ACE 2010 - Take 3

continued from ACE 2010 - Take 2

The final sections of the descent from Dinner Plain to Omeo were a joy with warming air, good company from Michael and super fast speeds. Slowly I felt my legs and brain coming back to something approximating a functional cyclist. To further improve things they had wonderful food and a track pump at Omeo. This greatly improved the 90(odd) psi I'd gotten from the 16 grams of CO2 on top of Hotham and my blood sugar. Snuffling up to the trough, I scoffed a couple of rolls and jammed another in my pocket. Yummy hummus.

Back on the road, Michael was moving more slowly than I usually expect him to and insisted that I press on ahead. I'm still unsure if he was going through a flat patch, had more respect than I did for what was to come or was just sick of hearing me talk. Slowly, I moved ahead, sure I'd see him again before long. As the K's ticked away on this beautifully graded, smooth and serpentine road, my spirit and pace lifted and sang. I was doing 30kph up the Mitta Mitta River Valley without raising a sweat and I was alone in my reverie.

Around half-way along this section I was collected by eight other riders "en peloton" and our pace increased to between 35 and 40kph as we wove our way along the valley to the river's tune. I managed to stuff another roll and a very nice avocado and cheese sandwich from my pocket into my mouth during this lovely stage. I poured in the Sukki too. Girding my mental and metabolic loins for what I knew lay ahead.

Turn the corner and there it is. Impressive, steep and hot in full sun. I take my time to find a new tune to dance to. This one is a dirge. In what seems like a couple of minutes I'm alone again. The bunch of riders I've been riding in such synchronicity with for so long have vanished. One or two ahead, the rest behind. After half a K or so at 16% things level out to something more reasonable and 10%ish. This isn't too bad. What's all the fuss about. A few kilometres later, I ride right past a water stop and 20 or so riders. I've still got a litre so I'm sure I can make the next point.

Then Raspberry Hill kicks again 17% and again more 16%. Again and again on this rough gravelly surface. Now I'm riding past people walking. And these are very strong, tough riders. It's kicking me, right in the berries. The sweat is now pouring off me way faster than my head band can deal with and faster than I can drink. On some sections, I couldn't drink if I wanted to. I need both hands to pull on the bars as my legs push away. Climbing here is a whole body activity. Now my speed's down to 11kph and sweat is running into my eyes. So salty, I'm crying. Glancing at the speedo I realise I've only done 10km. There's at least another 10 to go.

Slowly it eases just a bit and just a bit more. Venturing back to give me a kick now and then but not quite so hard. At last the water point comes into view with perfect timing. I've emptied my last bottle only a kilometre ago. Stopped under a tree here it is cool and quiet. I feel a thousand miles from the evil bit of crappy bitumen I've spent the last hour and a bit with. Bottles filled I bravely push off again. Magically, from here on the hill relents and with each kilometre it get easier until I emerge above the snowline.

Once out on the Bogong High Plains, the scenery and the day are spectacular. Stands of low, white-bleached snowgums burned in fires of recent years contrast with the luscious green carpet of grasses, mosses and wild-flowers. The many alpine lakes and tarns mirror the sky with vibrant turquoise. The mountain is so beautiful that I start to cry. A good thing because it washes some of the salt from my eyes. I stop to take a photo and after fumbling for a good minute to get the camera from my pocket, I realise I'm just not up to such manual dexterity. I push on.

Falls Creek arrives much too quickly so I fill my pockets yet again, send a text to EG and begin the descent. This is a descent I've done a million times. This time it's much harder than I can ever remember. Surely there's not this much uphill? My bodgy shoulder is starting to get really sore too. All the downhill on the drops is starting to take its toll. Now I'm making a corner, stretching my shoulder, then getting ready for the next corner. Tedious.

MtBeauty and I still have a full one litre bottle. I just may make it without a water stop. I creep up the nasty rolling hills out of MtBeauty very cautiously. I've trashed my legs on these innocuous lumps too many times in the past to be caught out again. Now it's just Tawonga gap and it's all over. I start off slowly, trying to find that rhythm. Nothing, just a grind. I'm sitting on 14kph and it feels like 10. Then ever so slowly I start to find that feeling. By the spring at around half way, I'm feeling strong and have that dance starting to happen. Three K's from the top and I'm doing 16kph. Yahoo. This is going to be alright.

I crest the top of Tawonga and begin the descent. The most technical, but by far the best descent of the ride. Toward the bottom of the main hill, I'm joined by Bearded Guy and another rider. Bearded Guy (BG) and I swap turns of around 500m gradually winding up the pace as we approach the turn to Bright. Slowly we pick up a string of riders including several I've passed and been passed by many times during the day. By the time we're onto the Great Alpine Rd BG and I are doing 100m turns and flying along at 38-40kph. Our string of riders flashing by one rider after another. We're calling UP-UP-UP as we approach to encourage them to tag on. Close to Bright, we pickup Gold Colnago Guy who I've spent quite a bit of time riding with today and he tags on to the train. Flying through Bright, round the roundabout you'd guess it was the final lap of a crit. Whooosh! Under the banner and it's all over for another year.

I stagger about, trying to find my card and something to eat and drink. Still buzzing.

To be continued...

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