopey who was absolutely caning it behind another rider. (Actually, I think they picked us up.) They went past and we chased. And then there were four of us, or more. Before long we overran another train and there were 20. Its a bit nervy riding along with 20 other riders of unknown abilities at 40 kph. Anyway, Dopey and I took a few turns at the front.
The Train sort of disintegrated a bit as we went through Bright. Must have been that round about that got in the way. The streets were lined with lots of small groups cheering us on. Some were blowing whistles and hooters, none in bikinis though. I lost Dopey somewhere and joined another poorly organised train (Clutters where were you?).
All the while, I was with this first bloke who I had thought was a wheel sucker. Later in the ride, back at Mt Beauty, no less, we would introduce ourselves. His name was Brett.
The Mt Buffalo climb started a short while after I noticed some sheer cliff faces in the distance rising several hundreds of meters. I thought “That looks nice” and expunged any thought process that might draw an inference between the cliffs and where I was headed next.
The climb up Buffalo was not that bad. It’s a bit like doing a whole lot of Bobbin Heads (steep side) with no let up. My strategy here was much the same as Tawonga. Just take it easy. I was just taking it easy when this guy I passed says, “You’re an Easy Rider!”. It was John Cooper’s brother from Brisbane. He recognised me from the coffee we had the the B&T in the rain several months ago.
The climb went on. Every ½ hour I would stop for a muesli bar or a goo. I’d drink some water, usually too much and get going again. It would seem silly watching all these people pass me while I chewed. Odd thing was I would always pass them within 5 mins. Towards the end I was passing far more people than the ones that passed me.
I met up with Brett twice more and Craig also. Thought I saw B2 at one point but must have been his halo.
I don’t know If I got over excited toward the end of this climb, but I found I could manage a steady climb rate of 810m/hr. At one point I was averaging 950 and had to work hard to pull it back to 800 odd.
Stealth and SatNav descended past me near the top. There were calls of “Not far now”.
The top of Buffalo was reached with a bit of a whimper. There was no real view and there was a long queue for the water. I skipped the water. There were some Easy Riders there. I was in a blear and don’t recall who.
The descent of Buffalo was pretty good, except for the first bit and the last half. The first bit was covered in fine gravel which made cornering diabolical. After completing the first half I had had enough, I was over heating and that was without pedaling. I recall thinking I should be near the bottom, looking out over the valley and seeing there was still 500 vertical meter to go. Maybe I’ve been spoilt but my idea of descending is that it should be cool and refreshing. Instead, the last half of Buffalo was like putting your face in a fan forced oven with the fan on hard.
Moseyed over to the lunch spot and collected my valet pack. I didn’t change cloths. I just loaded up the extra food I had included in the pack. Gave the bike chain a lube. I also gave
me another lube with more of that chamois butter. That stuff works well. My backside is sore, but not ripped.
I saw Simba but none of the others at lunch. It was too hot to contemplate sitting still, so I pushed on after a 15 min break.
Back on the road again, I recalled Drastique’s comments that a good wheel should be found at this point. I pulled in behind 3 guys doing a nice 35 kph. After five mins I moved up and pushed for a bit and then the previous leader moved back to the front again. The other two were just hangin on. Myself and this other guy changed positions 3 or 4 times when we were overtaken by a train of about 30. I stuck with that for a while and got to Ovens very quickly.
Their train rotated a bit differently to what I have done in the past. There are two columns. The right hand column moves a couple of kph faster than the left hand one. As each rider on the right gains the front (they push) and move over to the head of the left hand column. After about 10 seconds, the next rider moves in front of them. Once migrated all the way to the back of the left column, a rider moves back over to the bottom of the right column. And so the process continues.
Perhaps I wasn’t paying attention, or, concentrating too hard on not tripping on anyone’s wheel in the train. It was flat, straight and fast and there was HEAT. And, the heat was HOT. By the time I got to Ovens the heat had done some damage. There was a tiny little rise I found I could not climb. The train disintegrated. I topped a little rise, disgusted that I could only muster a climb rate of 500 m/hr and set about pushing off across the flat. The best I could do was a pitiful 12 kph. I realised something was wrong. Went through a checklist. Eating, drinking, perspiring, bike functioning, correct gearing. Ah, the temperature gauge: 38.5 degrees. Far out it was hot. Looking around there was no respite. 10s of ks of flat, or rolling farmland with no trees or hills.
Realising that my lack of power output was due to a heat induced metabolic breakdown, I figured I would have to cool off and the only way to do that would be to slow right down. So I dawdled.
Some respite came in the way of a small range that had to be crossed. Yes it was uphill, but hey! there were rocks and trees and shade and things.
(Insert Horse with no-name tune) I’ve been through the desert on a bike with no-name, it felt good to be out of the sun. Lah Lah La La La La La.
Bugger, it ended. I was down the other side onto the flat, hot valley bottom again. This section of the ride would have been great in an alpine setting. But at 350m elevation, it was a frying pan.
I passed the mobile bike mechanic and asked if they had a remedy for an overheating engine. They laughed and said they were right out of water.
I picked up more water at Running Creek. Also saw John Cooper’s brother again. There were lots of people lazing around on the grass under the trees. Lots rolling in. Not too many rolling out. I rolled out.
Next stop Mt Beauty 30km away and 60 km to the end. 60km – easy, I’ve done that before.
My strategy was to just put up with the heat on the valley floor, taking it as easy as possible. Climb rates of 500m/hr were the new pinnacle of success, the norm being more like 400. Pathetic compared to the 810 I was getting on Buffalo. I assumed the climb up Falls would improve the temperature situation. Ambient temperature usually decreases with increase in height. Looking forward to the cool mountain air kept me going.
I formed a few loose alliances with people on the way into My Beauty. Most people were too stuffed to care about trains. The heat killed everyone.
A highlight of the trip occurred coming into Mt Beauty; The Garmin clicked over 200 km (my previous longest trip was 200); the alarm went off to say it was time to eat something (again); and a lovely young lady on the side of the road squirted me with the most refreshing bath of iced water. She actually had a sign asking you to wave if you wanted a squirt. I waved like mad.
I rolled in and out of Mt Beauty without much delay. Picked up water and met Brett again.
The climb of Falls did not go to plan. The climb towards Bogong Village did improve the temperature situation as I had hoped. It was 36 degree instead of 38. Wow! There were a few cool breezes coming down the gullies, and I managed to get a climb rate of 810m/kr going again. I was thrilled. But then. Well. The road sort of faces due West and the tree cover over the road from the West is sort of non-existent. So it was back into the baking sun. The temperature in my head soared and the climb rate went back to a pitiful 410 m/hr.
The roadside was littered with sweaty bodies sipping water. The clever ones were in the shade. One lucky chum managed to get a flat right in a shady spot. Lucky him!
Since the mountain was not cooling off like I had hoped, I was wondering how I would keep climbing in the heat. I passed Craig luxuriating in the grass in a shady spot. Sorry, I jest,
Craig was dealing with serious cramps and talking about walking the rest of the way. I was a bit worried that if I did anything but keep going I might not start again. So I just kept on. Fortunately, Craig finished with just seconds to spare.
About 15 mins before the Finish line, a big black cloud blocked out the sun and the temperature did drop and I noticed it. Hooray!
Shortly, I was in Falls Ck Village and was waved over the line by Stealth and SatNav.
My finish time was about 11.5 hours. I reckon I could do it in under 11 without the heat.
Will I go back for more next year? Stay tuned…
B1